FAnneF
Mäkelä B&B is a little haven of peace, literally alongside the lovely Kemijoki river. As we went there in the cold winter, the river was frozen and everything was covered in snow, which made the whole place seem like a magical winter wonderland. Plus, there are fury cats (careful if you are allergic) and reindeers on the property (at least in the winter, as they are running free during the summer).||||We stayed in one of the outbuildings, on the first floor, which was convenient as it was right next to the bathroom... and as the corridor is not heated, going from one cosy warm room to the other can be quite an adventure ! The room, bathroom, living room and main outbuilding (where we took the breakfast) are all so charming; everything is clean, and the hosts do everything to make you comfortable (even provide you with a cable to heat your car when it is -30°C outside !). The beds are also comfortable, and you will not be cold when sleeping in the winter. The place is also far away from the city lights/pollution, so that you may witness a bunch of Aurora Borealis during your stay (sometimes, several in the same night) if the sky is cloudless.||||But above all, it is the kindness of the hosts that made our stay so special. We were lucky enough to meet almost the entire family, and we learned a lot about the Finnish way of living from them. Something it is really difficult to get in a hotel.||Another tremendously important thing to underline : the quality of the breakfast. Cookies, finnish breds and marmalades, eggs, coffee and tea, juice, yogurt ... and all kinds of porridge, depending on the day/mood of the hostess. Literally the best breakfasts of my life.||||||Things to do while there : The Pyhä-Luoston resorts, where you can ski/ crosscountry ski/ walk/ eat and the Lampivaara amethyst mine are all nearby. Husky and Reeindeer sleigh rides are possible nearby. Rovaniemi is less than 100 km away, the Arktikum museum is very interesting.||||||Overall, an excellent place, near enough from all entertainement places and far enough from the city to feel the silence of the nature.
