tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64263323915686557132024-03-06T07:39:23.786+00:00Nordic Experience - Scandinavian SpecialistsThe blog of Nordic Experience, specialist tour operator to the Nordic countries of Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Finland.Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-33110715496664264482014-12-02T17:39:00.000+00:002014-12-03T13:47:40.252+00:00Snowbird Reschedules Flights to Lapland<span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.7180004119873px;">We understand that Finnish airline <a href="http://snowbird.fi/" target="_blank">Snowbird </a>have recently rescheduled and cancelled a number of flights to Lapland over the 2014 Christmas period. The extent of any schedule changes have not yet been confirmed but we are aware of a number of clients who have been affected.</span><br />
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If you have received notification from Snowbird that your flight is no longer flying or has been cancelled then we may be able to assist in getting you to Lapland in time for Christmas.</div>
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Owing to a change in aircraft we have a number of new seats available for purchase from London Gatwick on the following dates: </div>
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London Gatwick to Kittila (Lapland)</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">20th December 2014</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">23rd December 2014</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">27th December 2014</li>
<li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">30th December 2014</li>
</ul>
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<span style="line-height: 16.7180004119873px;">Flights leave Gatwick at 11:00 and depart from Kittila at 18:15.</span></div>
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Seats are limited, so please contact us on 01206 708888 to discuss your plans.</div>
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Kittila is conveniently located for the ski resort of Levi, and also is a short transfer from Harriniva, Jeris or Torisieppi. Sweden, Enontekio and surrounding resorts are also reasonably close.</div>
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We have no affiliation with Snowbird, but advise you to contact your credit card or travel insurance provider if you receive any notification of changes from Snowbird.</div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"></a>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-79166063453597217072013-01-16T15:11:00.002+00:002014-02-27T18:56:39.642+00:00ICELAND’S POPULAR VOLCANO TOUR TO REOPEN AGAIN THIS SUMMER <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">One of last year’s most
popular tourist attractions, the Thrihnukagigur Volcano in Iceland, is set to
reopen again this year. From 15</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><sup>th</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"> May, the tours which are entitled
“Inside the Volcano’ will offer visitors the chance to see just what a volcano
looks like from the inside of a magma chamber.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Thrihnukagigur Volcano is 20
miles from Iceland’s capital Reykjavic, and as it is dormant, it is currently
the only place on the planet where it is safe to explore the huge magma
chamber. And huge it most certainly is, around the size of three full size
basketball courts and you could fit the Statue of Liberty in there! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">To enter, visitors descend
through the top crater, all the way down to the magma chamber and are to be
accompanied by experienced and special trained guides. A cable lift will carry
participants up and down the chamber. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">This has to be an amazing
opportunity for volcanologists or anyone with an interest in the magnificent
and natural wonders of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The tour will run from 15<sup>th</sup>
May – 10<sup>th</sup> September, with several confirmed departures each day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">For more information, visit </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://www.insidethevolcano.com/">http://www.insidethevolcano.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6426332391568655713"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668105313622016928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-80790365170510727712013-01-07T17:42:00.000+00:002014-02-27T18:57:09.424+00:00ROUGH GUIDE 2013 TRAVEL HOTLIST - NORDIC SPOTS TO SEE <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">We would
like to wish everyone a very happy new year. It was good start for two Nordic
Countries as they were named in the Rough Guide’s 2013 Travel Hotlist.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">The travel trending two are Stockholm, the
Swedish capital and the North East of Iceland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">So what do
these places have to offer? Well, in a nutshell…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">STOCKHOLM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Climb the
City Hall tower and enjoy the splendid view over the city.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Take a walk
around Gamla Stan, an amazing medieval city centre.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Visit the Royal
Palace, Stockholm cathedral and the Vasa museum, which just happens to be the
only preserved 17<sup>th</sup> century ship on the planet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Do a spot
of sightseeing by boat on an organised tour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Check out the
new Stockholm landmark, the world’s largest spherical building, the Ericsson
Globe, and enjoy the trip to the top in one of the gondolas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Enjoy a
drink at the Gondolen bar, which is situated at the top of the Katarina lift. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Find your
inner Pippi (or Philip) Longstocking and run free at Junibacken, a mini indoor
theme park. You can ride</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> a fairytale train or
dress up as Pippi and slide down the roof of her house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">NORTH EAST ICELAND<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Go whale watching. This is where whale-watching
tours first started and is a marvelous spot to see several species including
humpback whales, blue minke whales, white beaked dolphins and pilot whales.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">If feathered
creatures are more your thing, you can follow a birding trail put together by
experts and enthusiasts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Just walk
through this magnificent landscape for the sheer fun of it. Or you could
explore it on horseback.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Conditions
for cross-country skiing are excellent and in the mountains west of Skjalandi
Bay are superb ice climbing areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">There is no
better way to relax after a day of exertion in the great outdoors than to soak
and relax in one of the region’s geothermal pools and spas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Visit the
Husavik Whale museum to learn all about the life’s and loves of Cetaceans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Hope these
nuggets of information have whetted your appetite with regards to these two
Nordic areas. If you have any other suggestions places to see, things to do, local
foods and customs that make Stockholm and North East Iceland special then
please let us know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6426332391568655713"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668105313622016928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-52976369359204742102012-12-19T17:43:00.000+00:002014-02-27T18:57:33.484+00:00MEETING SANTA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are many reasons to visit the Arctic north in winter.
