Day 6 A Birthday to Remember!

            

  Today I turned 28 :) ....Its amazing how time flies by. I started the day off great! Enjoyed a nice Norwegian Breakfast with my wonderful family from the north. After we ate they serenaded me with the Happy Birthday song :) Fredrik and I went off to take a nice scenic drive through Senja Island. It was about 210 Kilometers(130 Miles) and took us about 5 hours. I really enjoyed the quality time of talking with Fredrik about Norway, getting to know more about him and his family. We came back to one of my favorite Scandinavian dinners Reindeer meat :)
It was also Fredrik's youngest daughter Linnea's Birthday! she was turning one..
So a birthday party was scheduled and I was able to meet the majority of Mona's family and they were so nice. Mona's mother even made me a cake! How Sweeeet! I was so thankful of there generosity.
     The night was coming to an end and I was hoping for an icing on the cake close!
Well I got it!!! Fredrik looked outside and saw the forming of something in the sky... I walked outside with him and we saw the forming of The Northern Lights! I ran and got my Camera and over the next 30 minutes it grew larger and larger with such beautiful colors! I was so happy because that was one of the things I really wanted to experience while being in the area.

                                                        Fredrik and I

                                                           Senja Troll
                Legend is told the Troll has been seen on both land and sea
                World's largest Troll 17.96 Meters(59 Feet)
                                

                                    Fredrik, Hannah, Me, Mona, and Linnea

                                             Birthday club Linnea and I

                                                  The Northern Lights!

Day 5 Majestic views of Narvik

          Jim took me on a nice day trip to see a couple view point of Narvik that were amazing. We also took a nice ride about 45 mins out of town to a Fjord. I told Jim the views look a lot like Alaska and he told me had a Sufer from Alaska come and visit and he said the same thing.

Fjord- Geologically, a fjord (pronounced /ˈfjɔrd/ ( listen) or /ˈfiː.ɔrd/) is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.

 Some History about Narvik

 The port of Narvik proved to be strategically valuable in the early years of World War II and the town became a focal point of the Norwegian campaign. April 9, 1940 Germany launched its invasion of Norway (Operation Weserübung)...Coordinated by the Norwegian General Carl Gustav Fleischer, Norwegian, French, Polish, and British forces recaptured Narvik on 28 May 1940. This is also considered the first Allied infantry victory in WW II.

                                                      Narvik, Norway

                   Foundations left from where German Soliders stayed

Norwegian Nazi's built a Monument in a small village outside of Narvik

                   Monument for Jewish Familes in Narvik
                   that were take to Auschwitz Concentration Camp

Visiting Family in Finnsnes, Norway

    In the evening I took a bus ride from Narvik to Finnsnes, Norway. The trip took about three hours. I was picked up at the bus station by Mona and she drove me around town sharing some stories of different building and areas that were special to her and Fredrik. I had met Fredrik and Mona a couple years ago in Domle, Sweden where ''The Elofson Family Reunion'' was held. Fredrik is my second cousin once removed. He is my mother's second cousin. Check out how Cousins are broken down here -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CousinTree.svg
     We enjoyed a lovely night and had a delicious dinner of Prawns! hmmm yummy.

Costs- Bus ticket Narvik-Finnsnes 200 Norwegian Kroner(US 35)

                                                Prawns!!!!

