I visited Split for the first time in 2020, when I barely had any money in my account and couldn’t even imagine that my story with Croatia was just beginning. I had heard my grandmother talk about this city countless times. Almost all of my great-grandparents came from the Dalmatian…
Living Without Night: Time, Identity, and the Arctic Experience
There’s no need to emphasize how our modern world is shaped by a relentless timing system that dictates our fast-paced lives. We divide time into minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months. This temporal partition is largely based on the alternation between day and night. However, in the Arctic, this distinction…
Croatia and The Journey of Returning to a Land That’s Not Mine
When I arrived in Croatia in 2020 through the Croaticum program, I thought I would visit the land of my grandparents, and, with some luck, maybe meet distant relatives. However, the pandemic marked a turning point for me, one that was not only geographical but also spiritual. With a return…
Ice Hotel: A Temporary Work of Art That Melts Every Year
The Ice Hotel is not just a place to spend the night; it is a breathtaking, ephemeral work of art that is rebuilt every year. When I visited in March 2024, I couldn’t stop wondering how such an incredible place would simply melt away by the end of winter. The…
The Arctic and the Sublime: Fear, Beauty, and Our Place in Nature
The Arctic, with its vast icy desert and seemingly unchanging landscape, evokes intense emotions. Despite its overwhelming beauty, this inhospitable land also instills a sense of fear—an emotion deeply connected to the human perception of the “sublime.” But what exactly is the sublime, and how do we relate to fear…
What It’s Like to Work in the Arctic: Life in a Remote Lapland Hotel
Working and living in a hotel in Lapland, at the heart of the Arctic Circle, is a unique experience that allows you to disconnect from the hustle and immerse yourself in the magic of the polar winter. I never imagined that I would end up working in a hotel near…
The Mystery of The Ghost Trees in Lapland
Introduction The Arctic is a land of dreamlike landscapes, where snow and ice transform the environment into a surreal scene. One of the most astonishing natural spectacles is the so-called “ghost trees” in Lapland, tree formations covered in thick layers of snow and frost that resemble ghostly figures emerging from…
Skies on Fire: Polar Stratospheric Clouds and the Apocalyptic Imagery
During my time in the Arctic, I witnessed not only the breathtaking Northern Lights but also another celestial marvel that remains underrated: polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). These rare and ethereal clouds, often overlooked, are among the most stunning sights the Arctic sky has to offer. A Rare Arctic Phenomenon: More…
The Polar Night in Lapland: A Journey Through Darkness and Self-Discovery
The polar night in Lapland is a period when the sun does not rise above the horizon for weeks or even months. This continuous darkness creates a mystical and breathtaking atmosphere but also presents deep psychological challenges for those who experience it. In this article, I will share my two…