Northern Norway Day 3

Tromso at midnight

Risøyhamn.  Here the sea is shallow, and the land flat.  A channel had been dug in the 1920s to allow the ships through, we could clearly see the bottom just a few meters away from the sides of the ship

The beautiful Lofoten islands

Incredibly calm waters gave almost perfect reflections

The Trollfjord is part of the Lofoten islands stretch, but due to the risk of avalanches, we were not allowed in, but the captain took us up to the inlet, and we could see lights on the cottages at the end.  The fjord is shaped like a lolly on a stick, *very* narrow, then opens out - wide enough for the boat to turn around in the summer

We stopped at Risøyhamn in the Lofoten islands, and were told about a couple on attractions on the dock that were open, so Brian and I set off for the WWII museum, and Magic Ice.  The museum was a wonderfully eclectic collection of 'stuff' from the German occupation of the area, with some very unintentionally amusing English labels.

Magic ice was astonishing -we had no idea what we were going to see, even as we paid admission we didn't know what we were paying for, but it was a warehouse of ice carvings, somewhat connected to the history and legends of the Lofoten area

Ice men in an ice boat

A husband trapped in ice (I did thaw him out after!)

And drinks served in ice glasses

Northern Norway Day 2

Well I didn't get to see the lights last night - I was fast asleep by the time they were announced!  Brain went up on deck for an hour or so - he said they were like wispy greenish clouds or mist - and no sooner had he seen one, they vanished and appeared somewhere else, so no chance of a photo.  We'll hope for more tonight!

This morning we were up and breakfasted for a morning appointment. By coincidence a friend of ours, Marilyn, had also booked a Hurtigruten trip this week, on MS Nordkapp - and this is MS Nordkapp coming towards us.  We did see Marilyn, but were too busy waving manically to take photos!  Hope you are having a great time Mal xxx

There are several stops each day -some are at a port a distance from the town, just for loading and unloading, and a few have been for just 5 minutes - maybe delivering and collecting post? but some are for a couple of hours.  We stopped at Hammerfest at lunchtime today and decided to get off and have a look around.  Hammerfest is the world's northern most town, and seems to exist largely as there is a thingy concerting North Sea gas into liquid, so it can be exported.  This is just a pic of a road leading to a carpark, but see below for a zoom into the view behind those people

It didn't photograph brilliantly, but it was stunning.  Especially with the sun on the snow: we haven't seen much sun

This is me taking a pic of Brian taking a pic of the ship.  You see the two yellow life boats? Can you see a sticky out window (or grey block) just above and to the right?  That is our window

Just had to share this with you - my lunch today.   Our meals are included, and are yummy.  Breakfast and lunch are buffet style, so I had a bit of nearly everything!

You will have to take my work for the fact that there are houses on this island, along the shore.  But no roads - why would people choose to love out here, and how do they get timber etc delivered to even build their houses?  (and I bet Tescos and Perfect Pizza don't deliver!!!)

We've had problems with WiFi connections but hope that we are now sorted: I stood in *the* right place to Wifi download the photos and then used one of the passenger computers to type the text, but we are getting the hang of things!

Here's hoping the lights come again tonight - and that I'm awake for them!

Northern Norway Day 1

Setting off at silly o'clock this morning, Oslo airport looked very pretty in the snow as we left the hotel.

We arrived at Kirkeness and a bus was waiting to take us to the ship, we passed several dog sleigh teams racing over frozen lakes.

The ship is enormous from the outside, but seems cosy on the inside

Our suite is fab: about 3.5m x 10 m, very spacious and with lots of space for cases, clothes and stuff, we even have a bath and a shower.

We've explored much of the ship, there is even a gym and a sauna with views over the side!

Outside is cold, but inside is lovely and warm. No sign of the northern lights yet, apparently 30% chance tonight

This is Vardø: Norway's most eastern town.  We didn't go ashore, but a friend had told me that the town was part of an international graffiti project + the sides of the warehouses were all tagged in bright colours, but there wasn't enough light to get photos.  Thanks for telling us about it Eldrid

One more sleep

One more sleep at home, then a night in a hotel, followed by 6 nights in a room like this:-)

On this ship

Hopefully to see lots of this

 and these

And we'd love to see this, although we wont have the opportunity to drive on it

And the ships try and visit the Trollfjord:

But it's quit a tight fit to get there . . . 

(All library pictures, thanks to Mr Google)

more pics

palm beach & rigbys

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