Have camera will travel

We started off with breakfast as usual, then on the coach for a tour of Rovaniemi. We went to the Lutheran Church and drive around. There aren’t many old buildings here. All but 17 were burnt down at the end of the 2nd World War. Then……….
Off to see Santa Clause at his village.
Kind of disappointing, it is a tourist trap. It’s of shops and 40E to get a video and photo of Santa. We wandered around looked at stuff, sat in the sun, took each other’s photo standing on the line.
Most of us we disenchanted with the village. No snow, no Christmas trees, no Santa’s elves. The only thing that was familiar was the commercialization of it. We got sun shine. It was 16 degrees and no clouds.
Back to the hotel to drop off some people and then off again to the Arktikum – museum of everything about Lapland and the attic circle. Lots and lots to see. We watched a short film about the northern light that included northern lights.
Then out to see a pioneer farm – that was great. We had tea and apple cake. The a brief intro and explanation about the place. Only a 1/2 hr to wander and take photos. Mostly red buildings. The red paint was made by combining linseed oil, rye and iron oxide and cook it for 20 hrs.
Back to the hotel to refreshen up.
Off again, to a reindeer farm. We sat in a big teepee like structure (can’t remember the name of it) and got the badness removed from us by slicing a knife across the back of our necks. Also we got marked on our foreheads with soot from the embers of the fire.
Then out to feed the reindeer in their paddock. Trying not to step fresh droppings. They taught us how to lasso the reindeer. Similar to roping, but an overhand throw like baseball. Vicki won. She got a little stuffed deer.
We had sautéed reindeer for supper – he said it was the neighbours. Lots of chatter and good spirits flowing.
Back to the hotel after a long day out and about. I went to the market and bought some Off. It seems it is mosquito season.
Back to the room to wash some clothes and get ready to move on tomorrow.
Scandinavia doesn’t know about air conditioning, except opening windows. We’ve had the window open, but the noise from cars racing and seagulls fighting was too much, so we closed the window and that has blocked about 90% of the noise.
It is hard to know what time it is as it is always light. I am writing this just before 11pm and it is as bright as about 4pm at home. Good thing there are blackout curtains.