We decided at the last minute last night to do a four hour bus tour today as an alternative to just being on the noat all day. It turned out to be a brilliant decision. We had to get up a bit earlier and have breakfast by 7.15am, as the tour left at 8.10am. Seeng as though my adrenaline only returned to normal juast after 12.45am the night was short- and disturbed with 2 port dockings.

Oats and a fried egg for breakfast and then the big kit up again. Although after yesterdays oberheated engines, I put a tshirt on under my shirt. The buses and museums are ao hot inside its impossoble to regulate your body temperature. We were picked up by the tour bus prompty at 8.10 and introduced to our guide Mikhail and driver Ole. First stop nearly threw me completely…we stopped at a medieval Church just outside Harstadt and were told we were going to a church service. What????? As part of a bus tour??? So yep, on our trip to Norway, we went to church on Sunday morning in a medieval church in Harstadt. It turned out to be a very brief (15 minutes) service, a short reading from the Psalms, a prayer and a hymn followed by a short history lesson on the church and its community over the centuries. Well done Mr Priest, we all enjoyed it and you engaged us all!

Then a quick wander around the church yard to see the stunning views over the bay and the medieval walls protecting the church, complete with a lookout turret. Some great pics from this excursion. It was built initially as a Catholic church but later consecrated as a Lutheran Chipurch. Interesting they have retained all the catholic tryptecaOur service today was Lutheran.

 

We then walked across to the local museum. Which exhibited aome ancient artifacts from medieval fishing villages, knives, cauldrons , religious artifacts and some examples of life as fisherman or farmers. Essentially, the men would go to see to fish for extended periods and the women would stay home to tend tomthe animals, farm and children.

The bus then toured around the area heading south. We stopped at some stunning lookout points to see the scenery and nature, drove through small villages, farming areas and along the various waters edges. The scenery was incredible, so different from what you experience on the boat. We stopped at a spot whre the incoming salt water meets the freshwaters. The turbulence in the water as these two streams me was incredible. The scene was made even more soecial by a seal having a bit of a Sunday outing in the morning. We had another photo op stop and then went to catch a ferry across the bay. Absolutely seemless, drive onto the ferry, and disembark.

On board we were given some coffee (I bought a coke zero) and some snacks. First a waffle slice with that brown cheese I was talking about, and a oancake slice, with a cinnamon cream butter rolled inside very yummy. Best of all we sat in a group of 6 and were really luck with our company. The first companions were chosen by us to sit next to at their table. An oriental (I think Chinese) couple from Vancouver. We have crossed paths with them at various stops and he took pics of us in the snow in Kirkenes. The second two ladies are from England. The one is on board to celebrate her 60th birthday, with a friend. We had a great time, chatting and laughing and sharing Northern Lights war stories. The guy from Vancouver had taken some incredible shots, with a big SLR camera and a tripod. The pics are incredible.

He then very kindly had a camera lesson to help the others with taking of northern lights pictures on their cameras. Having the camera set on Auto focus obciously doesnt work as the shutter is not open for long enough. He was so helpful, setting up the camera shutter speed, ISO levelss and showing her how to focus. So great when people teach and show. Once off the boat it was a half hour trip theough the country side to meet the boat at a port further down south. We were told about a horror avalanche in 1956 that killed many women and 50 children in the village. The men were out fishing when the avalanche came down. Apparently the force was so brutal that homes and buildings were swept into the fjord and some bodies were never recovered.

Our guide was fantastic, fluent in German, English and Norwegian. He was very informative and engaging, no attitude. Same with the driver, these guys are so skilled navigating these buses along these narrow windy and often icy roads. They very cleverly engineered a perfectly choreographed meeting with the boat. As we drew up to the main bridge crossing the fjord, so the MS Polarlys was cruising to port. We crossed over the bridge as the ship sailed underneath. Made even more special by the ship sounding its horn and many passengers out on deck waving up at us. In return the bus driver blew the hooter and we waved back madly. Quite special actually. We then reboarded the boat and immediately went in to lunch.

The cruising weather has been miserable this afternoon. Cold and wet and misty, so perfect for a lie down and read. I am nearly done with my 3rd book (loving the Will Robie series by David Baldacci). Dinner tonight is at 5.30pm – whaaaaaat? I am going to be starving by 10pm. So will have to organise a little snack for the room. We are docking at 6.30pm and the early dinner is to allow foe people going on the next excursion. We haven’t decided on anything yet as the weather is bad and its dark.

Dinner done. A delicious carrot and cream soup. Yep Dawn, it was a pumpkin yellow colour (private joke). Main course was cod on kale and with a potato croquette. Not the best fish we have had. It smells very fishy and I know my dinner companion for one was a bit put off by that. The whole dining room smelled of fish. Mom…you would not have lasted 10 seconds. I felt that the fish was not cooked properly, was a bit slimy for me. Desert was yummy…a ginger cake with the brown chees ive cream, crwam and a berry coulis.

Another change back into our snow kit and when we docked in Svolvaer we headed on shore to the Ice Museum. A collection of ice sculptures in a warehouse type display. Very interesting sculptures, but they were a bit past their prime. I am sure that ehen they are fresh and sharp they are spectacular. Had a drink at the ice bar, just for Brett. He was not complimentary about my ancestory when I told him my drink was a coke!!

Then back on board for the next sailing. Can’t believe its our second last night. Its a bit cloudy, but hoping for that call to kit up and get on deck! The sea is rocking and rolling again tonight.