Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST
By Tammy Duffy
If you love art, the Ice Hotel is definitely a place you need to experience. The Ice Hotel is situated more than 200 kilometers above the Arctic in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden. This little village lies alongside of the Torne River is home to 900 people and 1,000 dogs. In the winter, the temperatures in this area can get below -40 degrees Celsius, yet the magical kaamos and northern lights create panoramic light shows across the winter sky. The ICEHOTEL was founded in 1989 and is the world's first hotel made of ice and snow.
Every year there is a new ICEHOTEL erected created from the ice of the Torne River. When the first snow has fallen, artists from all over the world come together in the village to take part in creating this incredibly unique livable art exhibition.
"The ICEHOTEL is an art symposium in a class of its own. The energy released there when creative people from a wide variety of backgrounds and places meet the ice is tangible, says Arne Bergh, partner and sculptor who has been part of the ICEHOTEL since the start 26 years ago.
The artfulness of the ICEHOTEL is a direct result of the extreme creativity of several artists. This year there were 42 artists who participated in this project in Jukkasjarvi. The notion that the work would take several weeks to months to complete is a bittersweet feeling for some.
When the cold arrives to the Arctic, the river also slows down and the landscape changes shape. Huge blocks of ice, weighing two tons apiece, are harvested from the river in the late winter of the prior year. It is then stored for the next years hotel. With this material they are able to cast the building "snice" (mixture of ice made of water from the river). The snice is sprayed onto molds, which are removed once the structure has consolidated. It's then up to the creative process to develop the hotel.
Room after room is an exquisite, romantic interlude of snow and ice. There is an extra dimension added to the experience with customized, challenging light effects. There is a presence of traditional Sami art, heavy chandeliers made of ice (weighing 250kg), 50 rooms for guests, an ice bar, a sauna and much more.
This years ICEBAR at the ICEHOTEL was named Tribute. It was so named as a tribute and celebration for all the artists, creative types and builders who have contributed to the ICEHOTEL for the past 26 years. It was also a tribute to the actors, musicians, and artists throughout the world who spread joy and happiness through their creativity.
The ARTSUITES, leave their guests mesmerized with wonder. I was blessed with the ability to stay in the suite, Don't Say Don't Cry, created by artists Urs Koller and Petri Tuominen. I told my travel agent I wanted an elephant in my room when I made my reservation. At that time they were just beginning to build the hotel for this year. This was a trip for my 50th birthday. When I arrived my breath was taken away by the room. I literally shed a tear. I slept very well in the suite. The reindeer skins are incredibly comfortable. The arctic blanket supplied by the hotel was so warm that you never once felt cold.
Your stay at the ICEHOTEL is something you will never forget. The surroundings were so quiet and cool, you will get the best sleep of you life. There is a survival course taught to you before you enter the suite. The course provides you with what to wear to bed and how to use the sleeping bags. There is a warm building where you keep you luggage and personal belongings. If you are planning a wedding, there is a chapel also made completely of ice to perform your nuptials.
In the morning, you are waken by a hot mug of lingonberry tea before you head off to the sauna to refresh yourself for the day. There is a delicious breakfast buffet included with high tech juice and water machines that make you feel like you are in an episode of the Jetson's.
As of next year, the plan is to make a hotel, bar and art gallery of ice, open to visitors every day of the year. The new building will be combined with traditional methods and modern, sustainable energy.
PHOTOS BY DUFFY Copy link below into your browser.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.550310898464818.1073741853.359697407526169&type=3
VIDEO of DOGSLED RIDE THROUGH WOODS: (We apologize for the thumb in the video, we lost our connector for the GOPRO on the trip)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a3D28J1YmU
TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO ICE HOTEL:
1. Fly SAS. Their pilots now how to take off and land in the snow effortlessly.
2. Use Vaseline as your moisturizer for face and lips. You need the oil on your skin. 99% of moistuizers have their first ingredient as water. Water on your skin is not your friend in the arctic.
3. Do not go out into the cold for two hours after you shower. This allows for the natural oils to replenish on your skin
4. Take lots of batteries. The cold will eat up the battery life very quickly. Nikon only guarantees proper function of any SLR up to -10 degrees. Be careful for condensation on the lens or camera and permanent destroy the camera. Keep your exra batteries warm as well. If they get cold, they will not work either. You your hand warmers in your bag to keep them warm.
5. Do not wear your good watch. The battery will be eaten up the first day. This happened to my Ebel. But you are on vacation so who cares what time it is.
6. Keep you cameras inside your coat. Take a backup camera in case one does not work as well in the cold. I used Nikon my DSLR with AA batteries adapter. I took my 30-80mm analog lens that work on my DSLR for my Nikon. I also used my Nikon Coolpix. The DSLR(d90)was more sensitive to the cold (but was not as rigorous about putting it in my coat). The Coolpix worked great all day as long as it was in my coat.
7. Dress warm in layers. Wear mositure wicking thermals
8. Merlino wool is your best friend, socks and thermal wear.
9. Schedule excursions with companies that supply you with boots, gloves, hats and snowsuits. This will help with what you do not have to pack for your trip. The excursions are wonderful and let you experience the cultural of Sami life. Highly recommend you do as many as you can.
10. Take one bag for all your belongings for your trip. Pack light.
