Thread: Lapland diary

Hi all, thought I'd pop by when I can and let you know how it's going.

Kept it secret until we were almost at the airport, hubby thought my parents were taking us out for a day trip as an early present, he didn't have a clue!

2.5hr flight to Helsinki, then a connecting 1hr10 flight to Kittila. We arrived at the hotel at 7ish, just in time for dinner.

We are staying at the Harriniva hotel in Muonio. It's very pretty. And very very cold!

When we arrived last night it was around -31c. We had dinner (salad buffet starter, mushroom soup, salmon with a lobster sauce with veg and potato, cheeseboard or gateaux dessert), then we shoved on all our layers and went out into the snow for a wander.

It was a bit naughty really as we haven't been given our snow overalls until today but we heard the northern lights might come out (they didn't) so we decided to risk it. It was SO cold even in 3 or 4 thermal layers. You can actually feel the hairs in your nose freeze solid and your eyelashes stick to your hat!

Unfortunately our glasses were fogging/freezing so we stuck those in our pockets - the big problem is that at some point OH lost his!! Bit of a disaster so we went to bed sad last night.

But woke up this morning feeling better. OH doesn't have very good vision but he seems to be doing ok and just hope he doesn't have headaches.

We are getting kitted up now ready for some ice fishing later.

Only -27c this morning so positively warm in comparison!

Love to you all!

And I thought it was cold here!
How did he react when you told him? x

Originally Posted by *Emsie*

How did he react when you told him? x

That's what I want to know!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds fab so far & the food seems yummy

Would it be worth going back out today to see if you can find hubby's glasses?

Originally Posted by *Emsie*

And I thought it was cold here!
How did he react when you told him? x

Me too! Sounds lovely though albeit cold!! xx

We were up at 6am to leave the house, so we got to the airport around 8... But we'd only had about 2 hours sleep... So when I told him he jut looked really blank faced and said oh I'll miss the wrestling Pay-per-view tonight! But then it kind of clicked and he was like oh my god what???!!! He was so happy!

We were both a bit blue last night, I think we were WAY over tired. I went back out twice in goggles and a headlamp to look for the glasses but the winds were up and the snow drifts. I had to come back in in the end as my face was getting frost burn.

BUT this morning we asked again at reception and someone had found them and handed them in so all hunky dory now and we are all happy!

Breakfast was a buffet, I had hot oatmeal, with fresh berries, and then rye bread with cheese. Hubby had cheese, cold meats, boiled eggs, toast and fruit slices.

Then we went to the equipment lady, who kitted us out in giant onesies, huge socks, snow boots, seal gloves and 2 balaclavas each! I actually had to take some of my base layers off as I was too warm (and I'm the sort of person who wears jumpers in summer!).

We've got Ice Fishing at 2:30pm, and then a sleigh ride pulled by skidoo tonight. Both of those will be quite cold, so will be glad of all the layers!

awww, hope you have fun

Sounds amazing!

Will post some pics in a bit, but you have to let the camera warm up slowly when you come indoors, otherwise the frozen condensation from outside wrecks the camera.

Sounds amazing!! X

Here's hubby in the snow









Here's me (hard to tell us apart in all this gear

Here's the frozen river between us and Sweden






And the giant igloo in the grounds where you can book a bed for the night if you are mental!

Wow! That igloo is amazing!!!!

Wow the photos look brill, it does sound amazing.

It is amazing but it's cold like you cant imagine and it takes half an hour to put all the clothes on and half an hour to take them all off again!

We went ice fishing but sadly caught bugger all. It was great fun, the guide set us up and then left us sat out on the frozen lake to chat and fish, just the two of us. We talked about the time I caught crabs (while crab fishing honestly), and about how farting nicely warms up your snow suit. It was very romantic, especially when the fart works its way up the suit and escapes into your face from the neck opening.

Dinner tonight was yet again amazing. I hope the cold and activities are enough to burn most of it off as I feel stuffed!

*warning any food mentions may be non SW friendly, so really sorry if it gives anyone cravings, but I do want to log my eating while I'm out here*

Lunch
Reindeer pasta - Tagliatelle with sort of carbonara sauce but with reindeer instead of ham


Dinner
Salmon and potato chowder
Mixed salads, apple coleslaw, huge pile of chunky smoked salmon with some rye bread
Slow cooked beef brisket, sweet potato purée, roasted veg
Chocolate mousse, maple syrup & pecan cheesecake.
Skipped the cheese course as I was so full!

Desserts aside the food is fairly healthy. I brought a travel kettle with me and we have been having options hot chocolates, Alpen bars, and I also have mug shots if we ever need a snack.

Everything from the jams to the puddings are all homemade, and most of the ingredients are simple and local.

Letting it settle before we head of on our snowmobile pulled sleigh ride. Bit nervous that it will be really cold and/or too bumpy :s