{"id":1272,"date":"2025-06-03T19:26:42","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T19:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?p=1272"},"modified":"2025-06-03T19:26:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T19:26:42","slug":"saint-niklas-from-gothenburg-and-mystic-kiruna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?p=1272&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Saint Niklas from Gothenburg and mystic Kiruna"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"56\" data-end=\"520\"><strong>I left Haparanda on Wednesday, June the 5th morning with the 7:30 train. I had just enough time to admire the grand Haparanda train station, which is museum-worthy. I took a seat on a bench on the platform, double-checking that the train ticket is still in my pocket. excited. Other people were slowly arriving too, all cheerfully and politely greeting each other. The Swedish &#8220;hej!&#8221; has quickly grown close to my heart.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-1272 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?attachment_id=1274'><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6343-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6343-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6343-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6343-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6343-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6343-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6343-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?attachment_id=1275'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6349-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6349-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6349-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6349-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6349-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6349-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6349-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?attachment_id=1277'><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6350-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6350-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6350-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6350-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6350-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6350-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6350-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<ol>\n<li data-start=\"522\" data-end=\"602\"><strong data-start=\"522\" data-end=\"549\">Haparanda Train Station;<\/strong><span data-start=\"522\" data-end=\"549\"> 2. <\/span><strong data-start=\"552\" data-end=\"576\">Lunch break in Lule\u00e5;<\/strong><span data-start=\"552\" data-end=\"576\"> 3.<\/span><strong data-start=\"579\" data-end=\"602\">Lule\u00e5 Train Station<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"604\" data-end=\"1210\">Right on time, a rather shabby little train stopped at the station, the brakes screeching deafeningly. I stepped somewhat hesitantly into the worn and aged train, hoping it has gone through a mechanical check in the last decade. The two hour ride passed in a snap \u2013 partly because I still had some \u201cpaperwork\u201d to handle for the Creative Incubator, and partly because the landscape was finally becoming interesting: rivers and lakes alternating with dense forests and hills. At 9:30am, I arrived in Lule\u00e5, where I had to change trains. I had a 90-minute break and hoped to grab a coffee, have a proper breakfast, and stock up on snacks for my next four-hour journey to Kiruna. Lule\u00e5 turned out to be a relatively dull small town with one main street, and since I had arrived early, most caf\u00e9s weren\u2019t open yet. I wandered around until the clock struck 10 and then went on a daily obligatory iced coffee hunt. I managed to find a cute cafe that served an overly sweet (but at least cold) coffee for a decent price, popped into a grocery store, and soon it was time to return to the station. The next four hours also flew by quickly \u2013 compared to flying, taking the train is a much smoother mode of travel. I scanned through the other backpackers who were boarding the same train, which lifted my spirits \u2013 those people must be heading to Kiruna too. I still had no clue where I\u2019d spend the night in that strange mining town. My first plan was to find a caravan park and hang my hammock somewhere there. Plan B was an official Camp Ripan campsite.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"1960\" data-end=\"2795\">As time went on and we were steeply climbing in altitude, my ears started popping, and at some point while blogging, I started feeling quite nauseous. I turned my gaze away from the screen and out of the window. MOUNTAINS. With snowy peaks. I couldn\u2019t believe my eyes. Right here, in the middle of Sweden, such mountains? I was enchanted, and the corners of my mouth lifted. Soon we arrived at a beautiful place called G\u00e4llivare, and to my shock, most of the backpackers got off here. I looked around in panic \u2013 had I made a mistake?? I had chosen Kiruna super randomly as just a quick stop before Norway \u2013 otherwise, the travel day would\u2019ve been too long. If only I had known such a scenic spot was on the way&#8230; For a moment, I considered spontaniously jumping off the train and changing plans but I forced myself to stay seated. Calm down. Trust the process.