The country of Lapland with the St. Petersburg company "Konti-Plus"
Day one (December 29.2008). We set off from Kyiv by train 53 "Ladoga" on the Kyiv - St. Petersburg route. Nothing special: the train is like a train, an ordinary compartment car.
Day two (December 30.2008). We arrived in St. Petersburg at 10-40, at the Vitebsk railway station. We moved to Finlyandsky, handed over our "suitcases" to the storage room. It should be noted that the prices in the luggage rooms are "draconian". For 1 place in the cell of an automatic luggage room - 65 rubles, for large luggage (suitcase) - 97 rubles.
Note. And they say that it is difficult for us to live in Ukraine!!! ! Lie, however!
We had until 15:30. At this time, a meeting with the group is scheduled in the central hall of the Finland Station, near the BIG New Year tree. We had to wait for a guide with a sign.
What are the realities of the meeting?
At first we tried to find the Christmas tree in the central hall. It was not there, not only a big one ...there was no Christmas tree. Then we started looking for a guide. Imagine it turned out: found! She brought a Christmas tree with her!
If I could post a photo, I would show it to you. 10 centimeters high. Suddenly I started having vision problems? Well, okay ...We found a guide: it's already good!
Further, our path lies to the 4th car of the Finnish train "Sibelius". I liked the train. Comfortable, warm, light. There are sockets, they turned on the laptop, and also charged mobile phones, which managed to be completely discharged in a day in search of networks.
Information for those who like to "save". Prices from the dining car: coffee - 2.10 euros, tea - 2 euros, boiling water - 0.60 euros. There is no boiling water in the car, only cold water in the cooler.
After crossing the border, a mobile currency exchange office drove along the car. And very soon we reached the platform of the Helsinki railway station.
Now is such a moment. According to the program of our tour, it was planned to transfer to the night train to Rovaniemi at the Tikkurrilla station. However, in the course of our train, the guide made unforeseen changes to the program.
The decision was made: to go to Helsinki, go to another platform and "plunge" into the train.
The question arises: why? - Yes, because the parking of both trains at Tikkurrilla station lasts only 2 minutes. That is, a group of tourists in the amount of 35-40 people (a third of them are children from 4 to 12 years old) is simply unrealistic to board the train during this time without delaying its departure. We did not have any misunderstandings with the transfer. And thank God!
However, I wonder: did the organizers of the tour (Conti-Plus) not know in advance about the duration of the parking?
Arrival in Rovaniemi took place at 10-40.
Day three (December 31.2008). A bus met us at the Rovaniemi station. We went to the Arktikum Museum. First, we had breakfast in the cafe of the museum. Buffet. On the menu: potato soup with mushrooms, venison with lingonberry sauce, baked salmon, cold cuts, mashed potatoes, salads.
In the bar you can buy confectionery and drinks for an additional fee.
After breakfast, a 1-hour tour of the museum began. In my opinion, a very interesting museum. Both in content and design. I especially liked the exposition of the national costumes of the Saami. But it should be noted that there is very little time to inspect this museum. Then we watched a 10 minute slideshow about the Lapland pyro (at the Polarium) and that was the end of the tour. There are souvenir stalls on the first floor of the museum.
After 2 pm we were settled in the Cumulus Hotel. The rooms are small but cozy. Clean, comfortable. I took a photo. If anyone is interested, I can send.
Now the fun begins. At 19:00 in the lobby of the hotel, a meeting is scheduled with the guide, as well as with representatives of the company Lapland Safaris (http://www. lapinsafarit. fi/? deptid=20046) to order additional excursions (safari).
At the same time, we decided to discuss the "process" of the New Year's program with the guide, since the tour program indicated that the tour price included: * New Year's Eve dinner with a program and a glass of champagne.
The guide POPULARLY explained to us that "New Year's dinner" is a REGULAR dinner + a glass of champagne. To our question: what about the program? The guide replied that if you want to get a program - we can, after having dinner at our hotel, walk 200 meters for the Rantasipi Pohjanhovi hotel and dance until 4 in the morning.
