Day 37: Monday 12th. June 2006: Sunny and hot: We walked to the Bus that took us up the hill and another short walk further up the hill to our hostel Montana halfway up the mountain with fabulous views over Bergen and the harbour. We went into town for a walk around the harbour and had fish and chips from a kiosk. It was lovely having time to walk around the beautiful city. Day 38: Rain, cloud then sunny: We decided to walk down the mountain so found a pathway, steps and road, through a park, around the lake and [View Full Entry]

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Day 32: Wednesday 7th. June: Sunny: We boarded the ship "NARVIK" at 10.30 and was given the key to our cabin. We thought of 6 days on board so we unpacked everything and did our washing so the place looked like a chinese laundry in a very short time (11am). Next thing the cabin crew were telling us we were not meant to be in the cabin until 1pm so pack everything up including wet washing because the room was not ready for occupation. We started to repack slowly and then were told, it was OK to stay as the [View Full Entry]

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Day 30: 5th. June 2006: Clear and sunny with mist over the mountain: Flight to Kirkenes with baggage allowance 15Kg and hand luggage max 5 kg. We knew this before we left Perth so all was oK especially as we were wearing so much warm gear now. Well Kirkenes very different to the other places in landscape, flora and people. Most shops were closed so, not many people around at all so we went walking round the town. We are only a couple of miles away from the Russian border. Daylight all the time. Day 31: Fine and sunny: We [View Full Entry]

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Day 27: Clear skies: We travelled with this bus line so try them - note dates of travel though. http://www.eskelisen-lapinlinjat.com/en/index.php We had a wonderful 9 hour bus trip from Rovaniemi to Tromso, through beautiful scenery of villages, real reindeer, snow capped mountains, partially frozen countryside of rivers and lakes. In Tromso we had booked into Hotel Ami up the hill with views over the town and harbour. Day 28: Saturday 3rd. June: Sunny then cloudy with a few drops of rain: Brekky included here and it was really good with a variety of fish and fish pastes among [View Full Entry]

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Day 24: Tuesday 30th. May 2006: Clear day: 3 hour trip by bus to Rovaniemi, to Hotel Santa for the key to hostel. Our room was not ready so we dumped our cases and went for a walk into town. Found a cheap place to eat as much as you can - great for starving backpackers. Picked up our key and walked (up hill) to the hostel which is ex-hotel. Our room was ok (twin with own bathroom) but the kitchen so small and yuk and a sign by light switch said "DO NOT USE". Time to go shopping for:- [View Full Entry]

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Day 22: Week 4: Sunday 28th. May 2006: Clear and sunny - lovely: Bussed to Oulu and staying in a self contained (great kitchen) cabin in the delightful camping ground at Nallikari. We look forward to doing our own cooking again and having a decent meal, though we only had a snack tonight. We are a stone's throw from the water (Bothia Sea) and beach. Bus stop at the end of driveway takes us into town. Fantastic storm tonight, thunder and lightning. Day 23: 29th. May 2006: Raining: Into town by bus and had a walk around. Very pretty, interesting [View Full Entry]

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Day 20: Raining on- off: Our hostel was at a ski resort, by a bus stop and easy to find + brekky included. Went into town for a walk around then up the hill to the Jyvaskyla ridge and observation tower. Our meals for breakfast, lunch and tea was rolls, cheese and meat - oh dear! At least the weather was not as cold as Helsinki. Day 21: Cloudy, cool and not raining yet: We were told to go and look at the gardens - we went on Bus 15 - the gardens were lovely but just like Waldecks. Back [View Full Entry]

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Day 19: Clear, sunny and cold: A train journey to Lahti, check into our hotel - hostel and a walk into town. Again the weather was cold, so we thought something hot to eat would be nice. Down by the lake are lots of eating places. We chose one where we queued up, cut off a chunk of bread and a slab of butter from the pat and then were given a bowl of home made pea soup with chunks of bacon in it, then a nice fresh doughnut. We sat outside at bench seats and table which overlooked the [View Full Entry]

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Day 15: (21st May) We arrived safely, checked into the hostel at Olymic Stadium, a quick walk around the area and by the lake, to an ATM , then shops for food. Day 16: Monday 22nd: Bright sunshine and warm: Today we started looking around sunny Helsinki by going by ferry to Suomenlinna Fort (4 islands) built by the Swedes in the 18th. century. Very interesting day walking around the islands. Day 17: Cloudy, cold and raining: the weather had changed to rain and more rain. We sorted out our travel plans for the next few journeys, went shopping for [View Full Entry]

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The flight across Japan, Mongolia and Siberia en route to Helsinki. [View Full Entry]

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