Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Baby, It's Cold Inside.

Hotel de Glace, Quebec

Hotel de Glace corridor, via Octobre46 flickr

Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel, Sweden

Jukkasjarvi, Sweden

Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel, Sweden

Hotel de Glace via Octobre46 flickr


Hotel de Glace Bar, Quebec, via Octobre46 flickr

The dacha from Dr. Zhivago

Although they look like movie sets, Ice Hotels are temporary structures made entirely of snow and ice (except for the fireplaces and the vodka). The first one popped up in 1989 in Sweden as an igloo intending to provide temporary shelter for an art exhibition. Some people brought reindeer hides and spent the night, reporting it to be an amazing experience. The builders of the igloo expanded on their idea and the Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel was born.

The hotels offer day tours or for the heartier tourist, overnight stays. There are wedding packages available, including same sex weddings (forget California, make it really memorable!). Their beauty is truly ephemeral, lasting about 3 months before they disappear.

For more on the Hotel de Glace, click here. The website wouldn't allow me to download photos and they are worth seeing. For the Jukkasjarvi Ice Hotel, click here.
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16 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2009 at 11:49 AM

    Like glittery mammoth sized diamonds. How could I not love them?

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  2. Raina CoxFebruary 4, 2009 at 1:20 PM

    Um, wow. I would reach for something pithy, but I just woke up.

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  3. Bart BoehlertFebruary 4, 2009 at 2:12 PM

    Hello Gorgeous!
    I want to thank you for your comment, and commend you for signing up for art school. You go girl.

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  4. DavidFebruary 4, 2009 at 2:27 PM

    Art school?! 4-1-1 please.

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  5. annechovieFebruary 4, 2009 at 3:23 PM

    Wow, amazing places! So glad you love your chair! Thank you!

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  6. Heather TaylorFebruary 4, 2009 at 5:02 PM

    these are truly amazing and beautiful!

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  7. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2009 at 5:21 PM

    LOVE it. Boston should open one of these--as it feels to be about negative 5 outside right now!

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  8. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2009 at 9:12 PM

    Fan-freakin-tastic. I am in a dazed awe.

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  9. Pam KerstingFebruary 4, 2009 at 10:59 PM

    WoW! Very beautiful -- I'd sure like to visit, maybe stay long enough for a vodka or two, but don't ask me to spend the night! ;-)

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  10. hmstrjamFebruary 4, 2009 at 11:55 PM

    reminds me of the ice palaces of cate blanchett from narnia!

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  11. cotedetexasFebruary 5, 2009 at 1:23 AM

    I love that scene from Dr. Zhivago - one of the most beautiful scenes ever.

    you used to work for Spiegel? wow!!!! how cool.

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  12. vicki archerFebruary 5, 2009 at 3:22 AM

    Vodka and fur would be the only way I could sit down there! Great pics and post, xv

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  13. *moggit girlsFebruary 5, 2009 at 7:57 AM

    We actually live close to Hotel de Glace, Quebec but have never been...
    we hate the cold!

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  14. hello gorgeousFebruary 5, 2009 at 9:06 AM

    Okay, David. I have some 'splainin' to do. I was on his blog and I made a joke that apparently only I knew was a joke (although I have always wanted to and still talk about it, so who knows?). Spencer, on the other hand, is going to art school in Philly or CA it looks like. Maybe I'll just live vicariously through her.

    Joni - Yes, I worked there when Gutenberg printed the catalog himself. :-)

    Moggit Girls - Now, that's funny that you live there and hate the cold.

    I love how everyone's into the vodka aspect. My kind of crowd.

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  15. please sirFebruary 6, 2009 at 5:25 AM

    Brrr...not sure I could handle all that coldness, but still an amazing looking place.

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  16. AnonymousFebruary 7, 2009 at 11:24 PM

    This is just so beautiful.

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