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2797\" data-end=\"4065\">When I arrived in Kiruna, my face dropped. Why did I come here?! An ugly mining pit in the middle of beautiful mountains didn\u2019t seem like a pleasant place to stay. Fine, one night and that\u2019s it. I\u2019d already been warned that it\u2019s not exactly a cool place \u2013 due to the expansion of the mine, the ground and buildings have become instable, so parts of the town have been closed and relocated. I stepped off the train, disappointed, and decided I&#8217;m not going to mock around too much, so I better just find that campground, which was supposed to be about 2 km from the station. Since I didn\u2019t really feel like walking, I hesitantly approached the buses lined up at a stop. One said \u201cNew city centre\u201d \u2013 well, I assume this should get me closer to my destination. I hopped on and asked the driver about the fare \u2013 turns out the transport was free. Win. I saw another backpacker on the bus. Without thinking, I approached him enthusiastically:<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2797\" data-end=\"4065\"><strong data-start=\"3641\" data-end=\"3673\">\u2013 <\/strong>\u201cHey! Where are you headed?\u201d<br data-start=\"3673\" data-end=\"3676\" \/>\u2013 \u201cHey\u2026 umm\u2026 to Camp Ripan hostel?\u201d<br data-start=\"3712\" data-end=\"3715\" \/>\u2013 \u201cCool, me too \u2013 let\u2019s go together! I just don\u2019t know how to get there.\u201d<br data-start=\"3790\" data-end=\"3793\" \/>\u2013 \u201cThe bus driver said he\u2019ll let us know when to get off.\u201d <em>See? Just talk to people.<\/em><br data-start=\"3881\" data-end=\"3884\" \/>\u2013 \u201cWhere are you from?\u201d I kept grilling the poor guy.<br data-start=\"3941\" data-end=\"3944\" \/>\u2013 \u201cFrom Gothenburg. I\u2019m Niklas,\u201d he introduced himself politely.<br data-start=\"3978\" data-end=\"3981\" \/>\u2013 \u201cK\u00e4rt. From Estonia,\u201d I added with confidence. Silence. \u201cOr, ESTLAND,\u201d I added.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1276\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1276\" style=\"width: 349px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1276 \" src=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6359-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6359-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6359-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6359-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6359-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6359-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6359-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1276\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">K\u00e4rt\u2019s bedroom in Kiruna<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"2797\" data-end=\"4065\">So then, Niklas from Gothenburg and I began our small trek to our accommodation, and it turned out he was also heading to Abisko \u2013 my next destination \u2013 the following day. <em>No way!<\/em> Since it seemed hard to reach the town on weekends, I asked how he was planning to travel there. Turns out, there are actually two daily buses departing to Abisko. Well, looks like I\u2019ll go by bus then, too. We walked along a dug-up road with thick wires and cables sticking out everywhere. Turns out the weight of your backpack is barely noticeable when you have someone to chat with. Once we arrived, Niklas went to his hostel while I was trying to find out whether I could hang my hammock at the campsite. Luckily I found two sturdy birch trees near the fire pit, so I paid my \u20ac22 at the front desk, and began building &#8220;my bedroom&#8221;. It was harder than I had expected \u2013 setting up a 3 x 5 m tarp alone was quite a challenge. I felt the eyes of all those Swedish pensioners sitting peacefully outside their caravans. One tarp can make a hell of a lot of noise!Satisfied with my setup, I waited for Niklas to get ready. We were supposed to find dinner together and explore the town. We walked to the local Coop supermarket and decided to split a container of potato salad and some grilled chicken. Outside the store, we pondered where to go when I spotted a rabbit that gave us a look and hopped down the street. \u201cNiklas! It\u2019s like Alice in Wonderland, we must follow the rabbit!\u201d I yelled, excited. Niklas agreed, though he decided to check the map before blindly trusting a wild animal. Turns out the rabbit\u2019s direction was right. As we followed it, suddenly a thick rainbow appeared around the corner. <em>What is this, a fairytale?<\/em> As we stood there, mouths agape, we noticed at a big red-tile-roofed building with golden statues and towers. <em>Is it a church?<\/em> This monster looked more appropiate to the Kingdom of Thailand than a Swedish mining town. But for some reason it was locked away. Niklas translated the Swedish sign on the gate: \u201cClosed due to relocation.\u201d <em>Relocation of the church?!<\/em>\u00a0<em>Okay, this town just keeps getting weirder.