Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Travels Pt. 2: Lapland

After the few days spent in Seinäjoki I was picked up by my host dad and we made our way to meet the rest of my host family to spend the next week or so in Lapland. I had gone with my host family and also some other relatives of theirs (i.e. aunt, uncle, cousins, grandparents) in celebration of my host-grandpa's 70th birthday. Alongside, it being the Easter holiday over the weekend so everyone had time off of work. In total, we spent Friday March 29th-Wednesday April 3rd in Lapland itself, the specific area called "Luosto." It was definitely my first year ever spending Easter away from what I've always known, but it was a great experience overall and I am so thankful for the fact that I was able to experience something new. 
On the first night there we had to stay at a hotel, due to the fact that the cabin we were renting for the week wasn't available until the following day on Saturday. The hotel was an absolutely gorgeous place though! Not only was the building itself breathtaking, but also where it was located - having the ski slopes literally right behind us, just a quick walk away. We had a big meal when we arrived in the afternoon and explored our location a bit before getting ready for the evening's plans. We had rented a smoke sauna, which is something I have been told to try since upon my arrival, and what an experience it was! Unlike regular sauna, smoke sauna takes the entire day just to warm up -- as it is heated from the wood which is burned, thus creating the smoke. It's definitely a way different feeling, but personally I loved it! Right outside the smoke sauna there was also "Avanto" a.k.a. winter swimming! Despite the fact that it was "springtime" it was still very much winter-like weather and the water was still just as cold & ice filled as it was in January. I have continued to keep up with my goal of swimming at least once every month, so I am pretty excited to say that my month of March was in Lapland itself :) Check out this photo & video.
& yes, I'm aware that I am as pale as the ice in the water. 

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