24/12
We got up
at 4.55 and sleepily got on our flight to Rovaniemi. Two snowmen
greeted us. The whole place looked amazing. As we came into
land we flew lower and lower over the trees. I couldn’t
see any resemblance of an airport but luckily it did appear.
After getting
to our hotel and it still being dark we were pooped. Once we
had our bearings we decided to head to Santa’s village.
Transport became a big issue. All the pamphlets raved on about
the wonderful place but there was no mention of how to get there.
Gavin decided the bus station would be our best bet. It wasn’t
too cold about 4degrees. There was no English or advertising
so we were pretty stumped. In the end a taxi showed up. The
village was cool. We had a lovely lunch to start off then went
to meet the big guy. While in the line there was a lot of pushing
– over eager children – no! Extremely rude adults.
Santa himself looked very authentic. He took time to talk to
us, which was really nice. When I say talk to us, I mean to
Gavin about fishing. He didn’t want to talk to me. Gavin
said it was because I was bad, and he was good. I brought some
decorations from Santa’s shop. We then crossed the official
artic circle line. The line occurs when for one day in summer,
the sun doesn’t set and one day in winter it doesn’t
come up at all. Unfortunately as it was the 24th Santa’s
Post office was closed at 2pm. We got there at 2.10pm Nevertheless
I still managed to post a card home.
We decided
it was time to go to Santa Park. A theme park especially devoted
to the man. It was actually underground. The idea was good and
it was great for kids but there is room for improvement. Santa’s
magic sleigh ride was kind of like a ghost train through the
seasons, where you can see all the elves at work and play. There
was a Rudolph ride that was fun. It was like a mini roller coaster
with only a small hill to thrill us. We played a Rudolph race
where you rolled balls to make Rudolph move. Gavin won and I
got a husky dog. We also did a reaction test. I am qualified
to walk, I got 7 marks. Gavin got 83; he can fly a plane and
drop supplies. The helicopter ride involved us cycling ourselves
around a track 10 ft above the rest of the park. That was my
exercise for the trip. We took the train (a four wheel drive
that looked like a train) back to Santa’s village to go
home. Little did we know all forces were against us. It was
5pm and the place was all shut. We waited by the taxi stand
then figured out that no one would be coming out at this time.
I could see some little tepees and it turned out to be a snow-carving
park. We thought a bus might be in order. One did actually come
along but then carried on and stopped in the car park. We gave
up and went to the Shell station to phone for help. As we were
both frozen by this stage the fact that the taxi company hadn’t
heard of Santa’s village was not very inspiring. What a
debacle!
At the hotel
a wonderful aroma greeted us so we sat down for a buffet meal.
The salmon was fantastic. Santa arrived and gave out presents
to all the children. Again it was chaos. He really causes a
stir. I wonder if he’ll find us tonight.
25/12
Merry Christmas!
At 8 am it is extremely dark and neither of us can wake up.
10 am; Christmas
time. The floor looks good after we’d opened our presents.
We even got lollies from our hotel. 10.30 Gavin’s family
rang and it’s SNOWING!
We lazed
around and finally went for a wander around 2pm. After some
food we walked down and saw the river – frozen. Then I
got to play. First I made a snow angel then we made a snowman.
Fun, but tiring. A snow fight was last on my wish list. That
was fun too. Dinner was not such a big affair tonight.
26/12
Today we
took a snow mobiling safari. We got all kitted up in snowsuits
and helmets. The snowmobile was a two-seater so Gavin took control.
It was a lot like a water ski. Our guide was very nice. In single
file, we followed our guide along the frozen river. Gavin floored
it on the wet patches. It was fun yet scary at the same time.
We continued down the river for about 30 minutes, and then pulled
into a side trail through some spectacular snow covered trees.
This was one of my favourite sights although it was only a two-minute
trip. We then arrived at the reindeer park. The people at the
park were dressed in traditional Lapland costume. The reindeers
could be patted as long as you were wary of their antlers. They
felt very wiry. Now it was time for the big test. I got to drive
the reindeer. All I had was an orange rope, flick to go pull
gently to stop. Gavin was my passenger on a sleigh made of wood,
sacking and reindeer skin. The reindeer have had three years
training and knew exactly what to do so it was a bit of a farce
to receive my reindeer’s driver’s licence. If only
driving a car was this easy. While trotting nicely around the
trail Gavin felt a tickle behind him, the next reindeer in fact.
It was intent on being first and so went past us on a single
file track. My reindeer was embarrassed by this so to compensate
he took off at a great rate of knots. Luckily there was not
far to go and he slowed down and pulled into park vertically
in the exact spot it was meant to. It was a pretty smooth ride.
Reindeers
are now herder mostly using snowmobiles. Electric reindeer as
Gavin put it. They live to approx 12 years of age. But don’t
worry they are not wasted. Once they have had babies, pulled
people around, raced professionally, they are then killed, skinned
and eaten. There skin makes a lovely mat. No wastage! They can
go about 60km an hour after training. Warmed cranberry juice
from a billy over an outdoor fire was in order. It was lovely.
The buildings at the farm were log cabins and there was one
tepee shaped building but with woven sticks rather then cloth
and skins. Everything looked fantastic – no wonder the
term winter wonderland was coined. I got to slide down the hill
on a bit of plastic before we were off to walk around the rest
of the farm. We were soon back at our snowmobiles. As we were
a small group we had a lot of extra time so our guide took us
further us the river. We got a chance to see real ice fishing
– although only a brief glimpse as Gavin had the hang of
snow mobiling and had decided to see what it could do. That
amounted to about 80km and me holding on for dear life –
not to mentioned the closed eyes. By the time we got back the
sun was on its way down, 2pm and we went off to have McDonalds
in the most northern McDonalds in the world. With hardly any
daylight left our bodies constantly thought we should be sleeping
so we lazed about for the afternoon, nothing much was open anyway
as it was the Christmas holiday.
After dinner
this evening we got to sauna. I had no one to share the experience
with but nevertheless stayed towelled up. It was incredibly
hot the air was dry and it felt a little like your nose was
burning. Gavin tried the traditional method and shared with
one other guy. I’m still undecided on the experience but
would do it again with some company. A traditional way to end
our stay.
27/12
Today was
one big plane ride. It will take us 12 hours to get home including
stops in Helsinki and Frankfurt. Not something to look forward
to. I really enjoyed the whole experience I was never cold.
I always say anything new is the best thing I’ve done but
so for this holiday tops the lot.
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