It was very silent in the neighborhood in Espoo since everybody was out and about to celebrate Xmas with their families elsewhere.
BHPian 14000rpm recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Many have asked – ”Finland? why? Why do you live in Finland?”
Over the last 12 years of living in Finland, I have used several different offbeat/Improvised replies. However, this has been my most-used line –
”I believe in Santa Claus and I’m here to collect my lifetime collection of gifts he never gave me during the last 44 Xmas’s that I’ve been around”
It was Xmas ’21 holidays and we didn’t really have any plans made. It was very silent in the neighborhood in Espoo since everybody was out and about to celebrate Xmas with their families elsewhere. We thought it best to go out somewhere too.
After sifting through a bunch of options, we froze on Rovaniemi in Lapland which is considered to be where Santa Claus hails from.
Time to get my gifts.
Shortest distance from Espoo is 850kms and 9.30 Hrs of driving. but then, with a then 5 yr old, we needed breaks. Lots of breaks which meant an overnight stay in Oulu. Booked up hotels and off we went.
Left from Oulu the next morning to Ranua Zoo..
Before reaching Rovaniemi later in the day to stay at Santa Claus Village.
Spent the evening on a winter hike..
and got back to the cottage to crash out.
Lazy start next morning started with a ride in the woods on a Husky Ride..
Since Mr. Santa was out roaming around with the reindeers.
We came back and spent some time with the Huskies.
Fooled around the Village..
The blue lit string in the below pix is the Arctic Circle..for real.
..and then went over to Santa’s house.
Daughter came back happy that she got a gift and I came back grumpy that I didn’t get any of mine.
Left early next on our return trip..
.. but quite immediately stopped to see a glimpse of the Aurora. It wasn’t even forecasted for the days of our visit and hence caught me by surprise.
Got some rubbish pix on phone ..
..but an awesome memory of it before it got cloudy again and wasn’t visible thereafter.
Drove the long way back home from a short but fun and memorable trip.
Home at last where the view outside my windows were exactly the same as Lapland.
Short Trip. Short TLog.
The End.
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