So much to see and do – the Northern Lights, Husky mushing in Norway, Sweden’s
Ice Hotel, Iceland’s volcanoes, cross country skiing in Finland or Greenland’s wildlife.<br />
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Lapland has one very special resident though who is a must
see for families who want a taste of Christmas Magic. That resident is, of
course, Santa and whether the visit lasts one day or is a short break, this
will be an amazing experience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
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Santa lives in a small village in Finnish Lapland, with his
elves and reindeers. He is always delighted to see his friends, young and old. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though Santa is very busy at this time of
year but he can always make time for visitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you decide to stay for a few days, you can also partake in many other
artic adventures like husky mushing, racing on snow mobiles, tobogganing, reindeer rides and general
fun in the snow. And when night times falls, there is a good chance you will
see the best Christmas illuminations in the world, Aurora Borealis, the
Northern Lights. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Wishing you a very merry Christmas from Lapland and all at Nordic Experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6426332391568655713"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668105313622016928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-77391318609605616562012-12-10T20:56:00.000+00:002014-02-27T18:58:14.564+00:00ART ON THE LANDSCAPE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoYjb9dNoq5fMbLxJmX2tjTi1o8AQu_WbU0bLq8Jd5bBKpYGK2RJA_Pt2D6zS6cJDOBqaruIhubAejmUcV01EQ5iDNu6tIWJmuWe8-CysJAc3QrXfg2sfQ-5NUcdDDW52-cN141-YGHo/s1600/artscapenordland4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPoYjb9dNoq5fMbLxJmX2tjTi1o8AQu_WbU0bLq8Jd5bBKpYGK2RJA_Pt2D6zS6cJDOBqaruIhubAejmUcV01EQ5iDNu6tIWJmuWe8-CysJAc3QrXfg2sfQ-5NUcdDDW52-cN141-YGHo/s1600/artscapenordland4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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Did you know that Norway is home to a massive and highly
impressive outdoor art gallery, which stretches across its
coastline and covers 33 of the Norway's 45 municipalities? The magnificent Artscape Nordland
is an international project showing 33 works of artists from 18 countries, including Anish Kapoor and Anthony Gormley.<br />
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Alongside these marvellous works of art, there are many
natural beauties to enjoy in Norway. From the Northern Lights to the mountains
and fjords, there is so much beauty to enchant those who come to explore Norway's amazing scenery. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6426332391568655713"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668105313622016928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-19698987807807213582012-11-30T13:47:00.001+00:002014-02-27T18:59:05.412+00:00TREETOP LIVING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Fancy
getting your head truly up in the clouds on your next holiday?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can do just that at Sweden’s Treehotel. This
amazing holiday experience is located in amazing natural surroundings, in the
midst of a forest in Harads, about </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">100 kilometers
from Luleå airport.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There are offer five unique tree rooms
to stay in and these amazing creations were designed by some of Scandinavia’s
leading architects. In addition there is also a tree sauna for up to twelve
people. Each room has a totally individual style inside and out and varies in
size, with the larger rooms accommodating up to 4 people. The tree rooms are
suspended 4-6 metres above ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are designed to have minimal impact on nature and are equipped with
environmentally combustion toilets and water efficient sinks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Which tree room would you pick? There’s
the Cabin, a capsule where you can hide away and drink in the incredible vista.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The Mirror Cube is stunning; it’s mirrored
exterior walls camouflaging it in the midst of the treetops. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Then there is The Bird’s Nest with it’s
façade clad with large branches. Could you ever feel more at one with nature than nestling down in this amazing structure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>The Blue Cone is simple, easily
accessible and actually red!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small;"></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The UFO
stands out in its surroundings for being exactly that – unidentified forest
object! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;">A new room is due to be completed by the end of this and this is The Five Leaf Clover, which is around 53 square metres. This takes Treehotel to a new scale and offers 6 beds and conference facilities. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sweden is a great place to visit if you
want to stay and experience something a little unusual. There is also the ICEHOTEL in the
heart of Swedish Lapland. Here, not only can you get to sleep in a room carved
from snow and sleep under reindeer skins but you can also explore your
surroundings on a snow mobile or by husky safari! </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6426332391568655713"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668105313622016928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-39928881526195929702012-11-29T16:25:00.001+00:002014-02-27T18:59:23.189+00:00SCIENCE OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">By John
Bennett</span><br />
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<br />
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Northern
Lights have always captured man’s imagination and as our last blog depicted,
there are many myths and legends surrending them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -35.45pt; margin-right: -38.3pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">As far as science was concerned though,
it took a very long time for man to uncover the scientific truth behind the
Northern Lights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -35.45pt; margin-right: -38.3pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -35.45pt; margin-right: -38.3pt; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">Galileo first used the term boreal
aurora (later changed to Aurora Borealis) after Aurora, the Roman goddess of
dawn. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">However it was a Norwegian
scientist named Kristian Birkeland who set out to achieve what many before had
tried and failed: to solve the mystery of the Northern Lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To Birkeland, the Lights represented the
threshold between the visible and invisible worlds; the link between the planet
and the mysterious forces that shaped the universe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However in the late 19th Century the
prevailing belief was centred on Aristotle’s assertion that there could be no
interaction between the heavens and the Earth because the heavens were perfect
and unchanging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This resolute popular
conviction created a difficult climate for Birkeland’s propositions.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #262626; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">In the winter
of 1899 Birkeland spent five months isolated in a mountain-top observatory at
Kaafjord in the far north of Norway, a position known as having the most
sightings of the Lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually he
discovered that the force disturbing the magnetic field came directly from the
