Lapland, Sweden
Walking on a frozen lake in Luleå.
In March 2017, I travelled to Sasha's hometown in Northern Sweden to visit friends and family. As much as she will hate me saying this (due to the remoteness), it turns out she lived two hour's drive from the arctic circle.
I've always wanted to visit Lapland and so jumped on the opportunity to explore a bit with her. Below, you'll find some of what we saw.
Dog sleds in Lapland. These guys were waiting for guests just outside the Ice Hotel and can run 25km in one trip.
Catching a break
A window at the Ice Hotel.
The building is made entirely from ice and snow. Temporary arches are put up during construction and a mixture of ice and snow are compacted on top to form the rooms and hallways. The building moves and shifts over the months as the ice settles leading to a very organic aesthetic inside.
The main entrance to the Ice Hotel. This year marks the 27th creation of the ice hotel. It melts down every summer so no two are ever the same. Fleeting art, if you will.
The Casablanca room. A bedroom at the Ice Hotel. Each one is different and designed by artists from all over the world.
This room is in the new permanent section of the hotel which is housed in a giant freezer.
Sasha in the Ice Hotel's main ice corridor.
Ice fishing on a frozen lake (an attempt, at least).
They're tough up north.
The Sami people own Reindeer that effectively roam freely across Northern Sweden. Turns out they like licking the salt laid down on the icy roads which makes for some pant-pooping moments as we drove down the roads at 100kmh.
Storfosen. An incredible waterfall (just out of shot) surrounded by little camping spots that you can have a campfire and cook some lunch at
Alexander exhibiting his outdoor skills and cooking up some delicious salt cured pork on Swedish flat brea on an open fire. As remote as this was, the European commission have somehow managed to provide free wifi here.
Sunsets in Älvsbyn. The houses are made out of wood and some are hundreds of years old.
Sasha has five cats...
And I'm allergic to them.
It was an incredible trip. I like to travel because of the broadening of perspective that experiencing new cultures brings. In terms of new cultures, the approach to life that Northern Swedes have is refreshing. Sure, it's a quiet place compared to many cities and would I really want to trade for it in the long term? Not really. However, the abundance of beautiful landscapes and the relative isolation of many of the villages results in a real appreciation of the present.