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-   -   Christmas in Lapland Day 2 Christmas Eve (https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=184446)

Taggie 1 Jan 08 11:03 PM

Christmas in Lapland Day 2 Christmas Eve
 
Hubby - Richard 34 (the one with the credit card)
Me - Teresa 37 (chief planner and organiser)
DS1 - Daniel 10 (Santa's Little Helper)
DS2 - Joshua 9 (Santa's Little Helper)

It's Christmas Eve and we have a lot planned for, for today! First of all was breakfast, this was included in our B&B coverage. We went down to the restaurant at 8am and it was huge, plenty of room for everyone. Breakfast was done on a buffet, help yourself style. There was fried stuff, cereal, boiled eggs, yoghurt, fruit, make your own waffles and toast, apple/orange juice tea/coffee. Loads of choice and refiled as it ran out. Today, we went for the fried stuff and waffle, as we assumed lunch was included later, but weren't entirely sure.
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Fergus the Coach and Frosty the Elf were picking us up at 9.30am to take us to the morning activities, we ended up waiting for a 'large group' family before we could set off. We were taken to Winter Wonderland which was about 10/15 minutes away, but had to pick up two more families from another hotel round the corner.

We arrived before 10am and were told, we could toboggan down the huge slope or walk down the steps. Well this is Christmas, we are in Lapland, who would want to walk down the steps, so we tobogganed on our bums down the slope and it was huge fun. We headed over to the huskies first to go on their sleigh ride, there was a bit of a queue here. All 4 of us could fit on the sleigh and we were pulled by 10 huskies. They did have to keep control of the huskies as they liked to run off the track and they did keep changing them over, so each could have a break.
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Next to them was the Quad Bikes for kids, there was no queue, so the boys each had a go on them
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Today, the wind chill was up, so my hands were getting quite cold taking the gloves on and off to take photos and video, so we went over to a stand where they were serving free hot berry juice and ginger biscuits and there was Frosty doing the serving. We sat by a lovely open fire and my hands and face warmed up lovely.
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Next on the agenda was Snowmobiles, we could drive them or ride in a sleigh pulled by one. Nervously I chose to drive one. We were measured up for helmets. Richard and Joshua went on one and me and Daniel went on the one in front of them.
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Driving them was great fun and they were easy to steer even over icy mounds.
We headed back up to see if the reindeer taster rides were open and there was a queue here, so whilst in the queue, we took turns to have snowball fights and more hot berry juice!
The reindeer sleigh rides were two per sleigh.
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We went in front and they go quite quick, but Richard and Daniel went behind us and because they didn't start straight after us, their reindeer wanted to catch us up, so it came flying up behind us, kicking snow all over Daniel. You control the reindeer and hold the rope.

Taggie 1 Jan 08 11:03 PM

Having now done all the activities here and not long until lunch time, we decided to have more goes at tobogganing and looking around for 1/2 an hour.

We were told on the coach that lunch was included with the taster sessions and was in a lovely toasty log cabin. We got a table easily, but did have to queue for the food, there was a choice of soup and bread, meatball and veg or burger and chips with berry juice or hot drinks, we opted for burger and chips and hot chocolate!
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There were also more of the Ginger biscuits.

After lunch and more tobogganing we headed out over to a Teepee and went inside where there was an open fire, there was another family sitting in there too. Santa's main Elf then came in and starting one by one asking the other family their individual names and when each one answered, he said they were in Santa's good book, but when he got to Richard, he said Richard wasn't and went on about this, even to another family. It was hilarious. We all had to have special magic put on us, so that Santa would know where we were, but Richard would have to have extra and the main Santa Elf would speak to Santa to see if he could put Richard in his good book!
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We had to be back at the coach stop by 1.30pm to go back to the hotel, so on the way back, we had more snowball fights!
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Our Reindeer Sleigh Ride pick up was at 3pm, so we had some time to relax ready for our next adventure.
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There were about 70 people booked to go on the Reindeer Sleigh Ride, so they split us into two groups, we went into the Log Cabin first and the other group went on the Sleighs. In the cabin, we had a Sausage and Hot Berry Juice over an open fire, whilst a Sami lady came in and gave us a chat about the reindeer and about Sami people & customs, we learnt some very interesting facts.
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The sleigh ride lasted 40 minutes and it was really peaceful riding on the sleighs through the dark wilderness. We were two per sleigh with Joshua and I riding behind Richard and Daniel. Richard's reindeer liked to crash them into trees which was quite funny, our Reindeer liked to ride alongside Richard as opposed to behind. The actual ride lasted about 40 minutes and will certainly be something to remember doing on Christmas Eve.
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Taggie 1 Jan 08 11:03 PM

We arrived back at the hotel just after 5pm and the First Choice Rep called us over, she gave us a bottle of Blue Santa Claus wine in a velvet First Choice bag, it's official Santa wine! We went up to our room and we all had time for a shower each in the gorgeous bathroom! We were told by one of the Elves that Christmas Eve is a very special day in Lapland and because of this everywhere was closed, all restaurants everything. Due to this, they told us that our Christmas Eve meal would be given to us free in the Hotel's restaurant. What a bonus, we couldn't believe it, we had been fed and watered all day long without spending a penny, what a brilliant Christmas Eve. All the adults were given a glass of champagne and the kids were given a glass of sprite. There was a buffet, help yourself service again. There were a lot of different type fish dishes, meat and veg dishes and choice of kids meals if they didn't want the adult food. There was also a huge choice of desserts and the boys had a chocolate mousse with chocolate pieces in it.
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By 7.20pm, we were back in our Snow Suits off to the ice park for some Christmas Eve sledging, what a way to end an evening. There were also ice skaters there, skating in front of the igloos on the skating rink.
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As we were walking back to the hotel, we saw Santa coming out of another hotel. He goes round each of the hotels on Christmas Eve and was due at our hotel at 9pm, where he gives each of the kids a Christmas present. This was a bit manic though with kids and parents all trying to get in on the action, so my boys weren't that impressed, but we knew we would see him better tomorrow!
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We ended up going to bed about midnight, we had brought the boys Christmas stockings with us just in case and hang them up ready, we also cleared the table, in case Santa did leave them any presents.

Day 1 Sunday 23rd Dec

Day 3 Christmas Day

Guest 1 Jan 08 11:18 PM

Oh I'm glad that you had a really great time.It brings back fond memories.We had a bottle of santa claus wine too.We kept it and drank it with this years xmas meal.I'm sure that like us you will never forget such a lovely xmas time!

wedinflorida 1 Jan 08 11:28 PM

What i great day! Such a magical way to spend xmas eve. I love reading your trip reports, you seem to pack so much into one day.

We are hoping to go to lapland this year so looking forward to reading more.

littletrev 1 Jan 08 11:33 PM

What a fantastic day.

Guest 1 Jan 08 11:36 PM

OMG I am loving this report... it sounds fantastic.
What a wonderful way to spend Christmas Eve. :)
thanks for sharing... cant wait for Christmas Day :tounge:
Elaine

Tinker 2 Jan 08 01:09 AM

Can't wait to read the rest off your report,

Cal and Dave 2 Jan 08 01:18 AM

This is fantastic, and something we have never done. i am looking forward to Christmas day :)


Hope Richard got in Santa's good book ;)

welshwiz 2 Jan 08 05:28 AM

Sounds like an amazing day filled with adventure and magical memories :o:


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