It turns out that Rovaniemi and the Santa Claus Village, was everything Bernie ever dreamed of and more.
We arrived safely after a direct flight from London on Norwegian air to the Rovaniemi airport to find everything covered in snow, the sun shining, and the temperature a cool -6 degrees.
A waiting taxi took us directly to the Village where we were able to store our luggage for free and go exploring.
We had 'Kahvi', hot spiced 'gloggi', salmon soup, and mushroom soup with rye bread, and 'Mustikkapiirakka' (blueberry pie).
We officially crossed the Arctic Circle and received our certificates, sent postcards from Santa's post office, had a Reindeer Sleigh ride, had a Husky Sled ride, petted both reindeer and husky dogs, and took hundreds of photos of the magical place.
We also, of course, visited Santa himself and this meant a long windy walk through corridors that featured numerous related displays, photos, and memorabilia of hundreds of letters from children all over the world, and Santa's comings and goings over the years including what he gets up to in the summer months in lappland.
Santa was very interested to meet us. He asked if we had been good and said he would visit New Zealand very soon. He seemed very authentic and we felt just like the little kids we know we really are at heart.
It was magic.
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| Rovaniemi airport |
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| Brrrr |
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| Bernie crossing the arctic circle |
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| Kelly crossing the arctic circle |
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| Toni crossing the arctic circle |
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| Barry crossing the arctic circle |
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| Bernie petting a reindeer |
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| Bernie and Kelly in the reindeer sleigh |
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| Bernie and Toni in the reindeer sleigh |
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| Frozen rowan berries |
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| In the Santa Claus Village |
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| About to see Santa |
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| Toni gets in the shot |
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| The blue line is the arctic circle |
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| Rovaniemi street view |
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| Bernie woz here! |
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| Down by the river. It was stunning |
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| Another view |
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| One of Santa's old sleighs |
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| On our way to see the huskys |
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| Kelly gets up close and personal with the huskys |
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| Bernie and Kelly having a fast husky sled ride |
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| Nope, its not the toilet! |
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| Bernie drives the husky sled |
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| Keeping warm |
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| On our way to get some hot spiced 'gloggi' to warm up |
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| Northern lights? |
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| Salmon soup, rye bread, and gloggi |
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| Happy Bernie |
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| Getting colder |
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| Rovaniemi supermarket |
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| Rovaniemi street scene |
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| Santa!!!! |
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