As it turned out later, none of the tourists took advantage of the guide's offer.
New Year's Eve dinner and festive mood we organized ourselves. And also met in the lobby of the hotel with Santa Claus. However, he did not come to us at all, because they organized this meeting for tourists from another group. But together with them we were also lucky: on New Year's Eve we met Santa.
Information for those interested: how the chimes "beat" in Rovaniemi.
On the banks of the Ounaskoski River, together with the locals at midnight, we watched a magnificent festive fireworks display from the opposite bank. It should be noted that the launch of fireworks in Rovaniemi is allowed from 18:00 on 31.12 to 06:00 in the morning on 01.01.
Day four (01.01). According to the program we have a trip to the village of Santa Claus and a visit to Santa Park.
The frost was so light in the morning, probably 11 degrees.
We arrived in the village, walked a little and our turn came to the reception to the main "Santa Claus" of the whole planet. We didn’t wait long at all (although I read in the reviews earlier that there was a big queue for him).
Grandpa accepted everyone. True, he didn’t allow me to sit on my knees: I can already see the old one, to put adult girls on my knees. We took pictures with Santa, talked to him. We were pleasantly surprised that our grandfather is also familiar with our non-European "movie" (Ukrainian language)! He answered my greeting in Ukrainian.
Now a moment: the photo with Santa turned out to be not entirely successful. At our request, we were photographed.
There are several photo options to choose from. for example, 5 photos sized 10x15 worth 30 euros, or 1 large format photo (I won’t tell you exactly the size) - 25 euros. And there was a third option: I didn’t remember it as unnecessary.
Then we had three hours of free time. How did we spend it?
The village is full of souvenir shops, but we visited only two of them, because they do not differ much in assortment. Went to Santa's post office, sent a postcard home. The cost of an envelope with a stamp is 1.40 euros, various postcards from 1 to 1.80 euros. You can also buy a postcard with a congratulation from Santa himself in the set - the cost is 7 euros.
We went side by side to a jewelry store. Large selection of various jewelry with stones: amethyst, smoky quartz and others. Stones in a gold frame, and not only.
Then we went to the Ice House (entry 10 euros).
Inside there is an ice bar with ice sculptures, drinks in ice glasses, and in the bedroom there is an ice bed with a deerskin. We drank Baileys from ice cups, took pictures with all the figures, and then went for a sled ride, as well as "pills" from the mountain. The frost was getting stronger: they froze, but were very pleased.
You can also ride a reindeer sleigh in the park. But we postponed this pleasure for tomorrow.
At about 3 p. m. , festive lights were turned on in the park. And we have supplemented our photo archive with a new portion of photos.
Further at will it was possible to go to Santa Park (or not to go). But there were very few people who wanted to visit Santa Park, since most of the tourists froze while having fun in Santa's village. No one really said that it was just there that it was possible to warm up. Because it's warm there.
Entrance to Santa Park is paid - 25 euros for adults (do not know about the cost of a children's ticket).
We were given a map of Santa Park, but it was not particularly useful, since it is impossible to get lost there. There is a souvenir tray, but the choice of souvenirs is small.
Very beautiful figures in the ice cave (entrance fee - 10 euros, this is in addition to 25 euros at the entrance to the Park). We didn't go because we had already visited the Ice House in Santa's Village. Although here you can see the figures through the glass (it's more interesting here!!! ) There is also an ice bar, but the entrance to it is only after paying for drinks (from 10 euros per drink).
Next we saw a cafe. You can eat, but the prices "bite": coffee from 3.40 per cup.
Dropped into the school of elves: this is a 15-minute performance in English. language. Children are interested! Then I propose to buy a diploma of graduation from this school for 10 euros. Only one boy bought it with us.
You can also take a picture with the local Santa (he can still wander around Santa Park (and there is no queue! And the price is the same), and you can also send mail!
