Today's posting could be seen as a digression from the norm, but what is the norm? After starting this blog as a countdown to my summer vacation and to discuss our somewhat strange purchase of a log cabin in Lapland, I soon decided that this alone simply wasn't enough so progressed on to talking about flights and the region and any other rubbish I could think of. Now as i'm running out of things to write about (only 5 days in), as no one is commenting or leaving me any questions to answer or research, I understand my real reason for starting this, the pursuit of world domination!!! With that said, I hope George Dubya and the Russians ain't reading this as before long i'll be on the axis of evil list or being chased around the North Pole by some Russian Mafia. Wishful thinking I say, I still don't know if anyone anywhere is reading this so if you are, here's my message to you "Please leave a message".
Now after the above paragraph of random nonsense, i've thought of something to write about, the resort of Yllas where our cabin is located. Yllas lies approximately 35km north east of Kolari in Northern Finland and the area comprises of several fells (including Yllas fell, at 718m one of the highest fells in Lapland) and two Lappish villages. On the Northern side of Yllas fell lies the village of Akaslompolo where our cabin is located and on the Southern side is the village of Yllasjarvi. The area as a whole is a popular destination for tourists (especially Finns and Germans), its Skiing tradition dates back to the 1930's and it benefits from around 350km of cross country skiing tracks. Furthermore, the regions skiing facilites received a huge boost last year with the announcement of a new investment of 16million euros for a new ticketing system, gondola ski lifts, restaurant facilities and much more. For more information, read details here http://www.abovethearctic.com/YllasInvestmentProgram2006.php
Finally, I would welcome the opportunity of delivering these ramblings to a wider audience so would love to hear from anyone else promoting vacation destinations of a non conventional kind and would be glad to exchange links with them. If you're interested and reading, please get in touch and I can feature you in my future notes.
That's all for now folks, please check back soon!
Saturday, 23 June 2007
Friday, 22 June 2007
Another Milestone
Today we have reached another milestone in that it's now only 4 weeks until we depart northbound. The kids are getting excited about the prospect too and it's probably due in a small way to the excited parents factor that's now rubbing off on them. We are all heading for a journey and vacation unknown to us (but we'll make the most of it) as usually our summer vacation is to a destination of notoriously sunnier climes with swimming pool, bar and plenty of things to do. However, i'm sure there's still plenty to do in Lapland this time of year and we're looking forward to investigating.
Although we have no planned itinerary for our trip, I do find the thought of driving to Sweden (approximately 1 hour away), Norway and the Russian border quite appealing. Also, a trip to the Arktikum Museum http://www.arktikum.fi/ in Rovaniemi to research the way of life, culture and history of the Lapland region also features as a possibility that must be considered.
As the amount of time I have available to write this today is in short supply, I will end it here and try and think of some more ramblings for the forthcoming days.
Don't forget folks, any comments, feedback or questions that you have, please send them as they might stop the well of my thoughts and ramblings from drying up.
Finally, I have just cheked on the Yllas website http://www.yllas.fi/ and the temperature today is 15 degrees celsius so it's starting to warm up nicely and hopefully by the time we arrive in four weeks time that it will be well into the 20's.
Although we have no planned itinerary for our trip, I do find the thought of driving to Sweden (approximately 1 hour away), Norway and the Russian border quite appealing. Also, a trip to the Arktikum Museum http://www.arktikum.fi/ in Rovaniemi to research the way of life, culture and history of the Lapland region also features as a possibility that must be considered.
As the amount of time I have available to write this today is in short supply, I will end it here and try and think of some more ramblings for the forthcoming days.
Don't forget folks, any comments, feedback or questions that you have, please send them as they might stop the well of my thoughts and ramblings from drying up.
Finally, I have just cheked on the Yllas website http://www.yllas.fi/ and the temperature today is 15 degrees celsius so it's starting to warm up nicely and hopefully by the time we arrive in four weeks time that it will be well into the 20's.
Thursday, 21 June 2007
only 29 now!!!!
After viewing some of the blogs on this site, it appears that I may be addressing readers in the good old USA. If this is the case, let me start by saying that I am a UK citizen and for those of you who don't know, Lapland is located in the Euro zone, above the arctic circle and covers terrain in four countries Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia although Finnish Lapland (where our property is located) is the one and only home of good old Santa Claus.
As mentioned yesterday, today I am going to talk a little about flights to the region as this can be somewhat tricky and in today's competitive world of low cost air travel, Lapland is one of the remaining regions to which air travel can be considered comparatively expensive.
Summertime
In the summertime, the choices for our travel routes have been quite limited but we are lead to believe that this will change in the future but how soon we do not know. Ideally, we would have chosen to fly direct into Kittila airport (approximately 45km from our property) but flights are somewhat limited so instead we have had to arrange flights from the UK to Helsinki and then onto Rovaniemi which is the gateway to the arctic circle and then we have a 2-21/2 hour drive northward to our property. However, the thought of driving on open quiet roads through beautiful green countryside really does pain me!! (Please excuse my warped sense of humour, it doesn't pain me really and I can't wait for the day to arrive).
