Lapland winter 2017

Lapland from 28th November to 4th December

” The Rauna Zoo, Rovaniemi “

> TRIP ORGANIZE BY RIGA ESN COOPERATING WITH TIMETRAVELS http://www.timetravels.fi <-

DAY 1 – Tuesday 28.11.2017

This trip has a very long travel journey, basically a day of travel to go and one to come back, from Riga Latvia trought Estonia by bus after across the baltic sea with ferry and once arrived in Finland by bus to the Saariselka village.

So daparture was at 10.30 am at Riga 5 Aspazijas blvd. (University of Latvia Faculty of Economics and Management), from there we went to Tallinn by bus that it’s around 5 hours and at 6 pm from Tallin we took the boat (Viking Line) to Helsinki and from there around 9 pm we took an other bus till the next stop in Rauna Zoo in Rovaniemi.

DAY 2 – Wednesdsay 29.11.2017

” With my claasmates and friends at Santaclaus Village “

” At the beginning of the artic circle “

” Santa Claus village “

” Pic with Santa Claus “

THE RANUA ZOO , SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE , ARRIVAL IN THE DESTINATION

At 9.00 am we arrived at the Rauna zoo where we had the brakfast first and then we visit the zoo. At 12:00 Departure from Ranua Zoo towards Rovaniemion we stopped first for grocery shopping and lunch at Rovaniemi shopping mall.

Then we visited the Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. In Santa Claus village you can take pictures with the SANTA, cross the magical Arctic circle, have lunch in one of the restaurants, buy souvenirs, send postcards from the Santa’s official post office and have a lunch. Departure to Saariselkä at 16.45.

19:45 Arrival in Saariselkä, briefing and lodging in the cottages, get my bedroom with my friend Giulia, later on free time for saunas dinner and few drinks with the cottage mates.

DAY 3 – Thursday 30.11.2017

” On the way to Bugoynes village “

” Skoltefossen Waterfall “

” On the way to Bugoynes village “

” Bugoynes village from the hill “

” Northern light in Bugoynes “

Day trip to Norway starting at 6:45 peparture with the bus from the cottages.

A one-day bus tour during which we had not only experience breathtaking landscapes, walk on the shores of the Arctic Ocean and even swim in it, but you’ll also meet and learn about the indigenous peoples who’ve lived in this cold and inhospitable region for thousands of years – the Sámi (Lapp) people and the Finnish Kven’s in the fishing village of Bugøynes. We also had the chance to taste traditional fish soup in a local restaurant. The 550-kilometre tour takes around 8 hours.

Super amazing, going up to Nporway driving through the snow with the sunrise, very amational, then we stopped in a gasoline station where they sell reinder ribs. Later on when we crossed the border to Norway we stoped for take a pic (just a pic because was too cold ) to the Skoltefosse waterfall, then we stopped few time for a panoramic view and when was almost dark we arrived in Bugoynes, where we eat in the Bugoynes bistro, just after we went to the sauna next to the ocean, and we runned to the ocean taking a bath even if the water was insopportable coldbut we did it and not only once. After that experience we were super lucky and we saw the northern light just after the sauna, amaizing and absolutely unespected.

At 20:00 Arrival back to Saariselkä, dinner and few drinks with our cottage mates then sleep.

DAY 4 – Friday 01. 12. 2017

” The cottage where we stayed “

” Around the cottages “

” After sauna “

” Snowshoes activities”

” Chilling with my girls after sauna “

Morning woke up late breakfast in the cottage enjoing the winter atmosphere then sauna few pic and walk around the snow till Perla cottage and then come back all together in ours for a noon thè. Then we did snowshoeing that is one of our most enjoyable activities. Our guides make sure you conquer even the steepest of hills and enjoy what the National Park has to offer. You get a spectacular chance to both make new life long friendships and challenge your self in picturesque Lappish scenery, something to reminisce even after years. Then we had a dinner all together in the restaurant and after we went home for chilling, doing the sauna and drink some wine together.

DAY – 5 Saturday 02.12.2017

” With my friend and a puppy Husky “

” Husky safari “

” Driving a Husky sled “

” Reindeer sleigh “

” Celebrating the last night at Tunturihotel “

Wake up not too early for the husky activities, we get there with the bus and after a brief instruction lesson the huskies will take you for a tour through the snowy landscapes. The sledges are shared by two people, each will drive for about 5km, I shared the sled with my Dutch classmate and after the safari you will enjoy a warm snack and tea in the base camp. Then we did the reindeer activities they are peaceful and gentle creatures of the north. Seated comfortably in a reindeer guided sleigh, you are taken on a ride in style. In this activity didn’t only met the reindeer but I also know the lifestyle of the indigenious culture of Lapland, the Sámi people. In the golden days reindeer had a very different meaning to communities than they have today so come and hear about living in Lapland with the reindeers.

Then I went in Perla cottage for enjoing and drink all together for the last night, and later around 23.00 pm we moved to the Tunturihotel for clubbing all night.

( Here there is something that I will never forget 29€ for 4 tequila shot ).

DAY 6 – Sunday 03.12.2017

” Reindeer burger in Saariselka “

At 11: 00 am we did the check-out, then free time in Saariselka but everyone we were very in hangover for do something so we just went for lunch little walk, and spend the afternoon in a bar for an hot cholate and some good chatting before leaving the village.

At 17:00 departure from the meeting point for home journey, all night on the bus.

DAY 7 – Monday 04.12.2017

” The senate square, Helsinki “

We stopped few times in the night, like at 06:00 in Tampere, and at 9:30 in Helsinki where we had enought time to go in the city center for a coffee, and then by ferry to tallin and from tallinn to Riga by bus like the way to go.

We arrived in Riga around 9.00 pm so all the Italian of the trip we went together to the sushi restaurant, for share and talk about the great experience, and the home for rest.