Northern Lights - the heavenly fire

Northern Lights are the highlight for most Lapland visitors – and us locals we are mezmerized by them every time. They are the source of many myths and legends and brighten up a dark winter sky quite often… and touch a very soft spot in you.

Ester has been out hunting Northern Lights a few nights, here her story:


There is one thing in Lapland that makes everyone fall in love with it. It is a magic phenomenom only happening in special places in a special time. I’m talking about the Northern Lights.
The sight of the Auroras Borealis (another name for the Northern Lights) is one of the most beautiful natural phenomenoms you can imagine. The lighting colors on the ski, moving as if they were waves, making you feel part of something mystical.

But there is a small problem: the Northern lights are whimsical. There are three things you have to follow if you want to see them. First, you need a dark place. City lights and other light polution can trick your eyes and hide the Northern Lights. Second, a clear sky. Clouds will interfere your vision. And third, and maybe the most important, luck. To be at the right place at the right time. Nevertheless, this winter they are being really active, so it’s a good chance to try!

The better way to try to see the Auroras Borealis is by a night safari. There are several activities around the Northern Lights hunting and all of them are prepared to have the ideal conditions. For example, a great safari which allowed me to see the Northern Lights was a visit to a reindeer farm at night. It started when we reached the farm, were the owners welcomed us warmly. We took part in a Lappish ceremony based on traditional Sámi-people Shaman’s myths and stories. The Sámi are the Lappish natives who traditionally started working with reindeers. They also explained a lot of interesting thing about reindeers and how the herdering is a way of life of many inhabitants in Lapland. After all this information while warming up, was time to start the safari.


We step into a one-reindeer pulled sleigh in couples. It is a perfect place to be with someone special :) The safari starts going deeply into the middle of the nature. You enjoy the special sound of the forests at night while looking at the sky exited to see the Auroras. Meanwhile I was thinking about all the people that used to travel on reindeer sleigh always, when it was the only way of moving through Lapland in winter time. Then suddenly, I saw them: the Northern Lights. It was a breathtaking sight: a huge wave of green and blue colors, brigthening on the open sky, moving as if the blowing breeze affected them. Those were ones of the longest and stunning Auroras I’ve ever seen. When the safari was finnished, we got into a Kota and had some hot drinks while explaining many stories about the Northern Lights, making the night unforgettable.

Another safari that gave me the opportunity of enjoying the phenomenom was in a kick-sled. It was a very funny night, because it was my first time using one of them. It started in a small resort in the middle wilderness, far from any city lights. After some information about the Auroras and a movie, was time to go hunting for them! The nature surrounding the place was as stunning as always and the sky was clear (hoorray!). We started our small adventure by the kick-sledges, having a lot of fun with it, until we reach a special place to stop. Once there, we drinked some hot chocolate (it tastes even better after some exercise and with the coldness around you) while getting through some nice stories. When we were starting to come back, with the feeling to had a good night even if we didn’t saw the Northern Lights, someone called out loud to look at the sky and, can you guess? Green waves of brighten colors were dancing above our heads. “A perfect night”, I thought.


The last, but not least, experience I want to share with you was a night in a snowmobile safari were, even if I couldn’t spot the Auroras, I had a great time.
This special snowmobile safari is a drive through the night in one of those amazing engines. Can be that I’m influenced by my love to motorbikes, but even the most scared people always enjoys the ride from the beginning to the end. We got into the forest, driving away from the city, to have a break by a campfire. I already told you I didn’t saw the Northern Lights that day, but the Lappish sky, when you’re in the middle of nowhere, is just amazing. You can’t figure out how many millions of stars are shinning just above you. I was born in a big city, where spoting one star on the sky is impossible, but even going to the mountains I couldn’t see as many stars as I see in my nights in Lapland. Moreover, that night there was fullmoon, big, round and bright, leading the sky.


