To cut to the chase, and because the title gives it away, my parents came to visit me in Lapland this week. It was also very surreal as neither of them I'm pretty sure would choose cold weather over hot. At least, I know for a fact my mum wouldn't. Anyway, because I've made sunny, cold, Lapland my home for the past seven months, they thought they should come and see it and me.
Of course I was very excited. One of the things I've found most challenging about living in Finland is the cost of living, which is very high and higher than I'm used to at home. So naturally my parents coming meant for a week I wouldn't have to pay for food, result. They'd also hired a car so I'd asked to go a bit further afield some days which is usually beyond my means as I often walk and cycle.
Onto the weeks highlights. Of course, I suggested we go to Santa's Village which my dad kept referring to as 'Santa Claus Land'. The first few times I went here, it was magical and very exciting but as it stands the novelty has well and truly worn off for me now. Whilst my parents marveled at some but not all of the Santa themed gifts on offer I had a look around for the fourth time and wondered what I was going to have for lunch. They enjoyed themselves none the less and got their gift shop fill for the week.
One of the best bits of the past week was going to the SnowVillage in Kittilä, which is about 149km from Rovaniemi. The SnowVillage is built annually around the same location with construction usually beginning in late October or early November depending on the weather and is open to the public until April. I'd been desperate to go since I was tagged in a video about it on Facebook by a friend from home because this year, the SnowVillage is Game of Thrones themed and I absolutely LOVE Game of Thrones, so I jumped at the chance to look at the Iron Throne made of ice. As well as this, there were a number of other pieces created by sculptors from Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Latvia. I was in awe for the entire time, wondering around trying to capture the detail and just staring at how amazing these sculptures were. Words and even photos, I don't think could do them justice.
I also had the opportunity to go to Ranua Wildlife Park, an Arctic Zoo just outside Rovaniemi. Although I'm not a massive fan of zoos, the polar bears were a big draw for me. My mum is also a big owl fan so she wanted to go and see them too. My personal highlight was seeing the otters, my favourite animal ever and when they decided to go to sleep in the strangest position I've ever seen. There was also a KarlFazer shop, which meant I could get some Finnish chocolate and if you've never had Finnish choc, I'd highly recommend and it was only €1.80 compared to the supermarket €2.25, bargain.
It was a great week, it was cool to show my parents around and for them to see where I was living. I think it also gave them some peace of mind actually being here rather than just seeing photos of it. A highlight for my mum and (maybe) my dad was also seeing the Northern Lights, although the contrasting reactions of my parents was really something. We walked out of their apartment in the middle of the city (its recommended you go as far from the city as possible whilst Northern Light hunting), to see the bright green lights dancing across the sky. Pointing this out to both my parents, my mum exclaimed and marveled at how beautiful they were. My dad however glanced up and asked me if that was them, remarking that they looked like smoke to him. The best natural light show in the world and my dad didn't really get it, lucky for him he got to visit the Arktikum and see the Aurora Borealis section.
Having visitors in Lapland reinforces to me how much I've adapted to life here, occasionally I'd forget to tell them which way they needed to go when walking somewhere because I'm so used to being here without them and being around people that know their way around. So for a short time I had to convert into a guide for a few days.
