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Published: March 4th 2018
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NORTHERN LIGHTS
THEY DID DANCE FOR US Well after one day at sea arrived in Tromso 8am after passing through the Artic Circle and boy is it cold! Quite a bit of cloud so didn't know how we would go searching for Northern Lights tonight that wasn't until 7.00pm pick up, so caught the FREE SHUTTLE BUS (about the only thing on this cruise that has been for free) to town and had a good look around, very pretty town but lots of snow and you have to look out for the grey ice everywhere, makes for slipping dangerous, we have our ice spikes to clip onto our shoes so that is handy. Temperature here today if -1 so cold but I think the worst is to come further up. Life goes on in these frozen towns and they drive like the roads are all normal though they do have special tyres for the winter months. Tromso is actually 400klms north of the Artic Circle and the area around Tromso is a collection of a lot of islands, the approach to Tromso is quite spectacular with its snow covered mountains extending down to the edge of the fjord. 7pm pick up at the terminal by our Aurora guide
ALTA
On the snow capped mountains above Alta Andrea (an Italian guy) who has lived in Tromso for a few years, why in the name of hell would he want to live here, he lived here in the 90's for a few years and has now come back again, I know the north west part of Italy is so much nicer than here, but he just loves it! There were seven of us in the little mini van, a Malayasian, 4 Americans (2 gals from Chicago, 1 gal from New Mexico but living and working in Berlin and her partner a previous US marine now working on secret stuff in Amsterdam...great bunch) and off we went.....being cloudy we had to head about two hours out of Tromso and went to quite a few different spots.....saw a few lights but with the cloud they didn't appear for very long but did manage to get a few photos which was great.....we thought we were rugged up with layer upon layer upon layer but it did become very cold as the night wore on....at one of our last stops lit a fire and we all huddled around the fire on little chairs he had bought and had hot chocolate, reindeer sausage,
TROMSO
They do have pubs but so expensive Norwegian brown cheese, cake etc....nice touch to the night! We were very mindful that we had to be back no later than 3a.m. to the ship and Andrea dropped us off first.....last two on board at 2.20a.m. and what a night...we did see the lights!
ALTA - arrived in Alta 1.30pm to a lovely clear sunny day but about -10 when we arrived. This private tour we are doing tonight cannot pick up at port...not allowed...so got the free shuttle up town, took a walk around town, did a spot of shopping needed some Tonic Zero for my gin (taken on the ship with our rum runners) and then bunkered down at the meeting place Scandic Hotel for a beer and relax before the tour at 7pm. Decided to have a beer at the bar $16 a glass....now thats expensive!!! John also thought he needed more substantial gloves so bought a new pair at $82....I know Norway is expensive but it is ridiculous! The GLOD crew arrived to pick us up ...2 mini buses with 8 in each and off we went to their headquarters for a briefing and a lovely bowl of hot vege and reindeer soup...delicious...showed a
ALTA
...and this beer was $16 short description of the Northern Lights and off we went again! Took us to a fairly remote mountain where they said we would have 360 degree vision and be able to capture any lights that decided to appear.....and APPEAR THEY DID....dancing and swirling in the sky above....completely different to what we expected.....they sort of look like a milky way to start with...and then colors appear....originally our guide said there was a forecast of about No 2 (guide is 1-9, 9 is a real storm when mobiles go out etc). Our guide Wik has been doing these tours for years and his excitement and enjoyment of this shows so much.....,when they appeared he was even more excited than we all were....in the end saying how lucky we were to see them like this...more like a 6....with a tinge of pink and red as well.....we truly were blessed to see these Northern Lights....I really thought we would come to Northern Norway and just seem them every night....not the case they are very elusive! It got down to -20 and wind chill of almost -30 and we consider the average temp of our freezer at home is is -16 it is bloody cold
TROMSO
Cathedral of Tromso such a lovely building and we were so grateful for the GLOD team for dressing us for the evening.....from the boat we headed off with thermal underwear, tights, pants, two pairs of socks, then windcheater, coat, boots, two pairs of gloves and balaclava and two hats all on...then GLOD team gave us thermal suites, overboots and more mittens, gloves and hats....truly like eskimos!!! After 5 hours our hands and feet were still freezing....back on board 1230a.m.......a wonder Northern Lights Night had by all. Sunday a day in port to explore further we had had enough and slept in til late, caught a movie and show and just relaxed.
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Norma
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Alta
So pleased to hear that you saw Northern Lights , & enjoyed them all . Terrible if you had missed out . Guess it's freezing there for us ,but bearable for those born there . Great blog again Gloria .love to read about your travels . Enjoying seeing friends here in the Bridge . Travelled " miles " but worth it . All week booked up then start for home on Saturday . If on my own shall stay Motel along the way . Many thanks again . Keep enjoying , love. Norma x x