sun in narrow, high-velocity beams of negatively charged particles (electrons)
called cathode rays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes these
active particles hit the magnetic field of the Earth and followed the field
lines down towards the poles, where they struck atoms in the atmosphere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The energy created by the collisions was
emitted as light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lights only
appeared during magnetic storms because the cathode rays from the sun were
moving beams of electrons, creating electric currents that, in turn, made their
own magnetic fields.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Birkeland’s
conclusions were published in 1901 and Norwegian newspaper headlines trumpeted,
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Riddle of the Aurora solved!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However the international scientific
community was not so impressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Britain
was the global leader in science and would not shift from her resolute opinion
that space was an empty vacuum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Birkeland’s findings were rejected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was bitterly disappointed but even more determined to prove his
theory The Norwegian government refused him any more funding, so he had to
raise the money himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This he did
through the invention of a fertiliser (of which there was a chronic global
shortage at the time) using electromagnetic furnace technology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Birkeland continued his fanatical study of
the Lights over the following years and in 1908 published his monumental work,
“The Norwegian Aurora Polaris Expedition 1902-1903” describing his second,
bigger expedition to the far north. But again the scientific community was
disparaging of his ideas and he suffered another major blow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Gradually
over the five years following this second disappointment, his life began to
crumble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His work was overshadowed by
other scientific developments at the time, such as Einstein’s theory of
relativity and Bohr’s model of the atom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His obsessional relationship with his work drove his wife to leave
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was also growing increasingly
dependent on alcohol and the sedative veronal, and his health began to
deteriorate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">He spent his
final years in Egypt studying the Zodiacal Light. A combination of insomnia,
whisky and veronal fuelled chronic paranoia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He became convinced that with the outbreak of war, one of his
inventions, the electromagnetic cannon, placed him in danger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kept the copies of his patent in a
specially installed safe in his room, bought two guard dogs and three guns and
sacked his servants as he was convinced were plotting against him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">On the 16th
June 1919, aged just 49,Kristian Birkeland was found dead in a hotel room. The
post-mortem revealed him to have taken 10g of veronal the night of his death,
instead of the 0.5g recommended dose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">For 50 years
after his death, Birkeland’s reputation sank into oblivion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1970 space satellites found
incontrovertible evidence of a flow of electric particles from the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This proved that “empty space” was actually
not empty at all, but filled with electrified gas, which then forms “solar
wind”, which Birkeland had identified more than 60 years earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today he is credited as the first scientist
to propose an essentially correct explanation of the Aurora Borealis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6426332391568655713"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668105313622016928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-27840983647740712942012-11-29T16:15:00.001+00:002014-02-27T18:59:40.430+00:00NORTHERN LIGHT LEGENDS <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">Man has
always been fascinated by the natural phenomena that is the Northern Lights and
many myths and legends have been passed down to explain the magic of Aurora Borealis.
Here are a selection from around the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">AMERICA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">Many Inuit
tribes believe</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> that the Northern Lights are spirits of the dead
playing ball with a walrus head or skull. The Eskimos of Nunivak Island had the
opposite idea, and believe it is walrus spirits playing with a human skull.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">In<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1862, the Northern Lights made a rare
appearance in Virginia, during the Battle of Fredicksburg and the rebel forces
took this as a sure sign God was on their side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Makah Indians of Washington State thought the
lights were fires in the Far North, lit by a tribe of dwarfs, half the size of
a canoe paddle, but strong enough to catch whales with their bare hands. Fires
were a popular belief. North Dakota Indians regarded the lights as fires over
which the great warriors of the north boiled </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">their dead enemies in enormous pots.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Menominee Indians of Wisconsin thought they were
torches used by amiable giants in the north, to spear fish at night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Koyukuk
Indians in Alaska banged on metal drums to try and attract the Northern Lights
to them.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px;">The Point
Barrow Eskimos, however, believed there was nothing good about the Aurora
Borealis, thinking them to be a dreadful, dangerous, terrifying occurrence and
carried knives to keep the Lights at bay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Algonquin Indians took a softer view of the Lights, believing that when Nanahbohzo the Creator
completed making the earth, he travelled to the North and built gigantic fires to
remind his people that he continuously loved them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">EUROPE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">According
to Norse mythology, warlike female figures, the Valkyrie, would charge across
the night sky carrying the dead to Valhalla and the red, blue, violet and green
Northern Lights were caused by the reflections of these fearsome women’s armour.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">In Scotland,
the Northern Lights were called the “Mirrie Dancers” or na-far-chills, dancers
who would fight each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
appearance of the lights was also thought to be a warning for bad weather.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In Old Icelandic folklore it was believed that Northern
Lights would ease the pain of childbirth. They also believed that babies born
of pregnant women who had looked at the Aurora Borealis would have eye
problems. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Finns
named the Lights, Fox Fires and believed foxes made of fire lived in Lapland
and the lights were the sparks created by their tails when they flew into their
air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Sami
people of the Northern Arctic thought it was imperative to be quiet and
cautious when the Northern Lights were present as t</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">he lights
were the energies of the souls of the departed. When the fires blazed in the
