Lapland - Day 4 (March 6)

Another beautiful sunny day. We started at 8:30 towards the husky farm. After a short lesson we were on our way. One person sits in the sleigh, the other stands on the runners and tries to control the huskies. The only real control is a brake you step on when you feel they are running too fast. They decide if to obey or not... It's really quite exhilirating especially as the way was beautiful and the ice glittered in the sun. But it was quite cold - around -7 (Celsius) and both driver and passenger slowly felt their extremities freezing.

Midway (after about 40 minutes) we were told to switch places and I got into the sleigh and Keren onto the runners. After a sharp turn I saw one of the Finns running towards us and disentangling the dogs and then he told me I had to drive. I was a bit puzzled and even more puzzled and surprised when I saw Keren walking towards me. Turns out she fell off and I did not even notice. Seems her punishment was to be banished to being passenger again.

After hot berry juice and a most welcome fire in a kuta along with explanations about the huskies, we went out to pet and photograph them and then on to the reindeer farm. That was rather pathetic - a few ragged reindeer drawing sleighs around in a circle - similar to children's pony rides. We skipped that but got our reindeer driving licenses nonetheless.

Excellent mushroom soup for lunch and on to the arktikum which is a very beautiful local museum dealing with the local flora and fauna and indigenous people.

A gala dinner tonight - again with the ambassador...



P.S. The gala was terrible - the worst meal by far! The ambassador told a couple of good stories but we did not like him nonetheless. Then we tried to see the aurora borealis but no luck. Some people are still going to try and walk to a dark spot and wait for it there but we are too cold and sleepy.

P.P.S I forgot we also went to Santa's village today. As expected - a tourist trap but a good place to send postcards from.