Ride on the "train": a very nice attraction. And they rode twice. The first time I took pictures of the exhibits, and the second time I took pictures with the camera. Everything is in motion - beautiful and interesting! Like a puppet theatre!
You can go to the workshop and personally make Santa Claus (for free)! Even I did (how I fell into childhood! ) And it is also proposed to decorate the gingerbread: already for a fee, it seems to be 3.5 euros.
Already at the exit we watched the performance of the elves (duration 15 minutes). Original!
Day five (02.01). Free day. We bought the "Arctic Combination" safari for 178 euros that day.
The price included: equipment, a snowmobile trip to a dog and deer farm, and sledding. Everyone who did not want to drive a snowmobile was given instructors. We drove first along the river, then through the forest towards the village of Santa Claus. Upon arrival at the farm, we rode a dog sled around a small circle (these dogs are so cool!!!
), and then went to see the puppies! Approached and to adult dogs. They are so smart - they come up, let themselves be stroked, take pictures with them!
We drank tea in the house, listened to a story about the life and work of dogs
We went to a deer farm. We also took a ride on a sled. And then we went into the house: we watched a film about the life of a deer. We listened to the reindeer breeder, had lunch with a local brew: it turned out to be potatoes with koblas, we also drank hot berry juice. And it's time to go back to the hotel. The whole tour lasted 5 hours. In general, I liked it.
Day six (03.01). Check out from the hotel. According to the program: visit to the zoo Ranua. On the way we stopped to see the Lutheran church in Rovaniemi. I really liked it: not pompous, calm, comfortable.
The zoo is 79 km away. The road is very beautiful. I tried to capture the sunrise all the time. And it never came up!
The entrance to the zoo was paid for on the tour, so I won’t tell you the cost of the entrance ticket.
I liked looking for birds on tree branches and foxes in the snow. And the polar bears turned out to be not white at all against the backdrop of sparkling snow! They are with such a pinkish-pearl tint! Wonderful bears - do not take your eyes off! And the lynx .....- a feast for the eyes! Lovely cats!
I want to note that almost all the animals posed in their own way for visitors to the zoo!
And the wolf ran closer to the fence, and the mice stood on their hind legs, and the lynx defiled along the path! And the wolverine dug out his bone and began to gnaw it! The moose just poked its muzzle into our palms, begging for goodies! Even the musk ox showed his far from athletic figure!
In general, the zoo is unique! We do not interfere with the beast, and they, in turn, give us the pleasure of communicating with them.
And one more thing: during our tour of the zoo, I took a great many pictures of the sunset of the polar sun. In short, I had a lot of fun!
At the end of the tour, we filled up the souvenir shop. The choice is huge! I bought an absolutely adorable soft blue-eyed husky dog for 14.90 euros. They also left their euros in the Fazer shop (chocolate, sweets, waffles, cookies). Then we had lunch in the zoo cafe: both venison and baked salmon ...our last lunch on Finnish soil.
On this program of our tour came to an end. We returned to Rovaniemi. At the station, we waited for the train and set off for Tikkurila.
Day six (04.12). The transfer to the Sibelius train at the Tikkurila station took place without aggravating circumstances (except for suitcases and bags). Finally, we tried the Finnish beer Lappi Kulta in the train restaurant. For my taste, it is also very tasty, like most Finnish products.
And here is the Kouvola station. Border and customs control. Currency exchange, Tax-free refund.
We wave goodbye to the hospitable country of Lapland. And we promise: see you soon!
The train arrived in St. Petersburg exactly on schedule.
We took farewell pictures for memory and everyone dispersed in different directions.
We moved to the Vitebsk railway station. They laughed when they saw the new rates for luggage storage services (automatic - 72 rubles, large luggage - 102 rubles) On Nevsky we took a sightseeing tour of the city (1.5 hours - 350 rubles) Then we just walked along Nevsky, looked at the Christmas Fair near Katino garden. Frozen a little. Yes, and the time of departure of our train arrived in time.
Farewell, Peter. And also: see you soon.
