There is nothing more magical than a trip to Lapland, and a chance to meet the big man himself.
As a child I was fascinated with Santa and everything that surrounded him. In fact, I didn’t really stopped believing in him till I was 11. Santa was a legend. What kind of person nips into people’s homes once a year and leaves them presents?! In the neighbourhood I grew up in, the only people that nipped into your house that you didn’t actually know, were there to take things…
Yet once a year we allow this complete stranger in to deliver gifts and sweets! He even comes into my bedroom and leaves me a stocking full of treats at the end of the bed. I was a very wary child and my parents drummed into me the importance of stranger danger but never the less I wasn’t gonna miss out on the latest bike because I didn’t know him!
As you might imagine, being offered the chance to work in Lapland was not just amazing but a real dream come true. I was actually going to get to meet the Real Santa! Now I know some of you would say codswallop to that, but arriving into the village of Yllas screamed ‘Christmas’ to me. Not only was it the most festive place in the world but it was like walking into a Christmas card. I quite quickly realised however, that its not all about the big man; this place is beautiful and relaxing, it’s cold beyond belief and it’s sooooooooooo festive you wouldn’t believe. Everywhere you look screams Christmas; the glint in the children’s eyes as they step off a coach into -20, to the mounds of snow and winter wonderland conditions. It’s something that will stick with me for the rest of my life! Plus, the locals are absolutely unbelievable, they’re such a welcoming nation. They’ll feed you and share stories with you like no other. When you nip out to take the rubbish in the UK you may wave or happily nod at a passer by or even have a little chat with the guy next door but when I take my rubbish out here I have to dress in my thermals and dodge the reindeer wandering around my garden before getting stopped by my neighbour and what in the UK would be a quick hello, is a full blown 15 minute conversation here. Hence the thermals…
I’ve been on husky rides, in reindeer sleighs and snowmobiles. I have also been snow shoeing, visited an Ice village, been go karting in the snow and learnt to ski. I have been on a weeks worth of ski lessons and come out the other side having learnt a brand new sport which I now absolutely love and not just because I work for Inghams! It’s something that will stick with me for life.
I have been fortunate enough spent an entire winter out here but however long you visit for, whether it’s six months, 8 days or 3 nights. There is absolutely nothing that you will regret. For me, it’s been an absolute dream come true!
Blog by Adrian, Inghams Resort Manager in Yllas.