The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Deborah Sterett of Jacksonville went on a vacation July 20th through August 9th to the ‘top of the world’ to the Arctic Circle. She did the ‘bottom of the world’ to Antarctica earlier. She revisited Scandinavia which includes Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in 2004, but finally reached Finland along the way, the latter including some of Lapland and Santa’s home.
The temps there were unusually warm whilst in all of the countries (Scandinavia being part of the Nordic Council which also includes Finland, Iceland, and Greenland) with it being 90º in Helsinki, Finland, when they arrived by ship from Sweden. Usually the temp for that time of year is in the low 70s.
It didn’t get cool and crisp until the very tip of Finland and into northern Norway when the shorts and t-shirts were put away, for a while, and the jeans and jackets were put back on. Debbie visited a reindeer farm in Lapland (Finland) and won a mini reindeer Christmas decoration, over all the other women in the travel group, for roping a reindeer by it’s antlers on the first try and for her technique.
Growing up in rural Henderson County, on a farm, helped with that. The men also had a winner in the roping contest.
Reindeer were everywhere, and have the right of way on all roads, including highways as traffic must stop for them, no road kill like the deer in Illinois
Debbie said, “Folks in all countries are somewhat reserved but friendly and I felt like a local often, for some would come up to me and start conversations which on occasion I could catch some of, but usually would say back in their language a phrase of “do you speak English, please.”
Debbie said, “Norway is still my favorite, even though on her Mums side our family is very much Swedish, for Norwegians are just so outdoorsy, like the Australians.
The country is so beautiful with all its waterfalls, lakes, and mountains.
Quite by accident she got to see the Changing of the Guard in Olso, Norway, as well as the Royal Bands in both Stockholm (Sweden) and Helsinki (Finland), just happened to be in the right places at the right time.
When you go on a trip take “The Quill” along and have your picture taken with it and send it to us. Let’s see where all ”The Quill” can travel.