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"5897\" data-end=\"6493\">We entered a wild little garden between a park and a cemetery, and chose to have our meal on the steps of an abandoned building. We devoured our dinner and shared travel\/life experiences. Turns out we were both 33 years old! Niklas had quit his job in Gothenburg to work for 6 months as a seasonal employee at the Abisko Tourist Station. He had only started his travels the day before and said it was nice to meet someone already on the road, in a traveler\u2019s mindset. I knew exactly what he meant by it. It\u2019s this curious state of mind where everything is a challenge, an adventure, a lesson, and a mission. Obstacles are to overcome. Life carries you, and things just happen. We talked about hitchhiking, and I noted that as a woman, you have to think carefully about how you look and trust your gut when choosing which car to get into. No makeup, no short shorts, no crop tops. Niklas thought for a moment and said wisely:<br data-start=\"6735\" data-end=\"6738\" \/>\u2013 \u201cYeah, but that doesn\u2019t just apply to women. I wouldn\u2019t be safe hitchhiking in makeup, short shorts, or a crop top either.\u201d <em>Touch\u00e9, my friend,\u00a0<\/em>I laughed.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-1272 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?attachment_id=1278'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6361-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6361-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6361-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6361-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6361-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6361-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6361-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?attachment_id=1279'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6363-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6363-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6363-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6363-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6363-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6363-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6363-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?attachment_id=1280'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6364-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6364-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6364-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6364-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6364-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6364-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6364-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<ol>\n<li data-start=\"6889\" data-end=\"6947\"><strong data-start=\"6889\" data-end=\"6905\">Weird church<\/strong><span data-start=\"6889\" data-end=\"6905\">; 2. <\/span><strong data-start=\"6908\" data-end=\"6926\">Weird monument<\/strong><span data-start=\"6908\" data-end=\"6926\">; 3. <\/span><strong data-start=\"6929\" data-end=\"6945\">Empty school.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"6949\" data-end=\"8092\">The evening was getting windy and chilly. It was starting to rain a bit, so I was keen to return to the campsite. Niklas, on the other hand, had a plan to visit the \u201cold town\u201d people had recommended him. I thought \u2013 <em>what could be so special about an OLD TOWN<\/em>? Eventually, I decided to join him and we reached a fenced-off school. Abandoned. We walked between fences and houses and I began to realize \u2013 all these buildings are empty. An entire neighborhood with homes, parks, schools, and kindergartens had been evacuated. There\u2019s something unsettling about the sight \u2013 usually, ghost towns are abandoned over time, slowly. Here, however, it had been emptied overnight. We wandered this deserted place until we reached a viewpoint overlooking the mine. Part of the sky was sunny, part of it dark, and it was raining further in the distance. I leaned on a railing and felt something familiar about the monstrous scene. Suddenly it hit me \u2013 <em>it looks like Isengard from Lord of the Rings!<\/em> The stronghold of evil. Not that Kiruna\u2019s iron ore is exactly evil, but the comparison fits (nerd alert!). In the movie too, an underground mine destroyed the surrounding nature. Niklas agreed and added: \u201cWe\u2019re like two hobbits, far from home on our journey.\u201d I loved his way of narrating life.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-1272 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-large'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?attachment_id=1281'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6366-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6366-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6366-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6366-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6366-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6366-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6366-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?attachment_id=1282'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6367-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6367-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6367-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6367-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6367-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6367-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_6367-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<ol>\n<li data-start=\"8094\" data-end=\"8148\"><strong data-start=\"8094\" data-end=\"8121\">Pile of removed windows<\/strong><span data-start=\"8094\" data-end=\"8121\">; 2. <\/span><strong data-start=\"8124\" data-end=\"8148\">The root of all evil.