Vatican Musuem

We are about to embark on the museum tour for 2 hours and have so far been around St Peters Square and posted some letters from Vatican City. The queue for the basilica is ridiculous, But we get in through the back way with our tour 😉 definitely worth a 45 euro ticket. 

Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and the Metro

We have made it back to our hotel to refresh and head out into the city, lots of footage obtained, coins thrown in a fountain (beyond me as to why), steps walked up to a school and Archangel Gabriel seen.

The churches in the city are breathtaking, like all of Italy to be honest but there is something special about them here in the home of Christendom.

One of the oldest churches in the world – The Pantheon, is overshadowed by a Macdonalds for some reason.

I’ve brought half a kilo of cheese, Parmigiano, for 7 euros. Some hams to snack on and pasta you simply can’t get in England.

Oh and I’ve had my first pizza of many for his short trip.

Wandering around before our hotel room is ready

So I thought I’d share some pics!

Musei Vaticani

We have landed in Roma and are on our way to Via Crescenzo where our Hotel is which is near the Vatican and the Castle of Angles. We have just driven past the above and will be here Sunday.

Roma

The next saga begins this morning as we jet off to the Italian capital. Bags are packed and ready.

Hopefully we should arrive by 11am just in time for Lunch somewhere.

Oh and I don’t know these people below –  just on the transit bus from the car park…

Bye bye Rovaniemi 

Awaiting at the gate to board the plane we are about to leave Finland and go back home. Hopefully an easy flight and quick.

The trip back to Rovaniemi.

Nice and tight in the back here whilst Steve sits in the front. 4 hours to our destination.

Northern Lights

The lights came out at around 1am (GMT +2) our time and even though only brief was a spectacular to behold. As they dance across the sky in shades of green and yellow there is something mysterious about it.

AsIi got up to go out I chucked my jeans on and a coat with just a base-layer underneath, hiking shoes with no insulation and as soon as I was on the lake the experience was brutal. At -14F (-26C) my jeans began to freeze as I stood there not moving, the tips of my fingers began to experience pins and needles, the eyelashes on my face froze  so that when you blink they stick ever so slightly to the top of your cheek. When you inhale deeply through your nose your nasal passage freezes at this temperature and breathing in deeply can lead to coughing.

Safe to say I went in after around 15 minutes, having seen it last year and having the incorrect clothes on.

As I wake up this morning, I have been up for about 2 hours and no one is up yet. Ive had my Weetabix and onto my second cup of coffee(which is extortionate out here, around 6-8 Euros for one bag of filter). We head off at 11 in to the freezing fog that has descended leaving a great experience behind us and onto another part of the Arctic Circle. We are also popping in, ever so briefly, to Sweden to see a man about a cheese slice.

Here are some of my favourite photos from here.

 

Meanwhile at the Ranch…

Enontekiö

Awaking this morning after a Sauna last night and an ice dip. Shown buy the photo here, so dark that even full brightness on the light its barely viewable! A few of the guys ripped the skin of their hands when getting into the ice pool as they used the ladder to get in and instantly regretted the action as the skin froze to the ladder.

So a few sore hands and feet today.

We then head up to the cabin to light the fire and review some footage. Going to sleep with the temperature a barmy 4F.

We actually got locked out the cabin last light and Russell had to climb the rear ladder to let us in, luckily we left the balcony door unlocked.

We awoke to a beautiful sunrise and a temperature of -7F with a windchill factor of -16F.

The plan today is to hit the lake and go for a walk in the woods to see what we will find, we may also go to the one shop for souvenirs and essentials. This day is the relaxing day where not a lot of filming or photography will happen during the day as this is the culmination of the trip saving the best til last. No doubt the gear will be lugged around, I’m sure something will crop up.

Ive had my weetabix and my jam to fuel me for the cold and off we go, into the cold.