Kiruna

Kiruna is a town about 200km North of the Arctic circle. You would have to be stupid to try and get there and back in a day.

It was 5am and we were at the bus stop. The bus was late but morale was clearly at a high.

5 hours later we were in Kiruna. Firstly, we went to the KLAB Iron Ore Mine for a guided tour. The mine is nearly 1500m deep and we were at level 500m. Equipped with our hard hats we pillaged iron ore pellets and cores. They are called green pellets because they are magnetic (go figure).

Thats one big front loader.

They even had trams.

Next, we drove across town to the star attraction in Kiruna, the Ice Hotel! It was quite cold and the ice seats didn't help. The hotel itself is one big art gallery plus beds. Every year they harvest ice from the river for the next year's hotel. They then keep it in a giant freezer through the summer and build the hotel again when it gets cold enough. There are 70 art suites (with beds), each with their own themes and artists all around the world compete each year to have their own room.

Arriving at the Ice Hotel- Check the sky.

The main hall in the hotel.

Cam and I with an ice angel.

Peter showed his love for gingerbread- ice or otherwise.

After the best buffet lunch ever (7 types of salmon including chocolate chilli) we headed to the original ice bar. Everything was ice, right down to the cups and tables. It was super cool.

Our group of friends at the ice bar. Skål!

There are more photos of our day here:

http://gallery.me.com/perkinsgroup#100263