When you travel without plans it becomes easy to meet people and fall in line behind their prearranged itineraries (it's called taking advantage). Arriving in the city of Kiruna, I knew only about the infamous Ice Hotel. The Ice Hotel and the elusive aurora borealis. Okay, the Ice Hotel, the
What The Hell Is Eurovision?
My time in Sweden taught me more than just to be afraid of reindeer and that Swedes really like their candy. I also discovered Eurovision. I was previously unaware of the fact that every year, all the countries in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) participate in an international song
That Time Some Reindeer Tried To Kill Me
After arriving at the ICEHOTEL and finding out that I had to wait over two hours for the next tour (in Engish), I decided to tag along with two Canadians I met to some church and museum at the end of the street. The church and museum apparently were both focused on by the Sami people (the
Hitchhiking 2,600km To The Arctic Circle (Part II)
In case you missed it: here's Part I of the Sweden hitchhiking adventure. TWO OLDER COUPLES Standing underneath a lone street light in the dark, I have zero expectation of finding a ride. The nearby bus stop will provide a nice place to sleep, but I wait to make myself cozy in case the
Hitchhiking 2,600km to The Arctic Circle (Part I)
Today’s sun has yet to appear, and a light drizzle falls from the sky's grey blanket. Maybe it was true yesterday when every person I spoke to told me what a fantastic day we were having weather-wise (fantastic day = sun is out, regardless of temperature). Riding shotgun in Stellan’s car, we pull
Two Weeks In Sweden: What I’ve Learned
Since my arrival in the land of the Sweden I have done a lot of things: slept outside in below freezing temperatures, visited a hotel where people sleep in below freezing temperatures, personally fed some reindeer (to make them fat for eating), and adventured out onto a frozen lake. Here is what
Photo Gallery: Sweden’s Ice Hotel
Almost 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle in the heart of Sweden's Lappland, there exists a hotel made entirely out of frozen water. It is known simply as ICEHOTEL (why the all capital letters, I do not know). For as little as 1250 Swedish krona (SEK) (~$195), or as much as 13,500 SEK
Next Stop, The Kingdom Of Sweden
In just a few hours I will be leaving Los Angeles for Stockholm, Sweden. So what do I know about Sweden? A quick look at Sweden's official tourism website tells me that this country of 9.6 million people recycles 99% of its waste, is 97% uninhabited wilderness, receives nearly 50% of its energy