In Finland, dreams polar
This is a cosmopolitan, nice to everybody. Everyone speaks English, it is safe and I words, the cleanest city in Europe. It is virtually free of graffiti and stroll the elegant Esplanade. This is the boulevard of trendy shops and cafes. The sidewalks are heated. Tanta culture here with 7 symphonic orchestras, theaters and a library in every corner. The fins are large in Design and big names have left their distinctive mark worldwide avant-garde.
I am grateful to be here at the invitation of the Finnish Tourism for a site inspection and conference travel. After arrival at the hotel, the city gives me a private tour Irene, a local guide with sincere passion for his city. There are 560 000 inhabitants and 43% are single! What a place for a creative career of AFS. Finland is 10% water with 187,000 lakes and islands 584.
This is a high-tech equipment in the world. The fins have an appreciation of innovation and extreme love their toys. Everyday tasks are preformed on cell phones Nokia Imaging theirs. With it you can buy a tram ticket, pay a parking ticket or a program that lights remain on before returning home. This is also the "sauna world" where nearly every house has a sauna supply. More than 2 million, and even some restaurants there. Coffee Tin Tango is a place where you can make your clothes, eat and drink a beer in a sauna with locals discussing how to solve problems world.
The location is ideal for designing knitwear, jewelry and glassware. Although pre-tax prices are high, but I am told Oslo is much more expensive. In nightclubs fill the clubs, which represent about Nordic oddity like "karaoke" Gay, sauna and bar ice.
Sunday Polar Express to fly 600 miles north of Roveneimi, gateway to Lapland, where the fun begins. People here ride bikes in the snow, swimming in ice holes in the Arctic and picnics. The warmest place in winter activities. Last month, the city than 35,000 have received 20,000 visitors. It is 2 degrees Celsius and is considered exceptionally hot
We are a group of 22 tour operators worldwide and record in a hot desert Lodge. Each room has a private sauna. The dinner is presented in a candlelight lodge rustic traditional muted. Glow grilled salmon was cooked over an open fire, with the mushroom soup and blackberry mousse. After we meet to bake in a sauna wood smoke.
Monday morning, they are equipped with feet head Gortex artic suits for a snowmobile safari day complete. Each of us our bikes setup super Snow and head into the woods. On the lake will reach a speed of 50 mph! The first stop is a farm with 200 huskies to greet us. September Huskies have blue eyes are elected by our adventure by dog sled. The cacophony of barking, howling and barking is deafening around like dogs eagerly awaiting their turn to run. So strong, so sweet and they love their work. At the end of the chain, which are off like a bullet and the journey is exciting. We were able to see 9 new puppies. After a lame thousand, I would go.
We stopped in a farm for a lunch of reindeer fried potatoes with goat cheese and cranberry ice cream. Back to our snowmobiles through a winter wonderland. We crossed the Arctic Circle, the land north of all my travels. Parallel to Siberia and only 40 miles from the Russian border, I failing that, but soon stop at a reindeer farm to be greeted by Lapp-dressed boys. They perform traditional baptism Japan "and give us an official certificate of the border, and a reindeer driving license. Thereafter, enjoy a sleigh ride on tame deer but powerful.
This is the land of the indigenous Sami. We learn of the fascinating culture of these semi-nomadic peoples who live above the world. Reindeer breeding The oldest way of life. They have a genuine love of this frozen land.
We had four hours of daylight today. As I can return my jeans, I remember that I never cold, even my toes. We Luosto bus north, a village of 40 residents and registered in a beautiful resort. Outside on my balcony is a theater of wildlife. The purity of nature is through a forest of birch trees backlit by the moon. Snow listening. White Silence around me. I am fascinated by the calm. It is a romantic atmosphere where you forget. Just words, is spectacular. Here I wait. Here on earth, Aurora Borealis presents its most amazing spectacle. Maybe I'll take a look. A peaceful sleep overcomes me after very exciting day.
The next day we ate a breakfast of smoked fish and prepared to visit the area. Station of 310 log cabins, each with a private sauna. We came Amethyst Mine, the largest mine working in Europe. With peaks at hand was a treasure hunt to unearth the most brilliant purple stone. A small ski resort Pyha where lunch at the worlds largest registration passenger cars. There is a snow chapel here entirely sculpted snow and ice. Marriages are performed regularly. With ice shelves, the sermons are short. Another highlight here was a visit to Santa's Village. I know the "real" Santa. He lives here and speaks a dozen languages. Its elves are busy at the post office to answer letters to 40 000 children annually worldwide.
Return to the airport the plane takes off on a track of solid ice. I'll miss the polar night and still long to return for a visit this summer with 24 hours of sunlight.
The following days are spent in the travel fair in Helsinki today. I learned a lot from a land that has exceeded my expectations. I never had the opportunity of the night in the Ice Hotel in Kemi, ride the Sampo Ice switch or swimming in the Baltic Sea by a combination survival floating. But I am grateful for the taste Lapland adventure. On my last night, a flickering of northern lights dance in the sky. It is a perfect setting to say goodbye to me and told me to bring good luck. I hope that good fortune gives me the opportunity to share this adventure with a group soon. It like nowhere I've been. Everyone should experience a warm atmosphere in the heart of winter.
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