When people tell me I’m just crazy to live here I just have to remind all these magical moments to smile and remember why I love Lapland.

And for those who have not yet seen the amazing video by Visit Finland, you find it HERE!
Enjoy! And it is even more spectacular live

A day with huskies

Our spanish guide and work trainee Ester got inspired to write about A day with huskies.

I love it everytime and it is not something hard to understand, because not everyday you can be a musher!

A couple of days ago I was at a Husky Farm. It wasn´t my very first time, but it always feels like it is. When you’re approaching the centre of the farm you see dozens of dogs, jumping and barking excited to see some visitors. It is comprehensible, because they know it means they’re going to run, and that’s what they are living for: they love running on the snow, as if they were wolfs.


It is hard to stay calm while the guides are explaining the safety instructions, because you hear nonstop barking around you and above all - you are as excited as the dogs to get started! I remember when I was there for my first time and how some people was whispering “I can’t do it, seems too difficult! I’m gonna fall, sure!”. If you want and advice: don’t even think about it. Everyone who has followed the given safety instructions can do it (ok, maybe you can’t take part in a 500km race, but you can ride the sleigh without any problems on a guided Safari).


After that, the time starts to run fast because the adventure is beginning! You step into a six dogs sleigh, while they are already jumping trying to run, and when everybody is ready, the magic begins. The sleigh is untied and at the wink of an eye, you’re on the middle of a snow path driving the dog’s team.

It is unbelivable how in a second the nonstoping barking has become silence. If the dogs don’t hypnotize you completely, you should take a look around. The landscapes and scenery will definitely transport you into another world, where everything seems to be still in a time gone by. Untouched nature without any sight of human placements, snow and trees surrounding you, and the only sound you can hear is the the sleigh on the snow.


And it is then, in the middle of your trance, when you stop at an idyllic location in the forest. When the smell of food arrives to you, you realize how hungry you are! It’s time to relax and let the dogs rest, it is time to have lunch. Maybe I love food too much, but the meal was delicious! A very typical Finnish dish of elk meatballs and potatos with a creamy sauce, and at the end, a sweet dessert of berries picked from the surrounding forests. The fireplace in the middle of the room, as on the Lappish Kotas, makes the atmosphere warm and friendly, the perfect place to relax.


After this relaxing break is time to come back to your musher mode. I always share some minutes with my dogs before starting again, I want them to know me and to be sure they’re ready for the next ride. They are always up for some pats and cuddles! Then, once more, you’re in the middle of the stunning Lappish nature with only your dogs and the silence as only company.

When the safari is over you can’t believe you have been driving for hours! You really want to stay on the sleigh and run through the nature until your body says “stop”. But for animal lovers as me, this is maybe the best part: you can stroke and hug every single dog now! On this farm they were about 200 dogs, what of course made impossible the mission of stroking all of them, but I still could play and hug many,many dogs, including a couple of lovely playful puppies!




















When is time to go back home I always feel in the hurry to beg to the owner to let me live there, with the dogs, still if it sounds ridiculous (maybe that’s why at the end I never ask). But even if I can’t stay there forever, I’m always sure about one thing: I’ll be back, soon or later, and I’ll enjoy again the adventure as if it was the first time.

Ester

Travel - a source of inspiration

It is once again that time of the year when thousands of Finns are eagerly planning a holiday abroad to espace the dark, long Finnish winter. They are inspired by the mere thoughts of sandy beaches, swimming pools and hot, sun-filled days as far from the North as possible...

Embrace the winter I say! Instead of escape, just appreciate the Norhern nature and all it has to offer during the winter months. Why travel far, when all you need is so near? I love the Finnish winter – especially in Lapland where the magic is just about to happen again. When the first snow falls, everything changes overnight. Nature – it seems – is suddenly covered in millions of snowy crystals glistening under the stars. Northern Lights dance in the sky with colours of green, blue and red, creating a visual feast for the senses. Temperatures start to drop and the air is crisp and clear. After enjoying a refreshing walk outside it is time to retreat to a comfy couch under a blanket, with a cup of hot tea and candles lit. In the mornings the subtle darkness wraps around you like a comforting hug until the daylight appears uncovering yet another kind of beauty. Forests and fells are covered in white and trees seem to sway under the weight of the powdery snow. You can see impressions in the snow... was it maybe a hare or a fox who made their way into the wilderness.