                          Sørreisa, Norway-The view from Fredrik's home

Day 4 Narvik, Norway

      I contacted SJ the Swedish railway company and the trains were cancelled again for the day due to the extreme cold weather.. I decided to catch a bus to Narvik, Norway which is about halfway of where I wanted to be, but hey you gotta role with the punches and keep on moving! The bus ride was scheduled to be two and half hours and the cost was 270 Swedish Kronor(US 42). I went to the back of the bus and just relaxed... I thought it would be nice to get away from the extreme cold of Kiruna. Along the ride I saw some amazing views of the mountains and snow that covered all the land.. it was beautiful! Next the bus driver pulls up to a ski resort and all the passengers get off. Its just the bus driver and I left on the bus. He pulls over and parks the bus. He tells me that we are waiting for another bus and the passengers from that bus and I were going to get on one bus and then goto Narvik. I look at the time and it was about 15 minutes before we were scheduled to be finished the trip. I start asking some questions how long are we going to wait? about 30 mins... how far is it till we are finished the bus ride? 45 mins..... At this point I'm pretty frustrated so I told the bus driver this isn't fair to me and I paid a lot of money to be in Narvik at the scheduled time. It was like the bus driver didn't have any concern about how I was feeling or anything... He offered to give me 100 Kronor in return for my delay and I thought that was fair. I arrived in Narvik an hour and half late. When I walked out of the bus the weather was much different! only -5C(23F) considering I had been dealing with -25C(-13F) to -35C(-31F) weather It felt like Summer time!! haha I loved it...I met with a CouchSurfer named Jim. I had contacted him a few days before just in case the trains were to be cancelled and I had to take a different route. He was very nice to accept in such short notice. I was very impressed with Jim! He's been a member of CouchSurfing for about 6-7 years and has Hosted over 275 Surfers! Traveled to 153 Countries. Jim and I enjoyed some nice conversations over Fika(Coffee and snacks....Example: Tea time for Scandinavians)

Cost- Bus ticket Kiruna-Narvik 170 Swedish Kronor(US 26)

                                    Bus ride Kiruna to Narvik

              Jim's collection of photos in the Countries visited
              Organized by Color to show different Continents

             World map with all 153 Countries listed he's visited

                                  Jim and I overlooking Narvik

Day 3 CouchSurfing www.couchsurfing.org

                         I started the day off with some bad news. My original plans were to goto the Kiruna train station and catch a ride towards Norway. The tempature has been so Extreme...so cold as -35C(-31F) All of the trains for the day were cancelled! I heard from other residents around the area that they had never heard of trains being cancelled before! just my luck haha.... I still embraced the day and got a lot done! I got into my planning mode :)... I worked on CouchSurfing requests and planning the rest of my Euro Trip... I know some of you might have heard of CouchSurfing from me or other travelers... For those of you who don't know what it is I'm going to fill you in.  My CouchSurfing Profile! Check it OUT!!!!

http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/drj802/

What is CouchSurfing?

CouchSurfing is an international non-profit network that connects travelers with locals in over 230 countries and territories around the world. Since 2004, members have been using our system to come together for cultural exchange, friendship, and learning experiences. Today, over a million people who might otherwise never meet are able to share hospitality and cultural understanding.

How does CouchSurfing work?

CouchSurfing members share hospitality with one another. These exchanges are a uniquely rich form of cultural interaction. Hosts have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world without leaving home. "Surfers," or travelers, are able to participate in the local life of the places they visit. We also give more people the chance to become travelers, because "surfing" lowers the financial cost of exploration.

CouchSurfing´s Mission Statement:

Create Inspiring Experiences

At CouchSurfing International, we envision a world where everyone can explore and create meaningful connections with the people and places they encounter. Building meaningful connections across cultures enables us to respond to diversity with curiosity, appreciation and respect. The appreciation of diversity spreads tolerance and creates a global community. for more info on mission goto http://www.couchsurfing.org/about.html/mission

      I view CouchSurfing has a Worldwide Community that brings people who travel together and they share a common goal... To embrace each culture they visit and see it through the eyes of a local resident.. someone who can show them the hidden parts of the city other than just the common tourist places and also share each others stories about life and traveling.. CouchSurfing is also great for new residents! They have community groups where you can meet weekly or for special events.
The CouchSurfing community continues to expand its horizons. Members are always finding more ways to connect and learn about each other. Every day, people across the world share coffee, camping trips, meetings, language exchanges, discussions and all sorts of other experiences. Check out the website and if you have any questions feel free to ask! http://www.couchsurfing.org/groups.html?group_category=0

Enjoy Surfing!!!!! :)

