Billie’s Hostel is the only backpacker’s accommodation in Fairbanks staying open in the winter. I must say that it has unique atmosphere. It is family place with bunk beds, long table in the common room, country music… It is only 6 of us – winter visitors enjoying heavy snow and spruce trees around. Billie offers free internet, tea and coffee and charges 35 USD per night – it is reasonable price in expensive Alaska.
Fairbanks is a little place but very spread out – distances are large and it is difficult to walk around. There is public bus, but it goes only 10 times per day. Day bus-pass costs 3 USD, but it is hard to use if you want to visit many places. My friend Bill took me by his car to the “downtown” where you will see few public buildings and Immaculate Concepcion church – probably the only old monument.
Then we spent few hours wandering on World Ice Art Championship. On the open air, in the park I saw more then 50 sculptures in ice, some of them 5-6 m high. Snow was falling and it was so frosty that after an hour we escaped to the local cafe for half an hour – to warm up and then to continue walk around exhibition. There are only few places in the world you can see such an art…
It was a great day – thanks a lot, Bill!
It is evening now and so far aurora borealis did not appear. And nobody can guarantee that it will appear tomorrow or the next night – the weather is very changeable here.
Just a bad luck… Maybe next time…
Tomorrow I want to fly south – to the warmer region of the world.
