Daily Archives: 24 December 2014

Visiting Santa Claus in Lapland, Finland.

P1080187
Heading back towards Copenhagen, Denmark the ICE is just about to be driven onto the ship for the next part of this journey. The fare is included on the Eurail Pass at no additional cost for this particular day’s travel.

P1080242
The Intercity Express (ICE) sitting tightly on board whilst all passengers must go off the train whereby they can sit and eat, walk around or buy duty free during the crossing. Only need to take personal belongings and the luggage stays locked within.

P1080250
We’re now coming off the ship and very close to Malmo, Sweden.

P1080254
Look really cute ‘eh? Glad he didn’t like the smell of my luggage …

P1080278
I overnighted in Malmo as it was a little too late for another four hours to Stockholm. Here at the station you can watch moving images on the walls and quite intriguing.

P1080314
Heading through Sweden now and onto Stockholm for an overnight ferry crossing to Helsinki which is where the Santa Claus Express departs from.

P1080312
Glad I travelled by train the next day – just so beautiful to see first hand.

P1080305
Snowing quite heavily but it’s not something I see each Christmas and I’m really enjoying the view. Nice and cosy in the train I’ll admit …

P1080428
Once in Stockholm it’s an easy transfer down to the port on bus 53. The ferry crossing with Viking Lines to Helsinki does not allow you free passage with your Eurail Pass, but it’s a saving of 30% when you book.

P1080417
Once on board this Santa is into everything; fashion parades, chatting up the ladies, consoling all the crying kiddies and generally having a fab time.

P1080407
The buffet was just delectable, with so many choices and at 38 Euro exceptional value and included beer and wine. I asked how much wine you could have, and promptly told as much as you like … In Aussie terms, how long can a piece of string be?

P1080455
Now at Helsinki main train station waiting for the Santa Claus Express to arrive.

P1080461
The train will let us off at Rovaniemi which is the official home town of Santa Claus. The journey overnight took just under 13 hours and smooth as.

P1080462
To book the first-class cabins you must use a day of your first-class Eurail Pass and the additional cost is approximately 94 Euro per person based on a twin cabin with private facilities.

P1080496
On our way and yes I’m snug in bed as it’s snowing well and truly outside.

P1080505
Superb ride all the way and woke refreshed to find we had arrived at Rovaniemi.

P1080503

P1080513
Bus number 8 will take us to Santa’s office at the Village and is where the Arctic Circle crosses through.

P1080622

P1080598

P1080589

P1080587

P1080566

Santa-Claus-in-his-house
I told Santa I’d especially come to visit him and he asked to send Greetings to everyone ‘Down Under’ as he knew it’d had been quite hot there. I also told him I’d be returning home to Sydney on Christmas Day from London as this was now one of the last parts of my trip in Europe.

P1080546
I now have my official stamp and it’s time to return to Helsinki, but this time I’ll fly to London before making the trek back.

Merry Christmas to everyone and may 2015 be a joyous and prosperous year for everyone. A big ‘thank you’ to all the people along the way who have made the journey one of the most memorable I’ve ever encountered.

Berlin in a Nutshell

P1080078
Berlin never fails to impress me. It’s from here I decided to stay a couple of days and plan my trip to visit Santa Claus in Lapland Finland.

P1080099
You can purchase a Berlin Welcome Card with incredible savings for transport and a number of attractions.

P1080072
At the Brandenburg Gate there is The Room of Silence which is not dedicated to any ideology or religion as anyone may enter to take some time out and reflect and leave aside one’s differences.

P1080043
Not far from the Brandenburg Gate is The Holocaust Memorial which is reminiscent of tombstones. The sloping ground within is symbolic of the rising upheaval and tumultuous events which took place.

P1080168
On Stresemannstrasse, there is an outdoor exhibition which showcases some of the various ethnic groups and how they were affected both during and after WWII.

P1080159

P1080154

P1080949
Catching up with long-time ago work mate Belle who now lives in Berlin.

P1080024
Moving on out and auf wiedersehen on this day. Away I go to Helsinki via Copenhagen, Malmo and Stockholm Sweden with the Intercity Express.