Riisitunturi National Park, Finland
"I came to spend a few days... and I stayed." Does it ring a bell? Surely you know many people whose story could bear the title above, or even your own.
Some came to Finnish Lapland In search of adventures, others because they found an offer of season work, others for love ...and others, simply by chance. We talked to them to find out what life is like below zero!
ADRIANA ETALLO (HUESCA): FROM CALIFORNIA TO LAPONIA
Adriana works as guide at Northern Lights Village hotel (Saariselkä) . She studied Tourism and Hotel Management in Madrid and in her last year of college she went to California, where she stayed to work for two years in a hotel in Human Resources.
“When I returned to Spain I started looking for a job but I didn't want anything fixed, so I started looking for seasonal winter jobs and ended up in Saariselkä” says Adriana.
“I live two kilometers south of town in a kind of hotel where we have a private room and bathroom, a common room and a kitchen,” she says.
She has been coming for two seasons (from November to March) and the rest of the year she takes the opportunity to travel (this summer she's going to Southeast Asia), and back home, of course.
Adriana with an adorable husky puppy
Among the activities they carry out is the snowmobile safari in the mountains (her favorite of hers), hiking with rackets , safari with huskies and reindeer and one of the most requested, the aurora hunting at night.
When asked what the coldest temperature she's ever been in, she shows me a picture of her frozen eyelashes after a safari at 36 degrees below zero.
"I couldn't close my eyes, my eyelashes were sticking!" , she says.
"Of course I see myself repeating next season!" she exclaims with a smile as he asks her plans for next winter.
One of the most demanded activities is the snowmobile safari
ABRAHAM MONTES (TUXPAN, MEXICO) : A PROPOSAL THAT EXTENDED
"I don't live full time in Lapland because I'm also a lawyer, although I plan to close the office this year," says Abraham, who he came to visit to ask his girlfriend to get married (Rebecca has been working as a guide for twelve winters and now as a manager) and “in the end I ended up also falling in love with the place and its people”.
Abraham works as a guide at the Aurora Village: “I advise and give information to clients, organize activities and train new guides”.
I can't help but ask about the three reindeer that follow him when he snaps his fingers – literally.
“Mindy, Uusi and Sam don't belong to the hotel but one winter I started feeding them and now they follow me everywhere! Mindy even has her own hashtag #mindythereindeer,” she explains with a laugh.
"Mindy, Uusi and Sam (the reindeer) don't belong to the hotel but one winter I started feeding them and now they follow me everywhere" Abraham Montes
One of the most popular activities among hotel guests is the excursion on two hour snowmobiling.
“For those who are looking for cultural plans, we make Guided tours of the Siida Museum in Inari and in terms of night activities (see Aurora borealis ), I recommend motorcycle or sleigh rides,” he says.
Although in high season he does not have much time for leisure, Abraham likes “go to the forest to look for berries under the snow, grill sausages and, whenever I can, have a relaxing time in the sauna”.
The friendly reindeer that come to the Aurora Village Ivalo
CARLOS LÓPEZ (GIJÓN): SKIING IN FINLAND AND SURFING IN ASTURIAS
this asturian he came to Lapland 16 years ago looking for experiences.
He works at the Visit Inari tourism company as Head of Operations. His wife, Piia, works at the Siida museum, dedicated to Sami culture.
“In winter we carry out different snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice fishing, huskies, reindeer and aurora hunting. In summer cruises on Lake Inari and walking tours of the area,” he explains.
Carlos digging a hole to fish in the frozen lake
They have customers from all over the world: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, English, Chinese, Japanese, Australian, American...
“The best thing about my job is dealing with people and colleagues, and the worst days of a lot of stress, ”he says.
In his free time he likes to go skiing and patcrafting and when he goes to Asturias, socializing and surfing.
When we ask him what Lapland has that no other place has, Carlos is clear: “Intense silence, fresh air, security, tranquility, nature...”
Future plans? "Keep exploring and accumulating experiences."
In Lake Inari it is about 1,000 square kilometers long and has more than 3,000 islands.