skies, people were to behave solemnly, and children were admonished to be
respectful or ill luck would strike anyone and this could cause sickness, even
death.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The East Greenland Eskimos claimed that the dancing of
the children who had died at birth caused the continually moving streamers and
draperies of the aurora.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Scandinavians used to believed the Aurora Borealis was
the reflection of huge schools of herring in the sea and they were a sign that fishermen
would enjoy good catches of fish<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 17.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">To the ancient Europeans, Northern Lights were the cause of panic and
fear as to them it signaled outbreak of death and disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Middle Ages, Europeans were convinced that
If Northern Lights glowed red; this was a sure sign of impending war.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">ASIA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">In China, a
fire-breathing dragon was believed to be the creator of Aurora Borealis</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Both Chinese and Japanese cultures believe that a
child conceived under the Northern Lights will be blessed with good fortunes.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">The Chuvash
people of Siberia thought the lights were their god attempting though help
women in childbirth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt;">What an
effect the Northern Lights have had on mankind across continents and through
the ages. The best time to see their beauty Is from September to January and to
go to Greenland, Iceland, Finland, Sweden or Norway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6426332391568655713"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668105313622016928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-87512492448661781552012-11-29T16:11:00.000+00:002014-02-27T19:00:08.617+00:00 <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px;">NORWAY’S
NEW ART GALLERY</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">On
September 29<sup>th</sup> 2012, a new art gallery was opened in Oslo. Designed
by The Shard architect Renzo Piano, this building bridges a canal in the city’s
harbour. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The museum has been given the
formal name of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Astrup Fearnley Museet
and also bestowed the cheekier title of The Combover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">Divided
into two, one half of the gallery will house its permanent collection and the
other half will host temporary exhibitions and the café and shop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">Located on
a landmark site on the edge of a fjord in the new and exciting district of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tjuvholmen, the museum<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>covers an area of over 7000 sq. metres and is
surrounded by new restaurants, galleries and a hotel. The museum<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is a iconic sculptural build with glass
canopies arching like a giant sail over the three wooden buildings
beneath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sculpture park and a beach
bordering the museum, making it an idyllic place for Norwegians, young and old,
to relax after taking in some art. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><a href="http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/Product/?pid=45432">http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/Product/?pid=45432</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6426332391568655713"></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04668105313622016928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-78169237882840062312012-10-26T23:10:00.003+01:002012-10-26T23:10:10.443+01:00'Slapped ears' - Perfect for an Autumn afternoon<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtfas523oZI6Hxit8-UvBCh7Ee_fYx-US_mue3dT53WoOZWd7acmGXKjv4_mfZCT5frJz_yHlQ8y-_lp7KbLYYun8HTez_RzxpoGRDA1VeMYlASkhQMvGVeZ8JsSzhw_tmRQQmiCK9W5q/s1600/Noan+ja+Nonan+korvapuustit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtfas523oZI6Hxit8-UvBCh7Ee_fYx-US_mue3dT53WoOZWd7acmGXKjv4_mfZCT5frJz_yHlQ8y-_lp7KbLYYun8HTez_RzxpoGRDA1VeMYlASkhQMvGVeZ8JsSzhw_tmRQQmiCK9W5q/s200/Noan+ja+Nonan+korvapuustit.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Korvapuustit</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">Now if somebody
offered you a slapped ear you would most probably reply “No thanks”. Or run a
mile. But if you should happen to be in Finland, don’t be rash with your
refusal. For in Finland, Slapped Ears (Korvapuustit</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">in Finnish) are delicious cinnamon buns.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">WHAT
YOU NEED<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">450g</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">(750ml) plain flour</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">85g</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">(100ml) caster sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">1 and a
half</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">tsp. ground cardamom pods</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">1
packet of fast-action dried yeast</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">250 ml
lukewarm milk</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">1 egg
(beaten)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">75 g
butter, softened</span></li>
</ul>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Filling:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">50 g
butter, softened</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">4 Tbsps.
caster sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">2
Tbsps. ground cinnamon</span></li>
</ul>
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<ol>
<li style="line-height: 18pt;"><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">Mix the
flour, sugar, cardamom, salt and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Stir in the milk
and half of the beaten egg (the rest can be used to glaze the buns).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">Knead
in the softened butter </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">and carry on</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">kneading </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">until you've got a soft, pliable dough. Cover </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">with clingfilm or a clean tea towel and leave
to prove for about 45-60 minute or until doubled in size. (The </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">best place to prove should be warm and with
draughts – an airing cupboard is a great spot, if you have one).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">Turn
the dough onto a lightly floured worktop. Knead gently for a couple of minutes.
Roll out </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">into a 30 x</span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">60 cm rectangle. Then </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">spread </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">the soft butter over the dough and sprinkle
generously with cinnamon and sugar. </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">Starting with the long side, roll it up
tightly, leaving the join under the roll.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">Now
use a sharp knife to cut into six buns. The buns should be about 2 cm wide on
the narrow end and 5 cm on the wide end. Pop them upright on a baking sheet. Press
your thumb into </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">the middle of each bun</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">Cover
