My night in the luxurious ICE HOTEL in SWEDEN

in #travel7 years ago

Hi Steemians,

I couldn't understand how anybody would voluntarily spend a night in a palace of Ice. Yes, visiting it is one thing, but sleeping at solid -4°C doesn't sound like a relaxing experience to me. But once I am already in the far north of Sweden, I might as well give it a try.

Supposedly people claim that they have never slept better in their entire lives than in the Ice hotel. That this sounds more like a marketing trick to my ears. I can't even imagine how anybody might be capable of making ice comfortable - but I was soon to find out what all the fuss is about.

My experience in the Ice Hotel

When we arrive at the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi there was very little daylight left. The Ice Hotel was glooming from inside in all shades of blue. It feels like your walking towards a world, which is dipped into colours that you would rather expect under water.

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The second you step into the Hotel --- it is silent. Silent because the ever so present wind turns speechless in here. And a similar thing is happening to me.

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My steps on the snow are the only noise I can hear. Sometimes I stop in order to turn around and see if Alessandro is still with me - because the phantasy of getting lost alone in a huge labyrinth of ice, makes me a little bit unease.

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As far as I can see, there is not a single bit of plastic - well, except the fire exit signs, which amused me a lot. How is this building supposed to burn? I would be more worried about a sudden melt down of the entire structure. But I must admit, in this very moment, I'm simply full of marvel.

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Even the chandelier seems to shine from inside without any electricity. It really seems like from the fairytale Cinderella - Cinderella in Ice and Snow Boots.

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I seriously feel like a snow queen here because there is no other person around. We are all alone. It feels like it's our palace. Somehow I had expected it to be crowded, but it was just me and my King.

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When the Swedish say that there are creating everything made of Ice - they keep their promise. Even the glasses are made of Ice. So I enjoy a little cocktail together with my new British Friends that I just met.

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Funnily enough, they had won a contest. The gentleman on the right had sold more washing machines than anybody else in his company and a trip to the Ice Hotel together with a person of his choice, was his reward. I'm not making this up. This is exactly what he told me and I found it hilarious! He was declaring loud that this is the best holiday he ever had in his life and that he has never been more happy.

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After this worryingly colourful cocktail and a dance with the English Man, we are wondering around the Ice Hotel. I have the impression of wondering on the moon. There is nothing that reminds you of a usual environment. Everything feels a bit dreamy and slow - the is a total different pace and it seems that there is also another gravity here.

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There are countless rooms to discover in the Ice Hotel and every room is designed by a different artist. There is a lot to discover. The rooms also change over time because the weight of the ice pushes everything down. The ice hotel is alive to a certain extend.

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Also, finally I find out how I'm supposed to spend the night: on a big reindeer fear. I also got a gigantic sleeping bag and I will not take of my hat over night. I'm just concerned of the thought to put my feet down on the floor accidentally at night. What if I need to go to the loo? Will I have to get fully dressed? I'm very tired and already at 11pm - I'm sleeping deeply.

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A gentle lady wakes be up in the morning with a cup full of delicious hot lingonberry juice. She is the only reason I can get out of bed. Alessandro is already awake and on the road to keep on exploring the palace at daylight.

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I can't claim that this was the best night of sleep that I ever had but it was clearly not as cold as I had expected. The crisp air certainly makes you sleep in a different way and you feel -- my I say so -- refreshed in the morning.

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I never really understood if Ale liked the experience in the Ice Hotel. He was always very vague about it. But it clearly is one of these things, I never thought I would experience in my life. In the morning I decided to take part in an ice sculpting class because I was honestly impressed by what you can design out of frozen water - for example those gentleman on the picture above. I will tell you about it in my next post.

I hope you enjoyed this little tour with us to the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi. I'm looking forward to your comments and upvotes if you liked it.

Keep on exploring!

