250 miles within the Arctic Circle (at Saariselka) lies Hotel Kakslauttanen. It is a 30 minute transfer from Ivalo airport.
There are a number of different room types available:
Snow Igloos – of which about 20 are constructed annually for habitation between December through April. Here you will be provided with special sleeping bags (good for temperatures as ‘cool’ as -32C, woollen socks and hoods – both a must! The snow igloos accommodate from 1 to 5 people. There are other places you can sleep in snow igloos – see http? So the really interesting thing about this place are the other rooms available:
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Most of us are aware of the various Ice Hotels throughout the world – which are truly amazing but - IGLU DORF (Igloo Village) – takes the experience to another level (or depth) depending on your point of view. There are 6 igloo villages - all in Ski resorts, four in Switzerland, one Germany, and one in Andorra.
What’s on offer, and how are they constructed?
Each village is constructed from scratch each year. Enormous balloons are inflated (not by blowing into them!) they are then covered in snow. All the igloo’s are connected by tunnels, viewed from the outside the village gives the impression of just being a huge pile of snow with a few entrances.
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Fri 17th October 2008 at 01:27 AM, Filed in Europe, December
A million or so people descent on Konya for this 700+ year old tradition taking place at the museum of Mevlana in Konya, which gives the festival its name. The festival takes place over a fortnight starting at the beginning of December with the highlight being the final night – 17th December.
Mevlana Jalal al-din Rumi was a 13th Century Sufic saint who was a poet and founder of the Mevlevi Sufi Brotherhood. It is said he was a great teacher who imparted lessons in tolerance optimism and holiness, believing that all religions are more or less good. The brotherhood created the whirling dervishes and Sufis believe that dance brings them closer to God and the teachings of Mevlana.
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Posted by Jackie Hewett on Fri 10th October 2008 at 02:50 PM, Filed in Europe, December
December 13th sees much of Scandinavia, but especially Sweden, celebrate the Christian saints day celebration of Saint Lucy (or St Lucia’s Day). The date also marks the winter solstice (shortest day / longest night of the year) in the old ‘Julian’ Calendar which use to be marked by a Swedish festival of lights. The two festivals have now merged into one in Sweden.
Historically, St Lucia was a young girl who was killed for her faith in 304AD, and so martyred. It is said that the reason for her death is that she regularly, secretly brought food to persecuted Christians in Rome who were hiding in catacombs under the city. To free her hands for carrying food and light her way she wore candles on her head. Monks who brought the Christian faith to Sweden retold her story.
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Can there be a reader who hasn’t heard of the infamous chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay? Well, how many of you knew that he can now add hotelier to his cv?
Overlooking Regents Park (at the northern end, in Camden), Ramsay Holdings riginally bought the previously derelict pub for another eaterie, but decided that the building could be turned into something more. The York and Albany London (not to be confused with the New York hotel) has only just opened (21st September 2008) after an estimated £4million spend, but will it be a success?
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