20/12/2025
dear(travel)diary,
I can't even say how long I've wanted to visit Lapland in winter. In any case, it's been on my travel bucket list for a loooong time. Not just because of the Northern Lights, but because of that very special winter atmosphere: endless snowy landscapes, snow-covered forests, and yet somehow a feeling of coziness—and all of that just before Christmas. Every time I saw pictures of husky sled tours, snowmobiles, or ski slopes in the middle of Lapland, I thought to myself: I want to go there!
When Join The Crew (JTC) asked me if I wanted to accompany them on their Creator Week in Lapland, I thought to myself: This is a dream come true! And even more than that. Because this time it wasn't a traditional group trip, but a week with nine creators – nine creative minds who were all there for the same reason: to capture this place, to experience it, and to be creative.
To be honest, I was almost more excited about this than I would have been about a “normal” trip. When I'm traveling with friends, I sometimes feel like I have to apologize when I stop to take photos, film, or capture a scene again. In Lapland, it was different. No one had to slow down, no one had to explain why a moment was important. On the contrary: we inspired each other, learned from each other, and worked creatively together.
Once we were there, everything felt even better than expected. The group, the atmosphere, the landscape—everything was just right. Lapland was not only a dream come true, but somehow even more beautiful than I had ever imagined.
xx Chiara
By the way: We were traveling in the middle of the polar night. The sun didn't really rise during our stay. When we had light during the day, it was actually only twilight. It was definitely a special experience. We made good use of the few hours of daylight and relaxed during the dark hours (or used them productively to work). At first, the constant darkness felt unfamiliar; I was never sure what time it was. But it also made the days seem a little slower.