Hotel Inari

... longer at around 7.6km, on the way back. A couple of times we pass warning signs; a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark and one or two words underneath. They could mean anything from steep hill to cliff edge, to road crossing to bears on the loose. Although it was more likely to be for hills and cross-roads. We end with a long downhill run back to the gateway, stepping into the parallel lines and gliding along, as if on rails.

... resort in Europe, and the training grounds of the national cross-country skiing team. Although nowhere near as high altitude as resorts in the Alps or the Rockies, the latitude (approximately 68º North) guarantees snow for several months of the year. To the east of the village lie the fells of Kaunispää (437m) and Iisakkipää, where the alpine ski centre is based. The fells have the rounded profile, with a flattened top ...

... of the cabin is the living area, with a wood-burning stove in the centre of the room. The left of the room is a sitting area with a coffee table, and the right is a small kitchen, complete with hotplate, microwave and dishwasher, along with a table and benches. At each corner of the room doors lead through to the bedrooms, fitted out as mirror images with bunk-beds and a hanging rail. Next to the fire, a thick ...

... constantly emerging through intra-actions, and limits to understanding not only due to a lack of human capacity or data but actually inherent to the world itself, the absolute truth indeterminable. What follows is that I don't think I, or anyone, should ever come from a position of believing that the are definitely right and others definitely wrong, about anything. Always mindful of the indeterminacy of the world, I ...

I have entered the land of the midnight sun! which, I've discovered, means I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping. Luckily, I have been able to relax in sauna. I just got back from the sauna at our hotel, which is right beside the Inari river - so we had a couple of dips in between sauna ...

Es geht in den hohen Norden Finlands -nach Lappland, wo wir einen kleinen Zwischenstopp auf unserer Reise einlegen und dort das populäre Polarlicht zu sehen. Wie heißt die finnische Stadt die nah am nördlichen Polarkreis liegt? Trage den ersten Buchstaben bitte an die 19. Stelle des Lösungssatzes. TK :)

Ensimäisen päivän vietimme ihan vain mökillä. Mika ja Roto nukkuivat, kun minä ja Tero järjestimme mökille juoksevaa vettä ja kävimme kaupassa. Torstaina sitten lähdimme Pyhälle ja vietimme viitisen tuntia luonnon helmassa. Lähdimme Pyhän hotellilta kävelemään Isokurulle ja sieltä jatkoime Karhunjuomalammelle. Isokuru oli todella mahtavan näköinen ja siellä koimme Mikan kanssa ensimmäisen ruskamme. Maa suorastaan hehkui punaisen, keltaisen ja vihreän eri ...

Saavuimme perille mökille noin kello neljältä aamuyöstä. Astuimme ulos autosta ja vastassa oli jäätävä pimeys. Mökkiä ei näkynyt missään, eikä taskulamppuja ollut käden ulottuvilla. Vesa ja Tero tiesivät missä Mökki sijaitsee ja menivät käynnistämään agregaattia. Ilman taskulamppuja tämäkään ei onnistunut, mutta taskulamppu paljasti väärässä asennossa olevan nupin ja kone käynnistyi. Silloin näimme viimein mökin ja lähdimme kantamaan tavaroita ...

... was recommended by my guidebook and there was the largest national park in Finland nearby. The buses are not so frequent, though, and I had to wait until 14h to leave Ivalo, taking the time to walk a little in the hotel's surroundings (nothing to see) and eat the reindeer fillet in Ivalo style in the hotel (this was worth it :). I couldn't contact HC members in Inari (about the 500-something inhabitants, there are some members!), as I didn't have internet ...

What an experience. A lovely quiet wedding; beautiful picture postcard scenery; deep snow so cold that it forms perfect stars. Apparently, this only happens after about -12 degree's? And of course, madmen in the middle of the night looking at the aurora borealis! http://www.saariselka.fi/eng/