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Monday, jul 1

Photos: Paramus Grandmother Visits Lapland

PARAMUS, N.J. — Retired school administrator Andrea Holmes spends her time traveling the world.

Andrea Holmes in Lapland. — Andrea Holmes in Lapland.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

After a long flight of 8 hours, we arrived in Amsterdam. After another 3-hour flight, we landed in Helsinki, Finland. The town was wonderful; the hotel beautiful. Check out this unusual sculpture; if someone has an interpretation of it, let me know. — After a long flight of 8 hours, we arrived in Amsterdam. After another 3-hour flight, we landed in Helsinki, Finland. The town was wonderful; the hotel beautiful. Check out this unusual sculpture; if someone has an interpretation of it, let me know.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Now who has a better figure? Me or the woodcarving? — Now who has a better figure? Me or the woodcarving?
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

The next morning we flew to Kakslauttanen, which is only about 1400 miles away from the North Pole. We were picked up from the airport in a snow van and drove through snow and ice to our beautiful and unusual home for the next five days. — The next morning we flew to Kakslauttanen, which is only about 1400 miles away from the North Pole. We were picked up from the airport in a snow van and drove through snow and ice to our beautiful and unusual home for the next five days.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Not knowing the elements, we indulged in the ultra-deluxe new glass igloo with a log cabin attached. It was so worth it; with a personal sauna, fireplace and adjustable beds in the igloo. — Not knowing the elements, we indulged in the ultra-deluxe new glass igloo with a log cabin attached. It was so worth it; with a personal sauna, fireplace and adjustable beds in the igloo.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

You could lay in bed, put it up to sitting position and see the snowflakes falling and stars so clearly in the sky. One night the aurora borealis appeared, bursting in the sky with bright colors of green and purple. — You could lay in bed, put it up to sitting position and see the snowflakes falling and stars so clearly in the sky. One night the aurora borealis appeared, bursting in the sky with bright colors of green and purple.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Here is the beautiful restaurant where reindeer was a constant offering on the menu. I went vegetarian! — Here is the beautiful restaurant where reindeer was a constant offering on the menu. I went vegetarian!
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Now these sleds are all over the resort; people use them to haul luggage, sledding or even as a walker of sorts to keep them from falling on the ice. I was very happy to be pushed! — Now these sleds are all over the resort; people use them to haul luggage, sledding or even as a walker of sorts to keep them from falling on the ice. I was very happy to be pushed!
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

The resort also has an ice chapel where you can get married. Here is a picture of an adorable French van driver who tried to entice to tie the knot with me, but he had a girlfriend! — The resort also has an ice chapel where you can get married. Here is a picture of an adorable French van driver who tried to entice to tie the knot with me, but he had a girlfriend!
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

And we have lots in common, besides us both being French, his name is Adrienne (sort of like mine) — And we have lots in common, besides us both being French, his name is Adrienne (sort of like mine)
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

My friend Roseanne always takes time to smell the roses, whether they are frozen or not. — My friend Roseanne always takes time to smell the roses, whether they are frozen or not.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Hauled by huskies! — Hauled by huskies!
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

The huskies are taking a break after hauling the three of us plus a musher (we hired a musher as there is no way any of us could stand up in the back and guide this pack). — The huskies are taking a break after hauling the three of us plus a musher (we hired a musher as there is no way any of us could stand up in the back and guide this pack).
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Playing with some reindeer! — Playing with some reindeer!
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Here comes good ole Andrea Clause. — Here comes good ole Andrea Clause.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Here is a one rack deer – the other will fall off soon and he will look like a cow. — Here is a one rack deer – the other will fall off soon and he will look like a cow.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

We found Santa’s house! — We found Santa’s house!
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Of course I sat on his lap and gave him my wishes for next Christmas. — Of course I sat on his lap and gave him my wishes for next Christmas.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

And then a ride in a Russian snow tank through the tundra. — And then a ride in a Russian snow tank through the tundra.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Look at the tires tracks we made on this pristine trail. The trees in the tundra are all bent over from the heavy weight of the constant snow; but in the summer months most of them will retain their upright shape. — Look at the tires tracks we made on this pristine trail. The trees in the tundra are all bent over from the heavy weight of the constant snow; but in the summer months most of them will retain their upright shape.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

After a slight snow storm, the trees looked like they were covered with powdered sugar. — After a slight snow storm, the trees looked like they were covered with powdered sugar.
Photo Credit: Paramus

Here we are toasting our lunch of Lapland sausage over a fire in a ceremonial hut in the middle of a building in the wilderness that we rode to by dogsled. — Here we are toasting our lunch of Lapland sausage over a fire in a ceremonial hut in the middle of a building in the wilderness that we rode to by dogsled.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Dog sled traveling parties stop at this shelter and sleep on the benches covered with skins. — Dog sled traveling parties stop at this shelter and sleep on the benches covered with skins.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Look at this beautiful wood carving on the door of the hut. — Look at this beautiful wood carving on the door of the hut.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

This is the fireplace on the back wall that was all hand carved. There are separate spaces (holes carved) where individual fires can be lit. Reindeer hide was used like lampshades. — This is the fireplace on the back wall that was all hand carved. There are separate spaces (holes carved) where individual fires can be lit. Reindeer hide was used like lampshades.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

A boat ride through the fjords was breathtaking! — A boat ride through the fjords was breathtaking!
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Still breathtaking! — Still breathtaking!
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Great trip! It’s time for me to leave Kakslauttanen and go back to reality and warmth in Paramus. — Great trip! It’s time for me to leave Kakslauttanen and go back to reality and warmth in Paramus.
Photo Credit: Andrea Holmes

Matt Speiser

04/18/2016 4:00 a.m.

The 74-year-old grandmother has visited some of the world's most exotic places, including Africa, Antarctica, Peru, and Brazil.

Most recently, Holmes visited Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, and shared some photos of her trip with Daily Voice.

Click through the above photos to share the experience.

ALSO SEE: Meet World-Traveling Paramus Grandmother

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