Yesterday, I met with Santa Claus in his village here in Rovaniemi. First off, what a village he has. It was exactly like you thought it would be. Very picturesque, snow everywhere, all the trees decorated. Children laughing, sledding, making snowmen. It was indeed Christmas.

When entering Santa’s house, you are greeted by elves along the way. You walk along a winding path, deep into his home before you get to see the man in red himself. I had Charlee write a letter to Santa for herself and Drew. I promised her that I would give it to him myself. And I did. He held it against his heart and told me he would read it later. He was indeed a jolly ole man, with a wonderful twinkle in his eye.

Today I will be crossing the Arctic Circle in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Charlee is hoping that one of them is Rudolph.

With the big guy being over here we try to go places we would probably never get to visit. Christmas Marts are one of them. We have been to Vienna and Berlin, this year the suggestion was made to go to Finland….Santa’s Village to be exact…Rovaniemi to be exact. Yes, it’s bitterly cold, snow on the ground, snowing right now, and who would come here in the dead of winter. Well, me. I figure if I go to Arizona when it is in the triple digits, why not. And as my mother use to point out, common sense was never one of my strongest traits.

Rovaniemi is the official home of Santa Claus, 4 miles south of the Arctic Circle. Finland’s northern most Provence, Lapland. A population of 63,000. It also houses the University of Lapland and the University of Applied Sciences. It is also the Gateway to the Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis. In December it averages just under 6 minutes of sunlight.

Yesterday we walked around this charming little town, enjoying the Christmas lights on all the trees, and everything decorated. Little huts were up with the locals selling their wares. When talking with people, they always ask where we are from. Always a good conversation starter.

Today, I am off to see Santa and where he lives with Mrs. Claus. This will bring out the child in me.