The sun appears slowly, colouring the horizon in shades of pinks and blues. This is the perfect time to try some of the fun outdoor activities; cross-country skiing, snowmobiling or an exhilirating sledge ride with huskies and reindeer. The key to enjoy the activities is to dress warmly... in Lapland it’s not about looking good but feeling warm.

And after a day of fun activities, it’s time to relax your body and soul. Sauna has been warming up and awaits to soothen your tired muscles. The gentle steam and scent of wood nourish the soul. Clear your mind and you’ll emerge from the sauna as a new person. Afterwards, a plentiful serving of local delicacies and drinks is the way to go. As the temperature drops even lower with the moon and stars filling the nothern sky, it’s time to sleep. There is nothing quite like climbing into the bed and under warm covers with the blissful darkness guarding your sleep. Let the winds and snow blow outside. Maybe in the silence of the night you hear the distant cries of a wolf.

It is these small, unhurried moments which make you appreciate the simple things in life. I, as a Finn, love those moments and can only imagine what they would feel like for a first-timer - a traveler who comes from a busy, hectic environment and is in need of a slower way of life...

Have I painted a picture to your liking? Why not plan your own northern winter holiday right away. Experience the magic of winter firsthand and fall in love with the North. Visit us at www.stlapland.fi to get ideas and to create your own wish list for a holiday of a lifetime. Come and visit us in Lapland - we’ll surely make a new friend in you!

Henna

Pyhä Unplugged, sweet tones swirling towards the August sky

Here in the north we make sure to enjoy the summer months in as many ways as possible. We enjoy the great outdoors so much, that we bring life outdoors, do everything outdoors – eat, play and sleep. Culture is brought outdoors too.

This summer I was invited to Pyhä Unplugged, it is a half-acoustic music festival held in the great landscapes of Pyhätunturi fell. The event is organized by Pyhä Ski Resort and every year a great selection of best Finnish artists to Pyhä is gathered. So I was truly looking forward to a fun and relaxing weekend with good music!

The main attraction is the concerts in Aittakuru gorge, an open-air amphitheathre amidst magnificent nature. The second day of my stay in Pyhä I went to the afternoon concert which was started by Johanna Rusanen, a Finnish Opera singer. She entertained us with a potpourri of movie music. Her first song was a tender, tender love song “Sua vain yli kaiken mä rakastan” (I love you above everything). The acoustics in Aitakuru is incredible. As Johanna’s magnificent voice filled the gorge I got the chills and was totally absorbed by the moment. The setting in the midst of nature that is as tender as the song, yet rough and rocky as love and life can be. The fresh air, the sunshine of an August afternoon, the beautiful music – words are not enough to describe this experience. Tears, smiles, you truly stop to listen, to see and understand the beauty of nature, love and life.

Johanna continued taking us through the decades of movie music, mostly domestic, but some international tones too. In the middle of the concert, as I was sitting there gazing up towards the ridge of the gorge I saw some reindeer strolling up there. Wonder if they were there for the music too…

Applause brought on an encore and there could not have been a more perfect encore. The beautiful tones of the Titanic swirled up towards the August sky, dissolving into the grand nature, spreading emotions and pleasure on their way. How will I manage one whole year until the next time in Aittakuru? Luckily, I learnt that there is a Pyhä Unplugged Winter too.

Berries, berries everywhere I look!