with a kitchen towel and leave to raise for another 30 minutes in a warm place.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 225 C/450 F.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">Brush
with egg wash and pop in the over for 10-15 minutes, or until the buns are golden
brown.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 18pt;">Take
the baking sheet out of the oven, cover the buns with a kitchen towel and let
them cool for as long as you can resist from eating one.</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;">Sit back and enjoy !</span></div>
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<span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial; font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;">If you find that you can't get this recipe quite right, why not try a few nights in Helsinki where the </span><span style="color: #535353; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;">patisseries will happily serve up this delicacy, or for a real treat enjoy one of these served over an open fire after enjoying an Arctic snowmobile or <a href="http://www.nordicexperience.co.uk/finland/winter/adventures-at-harriniva" target="_blank">husky safari in Lapland</a>.</span></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment--><a href=""></a>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-82612688156862490312012-10-25T10:46:00.000+01:002012-10-25T10:46:47.384+01:00Scandinavian Cooking attains Culinary GoldThe IKA World Culinary Olympics 2012 took place this October in Erfurt Germany. It ran for five days and 54 countries competed to make the most visually appealing, sensationally tasting dishes. The <a href="http://2012.olympiade-der-koeche.de/en/" target="_blank">World Culinary Olympics</a> were first held in 1900 and they are held every four years. <br />
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In the hot kitchen competition, team members are watched closely, as they prepare a three-course meal to feed 110 people in five hours. For the cold platter contest, the chefs prepare exquisitely crafted dishes, which are prepared in advance and judged wholly on their presentation.<br />
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Scandinavia proved to be the current culinary champions as <strong>Sweden won the gold medal</strong> and <strong>Norway attained silver</strong>. The Swedish winning entry included a cauliflower and broccoli terrine, herb-crusted venison with Scvecia (a Swedish semi-hard) cheese, porcini duxelles (finely diced mushrooms) and a dessert of autumn raspberries, yogurt meringue and almond cake. <br />
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If you want to explore Scandinavia, taste the fine food, see the beautiful landscapes and not forgetting at this time of year, enjoy the phenomena of the <a href="http://www.nordicexperience.co.uk/holiday_search?tid_2=All&tid=7&tid_1=All" target="_blank">Northern Lights</a>, take a look at our website or give one of our team a call to find out more about Nordic Experience. <br />
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<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-929530831825618732012-04-27T14:29:00.000+01:002012-04-27T14:29:27.112+01:00Trondheim to Alesund via the Atlantic Coastal RoadThe annual Norwegian Workshop presented me with the opportunity to take a short tour before joining the business sessions in Fredrikstad near Oslo.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115162431609223494405/NordicExperienceScandinavianSpecialists?authkey=Gv1sRgCOza25mV5cC-sgE#5736066835288213890"><img align="right" border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTErgSd2FNUk2UkGYn-KpFmoEcu8V3I7pwWpoo867XTztlR_B3tXMmIWnUuG4aHK4vly90z6WQOD5yuIxkoV_uIpK5Z_buNlbyPzc-Qnl909Mn52RvNZakHiw6DvzlLWx5mx9RWzVSqRk/s288/0.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="281" /></a>I chose to go somewhere that I had not been before and met up with a group of fellow travel professionals from around the globe in Trondheim, Norway’s third largest city. Trondheim has managed to preserve the intimacy of a small town with impressive wooden buildings and colourful wharves and has many other options and excursions available. <a href="http://www.trondheim.com/" target="_blank">www.trondheim.com</a><br />
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After checking into our Hotel (Rica Bakklandet) we were whisked off to Norway's National Museum of Rock. Not knowing what to expect we arrived with intrepidation at a large unassuming building, with what looked like a suitcase perched on top - not quite what we were expecting !<br />
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The museum is called <a href="http://www.rockheim.no/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rockheim </a>(presumably a pun on Trondheim?) and despite the name is not limited to rock music, but excludes classical, folk and other non mainstream music over the decades from 1950 through to current day.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rockheim.no/wp-content/themes/rockheim2/inc/imgcrop.php?img=http://www.rockheim.no/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/rockheim_1-590x392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="http://www.rockheim.no/wp-content/themes/rockheim2/inc/imgcrop.php?img=http://www.rockheim.no/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/rockheim_1-590x392.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rockheim in Trondheim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It's an interactive exhibit and is extremely technologically advanced, using motion sensors to activate the exhibits. For example on the top floor we were presented with a massive curved wall of video screens which we were able to control using hand movements to choose, start and stop music videos by decade.<br />
This is where things became more obvious, in that, unless you are Norwegian you probably don't know any of the music on offer with a couple of notable exceptions. A-ha from the eighties and Elvis from the 50's. Why Elvis ? Apparently there was no "popular" Norweigian music at this time and they needed to shop where all the inspiration came from!<br />
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Despite this, you are able to see the changes through the decades as you move through the museum and you learn about Norwegian most famous music exports , other than A-ha : they even have the original drawings from the famous video (if you're old enough to remember).<br />
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Apparently Norway is famous for "Black Metal" and they are extremely proud of a band called "<a href="http://www.immortalofficial.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Immortal</a>". Certainly not my style of music, and akin to a electric static storm at full volume shouted by a gentleman in black leather trousers & white makeup. Each to their own !!<br />
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Interactivity continued with us being able to record a hip hop rapping session, guitar playing in a recording studio, and many other things that we did not have time to experience.<br />
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Hunger set in, and we headed back and set out for a lovely fish restaurant just around the corner from the Rica Hotel called Havfruen (www.havfruen.no). Well worth a visit with fantastic food and a river setting.<br />
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<div class="blogpress_location">
Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Trondheim,%20Norway&z=10" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trondheim, Norway</a></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-91299705561709501672012-04-26T07:12:00.001+01:002012-04-27T14:08:20.424+01:00Journey to the centre of the Earth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.insidethevolcano.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/11-%C2%A9-Vilhelm-Gunnarsson11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.insidethevolcano.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/11-%C2%A9-Vilhelm-Gunnarsson11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Did you read or watch Journey to the Centre of the Earth when you were younger? It always intrigued me, and now you have the chance to see for yourself this summer in Iceland where they have opened up a new tour "Inside the Volcano".<br />
