by Robert Mechielsen
The only thing that brilliantly stands out is the bright red Kiruna Airport building.
From the airport there are various ways to get to the ICEHOTEL. We were picked up by an ICEHOTEL van, but traditionally dog sleds are standing by at the airport, which of course is the more glorious way of getting to the ICEHOTEL.
Upon arrival at the ICEHOTEL the sun was already set, as it gets dark at 2 o’clock PM. Even when it’s dark you can clearly make out the shiny white glossy form of the ICEHOTEL in the making; two football fields of construction. This whole place is amazing. It will ultimately be a 10,000 square foot structure.
"It is warm today" the Laplanders tell us. We even had snow this morning, not a good sign.
To build this structure, one needs a good, low temperature to freeze it all up properly. The construction forms are moveable and built on compressible skis. The ICEHOTEL itself is created by heaping up a mixture of snow and ice, locally called snice. Once properly compressed they take the forms out and you get the actual ICEHOTEL.
Being amongst all these amazing artists is fantastic. It seems each day more and more people are arriving. Our clothing is holding up and we are feeling well treated by the ICEHOTEL staff; they are both very professional and extremely artistic. It’s going to be a challenge though to get this all done.
CBS TO BROADCAST LIVE UPDATE FROM LAPLAND