I look at my watch before taking off from home on my bike. It is 8:47 on a Tuesday morning. Sunny, lovely and summerlike. I bike away to the local market place; it is only a few minutes ride away from my home. I can already feel the sweet, fresh taste, the lovely smell… of fresh strawberries, picked this morning. This is the best thing with summer – fresh strawberries. Here, in the land of the midnight sun the growth period is short but intense. When the berries grow, they grow 24 hours per day. I cannot seem to get enough of strawberries in the summer, I have at least one liter per day. Most certainly I buy as many liters as my co-citizens who freeze a lot of berries to last until next berry season. Mine never make it to the freezer.

We are spoilt with the clean and pure nature and environment here in the north. I think sometimes we do not realize how lucky we are, it is totally OK to eat blueberries from the forest, to pick wild mushrooms and berries. There are a lot of superfoods in our forests and luckily Finns are quite good in taking care of it. Probably the long winter has taught us to preserve the flavours and vitamins of the summer sun to be enjoyed during the cold winter months.

This brings my thoughts back to the first time I was served Crème Brûlé with berries at Restaurant Ukonkivi. There were some blueberries and some raspberries on top of the picture perfect and well known desert. They seemed fresh, but it was in the middle of winter and imported or cultivated berries do not have this kind of flavor. Later I asked the restaurant keeper, Heikki, what is the secret with the berries. He told me they are wild raspberries, they grow at the back of his garden and he handpicks them, freezes gently and takes up just the right amount for desert. Amazing, I thought. A restaurant owner who picks all the berries served in his restaurant. What a job, it is a lot of berries! No, but it is a hobby, so it does not even feel like work, Heikki explains.

Another berry-story is hidden in the desert of Forest Restaurant Huilinki. The berries are marinated in a light syrup, just the right amount of sugar to take off the sourness of the lingonberries and cranberries. Handpicked by the restaurant owners Hannu and Tellervo. “Well, they grow just there outside our home”; Tellervo laughed. Last fall I stayed in one of the cabins of LomaLopotti, that is on the premises of Forest Restaurant Huilinki and learnt mushrooms really grow in plentiful around the cabins. It was a dream to pick mushrooms, go indoors and prepare a delicious soup.

But it is not yet mushroom time, it is time to enjoy some tastes of summer. Back home with my daily portion of sunshine and vitamins, I sit down in my hammock and tuck in. There is not a better flavor than a sunwarm strawberry, picked this morning.

On the roads of Lapland

I was driving home one late one summer night, listening to the radio, happy that it was not as hot as during the day anymore, as my old car does not have air conditioning. I was driving a route that I quite often drive, so was not paying much attention to the surroundings, rather keeping my eyes on the road and trying not to speed too much. It is hard to keep to the limits on an empty road.

On this route there is a place where the road crosses a lake on its narrowest point; the large lake opens up on both sides of the road. Here I normally throw a glance on the landscape, as it is a very beautiful place. This particular night I had to stop. The sun was kind of setting the way it does late July, it hangs there just by the horizon and throws amazing golden and pastel colors on the landscape. This night there were some dark clouds that added some drama to the view – breathtaking. I got out of the car and took in this scenery with all senses. It was so silent and still, the lake was like a mirror and the night air fresh and smelled of pine forest. You could feel it had been a warm day and also that tomorrow would be warm. The cooler nights are a blessing on a hot summer like this one.

I was so taken by the scenery, that I did not even take a photo. But it looked very much like our main picture, which is taken on another shore of the same lake (Lake Kitka); just use your imagination to add the few dark clouds and some dramatic light effects.

I continued driving. On moments like this I can fully understand why travelers prefer to do Finland on fly & drive basis in the summer. Drive from town to town or cottage to cottage. Plan everything in advance or do a real road trip and take it as it comes. Traffic is non-existent compared to Central Europe and the roads are fine throughout the country. And like just stated; the landscapes are beautiful!

