Alattio, a paradise
rom
Kautokeino the journey continues by two boats towards Alattio (Alten).
Acerbi hires almost all men of the village for the boats as the journey
is very long and strenuous in open waters.
Acerbi considers the river Alattiojoki the most impressive of the rivers
he has seen during his journey. Before arriving in Alattio Acerbi meets
a hospitable fisherman and his wife. The traveller admires the wife's
beauty.
In the village of Alattio the party finds accommodation at the lavishly hospitable local shopkeeper:
''We felt we were in paradise, on the fields of the blessed, in an enchanted castle. Everything was good, everything was delicious.''
Matka halki Suomen v.1799, p. 96
transl. Tuula Asikainen
Only unwillingly do they start their preparations for their journey to the North Cape. The preparations are careful. The shopkeeper provides them with four seamen with exquisite reputations and an open boat with four sets of oars. The provisions for the journey make one's mouth water even today: wines, cognacs, fresh salmon, bird roasts, veal, hams, coffee and tea or '' in one word everything that we could possibly want.''
On
the way the party stops by the huts of the sea-Lapps. The total trust
and the feeling of security of the Lapps in their cabins and sod huts
open to all visitors is a source of amazement to Acerbi's party.
READ IN THE DIARY:
Rest and travel
accounts
The Lapps in their
sod huts
A.F.Skjöldebrand: The harbour of Alattio
(a detail)
Kemi 
Tornio
Ylitornio
Pello
Köngäs
Kolari
Muonio
Enontekiö
Kautokeino
Alattio
Nordkapp