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As the name suggests you can lower yourself into a volcano. Thrihnukagigur is the only place on earth where you can go into a magma chamber of a volcano. Luckily this volcano has been asleep for the last 4,000 years but they still don't guarantee that it won't erupt again. I think it's a fairly safe bet though !!<br />
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Currently this is only available for a short 12 week period this summer this is an interesting addition to any visit to Iceland.<br />
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Located about 20miles from Reykjavik it is easy to reach and will give you a spectacular insight into the volcanic activity that forms part of Icelandic everyday life. For those that may be claustrophobic, there is no need to worry, the Magma Chamber is (in their word)s 'huge' and could fit the Statue of Liberty inside a number of times over.<br />
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More details can be found at <a href="http://www.insidethevolcano.com/" target="_blank">Inside the Volcano</a> or you can ask us to add this on to your tour.<br />
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Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Iceland&z=10">Iceland</a></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-52453293733964432032012-03-19T13:28:00.001+00:002012-03-19T13:31:39.301+00:00Northern Lights in Tromso<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv15MJv5Wf8PqZDD5dPT7XQb89sG-XZHly555c89hOH5gBoUGWAmOhi-p-6EnNx8wEtTm7ONv7sm7ejAZnj2-SaGY0VPOf1WBX5OGZhmsIreVlgTFT67OL-3ADJchzq4iPy3GPAZweonXw/s1600/P1040780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv15MJv5Wf8PqZDD5dPT7XQb89sG-XZHly555c89hOH5gBoUGWAmOhi-p-6EnNx8wEtTm7ONv7sm7ejAZnj2-SaGY0VPOf1WBX5OGZhmsIreVlgTFT67OL-3ADJchzq4iPy3GPAZweonXw/s320/P1040780.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tromso Cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was recently given the opportunity to fly to Tromso to experience the <a href="http://www.nordicexperience.co.uk/norway/winter/northern-lights-experience">Northern Lights</a> in Northern Norway. There is never a guarantee that the aurora borealis will play fair and come out to play, but I was hopeful and set out with a DSLR, tripod and the instruction manual for the camera.<br />
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The flight to Tromso was with SAS via Oslo departing from Heathrow early in the morning with a quick connection in Oslo (where incidentally it is necessary to collect your luggage and re-checkin for the onward domestic flight) and by lunchtime I was gazing at the beautiful snowy landscape as we were on the final approach into Tromso.<br />
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The bus transfer into Tromso cost 90NOK return (about £10) and we were dropped outside the Rica with a short 100m walk to the Hotel With where we were booked into. The Hotel With is not the most attractive building from the outside, but it has an amazing position overlooking the harbour and serves waffles and cream in the afternoon! It also provides a basic evening meal as part of the deal - useful as Norway can be expensive to eat out. This is not meant to be a half board option but an opportunity to ensure that food is available if it is wanted. Odd way of looking at it, but the other hotel guests seemed to be happy enough.<br />
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Having been up early in the morning to drive to Heathrow we were not really of the mind to set out searching for the Northern Lights, but as our time was short we duly looked at our pre-booked vouchers and set our for the meeting point to go on a taster dog sledding session whilst peering into the sky for the Northern Lights - or at least that was the idea ! Dog sledding is rather like driving a car on skis, in the you need to pay attention to everything that is going on around you while maintaining your balance (and dignity).<br />
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The Northern Lights were spectacular that night (4th March) but it was a shame I couldn't take photos - though as I'd not taken the time to read the manual yet I suspect my photos would have looked very much like some of the others which I saw that night ...... black !!!<br />
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Speaking to the more experienced photographers it seems that the tripod is a necessity, with a long exposure (10-30 seconds) and a high ISO. I lost it at the ISO stage but thanked them warmly for their advice.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HGd8zOy5kWHkSjHYsL9NHLks0pG7DKGIz0MPtjxtVEV4qM2athKLL7Y2-NW-3OMBFlH8eI0ZePBMORTPKrvcGY00LKlaYwvfKdF-QpioH6MtnllVNLL0-QAJMRWig3bijFgxPsHVxTSi/s1600/P1040371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HGd8zOy5kWHkSjHYsL9NHLks0pG7DKGIz0MPtjxtVEV4qM2athKLL7Y2-NW-3OMBFlH8eI0ZePBMORTPKrvcGY00LKlaYwvfKdF-QpioH6MtnllVNLL0-QAJMRWig3bijFgxPsHVxTSi/s200/P1040371.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Husky Mushing in Tromso</td></tr>
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The husky mushing was great fun though being a taster session it was soon over and we were back to a Kota (or Lavu) for a basic warm meal before transferring back to Tromso by bus, not before seeing the final dance of the Aurora before the clouds obscured the stars and any further chances of seeing more solar activity.<br />
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What would the next day have in store for us ........<br />
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Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Tromso,%20Norway&z=10">Tromso, Norway</a></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0Tromso, Norway69.6492047 18.955323869.605028199999992 18.797395299999998 69.6933812 19.1132523tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-66265528382560567082012-03-15T14:14:00.002+00:002012-03-15T14:15:26.047+00:00Can your smartphone survive the coldHaving just returned from yet another trip to Northern Finland I experienced a few issues with my iPhone and Android companions which complained against the cold. Battery life on smartphones is not knonwn to be that good and the cold exasperated the condition. I often wondered why all the local guides seemed to have "old" Nokia phones in their pockets and this got me wondering which phones were the best for the cold temperature.<br />
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A quick Google and I cam up with the following webpage <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/249134/subzero_weather_can_your_smartphone_stand_the_cold.html">Sub-Zero Weather and Smartphones</a>. Quite interesting to see which phones fared the best.<br />
