Ep. 00 | Longing and Reunion: A 13-Day Winter Journey Across Finland, Paris, and Strasbourg

My vague longing for Northern Europe began with the Legos I loved as a child. Today, Legoland parks exist across the world, but back then, there was only one: the original Legoland in Denmark. To a child obsessed with little plastic bricks, a theme park where almost everything was crafted from Lego felt like absolute paradise.

As time passed, the naive fantasy of Legoland faded, but the fascination with Northern Europe that began there lingered on. Over the faded memories of childhood toys, a new vision of the Nordic world took shape: Siberian huskies and reindeer resting against pristine white snow, the supernatural green glow of the aurora borealis dancing across the sky, and Nordic design defined by functional simplicity, clean silhouettes, and pure materials. While my reasons for visiting had evolved, the desire to go was stronger than ever. Finally, I began drafting an itinerary for this long-dreamed journey to the North.

This phrase became the guiding theme of the entire trip.

I chose Finland as the starting point. It was a country I had always wanted to see—home to Santa Claus Village and, for some reason, the Nordic destination that felt most welcoming. It also helped that there was a direct flight from Dallas straight to Helsinki.

Deep within the Arctic Circle, the chances of witnessing the northern lights are remarkably high. While staying in Rovaniemi to visit Santa Claus Village and wait for the auroras was an option, stepping into the Arctic Circle ignited an urge to venture even further north. Scanning the map north of Rovaniemi, I noticed a few isolated settlements in the wilderness: Inari and Ivalo. Though relatively well-known in northern Lapland, they were still modest in size. Seeking somewhere even quieter, I discovered Saariselkä—a resort village with a population of only about 300—and found an accommodation that felt just right: Star Arctic Hotel. I had always believed that visiting Finland demanded an authentic Finnish sauna; finding a hotel room that paired panoramic views with its own private sauna made the decision effortless. I booked several nights there.

If Finland represented longing, the next destination, Paris, was a reunion.

About six years ago, I spent over two weeks in Paris. The memory of exploring the city at an unhurried pace, without rushing between landmarks, remains one of my most cherished travel memories. I decided to return to recapture that quiet elegance.

Looking back across those six years, I also remembered one experience I had longed for during my first visit but couldn’t fulfill: traveling to Strasbourg to see France’s oldest Christmas market. Visiting an authentic European Christmas market had long been a dream of mine. However, back then, Ouigo—the budget French high-speed train—would not accept the Korean credit card I had in my wallet. With Ouigo fares costing only 10 to 20 euros, I couldn’t bring myself to pay nearly 100 euros for a standard TGV ticket, and I had to let the idea go. Now, holding a US-issued credit card, I could finally add Strasbourg to the itinerary without hesitation. In that sense, Strasbourg sits somewhere right between longing and reunion.

Coinciding with the US Thanksgiving holiday, I finalized a 12-night, 13-day winter itinerary. The route connected Rovaniemi, Saariselkä, Helsinki, Paris, and Strasbourg, along with brief transit stops in Basel and London.

Looking over the completed map, the defining keywords of the journey stood out clearly: Longing, Reunion, and—