Blogs from Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland, Europe

It’s Christmas Eve 2012, and I am on a tour bus in Northern Scandinavia going from Kiruna, Sweden, to Inari, Finland. It is about -25 degrees outside which is a little warmer than it was yesterday, although ice is starting to form on the inside the bus, by the window I am sitting next to. Yes, it is cold, but we keep ourselves warm by having some fun conversation with our fellow tour-goers. Most of them are Australian couples, although there are a few Kiwis thrown in the mix too. They’re all good people and good chats, fun people to be spending long coach journeys with. We eventually arrive at what our tour operator describes as a "resort". I suppose technically it is a resort, as it is a winter leisure complex of sorts where you ... read more

Am plecat de la Oulu (traiasca varul Ciprian care ne-a dat de ale' gurii) hotarati sa ajungem la Tromso pe lumina, ceea ce nu e prea greu avand in vedere ca soarele apune pe la ora 23:30. Abia acum am vazut pe drum primul Ren ratacit. In schimb niciun Elan pana acum. In drum ne-am oprit la satul lui Mos Craciun unde am auzit Leru-i ler si O brad frumos.... in varianta internationala . Dupa cautarea piticilor angajati sa faca jucarii pe care nu i-am gasit, cred ca erau in pauza de insolatie (22 de grade), fiecare dintre noi s-a hotarat sa cumpere cate un suvenir.... Dani si a luat moose sound box.... e super tare.... Am facut poze. Dani + Tania au facut poze cu costumatie de eschimosi si apoi, a aparut un turc de ... read more

Viaggio di Manu & Clint Prima di iniziare a raccontare il nostro viaggio tra i ghiacci della Lapponia finlandese, bisogna fare un passo indietro, al Natale 2003. Infatti e' stata in quell’occasione che mio marito mi ha fatto trovare sotto l’albero due biglietti aerei della Finnair destinazione Rovaniemi! Avevo sempre sognato visitare i luoghi di Babbo Natale e il grande nord in inverno... E perche no, magari riuscire a vedere l’aurora boreale! Ah... Noi non amiamo molto i viaggi organizzati e in questo caso crediamo siano proprio superflui. Organizzare una vacanza come quella che abbiamo fatto noi e semplicissimo: basta avere una conoscenza base dell’inglese e di internet, dove si trovano tutte le informazioni che servono. La Finlandia e un paese tecnologicamente molto avanzato... 20/02 – Partiamo dalla Malpensa con piu di un’ora di ritardo causa ... read more

Als ik deze morgen ontwaak is de ganse voortent nog gevuld met muggen, alsook gewone vliegen. Ik ruim in de binnentent op en doe dan astronautenpak (lees: regenpak) aan om me in deze barre omgeving te wagen. Ik ruim de tent op en maak dat ik weg ben. Voor toilet en ontbijt is er geen tijd. Ik rijd 20km tot Tervola waar ik inkopen doe en iets eet. Het is best nog vroeg en de baan schiet goed op. Het is ook rustig rijden en de landschappen zijn best mooi in vergelijking met de voorbije dagen. De rustige weg gaat nog voort tot Rovaniemi maar ik besluit om af te slagen terug naar de grote E8 want daar zijn benzinestations en een toiletstop wordt ondertussen noodzakelijk. Met een opgelucht gevoel volg ik verder de E8 waar ... read more

Hard to get up this morning as had very little sleep. Went to bed late as had to sort out the laptop which did a major go-slow on the internet and wouldn’t virus scan so was worried it had been ‘got out’ through some of the suspect wifi I have been using. Sorted it out and all ok by 3am ! Couldn’t then get to sleep as caravan behind us were partying - until 3.30 am. At 4.14 am it was not just broad daylight but it was also warm and brightly sunny which is not conducive to sleep. To get to Finland we had to go a little further North. We were hopeful the scenery would be something other than trees and tarmac but really it wasn’t so the I-spy jokes about things beginning with ... read more