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If you've got the latest iPhone then perhaps you should keep it warm !!Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-89220120825043437092012-01-24T17:15:00.005+00:002012-01-24T17:38:27.794+00:00ICEHOTEL weekend<p>What are you doing his weekend ? I'm off to see the 22nd ICEHOTEL in <span class="st">Jukkasjärvi, <em>Sweden</em>, easily reached from the UK in a few hours. I'm leaving at 7am and will be standing at the Absolute bar early afternoon ready for some light refreshment and entertainment.<br /></span></p><p>I'm choosing to stay one night in cool (a.k.a cold) accommodation at a steady -5c on a reindeer skin bed in a (hopefully) warm sleeping bag. The booking instructions say that I need to wear thermal gear and a hat !! Not entirely sure about this, but my mother always told me to try everything at least once, so I'm taking her advice ..... for one night !!!</p><p>My second night will be spent in the comfort of a heated hotel room thawing out from the days activities and hopefully taking some photos of the Northern Lights as I've just purchased a new F1.8 50mm lens for my camera. Previous photographic attempts have failed miserably so I'm hoping for better results. As a precaution I've looked at this guide to <a href="http://www.alaskaphotographyblog.com/how-to-photograph-the-northern-lights-with-a-digital-camera/">taking photos of the Northern Lights</a> which I hope will help. Only time will tell and if I get any reasonable shots, I'll post them on our website.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15910918308878298331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-4554906578761174882012-01-23T09:23:00.001+00:002012-01-23T09:42:47.037+00:00Meet us at Destinations Travel Show LondonFor those of you who don't know, Destinations Travel Show is one of the largest consumer travel shows in the UK. We will be at Earls Court (stand E112) and look forward to seeing you there from Thursday 2nd Feb through Sunday 5th Feb 2012.<br /><br />Our experts can guide you through your Scandinavian holiday decision making process and put together a Nordic holiday tailored for you, whether it be a weekend away at the Swedish ICEHOTEL, searching for the Northern Lights in Norway or and Iceland holiday getaway at the Hotel Ranga and beyond. Time is running out for a winter experience this year, but it's never too early to book for 2013 where the Northern lights in Norway are expected to be some of the best of the decade.<br /><br />If winter is not your thing, then we have some interesting summer experiences to Iceland and Norway to name but a few.<br /><br />Come and visit us on our stand, or if you can't make it take a look at our <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nordicexperience.co.uk">Nordic Experience</a> website and give either Francesca or Ian a call on 01206 708888 where we can talk you through your Scandinavian holiday.<br /><br /><br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Earls%20Court&z=10'>Earls Court</a></p>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15910918308878298331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-70425406544023747572011-09-27T11:30:00.000+01:002011-11-23T23:24:15.289+00:00New Year in Reykjavik<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nordicexperience.co.uk/iceland/winter/new-year-iceland" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHF1_s9lhbYciiodjYJNywKWqN9BWcvXRkGY8fSXVfKQVz57W1OXXDUENCJhKzYHTbqbp3nGFwo4i_jcQGdsmzgUy_wuGOED_ijqGvlrRw59dn8hLBkEk778E2ZSYuA3E487z0dJrFwvy/s320/New-Year-In-Reykjavik.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nordicexperience.co.uk/iceland/winter/new-year-iceland">New Year in Reykjavik</a></td></tr>
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Are you stuck for the ideas for the New Year ? Reykjavik is a tried and tested option for an explosive start to the New Year. Every year the residents (and temporary residents) welcome in the New Year with a fantastic display of fireworks and bonfires throughout the city. An organised tour is recommended, or you can simply view the specactular displays from the comfort of your hotel.<br />
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Our picks for accomodation include the Hotel Borg, Reykjavik Centrum and the Grand Hotel Reykjavik. The style of hotel varies from contemporary luxury at the Hotel Borg, modest simplicity at the Hotel Centrum, to modern business at the Grand Hotel Reykjavik.<br />
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With many hotels to choose from this is an exciting opportunity to celebrate the New Year in style in a vibrant and cosmopolitan city.<br />
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<br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-44763059084165325712011-04-18T13:53:00.004+01:002011-04-18T14:10:54.107+01:00Can I visit the ICEHOTEL in the summer ?<p>The obvious answer to the question, "Can I visit the ICEHOTEL in the summer ?" is no, however the clever chaps in Sweden have found a way of allowing you to experience the cool ICEHOTEL during the more temperate months.</p><p>Sounding more like an April Fools story, the answer is to build a smaller ICEHOTEL inside what amounts to a large freezer set at -5c. If you know anything about the construction or building of the ICEHOTEL, you may know that the ice used is stored over the summer in giant warehouses ready for the winter season. It's one of these "halls" that the little sister to the main ICEHOTEL will be built.</p><p>It will have three different Art suites, just like in the wintertime, Ice Chandelier suite and the main Hall Suite to enable people to experience what they may have seen in the media. It will also have the ubiquitous ABSOLUTE ICEBAR to enjoy a refreshing drink after trying your hand at ice sculpting.</p><p>The summer ICEHOTEL is opening on the 10th June 2011, and "warm" accommodation can also be booked whilst you enjoy activities such as ratfting, canoeing, hiking and fishing., instead of dog sledding, snowmobile tours and northern light safaris.</p><p><br /></p>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15910918308878298331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-25306214646116244392011-01-01T01:13:00.001+00:002011-01-01T01:13:42.027+00:00Welcome to 2011 and a new decadeIt's 2011 and the start of a new decade. We've left the "noughties" and are now in uncharted territory. Are we now in the "tens"? Only time will tell. <br />Nordic Experience is welcoming the new year with it's new website, and a plethora of new tours for our summer programme, which will be released in the next month. <br />In the meantime our current Arctic winter programme is in full swing, with Northern Lights a firm favourite. We've also released dates for our Father Christmas programme in Lapland.<br />Full details of all these can be, or soon will be on our website. <br /><br />We wish you a Happy New Year and look forward to helping you with your holiday plans. <br /><br /><br /><br />Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-68572282105085483302010-12-30T23:55:00.001+00:002010-12-30T23:56:28.982+00:00New Nordic Experience WebsiteThe new Nordic Experience website has finally been launched in time for the New Year. It's still a work in progress and we would be delighted to hear feedback from you. Over the coming weeks we will be adding more information. <br /><br />We are also hoping to add a dedicated Travel Agents section where you will be able to find additional comprehensive information that will help you promote our tailor made tours. <br /><br />Take a look and let us know what you think.<br /><br />www.NordicExperience.co.uk <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Colchester%4051.889712%2C0.895345&z=10'>Colchester</a></p>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-22649074564132782252010-12-21T13:15:00.001+00:002010-12-21T13:15:40.039+00:00Knock on effect of the snow situationSitting here at Harriniva in Lapland, you realise that this current snow situation is not confined to the UK. <br />I'm watching the poor receptionist, taking phone call after phone call, cancelling reservations over Christmas. France seems to have been affected quite badly, with a whole charter flight cancelled here. The knock on effect, can be felt here, as the place is eerily quiet. To be honest, it's rather nice.<br /><br />However, it does show our total reliance on air travel, and how something so underestimated can cause so much havoc, for so many people. Christmas has been spoilt for so many families. <br /><br />Other effects are not so obvious. A family are here without any luggage, which presumably got caught up in the backlog from the weekend. Luckily, it was found and is heading here by train, bus and taxi from Helsinki (for some reason the airline thought it safer not to fly it !)