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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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