Today, I read Chasing the elusive Northern Lights by boat by Susannah Palk for CNN Travel. Since it’s mid-January, icy and freezing in New York right now, I thought it was an appropriate topic for today’s post. I am one of the lucky few who have seen the Northern Lights, a.k.a. Aurora Borealis, in person … in fact, I’ve seen them in person 4 times! Not many people can say that.
I saw the Northern Lights in Iceland, twice in Finnish Lapland (the area above the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia), and actually, once in Massachusetts, just outside of Boston–it was a freak occurrence. The time I remember most vividly was when I stood on a desolate, frozen lake in Finnish Lapland. I’ll never forget the 10-minute light show swirling above my head. The colors blazed like lasers, and oddly enough, I could hear the Northern Lights. That’s right. If you get a chance to see them up close like I did and you’re in a remote area, you will literally hear them. It sounds like a dull humming.
So when I read Susannah Palk’s article today, it brought back a surge of memories. But also what interested me in Palk’s article was the “Northern Lights Safari.” Palk says safari-goers take a two to five hour boat trip, complete with five course meal, to see the Northern Lights. Guests also have the option of taking a two to three day boat tour.
This sounds like such a peaceful and magical winter trip. It’s definitely a great travel destination for us writers who seek inspiration. Sometimes, all you need is a little time in nature to get the literary juices flowing.
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~ To continue with your winter adventures, check out War Games and Winter in Finland’s Lapland: Arto Paasilinna’s The Year of the Hare by Toma Kavonius.
