If you ever thought about spending summer in Finland go to Lapland. And go there in September. In this time there is an Indian Summer there or what they used to call it here: Ruska. We went there on a second week of September and we had a gorgeous weather and colors. We went to Saariselka region which is right at the entrance to the Urho Kekkonen National Park. The park is huge, something like 150 km across. How to get there? Best by plane, you can take one up to Ivalo and you are right there (plus a short bus trip). We took one to Rovaniemi because of course having kids obligates you to visit Santa. But I liked it too. I mean, there was no season for Santa of course, so his village was sort of empty and asleep with some lost Japanese tourists wandering around. But Santa Claus is there all year round and is happy to see the kids. My kids were amazed by him. Wanda was brave enough to speak to him in English, Tomek was brave enough to crawl by himself up to Santa's huge boots. I guess in the kids eyes there is some magic out there, the house, the interior, all like in an old fairy tale, like from the good old times. But there was one funny thing - they have actually more then one Santa Claus! And we discovered it on the second day. When we arrived in the afternoon, right after having late lunch we went to see Santa in his home. This is what they told us - that there was his home or office, whatever. But the next morning before we left we went for a walk around the whole village and we visited him in his second home - a big house. I was sort of surprised that when Santa saw us for the second time, he didn't say anything about the fact. And with not so many people visiting the place he should have remember us! So I was suspicious :) And when we were walking back to our cottage I saw the welcoming sign saying "visit Santa in his office". Ahah! So, that's the trick. One guy is in the house, the other in the office. But I don't think it's fair for the kids. Anyway, we left his village and we headed up North! North from the Arctic Circle! Lapland is perfect for long walking, hiking, biking, runing. I loved the colors. Red, orange, yellow and blue - the sky. And the reindeers! They really walk along the way, so you must be careful while driving. But maybe instead for writing I will attach some pictures.
