Nights of the Northern Lights

Aurora borealis. You probably heard about this phenomenon at school: Colourful light patterns that appear in the sky above the snowy landscapes of the polar regions…

One morning, I heard a travel agent talking on the radio about a tour of northern Scandinavia. My interest was piqued – I’d been fascinated by this region ever since I read about it in a children’s encyclopaedia.

There were still two spots available on the January 2020 tour. My husband Thys and I looked at each other and made the call. We were going to see the Northern Lights!

DAY 1 Stockholm

The tour started in Stockholm, which means “islet of logs” in Swedish. Indeed, the capital city consists of a number of islands and was named after the wooden poles once planted in the sea, either to ward off enemy ships or to control access for toll fees.

It’s a fascinating city, especially if you’re a fan of Stieg Larsson’s Girl with the series. I’d read the books and the street names felt familiar: Gamla Stan, Prästgatan, Tyska Stallplan...