Ggurrr Burr!

Alta is home to the northernmost ice hotel in the world.  As we were in port overnight, there was also the opportunity to stay in said hotel.  The exterior and interior are made entirely of snow and ice – the rooms, the wedding chapel, the beds, even the drinking glasses.  The inside is kept at about 20 – 25°F.  It is decorated with ice sculptures throughout the hallways.  If you are staying in the hotel they provide you with reindeer fur and a thermal sleeping bag for your bed.  I decided (and Adam quickly agreed) that a drink at the bar of the ice hotel was much more our speed than actually spending the night at the hotel.

So, off we went.

The structure is completely rebuilt every year in November and is operational until late March / early April when it is left to melt.  They redesign the hotel every year as well.  The only ‘room’ that stays in the same location is the chapel as it has to be built on consecrated ground.  This year’s theme is Viking Warriors, so most of the sculptures look ready for a fight.  But, as we decided, it’s hard to be completely combative when you will be a puddle in a month.

Lighting is difficult within the hotel because light bulbs give off heat which is a big no-no for ice sculptures.

The bedrooms were works of art.  There were 20 double bedrooms with nothing more than a bed and a small curtain as the door and two suites complete with a ‘fireplace’ and sitting room.

(the fireplace is just a picture of a roaring fire…don’t worry, they haven’t figured out how to freeze fire in Norway)

The wedding chapel hosts 25-30 weddings every year – mostly destination ones we’re told.  Jonathan, Kristy, there’s still time to book for 2015!

After exploring, we decided a drink at the ice bar was in order.  Their recommendation was Blue Curacao Vodka.  So we went for it.

I decided after drinking it, that they only recommended it because it looks pretty in their glasses, not because it actually tastes good.

You know when you were little and your Mother told you that if made that face too long it would freeze that way?  She was right.