SHARON'S INKIE FINGERS: Greetings from the Ice Hotel!

We are still in Fairbanks - leaving here tomorrow headed to Valdez. Today we drove about an hour to Chena Hot Springs Resort. Believe me, Alaska's idea of a resort is a little different than resorts in the lower states! The Resort has become world famous for their legendary healing mineral waters and beautiful Aurora Borealis displays that occur 200 nights a year on average. We didn't see the Aurora Borealis - it is not the time for it nor did we soak in the hot springs BUT we did visit the Aurora Ice Hotel/Museum. It was awesome! The Ice Hotel was the first of its kind in the United States, and one of just a handful worldwide. It features a gallery and ice bar, overhead chandeliers made of individually carved ice crystals which change color every six seconds mimicing the northern lights, countless sculptures including a gigantic chess set, life sized jousting knights, an ice fireplace and four galleries with varying themes. The first Ice Hotel was built in 2004 but it melted and was rebuilt in 2005. The front foyer room is full of warm parkas that you need to put on because it is so cold inside (20 degrees!!) Inside we walked through the ice artist's room which is full of blocks of ice, torches, and ice tools. Then we roamed around and looked at ice sculptures and took tons of photos. There are a few different rooms with ice beds in them like a hotel. You can actually book a room and stay there for the night!! (no thank you) Sonny asked how many take advantage of that and they told us 3 people stayed there last year. One of them was an 81 year old woman who lasted the whole night. (They also give you a regular room in case you can't last all night in the ice.) There is an ice bar where you sit on ice stools covered with carribou fur and drink your $15 Martinis. (We passed on the martinis!) The ice xylophone is playable and it is in tune so Ashley gave it a try!! It's one of those things that I don't know if my pictures will show you how cool it is!!