Daley's 2018 Norway Finland chasing the Northern Lights

16th, 17th March, Travel days.

I am just going to call these two days one big travel day.
With crossing the international date line it wasn't really two days anyway.
Started with major bag repacks, checkout at midday and straight to the airport. Usual sitting around waiting to board. 5pm bye bye Helsinki and that concludes our first leg of the Holiday.

Great time but we really are over the bitter cold!

10am 17th March we land in Tokyo.

Our Japan adventure starts.

15th March, We are going to Tallin!

Yes another early start as we are catching the 7am Ferry to Estonia.
And it is cold so cold the ferry which is a converted cruise ship (2000 people) had to break the ice. Amazing to see.

We arrive and drive through the old rich residential area to the park where they have their musical festivals.

There is a lot of sentimental value here for the Estonians as many of the early Russian protests at the time of gaining independance from Russia was done in song. We head to the old town starting at the high level, (that means we walk downhill, bonus)

There is a great viewing spot over looking the old town before we walk down to the town centre

And so we wander down.

Felt we were being watched!

Into the main centre square.

Sat down with one of the locals and said nice place but bloody cold!

He said he was frozen stiff.

A long day but back on the ferry to Helsinki.

14th March, We head to Helsinki

Sorry Mum, not many photo's today.

Up very early to catch a train to Helsinki which left at 6am. The trip took a bit over 9 hours but with getting ready out of the hotel and into the next hotel it was a long boring day.
Still the European trains are very quiet and very comfortable.
The view was only white forest an occasional town.

Most of the big trees were Birch, usually a smaller one near by know as Son's of Birches!

Even as we approach Helsinki there is still plenty of snow.

By the time we all check in we are shattered. Fortunately there is a good local pub at the back of the hotel. It had a sort of familiar feel to it.

13th March, Another day in Rovaniemi

Another day in Rovaniemi, spent the morning poking around the shops and getting supplies for tomorrow's big train journey. That's mainly chocolate and other health food to keep our energy up.
Lots of foreign restaurants offering strange food, like Sweet and Sour Reindeer at the chinese, reindeer tacos at the mexican and reindeer curry at the indian.

A little walk to the river then around the streets.

They loose a lot of bikes here over winter.

Some interesting sidewalk displays.

Time for some fun.

Driving a snow mobile, it is the most fun you can have with your pants on.

A 3 minute talk on how it operates and we are off and racing.

Over the frozen lake then into the woods.

Magic!

12th March, Rovaniemi.

A day of rest.
We leave our Igloos with clear blue skies.

Then 30 minute drive to Rovaniemi, unfortunately not the prettiest of towns. It is a major river crossing town on the main route up and down Finland so was completely bombed in 1944 to destroy its stratigic advantage. The rebuilding is rather plain. As we arrive the snow comes down again.

So it is just a day pottering around the shops.