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"8150\" data-end=\"8668\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The two hobbits continued their journey back to Camp Ripan, and I couldn\u2019t shake off the feeling that this place had a strange energy. Something mystical, something magical. A bit scary, but we had also witnessed an amazing series of coincidences. Niklas and I parted ways for the night and agreed to meet at the bus station the next morning at 8:15. I went to take full advantage of the \u20ac22 I had paid which gave me access to a service building with a kitchen, shower, and a sauna. A hot shower after a damp, windy evening was divine, and I even got to enjoy my own private sauna. I even put on a face mask! That\u2019s the kind of fancy backpacker I am. I settled into my warm sleeping bag in the hammock, ready for my first night outdoors. I closed my eyes, expecting a peaceful night. Suddenly, Sia\u2019s \u201cElastic Heart\u201d blasted across the campsite. <em>No way&#8230; In Sweden? The land of quiet people? Someone\u2019s partying?<\/em> I tried to ignore it, as I was starting to get really sleepy. But as I was lying there still, I felt the empty space under my backside, and the cold air creeping across all parts of my body that were in contact with the hammock. <em>Please no<\/em>. I shifted around, waiting for the sleeping bag to work its magic. The upper part of my body was warm, but my lower half felt like it was on an icy surface. I managed to doze for an hour before waking up freezing. <em>Damn it! Why?!<\/em> I gathered all my clothes and stomped to the restrooms. <em>Ahhh, so warm&#8230; Could I sleep here? Probably not<\/em>. I tried to warm up, put on two layers of leggings, long socks, two shirts, a hoodie, and a jacket. Still cold. My butt and kidneys were somehow exposed to cold air. My nose was blocked, lungs were wheezing. <em>Great, maybe add a bladder or kidney infection too?<\/em> I tried all kinds of sleeping techniques while two people started yelling at each other in the forest. <em>Perfect<\/em>. I wondered how likely it was they\u2019d murder me instead of each other. I put on headphones and tried to nap in 20-minute intervals with the help of my favourite podcast. Lesson learned \u2013 below 10\u00b0C hammock is not an option.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\" data-start=\"10134\" data-end=\"11145\">Finally, at 6:30 the sun was up and I was relieved the night was over. No sleep, but at least I could move my body again. I freshened up and had breakfast. By 5 am, I had already booked a hostel in Abisko. By some miracle, there was a spot in a six-bunk room for just \u20ac30. In SWEDEN. That&#8217;s basically free. I packed my bag, grabbed a warm take away coffee, and headed to the bus station. I was surprised not to see Niklas on my way there, however, I did see Mr. Rabbit again. At the station, still no Niklas. It was 8:20am and the bus was supposed to leave in five minutes. Other backpackers were there, so I knew I was in the right spot. <em>Well, I guess that\u2019s travelling, plans change, people oversleep<\/em>. I still decided to message Niklas: \u201cAre you up?\u201d Immediately he called me back and turned out, he was at the wrong stop! I asked the driver if he could wait a few minutes for my brand new friend. The driver said he would literally wait for only two minutes \u2013 how incredibly generous of him&#8230; Two minutes later, Niklas called again: he\u2019s too far, he won\u2019t make it, so we mustn\u2019t wait. I sighed and we left without him. Was this already the end of our shared travel chapter?<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"11147\" data-end=\"11184\">See you in Abisko!<br data-start=\"11169\" data-end=\"11172\" \/>K\u00e4rt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I left Haparanda on Wednesday, June the 5th morning with the 7:30 train. I had just enough time to admire the grand Haparanda train station, which is museum-worthy. I took a seat on a bench on the platform, double-checking that the train ticket is still in my pocket. excited. Other people were slowly arriving too, all cheerfully and politely greeting each other. The Swedish &#8220;hej!&#8221; has quickly grown close to my heart. Haparanda Train Station; 2. Lunch break in Lule\u00e5; 3.Lule\u00e5 Train Station Right on time, a rather shabby little train stopped at the station, the brakes screeching deafeningly. I stepped somewhat hesitantly into the worn and aged train, hoping it has gone through a mechanical check in the last decade. The two hour ride passed in a snap \u2013 partly because I still had some \u201cpaperwork\u201d to handle for the Creative Incubator, and partly because the landscape was finally becoming interesting: rivers and lakes alternating with dense forests and hills. At 9:30am, I arrived in Lule\u00e5, where I had to change trains. I had a 90-minute break and hoped to grab a coffee, have a proper breakfast, and stock up on snacks for my next four-hour journey to Kiruna. Lule\u00e5 turned out to be a relatively dull small town with one main street, and since I had arrived early, most caf\u00e9s weren\u2019t open yet. I wandered around until the clock struck 10 and then went on a daily obligatory iced coffee hunt. I managed