Yours,
Elena & Ale

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Thanks for the post. I've never been to the ice hotel in sweden but many of my friends have. As an ice sculptor its great to hear how a none ice sculptor experiences it. Looking forward to seeing more pictures of the sculptures to see if i recognise them. I have been making a snow hotel in Davos for the last 5 years and working in these places is always an adventure.

WOW!!!
You're an ice sculptor? You basically have the best job in the world! I was so surprised how soft the ice was and how the cold totally moves into the background as you're working.

I want to do more! And I want to give the shell another try. The teacher told me that I created a dynamic . This was such a sweet way of telling me: "I can't recognise what you tried to do here."

following you!

When you said "everything felt a bit dreamy and slow".. I think I actually know what u meant (as I have lived in a cold place before).

Sounds like you had a unique trip -- and certainly one that You'll likely never forget.

It is neat that they designed each room individually. That one image of you looks like you are sleepwalking ! (the 10th one down)

Enjoyed yr pictures ..and your #adventure.

Hi @janashby , thank you very much for your words. I'm intrigued. Where did you live? What was your experience with staying in the cold? X

Hi back. Yea, I live in No. Dakota ! Gets quite cold indeed, here.

So... when you said, "A gentle lady wakes be up in the morning with a cup full of delicious hot lingonberry juice. She is the only reason I can get out of bed", I REALLY RELATED! Ha.

Then too - as you remarked, "My steps on the snow are the only noise I can hear".. well, it is very #peaceful when I am in my yard shoveling snow. Nary a sound is heard. And there aren't any birds around in winter -- whereas their Lovely sounds may be heard in Spring/Summer.

Finally, when u commented that "it seems that there is also another gravity here" -- I think I relate on this, because on the cold days if I am workin' it can feel "heavy" as I move. *It's more of an effort.

Capish?

Any thoughts?

Thank you so much for putting so much care into reading.

This means a lot to me. I'm not a native speaker and your analysis made me feel like a tiny poet.

I will spend this winter in the cold in the US. I'm wondering which silence is waiting for me there. Have you ever walked over a frozen lake? This was for me one of these remarkable experiences of silence. It feels like every little noise you do is echoing in the whole lake.

But it also still feels counterintuitive for me to go to a place that is colder than England in the winter. Strange.
But I start falling in love with the pale countrysides :-)

xx
Elena

I have been on a Frozen lake -- as an ice skater. This is something which I did a lot of in OHIO (in the Midwest/Northern part of the United States).

One of my favorite experiences ever; largely because of the quiet, the PEACE, the solitude ! Ah, it seems as though we're on the same wavelength as far as this goes (seeking out .. the peace & quiet).

I am so glad to have met you, Elena. (Kindred spirits)
I am following you now, so we can keep up on what's going on.

It's kind of Neat that you're coming here, to the U.S.

This looks like a really interesting experience. Would definitely try something like this at one point. I imagine sleeping there is strange, especially if you drink a few beers and need to visit the bathroom often :)). You always need to have warm stuff on.

Hi @avran - yes, that was my paranoia. What if I want to go to the bathroom!!?

Nightmare! In the morning, when I had to get up, I couldn't understand how to get out of the sleeping bag. It was really hard! I think they are building a permanent ice hotel now, that will also be there in the summer --- in some kind of a massive fridge.

Strange. haha :-D

xx
Elena

whooaaa! I only saw this on tv Elena. I'm sure it was a unique experience for you:)
You're like Elsa there,its beautiful.... I would love to try this someday!!!

Thanks for sharing!
Stay beautiful xxx

Hello @sunnylife , we haven't spoken in a while. So good to read from you!

Yes, it was very unique and impressive for me. I certainly felt like Elsa. I which I had also her hair !!

Excited to read more of your things!

x

It's always good to see your posts, your smile makes me happy:) it's contagious hahaha. . I'm still here steeming here lol. I can't believe it hahaha.

Hugs to you and hope to see more of your adventures!
Take care always xxx

WOW! Thanks for sharing. I live in Canada and it's so cold here. This may be worth to put on my bucket list. Love your pictures too.

