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Finland, Norway & Sweden
  • Meaghan's Travels
  • Meaghan's Travels

Finland, Norway & Sweden

A 25-day adventure by Meaghan's Travels Read more
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  • Meaghan's TravelsFinland, Norway & SwedenMeaghan's Travels
    Chapel12

    Snowcastle Ice Hotel Kemi

    January 22, 2020 in Finland ⋅ 🌙 -4 °C
  • Meaghan's TravelsFinland, Norway & SwedenMeaghan's Travels

    Icebreaker

    January 22, 2020 in Finland ⋅ 🌙 -4 °C

    Awesome!!!!!

    Plus the ice swimming was incredible!
    Its like being in a flotation pool with abit of a chill.

  • Meaghan's TravelsFinland, Norway & SwedenMeaghan's Travels
    Ready to go
    The view1You talking to me!MagnificentNice

    Reindeers

    January 23, 2020 in Finland ⋅ ⛅ -10 °C

    Big day today as we have a reindeer ride then santa claus village and finally a snow mobile ride!
    So first the reindeer ride. Mum and I couldn't go together as we both couldn't fit in the sledge!

    I put this down to my enormous puffa! But I did get to ride in the first sledge so that was pretty good. Must have had the strongest reindeer at the front!

    Anyway a lovely ride through the forest then a hot drink and biscuits in front of a huge open fire then feeding the reindeers. Excellent morning.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsFinland, Norway & SwedenMeaghan's Travels
    2Bought the hat in the queue! It becomes me!
    Rolly polly in my puffa!The great manSanta's deskLetters to SantaThe entrance!

    I met Santa Claus!

    January 23, 2020 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ -9 °C

    But we only had half an hour to look around and then queue for about 30 minutes to get a very expensive poor quality photo with Santa.

    Lots of shops so no time to have a good look.

    But on the whole it was very commercial and Santa's house has outlets in it! The Russian experience was so much better so I recommend seeing Father Frost in eastern russia!

    I was really looking forward to meeting Santa but the whole thing was too rushed. But I have my photo with Santa in an elf hat so what more could I ask for!!

    We did get to send postcards from the Arctic Circle so that was cool.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsFinland, Norway & SwedenMeaghan's Travels
    1Such a pro
    Swallowed by the gearThrough the forrestRest stop for hot drink cake and sausages by an open fireWalking back to the hotel after the snow mobile

    Snow mobiling

    January 23, 2020 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ -8 °C

    First time we snow mobiled was in Rovaniemi and it was on a diesel machine.
    Second time was at the Arctic Snow Hotel and that was on an electric machine so very quiet but abit harder to steer.

    Anyway they are alot of fun but surprisingly whether diesel or electric they are hard to steer. You basically have to put the pedal down and let the skis find the grooves.

    So there is a midway stop where you have hot chocolate biscuits and sausages cooked over an open flame which is fun. One was in a tepee and the other in a timber hut.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsFinland, Norway & SwedenMeaghan's Travels
    RetiredSo cute when they do this2

    Husky sled

    January 24, 2020 in Finland ⋅ 🌙 -4 °C

    This was absolutely fantastic and a highlight of the tour. I had done a husky sled in Alaska but we merely went around in a circle on a glacier.

    Here I drove the Huskies (six of them) through open fields and narrow pathways through the forrest.

    Such a thrill. When you approach the huskies who are all set up they are madly barking as they know they are going to get a run. They love it. When they take off they go fast so you have to hold on tight and break abit.

    As I took off I notice huskies on either side of me as the sled behind me wasn't breaking enough. Then those dogs behind started fighting and I freaked!

    So I am screaming to the sled behind BREAK!
    I am abit nervous around dogs I don't know so fighting huskies right behind me is a nightmare!

    As they go they eat snow along the way to cool down. The two front dogs are the smartest as they choose the path based on the best terrain. Not surprisingly they are almost always female!
    The middle dogs are usually teenagers who are still learning or the not so bright dogs who just run - these are predominantly male! No surprise there!
    The back dogs are the strongest.

    The dogs fight alot with each other but they don't attack humans.

    They live in pairs unless they are psycho in which case they live on their own.

    At this farm when the dogs retire they are looked after until they die. We went and visited them and they love the attention and a pat.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsFinland, Norway & SwedenMeaghan's Travels
    Entry to restaurantDining areaChurchThe bar!

    Snow Arctic Hotel, Sinetta

    January 24, 2020 in Finland ⋅ 🌙 -8 °C

    We stayed in a glass domed igloo here. But there was hardly any lighting in the igloo so we were fumbling around in the dark. And of course we didn't see the illusive northern lights.
    The indoor restaurant was pretty good though.
    Only one night here so the whole thing was abit of a blur as we arrived when it was dark.

    I thought the ice hotel here was the best one I went to on this trip. More intimate and the sculptures more elegant.    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsFinland, Norway & SwedenMeaghan's Travels
    1The damage2Roadkill dinner2Patched up and good to go until we get a replacement bus1Igor our driver and hero1Yep I ate him - actually only one bite!

    Breaking news - Rudolph

    January 25, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -12 °C

    We killed him as we left Finland going into Norway! He ran out on the road in front of the bus which hit him in the stomach. He then went right under the bus and ended up on the side of the road.

    The bus driver saved our lives as it was a huge reindeer and there was a very loud noise as the bus hit it. He kept the bus steady on the ice and kept it from flipping. Scary.

    The driver was abit shaky and had to take some time to steady himself before we set off again.

    This was his first reindeer hit.

    In Finland if you kill a reindeer the law is that you look at its marking and notify the police who then notify the owner. Insurance covers all killed reindeer. They are allowed to roam free so road kills happen.

    The police and the owner were going to come straight away and collect it.

    Bit like our kangaroo road kills - I hit one once and the car was wreaked but the kangaroo hopped off without a worry.

    The tour guide was funny as she said it would have been killed anyway for meat.

    Then the bus hit a large white bird so it really became the killing bus, or the suicide bus depending on how you look at it.

    Then guess what was for dinner?! Yes reindeer!    Read more

  • Meaghan's TravelsFinland, Norway & SwedenMeaghan's Travels
    Great view but snow up to our knees to get this shot
    Waiting for the convoy1Making friends while we wait1Yep they are not kidding about the cost of things in Norway1In the convoy ready to go

    Honningsvag

    January 26, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -5 °C

    Ok so no snow down south and up north we have blizzards and avalanches so the road to the north cape is closed which is a shame.

    The north cape is the northern most part of europe that you can reach by road. In summer it is often covered in clouds so it can be a tricky place to see.

    Its only been open 12 days this winter and a group of Australians and staff were snowed in for 4 days last week. Apparently they always have enough food for a month.

    In bad weather the road to the towns and homes up north operate in a convoy with a snowplough in front and an end truck and they go twice a day depending on the weather.

    The road is icy and combined with the wind and the sun setting at about 1.30pm its a slow and dangerous drive. Its one of the most dangerous roads in the world which is why you can only travel in a convoy in bad weather.

    So with the north cape road closed we were stuck in Nordkapp for a while and because the lady who runs the only shop knew we were coming through she opened the shop and was ready for us. Good commercial move as trapped people shop and eat!

    We had to wait to see if the convoy would operate to Honningsvag where our hotel is.

    So after a couple of hours the convoy set off and it was the most beautiful drive.

    Then once we arrived we went for an afternoon stroll in the dark around the deserted town. On weekends the nords stay inside and all the shops are closed on sundays. The sun rises about 9.30am and sets around 1.30pm.

    And its Australia day.    Read more

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