The Gallery - Green

I have a confession to make. I usually look atThe Gallery theme as soon as it's announced on the Friday but this week I didn't...I've neglected by blogging duties over Easter and panicked yesterday morning. So I ran over to Sticky Fingers wondering what sort of mammoth task we'd been set this week.

Boy, was I relieved to see the theme.  Thank you Tara!  I owe you big time.

A really easy one for me this week and a chance to delve into the archives.

In 2006 my husband turned 30 and one of the things he had always talked about was seeing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) and visiting a place called Tromso in the Arctic Circle in northern Norway.

So, being the kind, loving and generous wife I am, I secretly planned and booked a 5 night trip to Tromso over New Year.  Needless to say this was when I was working full time - now I just give him sex vouchers...if he's lucky (joke!).

I contacted a local Northern Lights guide called Kjetil Skogli to arrange a tour with him and even booked in a night of husky sledging too.  Kjetil is amazing, his passion for the Aurora Borealis is second to none and he will go to great lengths to track 'her' down.  He's a lovely guy who we still keep in touch with from time to time and since we spent the night with him he's even taken the lovely Joanna Lumley out to hunt the Northern Lights!

He supplied us with all the right Arctic gear, picked us up from the hotel and took us away from the lights of the city and into the total darkness of the mountains.  I can't describe what it felt like to be surrounded by complete stillness.  It was truly amazing. He dug a hole in the snow and made a camp fire. We ate reindeer (don't tell the kids!) and drank hot tea...we set up camera on tripod and waited.

Then, the most amazing thing happened.  The Northern Lights appeared.  They moved me to tears.

We saw them again the night before we were due to come home (2nd Jan '07) and they were colours of pinks and purple on that night and danced right across the city.  We were lucky enough to watch them from our hotel window.

Just because I love this picture I'm going to share this one too.  This is my husband and I, in the 'snow hole' waiting.  We didn't realise at the time but the Northern Lights were trying to peak above the mountain top which you can see behind us.

For anyone who hasn't witnessed the beauty of the Northern Lights I can only describe them as magical, almost haunting and eery in some respects.  The different patterns and colours that are constantly changing are beautiful.  This video here will give you an idea of how they move.

I count myself very lucky indeed to have had this experience and it's one I will never ever forget.


Now head on over and check out all the other entries...

Listography - Top 5 Places I've Visited

It's time for the Listography from Kate Takes 5 and this week it's the top 5 places you've visited.

I've been fortunate to visit some great places so it's really difficult to pick my 5 favourite but here goes (click on the place titles to get a taster) and these are in no particular order:

1. Tromso, Arctic Circle, Norway

It was the one place my husband has always wanted to visit as he longed to see the Northern Lights so being the lovely wife I am (ahem) I secretly booked a 5 night trip for a 30th birthday surprise.  We went over New Year and stayed in the most lovely hotel. I'd already arranged with a local photographer and guide, Kjetil Skogli (who has since appeared on a program about the Northern Lights with Joanna Lumley) to take us up into the mountains outside the city and we were lucky enough to witness this:

Seeing the Northern Lights was an unforgettable experience, it was so magical is moved us both to tears. We also went husky sledding through the mountains and ate reindeer (don't tell your kids!)

2. Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

We stayed on the islands of Oahu and Maui in Hawaii and they were both very different but I've picked out Waikiki for the very reason we had a beach front suite hotel room (well, it was out honeymoon) and the view was amazing.  We also had surfing lessons and to say you've surfed the waves of Wakiki Beach is something to be fairly proud of!  I was going to post a picture of me riding the waves but it's the most tiring thing I've ever done in my life so the photos are NOT flattering.  

3. Chicago, USA

America is close to my heart.  I've got relatives in a few different states and so far I've visited about 18 States.  We even did the ultimate road trip in 2005 traveling from Chicago to L.A. following Route 66 in a cabriolet!  We've been to Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, New York and Washington DC.  All great cities apart from Las Vegas and L.A. which weren't for me (but that's another story).  But my pick is Chicago.  It's not just because I have relatives there, I just love it because it has this busy but also relaxed atmosphere.  It's less 'in your face' than other places.  The skyline is amazing overlooking Lake Michigan you have Navy Pier and Millennium Park - it's fab!

4. Santorini, Greece

This place just takes your breath away.  I will never forget sitting on a rooftop restaurant watching the sun set over the caldera.  This island is said to be the location of the lost island of Atlantis and I like to think it is :)  All the whitewashed churches and houses with blue domed rooftops are just absolutely stunning, they cling to the volcanic island edges surrounding the Aegean Sea. 

5. Tallinn, Estonia

Thankfully we visited Tallinn before the 'budget airlines' bombarded it and it's cheap booze made it a surefire destination for the Brit Stag Party.  Tallinn's old city is a maze of cobbled streets which are filled with medieval houses and alleyways.  The people here were so friendly and the city was relaxed and picturesque.  I'm not sure if we visited again it would still be the same which is sad.

So, what would be in your top 5?