Day 2 Jukkasjarvi ICEHOTEL

            Today is the day!!! I've been waiting to see the ICE HOTEL ever since I went to Stockholm in 2008 at the ICEBAR.. I read a magazine about the ICEHOTEL and I was hooked with the Idea of trying to go... I wasn't sure how or when but I was motivated... and now here I am in Northern Sweden going to see the ICEHOTEL... it just goes to show you that if you're trully passionate about something DON'T GIVE UP!! TRY TRY TRY AGAIN.....BAM it just might work out... :)
    After I got off the Plane a part of me was thinking wow is this really worth it ... to go through this cold weather just to see the ICEHOTEL....? YES YES and YES ...the ICEHOTEL was Amazing .. I would say it was an Artistic Wonderland... I'm sure many people wonder why would you want to stay in an ICEHOTEL where its -5C(23F) Whats so great about it that makes the place sellout year after year and some Customers book 2-3 years in advance! ART! The Ice work in each room and around the Hotel is Incredibile! Jukkasjarvi comes from the Finnish Language originally and it means ''Meeting by the Water'' ..The Torne River is very close by...The ICEHOTEL has been around for 21 years, but the property has been owned since the 70's and was used for Summer Holidays for people to go white water rafting down the Torne River...The Owner tried to figure out if he could do something during the Winter seasons... so he traveled around the World and ended up at a Ice Sculpture Festival in Japan that had been going on since the 50's .... He got inspired to build an Igloo shaped building out of Ice right on the frozen River... he put painting on the walls and tried to attract people to come... Everything was fine until the Igloo started sinking! so he had to get his artwork outta there... The next year they built the Igloo on land and closer to the other Cabins.... Again he just had artwork in the Igloo and suddently all of the Cabins were Sold out! the first time ever... Twenty people showed up looking for a place to stay because the whole town of Kiruna was sold out also... They offered the group sleeping bags and for them to sleep in the Igloo... and so begin the ICEHOTEL!

Costs- Entrance Fee ICEHOTEL- 200 Swedish Kronor(US 31)
           Return Bus Ticket - 65 Swedish Kronor(US 10)

                  The oldest wooden Church in Lapland Built in 1608

Day 1 Stockholm to Kiruna, Sweden

                           I arrived in Stockholm Monday night Feb 14th Valentines Day! It was a long traveling day for me. It begin in Trollhattan and I took a Six and half hour Train, Bus, and back on the Train ride... Parts of the track were being worked on so thats why I had to take a Bus to catch the next Train towards Stockholm. My Cousin Yosef picked me up at Central Station and we went back to his new Flat where he lives with two other flatmates... In Europe they dont call them Appartments its a Flat.
      I woke up today Feb 15th ready to start my Euro Trip!!! Yosef dropped me off at Arlanda Airport and I took an Hour and Forty minute flight from Stockholm to Kiruna! I always heard its a lot colder up in Kiruna but I sure had a Surpirse! coming to me... Kiruna is located North above the Polar Circle in Sweden. I got off the Plane and read the Thermoeter it was -25C(-13F) Challenging days were ahead! I dont mind being in the cold as long as I'm dressed for it... Well this Weather it's pretty hard to be warm and prepared for it... Ive had a big issue with my eye lashes freezing together lol... I took the Bus to the Center of town and I stepped into the Tourism Center...I walked around town and checked out some nice Historic buildings like Kiruna City Hall and Church. Later on that night I met up with my Couchsurfing Host Sara! We had a really good night... We went and got food from the local market. She cooked me a nice special Northern Swedish dish Reindeer meat... It was a great start to my Euro Trip!

Costs- Train ticket Trollhattan-Stockholm 300 Swedish Kronor(US 46)
           Flight ticket Stockholm-Kiruna 1468 Swedish Kronor(US 226)
           Airport Shuttle Bus 50 Swedish Kronor(US 8)

                                                         KIRUNA CHURCH
                        A Wooden Church built in 1912 in the shape of a Sami lavvu.
                       The altar painted by Prince Eugen.
                       Voted Sweden's Most Popular building of all time.

                                                   KIRUNA CITY HALL
               In 1964 Awarded the Prize for the most beautiful buliding in Sweden.

                                          Beautiful Kiruna!

                                          Reindeer Meat with Lingonberry sauce.