The ScandiTrip: Day 7
Rovaniemi to Inari (approximately 326 km/202.5 mi traveled)
Let’s keep driving north, shall we?
Today we spent just about all day in the car as we drove to our next stop, Inari. The little town is located on a lake of the same name, and is the center for Finnish Sámi culture (more on that later). Despite its location, Inari and the surrounding area is a popular tourist destination for Finns, other Scandinavians, and Russians (since Russia is not far away).
Some of the highlights of our road trip today included:
People watching in a cafe in the middle of nowhere, spotting a man enjoying a coffee by the lake - he just looked at peace, ya know?
A beautiful, sparkling lake in a place called Sattanen:
Reindeer strolling on the road (Bonus Mom excitedly took some footage):
Mushrooms so perfect they didn’t look real … I never in a million years thought I’d get teary-eyed over a daggone mushroom, but I did. They were just so CUTE and flawless.
Pro Tip: Caring for your wallet while traveling
I do have a tip on how to save a bit of money on food expenses while on a road trip - even while abroad. This works if you stay in Airbnbs, hotels, or hostels that have fridge/freezers (or, of course, if you’re staying at a private residence).
Bring your own food, when you can!
Before your trip, buy a cheap insulated lunch box, a couple ice packs, and some plastic cutlery - you can often find these at the dollar store! Keep the ice packs frozen whenever you stay somewhere for the night. Go grocery shopping for small, portable items like yogurt cups, bread, ham, and cheese. You can even buy eggs and make hard-boiled eggs in your Airbnb. When it’s time to leave, pack some meals to go and have those on your journey instead of going out to eat. You’ll save a lot of money, especially since restaurants can be few and far between in more rural areas. Also pack some non-perishable items like fruit, dried fruit, nuts, or protein bars. Using this hack, Bonus Mom and I likely saved at least $400+/person during our time in Scandinavia.
A Shock to the System
I finally got to take a proper Arctic Dip! Our rented apartment was located 165 miles above the Arctic Circle, and was walking distance to a little pier on Lake Inari. I even swam around a bit! It was as cold as it was refreshing - I felt really good when I got out of the lake.
Our Airbnb was a few yards from a hotel and restaurant, so it was easy to get dinner. I ordered a HUGE plate of reindeer meat, lingonberries, and pickle spears on a bed of mashed potatoes. I promise I did NOT know the portion size was going to be THAT big. In fact, that’s something that has surprised me so far on this trip: when we did go out for dinners, the portion sizes have all been enormous (except for that swanky dinner in Tallinn).
This dinner was incredible — the reindeer tasted a bit like beef, but richer; the lingonberries were sweet and tart at the same time, and you really can’t go wrong with pickles. I ate the entire thing, too. Oink oink! 🐽
We had a very special dessert that night: a Northern Lights sighting! What was so neat about it was that it was still light outside, even after 11:30pm, yet faint wisps of fluorescent green aurora danced across the sky. I can only imagine how beautiful it would look in the dead of winter, but for tonight, I was grateful the lights came out to play - if only for a moment.
That mushroom picture is incredible!
Ooh! That lake looks lovely.
I don't think I've ever tasted lingonberries but they remind me of my last name, so I feel a special affinity towards them. 🤣 They sound delicious, too, and special for Norwegians. ❤️