In November of 2014 we visited Norway. We sailed up the coast, calling at Alesund, Tromso and Alta – way, way up in the Arctic Circle – and Kristiansund on the way back down. We learnt a bit about the Sami culture, saw the Northern Lights, went husky sledding, saw whales and survived a Force 10 gale! See my post ‘Winter Wonderland’ for the whole story.
Must pay a return visit in the summer!
Force 10 gale! we may be needing this!
Alesund fire engine on snow clearing duties
Arriving at Tromso
Lots of island hopping in Norway
Spectacular Atlantic Road linking islands
Private parking for your boat
Greeting these very friendly huskies before our sled ride
Norwegian sunrise – 11 am -ish
Husky atop his snow covered kennel
Sami campfire where they prepared hot chocolate with delicious cakes before we went out in search of the Northern Lights
Lofoten Islands – only place with no snow!
Pit stop for a walk along path made from recycled rubber alongside the Atlantic Road
Sami tent with roaring fire – it’s freezing outside!!
Cross inside the Stave Church
Our guide inside the UNHEATED Stave Church – they gave us blankets for the mercifully short talk
View of lake from Stave Church
One of the best preserved Stave Churches
Our game for the day – find the toilet door in this very long wall
wacky window – are they trying to tell us something?!
island dwelling – lots of islands with summer houses on them
Kristiansund oil rig
Twilight sailaway from Kristiansund
Our floating home
One of many beautiful sunsets
The special Norwegian light
Boats of all shapes and sizes here
A warning beacon on one of the little islands
Plying their trade
Summer houses
A nation of islands linked by a network of tunnels and bridges
Some lovely silhouettes are created by this surreal light
we watched a dramatic helicopter rescue when someone on board had to be evacuated
and this was the reason why! Force 10 gale had everyone a bit worried
Remembrance Day Service and casting a wreath onto the water
another arrival – it all looks so COLD out there!
the crew – well wrapped up – heroically working in truly testing conditions
picturesque port
the Wilderness Centre – home to 300 howling huskies – 6 of which took us for an exciting ride
wotcha got to eat?
view from the ship
a great vantage point for taking photos
only the brave venture on deck
the Arctic Cathedral
get your fresh fish ‘ere!
window dressing Norwegian style
now that’s quite a claim! I thought we made the best fish’n’chips!
this amused us – direct route to Heaven but you gotta go by bus!
funny! I feel quite at home!
Alesund – our first port of call and very picturesque
lots of tunnels in this part of the world
the merest hint of light as the sun rises on another Norwegian day