<br />I suppose the moral of the story is to make sure you have enough contingency clothes in your hand luggage! <br /><br /><br /><br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Torniontie,Muonio,Finland%4067.948323%2C23.674606&z=10'>Torniontie,Muonio,Finland</a></p>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-80833309919120922922010-12-20T21:23:00.001+00:002010-12-20T21:23:23.325+00:00UK Snowfall causes havoc with Father ChristmasThe closure of London Heathrow by the extreme snowfall over the past few days, has disappointed many children who were hoping to travel to Lapland to see Father Christmas, my own 3 year old daughter included. <br /><br />They were sitting on the tarmac at Heathrow for 4 hours, before finally being shepherded off the plane and left on their own. We, as Nordic Experience, arranged overnight accomodation for all our guests at Heathrow as soon as we found out information from Finnair, which was not exactly forthcoming. <br />However, despite our best endeavours, the flights could not go ahead, and we were forced to abandon plans to take our customers to Lapland.<br /><br />The ironic thing is, that two families managed to join me in Harriniva, and have enjoyed a full personalised programme. Where did one of them come from? New Zealand! <br /><br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Torniontie,Muonio,Finland%4067.948323%2C23.674606&z=10'>Torniontie,Muonio,Finland</a></p>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-42140294901461764902010-11-09T13:58:00.001+00:002010-11-09T14:00:26.900+00:00Motor Cycle touring in Sweden<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_969500706"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9FXA2a9jG2J61vswaGEA_wNdbESP0qqJ4klCLxouxRGsJmTgGhO95Xsu3paxNNPXp9irY0npL_qrPIN5aswt0AWykEEVCOtU9AKsS-ulSIbDIMaoAUxEtJDxpBlq0_mshL6RGvw2AYOd/s200/Victory_Vision_Tourer.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/Victory-Motorcycles/2011/Touring/Vision-Tour/Pages/Overview.aspx">Polaris Victory Vision Tourer</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Nordic Experience summer brochure is now well under way, but we're always on the lookout for new and exciting products to feature. During our visit to World Travel Market 2010 yesterday, we sourced a number of new ideas that we feel might appeal to those people who are looking for something slightly out of the ordinary.<br />
This idea was so good that I had to tell you all about it, even before we've got anything down on paper.<br />
The<a href="http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/Victory-Motorcycles/2011/Touring/Vision-Tour/Pages/Overview.aspx"> Polaris Victory Vision</a> touring motorcycle, is one of America's newest motorcycle exports, described in the Polaris brochure as "<i>..... the most progressive luxury touring bike out there, loaded with state-of-the-art features designed specifically to make you feel guilty when you're not running up the odometer. Every inch of this touring machine is designed to keep you out doing what you love the most</i>".<br />
<a href="http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-us/Victory-Motorcycles/2011/Touring/Vision-Tour/Pages/Overview.aspx" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7a4FlIRMV5wen0W_NUoOstAobdpr2Y8RKqz-cYDmChwoQYDV5xSuKYIv-nNQ1YxRVx8nSffxJxSL0ikFlX_fqjaBdgwp8v4ZuZ6IQrb-zPs4rH9x7q-Uex2Zf7FPQ17WZRz9p7p5tqrA/s200/Victory_Vision_Tourer%231.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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Essentially this is a 5-7 day, 1600-2000km tour around Northern Sweden, taking in the beautiful scenery and fresh air whilst enjoying the power and comfort of this luxury motorcycle.<br />
(more details posted, as they become available)Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6426332391568655713.post-31756322782306961552010-11-09T12:32:00.000+00:002010-11-09T12:32:32.498+00:00Why is it so Cold Santa?<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The farther north you go, the colder, more authentic it is<br />
(says Jane Knight)</span></b><br />
<b>THE TIMES Saturday 6 November 2010)</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGcuQH87palkuR_1VXFikVwOQfWbFUj1j3QGXncjQHPkU_YQEcUga8TBMdJVTR8dlzpGrCJWEUHkgOfuPg8PPF4HJFsxXfRzto__Z0qBJL440UmLhcltsa6qjSP5V937E8f4z_8dIW1ma/s1600/Blogspot_Harriniva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGcuQH87palkuR_1VXFikVwOQfWbFUj1j3QGXncjQHPkU_YQEcUga8TBMdJVTR8dlzpGrCJWEUHkgOfuPg8PPF4HJFsxXfRzto__Z0qBJL440UmLhcltsa6qjSP5V937E8f4z_8dIW1ma/s320/Blogspot_Harriniva.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa's Log cabin in the woods at Harriniva</td></tr>
</tbody></table>It's minus 29C, and I've never been so cold. My finger are burning with the cold and I'm wearing so many layers, topped by special overalls supplied by the hotel, that I make the Michelin man look anorexic.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">"I don't like Lapland any more, it's too cold," moans my four-year-old son as we set off husky mushing in the weird half light that prevails here. The mass of howling, barking, biting dogs are so keen that I forget about the cold and concentrate instead on stamping as hard as I can on the brake to stop us toppling over.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">This is off the wall, yells a 13-year-old in our group. It also makes a great follow-up to a morning of skidoo-riding, in which we zoom in a convoy of snarling mechanical beasts down forest tracks where the tree are bent with snow.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">We're in Harriniva, way north of the Arctic Circle, because it seems that the farther north you go in Finnish Lapland, the more authentic the experience. When I started researching a trip to see Santa, I was shocked at the number of companies based in large ski resorts or where you were bussed to the different activities. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">There's none of that here because, although we're in the middle of nowhere, all the activities are on the hotel's doorstep. So too is Sweden, just over the frozen river.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">But there are disadvantages. Getting here has pretty much taken a day, with a mad run from one end of the airport at Helsinki to the other to catch a connecting flight to Kittila, followed by a 45-minute bus ride to the hotel. The rooms are simple, with only a shower in the en suite when what you need is a bath. And it is always a huge bun fight to get to the buffet for food that makes school dinners seem tasty.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">But we've come to see Santa, which is what we do via a visit to a shaman, who tells us how the first reindeer learnt to fly, and a turn on the reindeer sleigh-(the non-flying variety). Each family has an appointment, and we are bundled up in a sleigh and head off in the gloaming, following a row of twinkling lanterns in the woods. As we draw up at a log cabin, where Santa is waving at the window and "elves" are running between the tree ,I'm as excited as a toddler.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Inside, the cabin is just as you'd imagine: crackling fire huge double bed and an elf taking notes in the corner. Santa, who looks like the real deal with paunch and a proper beard beckons us towards his chair. He answers all my son's questions. "Where is Mrs Claus?" "Buying presents; the elves can't make them all." 'What do you do in January?" "Sleep for a month." "How do you give presents to all the children in the world on one night?" "With a lot of help from the elves. '</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">We have one last question before we leave to get ready for a gala supper, in which Santa will give presents to everyone. "Why do you live where it's so cold?" asks my son. "Because my reindeer like it," says Santa. You can't argue with that.</div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">What more do I need to add? This is an independent ringing endorsement of our Father Christmas tours to Harriniva. If you like what you see, why not get in touch on 01206 708888</span></span></div>Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06433406064500098908noreply@blogger.com0