to find a cute cafe that served an overly sweet (but at least cold) coffee for a decent price, popped into a grocery store, and soon it was time to return to the station. The next four hours also flew by quickly \u2013 compared to flying, taking the train is a much smoother mode of travel. I scanned through the other backpackers who were boarding the same train, which lifted my spirits \u2013 those people must be heading to Kiruna too. I still had no clue where I\u2019d spend the night in that strange mining town. My first plan was to find a caravan park and hang my hammock somewhere there. Plan B was an official Camp Ripan campsite. As time went on and we were steeply climbing in altitude, my ears started popping, and at some point while blogging, I started feeling quite nauseous. I turned my gaze away from the screen and out of the window. MOUNTAINS. With snowy peaks. I couldn\u2019t believe my eyes. Right here, in the middle of Sweden, such mountains? I was enchanted, and the corners of my mouth lifted. Soon we arrived at a beautiful place called G\u00e4llivare, and to my shock, most of the backpackers got off here. I looked around in panic \u2013 had I made a mistake?? I had chosen Kiruna super randomly as just a quick stop before Norway \u2013 otherwise, the travel day would\u2019ve been too long. If only I had known such a scenic spot was on the way&#8230; For a moment, I considered spontaniously jumping off the train and changing plans but I forced myself to stay seated. Calm down. Trust the process. When I arrived in Kiruna, my face dropped. Why did I come here?! An ugly mining pit in the middle of beautiful mountains didn\u2019t seem like a pleasant place to stay. Fine, one night and that\u2019s it. I\u2019d already been warned that it\u2019s not exactly a cool place \u2013 due to the expansion of the mine, the ground and buildings have become instable, so parts of the town have been closed and relocated. I stepped off the train, disappointed, and decided I&#8217;m not going to mock around too much, so I better just find that campground, which was supposed to be about 2 km from the station. Since I didn\u2019t really feel like walking, I hesitantly approached the buses lined up at a stop. One said \u201cNew city centre\u201d \u2013 well, I assume this should get me closer to my destination. I hopped on and asked the driver about the fare \u2013 turns out the transport was free. Win. I saw another backpacker on the bus. Without thinking, I approached him enthusiastically: \u2013 \u201cHey! Where are you headed?\u201d\u2013 \u201cHey\u2026 umm\u2026 to Camp Ripan hostel?\u201d\u2013 \u201cCool, me too \u2013 let\u2019s go together! I just don\u2019t know how to get there.\u201d\u2013 \u201cThe bus driver said he\u2019ll let us know when to get off.\u201d See? Just talk to people.\u2013 \u201cWhere are you from?\u201d I kept grilling the poor guy.\u2013 \u201cFrom Gothenburg. I\u2019m Niklas,\u201d he introduced himself politely.\u2013 \u201cK\u00e4rt. From Estonia,\u201d I added with confidence. Silence. \u201cOr, ESTLAND,\u201d I added. So then, Niklas from Gothenburg and I began our small trek to our accommodation, and it turned out he was also heading to Abisko \u2013 my next destination \u2013 the following day. No way! Since it seemed hard to reach the town on weekends, I asked how he was planning to travel there. Turns out, there are actually two daily buses departing to Abisko. Well, looks like I\u2019ll go by bus then, too. We walked along a dug-up road with thick wires and cables sticking out everywhere. Turns out the weight of your backpack is barely noticeable when you have someone to chat with. Once we arrived, Niklas went to his hostel while I was trying to find out whether I could hang my hammock at the campsite. Luckily I found two sturdy birch trees near the fire pit, so I paid my \u20ac22 at the front desk, and began building &#8220;my bedroom&#8221;. It was harder than I had expected \u2013 setting up a 3 x 5 m tarp alone was quite a challenge. I felt the eyes of all those Swedish pensioners sitting peacefully outside their caravans. One tarp can make a hell of a lot of noise!Satisfied with my setup, I waited for Niklas to get ready. We were supposed to find dinner together and explore the town. We walked to the local Coop supermarket and decided to split a container of potato salad and some grilled chicken. Outside the store, we pondered where to go when I spotted a rabbit that gave us a look and hopped down the street. \u201cNiklas! It\u2019s like Alice in Wonderland, we must follow the rabbit!\u201d I yelled, excited. Niklas agreed, though he decided to check the map before blindly trusting a wild animal. Turns out the rabbit\u2019s direction was right. As we followed it, suddenly a thick rainbow appeared around the corner. What is this, a fairytale? As we stood there, mouths agape, we noticed at a big red-tile-roofed building with golden statues and towers. Is it a church? This monster looked more appropiate to the Kingdom of Thailand than a Swedish mining town. But for some reason it was locked away. Niklas translated the Swedish sign on the gate: \u201cClosed due to relocation.\u201d Relocation of the church?!