ICE HOTEL

The Ice Hotel itself is located about 20km away at a place called Jukkasjarvi (pron Yukkasyaravi). It certainly wasn't the Superman ice castle that I'd imagined for so long, more like a couple of snow-covered rounded-metal aircraft hangars you see about the place. But in its way it is beautiful, and the surrounding village and countryside also aim to please.

As you'd expect it has a 'warm' reception and other amenities like restaurants and bars that you don't have to freeze to eat or drink in. No detail required there. The Ice Hotel itself however is a long (60-70 metres) semi-circular corridor with guest wings branching off it one both sides. In the entry corridor is an ice reception and what would best be described as an ice dining hall, complete with ice table, chairs and chandelier.

There is also a church (above right, including spacey supernatural aura whisping about) and the all important Ice Bar located inside. All of it is hewn out of man-made blown white snow that is completely opaque when packed, carved and moulded into the superstructure.

The bar more resembled the ice castle of my aberrant conception. Big bricks of clear ice making a grand hall, where the bar serves Absolut vodka drinks of every variety in ice glasses that end up sticking to your hand. Lounge alcoves with reindeer skin covers on the seats are found down one side, but apart from that there is (not surprisingly) very little seating, as the whole complex maintains a temperature of between -5C and -9C.

On to the bedrooms. We ordered the basic room (above right) which was little more that a frosty alcove with a rough bed (again covered with reindeer skins) plonked in the middle. Sleeping bags and inners are provided because there ain't no electric blanket!

Management secures ice artists from all over the world to create their own little fantasy in one of the 30 or so deluxe or super deluxe rooms. There doesn't seem to be any theme so some of the creations are quite bizarre. All are very nicely executed so it's a shame to think that they will all melt away before mid year.