Hell yes! I believe you! Is is already turning cold now?

Thanks for this wonderful, icy post, @elenahornfilm! Upvoted.

A pleasure, @prince-maanisaad !

Thank you very much! Would you stray in this icy hotel? x

upvoted

Thank you! Did you enjoy reading it? It is really a strange place!

x

Great photo-story, but that first image just stole the show! amazing

Thanks ! I'm glad you liked it. I start enjoying this way of story telling. I think I'll do it more.

Merci for your feedback, @daulphino

x

thanks for sharing :) wonderful

Hi @mika.cuervo - I'm glad you enjoyed it!

We put great care into the photos - so we are even more happy that you liked it!

x

Great experience and nice pictures.

Thank you @yuvadeep !

Would you sleep in a place like this?

xx

I always wondered what it would actually be like in the ice hotel. Thanks for this interesting insight. Especially the cocktails look delicious!

Hi @nacktepoesie - hell yes, they are crazy sweet. Also the glass melts slowly at the point where you're drinking. It's simply a lot of fun. x

Dear Elena. Really u articulate things soo well. The more i read your posts i get more and more impressed. Indeed hats off to your talent. Regards nainaz.

Thank you my lovely @nainaztengara . What ice sculpture would you like to build if you went there?

xx

Yes, yes I thoroughly enjoyed this tour! I've always wondered about these ice hotels and, and you have made it all seem to magical and wonderful. It's now on my list of things I definitely want to do. :)

Hehe, fantastic @johleen !

It is really surreal there. Maybe this is the closest experience of how it might be like to live on the moon. I'm excited to read who will be the next artists contributing to the hotel. :-)

Just started following you !

Let's keep live a bit surreal :-D !

xx
Elena

Haha! Yes long live surreal-ness!

I imagine there are people in some parts of of the world experiencing heat waves and drought who would just drool over your pictures of the ice hotel right now. :)

Thanks again for entering #surrealselfiesunday!!

I've followed you as well!

Have a great day Elena :)

Hi Elena, that looks really cool. Great Post :)

Thank you Sandro! How are things going! Tell me the news! I'm curious to hear about your progress!

x

Thanks for a great post and love the photos and your experience - great to travel and explore new cultures and meet new people.
Just followed you and appreciate if your follow me too

Hi @vividrange - I had a look at your blog and absolutely liked it. I'm following you now! xx

I'm not a big fan of ice or anything cold, but after reading and viewing you content, I would love to make a visit there one day. The photos were captured just beautifully. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful post. Upvoted and followed.

Hi @jaenet , thank you for your kind words.

The tone there we really remarkable. Because there are less colors which makes you notice more shades of white and blue. I was really surprised.

X

Incredible. I have always wanted to see this place firsthand, but I will live vicariously through your experience. Thank you!

Hi! You just thought me a new word: vicariously

Steemit-english-class by @crystalize

LOL. Fantastic!

Interesting. I've heard a little about the Ice Hotel before. Now I am even more curious.

I am still wondering who the hell sits down in the evening and imagines: Well, I want to build a luxurious hotel in ice with lots of art in it. What a vision!

x

WOW... there is very cold :)))

That's freaking true! x

wow.amazing and thank you for details with your experience

That you @steemitjp ! I'm glad you enjoyed the details! x

Thank you so much for this write up with the supporting photos. I've been wanting to go for a couple of years and you've just reminded me why I would want to go. 😊

It still doesn't enter my mind, why people want to sleep exposed to the snow. But it's incredibly popular!!!

What do you think about having the Ice Hotel all year long. They want to build some sort of huge fridge.

x

Ha ha, yes, great to see but I can't imagine I'd be overly keen on sleeping there though I would for the experience of it and I believe you don't feel cold from looking at the snow...
When you compare the Ice Hotel to a huge fridge, it doesn't seem all that appealing 😂 And having the place open all year long may be a bit like having Christmas in the summer though I guess some people do, so why not have the Ice Hotel available a all year long.. :)