\u00a0Okay, this town just keeps getting weirder. We entered a wild little garden between a park and a cemetery, and chose to have our meal on the steps of an abandoned building. We devoured our dinner and shared travel\/life experiences. Turns out we were both 33 years old! Niklas had quit his job in Gothenburg to work for 6 months as a seasonal employee at the Abisko Tourist Station. He had only started his travels the day before and said it was nice to meet someone already on the road, in a traveler\u2019s mindset. I knew exactly what he meant by it. It\u2019s this curious state of mind where everything is a challenge, an adventure, a lesson, and a mission. Obstacles are to overcome. Life carries you, and things just happen. We talked about hitchhiking, and I noted that as a woman, you have to think carefully about how you look and trust your gut when choosing which car to get into. No makeup, no short shorts, no crop tops. Niklas thought for a moment and said wisely:\u2013 \u201cYeah, but that doesn\u2019t just apply to women. I wouldn\u2019t be safe hitchhiking in makeup, short shorts, or a crop top either.\u201d Touch\u00e9, my friend,\u00a0I laughed. Weird church; 2. Weird monument; 3. Empty school. The evening was getting windy and chilly. It was starting to rain a bit, so I was keen to return to the campsite. Niklas, on the other hand, had a plan to visit the \u201cold town\u201d people had recommended him. I thought \u2013 what could be so special about an OLD TOWN? Eventually, I decided to join him and we reached a fenced-off school. Abandoned. We walked between fences and houses and I began to realize \u2013 all these buildings are empty. An entire neighborhood with homes, parks, schools, and kindergartens had been evacuated. There\u2019s something unsettling about the sight \u2013 usually, ghost towns are abandoned over time, slowly. Here, however, it had been emptied overnight. We wandered this deserted place until we reached a viewpoint overlooking the mine. Part of the sky was sunny, part of it dark, and it was raining further in the distance. I leaned on a railing and felt something familiar about the monstrous scene. Suddenly it hit me \u2013 it looks like Isengard from Lord of the Rings! The stronghold of evil. Not that Kiruna\u2019s iron ore is exactly evil, but the comparison fits (nerd alert!). In the movie too, an underground mine destroyed the surrounding nature. Niklas agreed and added: \u201cWe\u2019re like two hobbits, far from home on our journey.\u201d I loved his way of narrating life. Pile of removed windows; 2. The root of all evil. The two hobbits continued their journey back to Camp Ripan, and I couldn\u2019t shake off the feeling that this place had a strange energy. Something mystical, something magical. A bit scary, but we had also witnessed an amazing series of coincidences. Niklas and I parted ways for the night and agreed to meet at the bus station the next morning at 8:15. I went to take full advantage of the \u20ac22 I had paid which gave me access to a service building with a kitchen, shower, and a sauna. A hot shower after a damp, windy evening was divine, and I even got to enjoy my own private sauna. I even put on a face mask! That\u2019s the kind of fancy backpacker I am. I settled into my warm sleeping bag in the hammock, ready for my first night outdoors. I closed my eyes, expecting a peaceful night. Suddenly, Sia\u2019s \u201cElastic Heart\u201d blasted across the campsite. No way&#8230; In Sweden? The land of quiet people? Someone\u2019s partying? I tried to ignore it, as I was starting to get really sleepy. But as I was lying there still, I felt the empty space under my backside, and the cold air creeping across all parts of my body that were in contact with the hammock. Please no. I shifted around, waiting for the sleeping bag to work its magic. The upper part of my body was warm, but my lower half felt like it was on an icy surface. I managed to doze for an hour before waking up freezing. Damn it! Why?! I gathered all my clothes and stomped to the restrooms. Ahhh, so warm&#8230; Could I sleep here? Probably not. I tried to warm up, put on two layers of leggings, long socks, two shirts, a hoodie, and a jacket. Still cold. My butt and kidneys were somehow exposed to cold air. My nose was blocked, lungs were wheezing. Great, maybe add a bladder or kidney infection too? I tried all kinds of sleeping techniques while two people started yelling at each other in the forest. Perfect. I wondered how likely it was they\u2019d murder me instead of each other. I put on headphones and tried to nap in 20-minute intervals with the help of my favourite podcast. Lesson learned \u2013 below 10\u00b0C hammock is not an option. Finally, at 6:30 the sun was up and I was relieved the night was over. No sleep, but at least I could&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":142,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sweden"],"aioseo_notices":[],"blog_post_layout_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_6373-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"full":["https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/IMG_6373-scaled.jpg",1920,2560,false]},"categories_names":{"83":{"name":"Sweden","link":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/?cat=83&lang=en"}},"tags_names":[],"comments_number":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1272"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1284,"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1272\/revisions\/1284"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/142"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/globetrotdiary.ee\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}