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It's March 2008 and we set off to Swedish Lapland for a holiday experience
never to be forgotten at The Ice Hotel. What's the occasion?
Well, it's Crow's big birthday treat as he reaches the grand age of ?ty (he
says I'm not allowed put it in black and white).
| 15 March: Off to the airport at 03:15
(didn't bother going to bed) where we met up with Bex &
Caroline for a 07:00 flight. Not a bad journey, first to
Stockholm then a connecting flight to Kiruna, we were delivered
around 13:00 into the snowiest landscape I have ever probably
seen. Then just a short 15 minute bus ride to The Ice
Hotel. We're sleeping in our ice room tonight so we went to
explore the hotel and learn how not to freeze, then travelled just
under a kilometre to a local restaurant for Crow's birthday
meal. I say "travelled" because Caroline & Bex
were on foot but I travelled in style as Crow pushed me on a chair
sled. The girls had also secretly carried an M&S Colin
the Caterpillar chocolate cake all the way from home as an after
dinner surprise. We were able to refrigerate it in our room
later and so it lasted four days before we had eaten it all.
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A night in the Ice Hotel at -5C!
You sleep on a bed of ice covered with a thin mattress and a
reindeer skin, then you are in your super warm sleeping bag with
just your mouth and nose exposed to the air. You pray that
you don't need to get up in the middle of the night for the
toilet.
The ice hotels is a combination of basic rooms and art suites, the
latter of which are all individually designed. Artists have
to submit their ideas and the best are chosen each year to be
built in the hotel. |
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| There was actually an art suite
called Crow. |
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| 16 March: Our first snowy adventures
in the form of two excursions, cross country skiing and
snowmobiling.
We were taken out for our skiing in this
wonderful "thunderbirds" truck. Then we had to ski back
to the hotel.
Sadly, being on the back of a snowmobile was one
of the worst experiences of my life.....
Half way through the snowmobiling trip it started to snow and it
didn't stop for the rest of our stay!
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17 March: I donned my artist's hat to
sculpt an ice chick -->
I think the instructor thought I was loopy but I enjoyed myself
creating my first ever sculpture, whilst the rest of the party went ice driving
on a frozen lake. Crow was awarded the "best
driver" trophy - not bad for a navigator, especially as there
was actually a rally driver on that excursion (having a busman's
holiday, it seems).
The evening was booked for a Northern Lights
trip, unfortunately 1.5 hours by snowmobile. I wasn't up to
another snowmobile trip of this length so Crow & I had to give
this a miss. There was no possibility of seeing the Northern
Lights as it's completely overcast and hasn't stopped snowing
since yesterday. Caroline & Bex reaped the benefit of
having a snowmobile each, which made Bex especially happy as she
hated being on the back too!
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| This is the Ice Chapel. There
were two weddings during our trip. |
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| 18 March: My favourite outing.
Whilst Crow & Caroline mushed their huskies, Bex & I had a
dog sled ride out to a remote cabin where we were fed tomato soup,
moose stew and pudding with hot lingonberry juice.
The ride was absolutely
amazing. Phenomenal peace and quiet through woodland and
over the frozen river, just us and the dogs running ahead.
Funny moments as they dive for mouthfuls of snow and poo along
the way without stopped for even an instant.
Very amusing
escapade on the way back as we witnessed Crow's team veer off
track to try to follow another random dog being walked by its
owner.
Then we helped put the huskies to bed at their
kennels.
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Couldn't leave without experiencing the ice bar! A great
variety of vodka cocktails on sale, served in ice glasses.
Very appealing.
An when your glass is empty, you can stick it
onto the wall. |
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| 19 March: Our last scrumptious breakfast,
a spot of shopping (no point in having to exchange money back to
Sterling, is there?) and a long, long trip home. |
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| Anyone for dinner? Something
out of the freezer maybe? |
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If you want to see more pics, click here.
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