📍Rovaniemi, Finland

DAY 2

Zoe Lappa tells us,

"What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear Finland? Right. Santa Claus Village. But let me start the story from the beginning.

After 2 months in the country, my friends and I decided to go to Rovaniemi, starting with the evening train from Helsinki. Not so pleasant route as the trip lasted 12 hours… Arriving the next morning we headed straight to the Village of Santa Claus. Unfortunately due to the pandemic there was not the same magic in the atmosphere. The area was deserted, without the happy sound of childish laughter or the enchanted gaze of adults. Most services were closed, but you could do the basics, such as walking with reindeer or huskies, writing a letter to your loved ones, taking pictures with Santa Claus or seeing igloo (which were actually hotels).

Generally I would say that we were disappointed with the place as there is nothing special to see if you do not intend to pay to do one of these activities. The village was different from the photos. It was very small and the landscape was not very impressive. "

"Leaving behind the Christmas spirit, we found the right opportunity to try the traditional Finnish sauna that is so loved here in Finland. With -10 degrees outside, it was the best decision we made!

However, the day does not end here.

We met our friends and decided to go hiking in a park just 15 minutes away from the center of Rovaniemi. The course we followed was a bit difficult because of the snow but absolutely enchanting. A place that everyone should visit in this city as it offers a panoramic view of the whole of Rovaniemi."

"Clearly the most unreal moment of the day was when we saw the Northern Lights. Not everyone is lucky in this case. We had to be constantly on the alert as the sky must be perfectly clear, with no clouds. Fortunately for us, we hired a tour guide. to start the "hunt" away from the polluting air of Rovaniemi. "Finnish dish, which we tasted while enjoying this magical phenomenon. An unforgettable experience…!"