There are hazards on our roads too - the wildlife. Mostly reindeer come up on the roads and they can move around in herds, so this is what you are up against (picture taken by a friend of mine who drives the same route as I do just as often as I do):

I find the mighty elk scary when sighted from a car. Last summer I was driving late at night on this same route I had an encounter with an elk. It was by a large swamp, it was a bit foggy from the ground, as it gets when the air cools down at night and the moist swamp is warmer and evaporates. There he was, standing tall and mighty in the fog. Luckily he stayed there, as that is a huge animal and I am happy as long as they are not on the same roads as I am. That would also have been a photo-perfect moment; I have to start making photo stops to capture these moments when driving on the roads here in Lapland.

Among others, these European tour operators organize fly & drive tours to Lapland:

Voigt Travel, The Netherlands

fintouring, Germany

Kontiki Saga Reisen, Switzerland

Catai, Spain

A Finnish Summer Dream: Mökki

I turn my car up the gravel road, there are the familiar sounds of the wheels when accelerating a little – not too much as there are some bumps on the road. I am just leaving my “mökki” and returning back home. Mökki is cottage in Finnish, often us Finns automatically understand lakeside cottage under mökki. I would have loved to stay longer. Days at the mökki are spent sunbathing on the jetty, rowing on the lake, heating the sauna, bathing and swimming in the lake. Morning joga-stretching on the verandah. Enjoying the stunning summer nights from the verandah and the peace and quiet that surrounds you. Here, at my mökki, my soul truly rests and even though it is sad to leave, I leave with reloaded batteries.

Urbanization is a fairly recent feature in Finland. Only fifty years ago, most Finns lived in the countryside. Today, most Finns live in cities and towns, and very many have a cottage in the countryside. There are half a million cottages to where Finns escape city life every weekend and for a longer time in the summer. At the cottage, life is always good. Sauna, freshly caught fish grilled by the camp fire and peace and quiet is pretty much all Finns need at the cottage. We dress in “cottage clothes” that are old and faded, very but comfortable. I have to smile when thinking back of the outfits I have been wearing the past days… Well, soon holidays are over and it is power suits and high heels again. I bet I will be thinking back at the very comfortable combination of woolen socks and Crocs after walking a day in heels. Or my all time favourite, a faded and stretched out giant t-shirt right from the 80’s.

As I get further and further away from my cottage I ask myself can anyone understand the importance of a mökki for a Finn? Can non-Finns relax as well as us in a simple cottage in a stunning location? Do others also appreciate the peace and quiet and most importantly: do they share our strange love for old and faded cottage clothes? The drive home will take a while and I have my phone equipped with headset, so I might just as well find out.

I call my German friend. He is a Finland fan and I know he has been renting a cottage in Finland once. It is to be stated, that he enjoys exactly the same things as I do at the cottage. Except for the clothes-thing, which he cannot understand. And the sauna is not heated daily, but several times in a week, however. In my thoughts I also go back in time to the years I lived in Switzerland and worked in the travel industry. Several Swiss tour operators offered rental cottages and as far as I know, the demand has been increasing through the years. As I have time, I call a friend in London. She is a true city-girl, but says she dream of a retreat to a place where beautiful nature surrounds her and she can “just be”. I do not even ask her about the clothes, as I know she would look chic in the midst of a forest…

The fact that there are no close neighbours, that the cottage is directly by a pure-watered lake and the beauty and tranquility of nature are the desired things on a cottage holiday. You need a car to get to the cottages and Finland is easy to travel in thanks to the lack of traffic and still we enjoy a safe country with low rates in crime. Perfect setting and circumstances for a cottage retreat!

Luckily there are numerous rental cottages in Finland, this makes the Finnish Summer Dream into reality for many and many Finns and non-Finns every year.

Have a look at some rental cottages:

Ollilan Lomamajat

LomaLopotti

Rukan Salonki

Isokenkäisten Klubi

Oivangin Lomakartano

One of the largest selection of cottages in the whole country is found on the website of Wild North.