Barbara's travels continue 2018

After a fairly short night's sleep, I woke up to another perfect day. There was low sea fog sweeping across the base of the surrounding mountains but this added to their mystery. Our first very short stop was the little town of Finnsnes Where we were invited to a very short concert put on by local teenagers.  A pretty place. just before the main stop of Tromso, located on an island and considered to be the Gateway to the North Pole. In winter you are virtually guaranteed to see the Northern Lights. Not today, it was about 25 degrees in town I opted to get away from the heat, up on the hill, with access by cable car. What an awesome view from the top. The slopes, used for skiing in winter, are covered in lingonberry plants. I stopped briefly at the Ice Church which reminded me of our transitional cathedral in Christchurch, in shape. Although I am not so keen on large tattoos, I did like this one, which was of the lady’s cat, sadly no longer with her except on her arm. Before heading...

What an amazing day we had today. My question about whether we could possibly continue with such an awesome journey as day 2, was definitely answered, day after day! Each day was different, but each day memorable and special. The sunlight sparkling on the crystal blue waters of the fjords was mesmerizing l As were the beautiful, elegant swirls of water as we turned a corner. Believe it or not, the water and sky were actually so blue! We reached the Arctic Circle early in the morning! Who would have ever guessed from the temperature! There was a special and rather silly ceremony on top deck. Those who wanted Arctic initiation could opt to have icy water poured over them. I can't say I was keen! Others sat and sunbathed. There were a lot of very red bodies by the end of the day! Our main stop today was Bodo, voted European capital of culture in 2024. It's the northernmost city in Europe to be selected. I'm not sure of the criteria. It didn't seem to offer as much as Troms...

 Today we did not stop at many places, but the major stop of three hours was at one of the largest cities in Norway, Trondheim.  First impressions weren't great as we walked through the rather unattractive area around the port in unbelievable heat! No shade at first. The pretty Main Street with its super colorful and beautiful umbrellas sadly didn't provide any shade either. Hwever, the gorgeous churchyard around the impressive Nidaros Cathedral, was a haven of shade. I loved this beautiful statue to the women of WW2. What a restful spot. I wasn't really sure what there was to see, but sought shade in the churchyard, which led me down to the Nidelva River. As I wandered along, I came to a really attractive part of the city, Bakklandet. It had been an important trading and commerce area from 17th century, but in the 20th century, many buildings were pulled down to make way for modern blocks. Fortunately, the outcry from locals who appreciated the historical and cultural valu...

My friends Rob and Jane, and their friend Dawn joined me in Bergen and will travel all the way to Kirkenes and back on the Nordkapp, Hurtigruten. Could there be a better start to what is going to be a trip of a lifetime! Perfect weather, if not a little on the hot side! My cabin was far better than I expected and my 'limited' view was barely limited! It was a very spacious room and the rest of the ship more luxurious than I imagined for a coastal, postal boat. Beautiful sitting areas both inside and outside. We left Bergen with beautiful, gentle music playing, leaving this gorgeous city behind us. A short but wonderful stay.  Wow! What a magical first evening, with balmy temperatures, clear skies and lovely pastel colors on the water. We woke up to some fog in the distance, probably caused by the heat the previous day and cooler morning temperatures! Otherwise, clear blue skies and such still waters. How lucky we are. There were some magnificent cloud formations. Our first day ...