Scandic Ferrum Kiruna

... Sunday 26 July / Monday 17 August 5h tour to Abisko National Park, a place of many delights, including a birch-clad valley, flowery alpine meadows and dazzling river rapids. The park is surrounded on three sides by lofty mountains and, to the north by Scandinavia's largest alpine lake, Torneträsk. Transfer to Kiruna Airport the approx one and a half hour flight to Stockholm. Late arrival and check in.

... sort of room you want to lounge around in), the ice church, etc and then prepare myself for the evening ahead with a sauna. This is so different to last night's one in the tiny dark wooden hut - this one is spacious, modern, rather devoid of soul, and there's no-one else in there. Right next to it is the ice sauna and also an area with soft fresh snow that I rub all over myself - it's a bit abrasive and the skin smarts, then back into the sauna and finally a cold shower. Then it's off ...

I took the absolute last train that leaves from Stockholm, at 23:52 to Ostersund and then Kiruna on my journey to see the reindeers, the Sami people, the Ice Hotel and of course, Aurora Borealis. During my long wait in the station, I paid 5 Kroner to use the bathroom, and got more than that. I ran into a group of Swedish prostitutes on their way out to the streets, and yes, they look better than American prostitutes. The bus I took in Ostersund was much ...

... a shower! You don't think that is possible? Well let me tell you. As we drove to the car park of the visitors centre and where the hut was located, Henrik went for a wonder and came back with a cheeky smile on his face as though he has just done something he wasn't suppose to! He told me about this bathroom which was open and had a shower in it. It has been one week since my last shower and if there was going to be one for free, I was going to take it ...

... the future home of Virgin Galactic's commercial space flights. They already have a space center here, and there is apparently something around the lack of regulation around Swedish Airspace that makes this an attractive spot. So, if you decide you want to go to space one day, you might be flying from Kiruna (although, you should watch out for the collapsing mine) Ice Hotel I arrived in town on late Friday night. On Saturday morning, I found a last ...

... Lights? I think so. Still, the trip was well worth it. The highlight was a dogsled trip - 12 dogs pull one sled with 4 people + the driver. The dogs were so adorable! Surprisingly, not all huskies and not as large as I expected. The owner said the leaner dogs were actually quite powerful. Plus they probably don't have the chance to get fat when they're working hard every day. Anyhow, the dogs are super friendly and eager. Before we ...

Flew to Kiruna this morning - with an exciting connection through Stockholm. For anybody going this way, don't believe them when they say your bags will be transferred to your next flight - they won't!! We nearly missed our flight because of this!! But it all worked out and we arrived in Kiruna safe and sound. Kiruna is above the arctic circle, and we had a very exciting landing on snow!! It was actually a smoother landing than I have had on tarmac, but I found the ...

... just the 2 of us had booked so very romantic snuggled up on the sled, after an hour (by which time our glasses had frosted over) there was a coffee break in cute log cabin in the middle of no where, the guide lit the fire there & made us the coffee which was gorgeous & we had a bit of chat with him about his life & the dogs, lovely guy, when we came out 2 of dogs got dog knotted for 20 mins (the romance in the air must have got to them)!  When we got back we went for a ...

... lots of pristine snow! We arrive at the warm part of the hotel and I immediately test out our surroundings by heaving a snowball into the side of James' head. Score! We are taken to the actual ice hotel, its great, despite being half built. (we arrived on the second day of the season) We go off to see the rest of the resort (running in the snow like children) before eventually returning for our induction tour late. I inadvertantly stick myself to an ice seat and I ...

... dog, the view never changes. Sign on pub wall