The perfect way to welcome spring….returning from the Arctic Circle.

Crystal blue sky over pure white tundra!

Ok, so I am in the minority who loves to shoot in the cold, travel in the cold, and drink my hot coffee outside in the cold. But just envision the silence, the crystal clear air, the incredible blue sky and the pure white snow. And did I mention the stars?

Flying into Helsinki? Look into the performances in the crypt of the Helsinki Cathedral. I usually don't get goose bumps before the show begins, but when the crypt went dark and the singers rustled their way to the stage I slid far in my seat away from the aisle.Who knew the acoustics could be so amazing in a crypt? Don't miss this! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helsinki_Cathedral

The Lumi Linna snow castle, our destination in Kemi, sits on the frozen Gulf of Bothnia, a wide expanse of perfect white backdrop. Though there are a number of snow and ice castles near the Arctic Circle, the Lumi Linna offers a clear backdrop of the gulf that leads to Sweden.Each year it changes form, but an incredible creation is the standard.http://www.snowcastle.net/en/homepage/

North at 25`you will find the Rovaniemi Bridge and the Rovaniemi Arktikum. The Arktikum has a distinctive structure of a glass tube 172 meters long. Though the blue sky is again spectacular, when the stars come out magic happens. http://www.arktikum.fi/en/index.php?/arktikum/architecture/

Three most important lessons learned

1) Carry extra, extra everything! The number of stores in the Arctic Circle is very limited. Don't forget the protein bar stash for the vegetarians, vegetables too are limited.

2) Reindeer lose those beautiful antlers in spring, so if you would like your Dancer with 2, get there in the winter.

3) All vodka is better in a glass made of ice!