A Lapdance...

Isn't just something that happens in sleazy bars or on in private on your couch at home, it's what you do when you book a holiday for yourself and your 6-year old son to visit Lapland!  Yep, Jake and I are off to Finland to meet Father Christmas!!

It's been something I've wanted to do for ages, but the actually deciding to go and booking part has all happened pretty quickly.  We are VERY excited (and a quite a bit nervous) and can't believe that it's just 5 weeks tomorrow until we head off on our whirlwind adventure.

We depart Cape Town on 2 December at 19:05 and fly to Rovaniemi via Frankfurt and Helsinki.  We arrive in Rovaniemi at 14:45 on the 3rd.  Since we've booked a package deal for once we arrive, we'll be met at the airport and taken straight to our hotel.  The hotel is just 3km outside the Rovaniemi city centre and boasts one of Finland's top restaurants.  They also have free wi-fi, so now to decide whether I'm going to lug my laptop across the world with me to keep you all up-to-date, or travel lightly.

On the evening we arrive, we'll be going on a snowmobile tour under the Arctic sky, through snow-covered forests and on the frozen river.  We'll be searching for the Northern Lights (aurora Borealis), which is something I've always wanted to see and hopefully get a decent photo of, although it doesn't sound like a very simple subject to photograph.  Somewhere along the way, the plan is to enjoy a warm beverage (fingers crossed for gluhwein) by the campfire and learn a little bit about Lapland.  Hopefully it's not too boring for kids, I'm sure by then Jake & I will both be exhausted!

Our second day sees us doing a morning snowmobile safari (Jake's going to absolutely love it) to a reindeer farm to learn about reindeer husbandry and the Lappish Culture.  We get to have a sleigh-ride with "Rudolph" and will have lunch in a cosy restaurant.  In the afternoon, we'll be visiting the Santa Claus Village.  The itinerary says "time to shop, send postcards from Santa's main post office and meet Santa Claus himself".  Jake is going to wet his pants!  Imagine at 6, being able to hand deliver your wish list to Father Christmas...

On day 3, we'll be doing a husky tour.  We visit a husky farm (please don't let there be puppies... no more dogs!) and go on a husky safari through the forests again.  Warm drinks around an open fire (I think I'm going to enjoy this part a lot).

Day 4 is home time.  Our flight only departs at 15:15, so we have the whole morning to enjoy.  We might go into Rovaniemi for a little, but I think after such a whirlwind trip, Jake & I might just enjoy spending some quiet time in the hotel before travelling all the way home again.  I know that this is a huge trip for such a short time, but it's freezing there and I don't think I could deal with much longer.  We already have to hire proper snow suits and boots, hats, scarves, gloves, etc to keep us warm enough for the safari's.  Despite there being no time difference, so hopefully no jetlag, I am sure that both Jake & I will be exhausted by the time we get home at 10:55 on 7 December.  It is going to be SO worth it though. 

I spoke to a friend in Norway on Facebook earlier today and he was telling me that we'll be lucky if we get 4 - 5 hours of semi-light a day.  We are going to be in the Arctic Circle in December after all.  Shew... I can't believe we're actually doing this, it's nuts!!

Unfortunately, Danie isn't joining us, but absence makes the heart grow fonder.  And I do think that this will be a very special, magical holiday to share with Jake.  A definite once in a life time and a total child's indulgence for us both!!

Sue X