the midnight sun::high latitudes; caused by the earth's ~23.5 degree tilt on its axis::while the Arctic Circle (66° 33' 38" N) and north experiences continuous light, the Antarctic Circle (66° 33' 38" S) and south is steeped in polar nights::

brief visit to Lapland: fresh cranberries and cloudberries; lichens and reindeer; midnight sun at the overpass wreaking havoc with the body's sense of time; shifting/morphing kaleidoscope sky:

~24 sleepless hours in Rovaniemi; city in the Arctic Circle~  

1.  8am: arrival in Rovaniemi following 8 hour night train journey [writing, thinking,dreaming]
2.  8:30 am: first bus to the Arctic Circle...
3.  4 pm: return to Rovaniemi; Arktikum museum of Sami/Lapland culture
4.  10:00 pm: exploring the city; a rainbow
5.  10:15 pm: bridge passing
6.  11:30 pm: searching for midnight sun; stop at magic carpet display
7.  12:00 am: the sun hovers at the horizon
8.  12:15 pm: resting place under the overpass
9.  12:30 am: another view of the horizon and the Arktikum once more
10.12:50 am: walking with S through the town under kaleidoscope sky
11.  2:00 am: still walking, stopping, turning around: double-takes.
12.  3:00 am: pause at the Shell station for "breakfast" of cloudberries and coffee
13:  4:00 am: theatre building; curvilinear architecture
14:  5 - 8am: insomnia out of the hostel window; perseverent sun shines like noontime in the sky....

special thanks to Linda for going completely above and beyond with such a detailed map: a vivid, extremely positive depiction of the city she lives in.  more about her and her beautiful descriptions of Rovaniemi here on her virtual tourist-page.