Wintertime
Flights in the winter have been easier to come by due to the amount of Brits that head out to the region on Santa Trips or for Ski/Snowboarding vacations. I have now booked ours for the last few days in December and into early January and have been able to get flights directly to Kittila with one of the tour operators who specialise in offering ski vacations. Prices are still comparatively high, but the convenience of flying into Kittila when there is several feet of snow on the ground is worth every penny.
That's all for today folks but if any of you have anything specific that you want to know about the region then please leave me a comment and if I don't know the answer then i'll find it out for you and post it on here in the near future.
Please check back again soon for more updates.
As mentioned yesterday, today I am going to talk a little about flights to the region as this can be somewhat tricky and in today's competitive world of low cost air travel, Lapland is one of the remaining regions to which air travel can be considered comparatively expensive.
Summertime
In the summertime, the choices for our travel routes have been quite limited but we are lead to believe that this will change in the future but how soon we do not know. Ideally, we would have chosen to fly direct into Kittila airport (approximately 45km from our property) but flights are somewhat limited so instead we have had to arrange flights from the UK to Helsinki and then onto Rovaniemi which is the gateway to the arctic circle and then we have a 2-21/2 hour drive northward to our property. However, the thought of driving on open quiet roads through beautiful green countryside really does pain me!! (Please excuse my warped sense of humour, it doesn't pain me really and I can't wait for the day to arrive).
Wintertime
Flights in the winter have been easier to come by due to the amount of Brits that head out to the region on Santa Trips or for Ski/Snowboarding vacations. I have now booked ours for the last few days in December and into early January and have been able to get flights directly to Kittila with one of the tour operators who specialise in offering ski vacations. Prices are still comparatively high, but the convenience of flying into Kittila when there is several feet of snow on the ground is worth every penny.
That's all for today folks but if any of you have anything specific that you want to know about the region then please leave me a comment and if I don't know the answer then i'll find it out for you and post it on here in the near future.
Please check back again soon for more updates.
Wednesday, 20 June 2007
only 30 days to go!
Today I'm going to ramble about the purchasing process and the reasons for our bizarre overseas holiday investment purchase.
After considering purchasing an overseas property for several years and looking at all the favourite destinations like France, Spain, The Canary Islands, Portugal, Bulgaria, India etc.... It was a relatively simple decision to purchase in Lapland. Not only is Finland the least corrupt country in the world but the purchasing process is simple (The contract was 1 sheet of A4 paper) and we didn't even need a solicitor, although we did employ the services of one just for peace of mind. Furthermore, the rental yield is good, Nordea Bank who organised our mortgage are superb and everything else has gone perfectly.
Tomorrow I will talk about organising the flights in winter and summer, car hire and anything else I think of in the meantime so please check back soon for updates
After considering purchasing an overseas property for several years and looking at all the favourite destinations like France, Spain, The Canary Islands, Portugal, Bulgaria, India etc.... It was a relatively simple decision to purchase in Lapland. Not only is Finland the least corrupt country in the world but the purchasing process is simple (The contract was 1 sheet of A4 paper) and we didn't even need a solicitor, although we did employ the services of one just for peace of mind. Furthermore, the rental yield is good, Nordea Bank who organised our mortgage are superb and everything else has gone perfectly.
Tomorrow I will talk about organising the flights in winter and summer, car hire and anything else I think of in the meantime so please check back soon for updates
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
31 days and counting
It's been almost a year since our families bizarre purchase of a Log Cabin in Finnish Lapland and now just 31 days until we visit our investment for the first time.
After visiting the Luosto region with my family in December 2005, we fell in love with the place and all of its snow and following a close friends visit to the resort of Yllas in February 2006 (in search of a cabin to buy) and his decision to go ahead, I asked for details as the idea was somewhat appealing to my family and I. After discussing the matter with my wife, we soon decided that the idea was for us and we decided to buy in the same area as our friends. After getting the purchases agreed, we both completed in August 2006 and the rest his history.
For those of you who don't know anything about the region, here's a little for you. Lapland is a great place for holidays all year round. In the winter from about mid November onwards it is a magical winter wonderland covered in snow and the long standing home of Santa Claus. It is a wonderful place for adults and children of all ages and a safe environment where you and they can experience activities such as husky dog sleigh rides, reindeer sleigh rides, toboganning, snowmobiles, ice fishing, skiing (Nordic or downhill), snowboarding and of course santa trips or if you like you can just play in the snow. Furthermore, you may get even get to see the amazing Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) if you're lucky!! Be aware though, the temperature can fall very low with the lowest ever recorded being -45 degrees so remember to pack those thermals and make sure you're protected.
Usually, around May time, the snow will melt and the greenery of Lapland's countryside will emerge. Days will be long and by mid June you will get the midnight sun. Again there are a host of things to do including fishing, trekking, cycling, canoeing and much more. The resort of Levi is just 50km away so you could even go and play midnight golf.
In summing up the first of my of ramblings, I will return to write more about the summertime in Lapland after my visit in July. I feel the section is a little short at the moment and that i'm not doing it justice because I am yet to have experienced this time of year for myself.
That's all for now folks. Please check back soon for more updates and ramblings.
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