In Search of the Northern Lights..

 

I had wanted to see the famed ‘Northern Lights’, or to give them their correct title..’Aurora Borealis ’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(astronomy)

for some time, and as I had tried to work out this years adventures, my mind had wandered to these again. NASA had also predicted that 2012 was to be a ‘brilliant’ year for observing them.. so after doing a bit of hunting around, I found this trip http://www.transun.co.uk/arctic/arctic_adventurer at a price I couldn’t refuse ( on Travelzoo http://www.travelzoo.com/uk/ )… so packed my bags and set off for Manchester Airport, where the sun was shining blissfully..was this going to be just what I needed ? – clear skies …I hoped so

I flew with Jet2.com http://www.jet2.com/ and I must say, for a cheap airline they were very cheerful, friendly ,efficient and comfortable –highly recommended.

I was met at a snowy and dark Kiruna airport in Sweden, and immediately herded onto a coach for the 2 1/2 hours transfer to the Davvi Artic Lodge http://www.davvihotel.com/ in Karesuando, Finland. The scene from the coach was quite surreal…completely snow covered roads,trees..anything and everything covered with a thick blanket of snow, but vehicles still travelling at a reasonable fast speed..slightly unnerving !

On arriving at the Davvi Lodge, it was already 10 p.m. local time, but they still had dinner waiting, and after dinner…kitting out in a Thermal suit, and boots – now I was ready for anything- although the sky was overcast, and ready for bed, before a daylight reconnaissance  , and working out where to go, before the nightime adventure’s…in search of the Northern Lights