Travel Pig

After I woke up and reorganized in the heated hut where you had to exchange shoes when you went in the Snow Hotel, I headed to the sauna. The boots were rubber with spikes to prevent slipping and were just for the hotel so you didn’t get it dirty

The sauna was on so I popped in for a bit. It was sooo hot, showered. This whole area was quite warm and I had it to my self. Used the hair dryer and then went to breakfast.

On the plane to Oslo, short layover then Copenhagen also short layover and I will hopefully land in Bologna tonight at 7:30pm to begin a few days in Italy.

Before I went to sleep I took some more pictures of the Northern Lights.They are so magical. I love the way they dance in the sky. So many colors.

So they gave you a -40 sleeping bag that velcrowed shut all the way up to your chin. They gave us big wool socks to go over our socks, always your own fresh pair, no sweaty ones. One layer of long underwear should be fresh too but I didn’t have two sets I had wool gloves and cotton gloves which I didn’t wear too long. I took three pocket warmers and threw those in my sleeping liner which was freshly cleaned for us to line the sleeping bag. I had the wool bacalva on. It goes over your head and neck like a bank robber and finally my favorite very long cashmere scarf wrapped around my neck. I brought my phone and charger and night-night. I did take a half Ambien for insurance. I slept great, not afraid, no locks on any doors.

Awake at 5 am so went back to the warm hut where we got ready and now look for the Sauna!

It was nice to move on to the next adventure. A little confusing finding the correct bus. The guides don’t seem to have a lot of patience. I did have a good chat with one of the servers that was especially kind to me.

Bus to the Snow Resort was about 20 minutes through the city. Before. This latest war, Russians and Norwegians freely passed through the border. It’s about 5 miles from Kirkenes. Now it’s completely closed with extra military on both sides. It’s been difficult for the city. It’s a beautiful bright sunny day but super cold because of the wind.

I am on the tour from the boat since I didn’t know that I would be staying here. We looked for the Reindeer first, they were being shy, then the Huskies. Some loved the attention.

On to the Ice Hotel. Just six rooms. It’s being redone this year, bigger more room. It stays up all year with the help of a tarp over it. It stays -4 C about 25 F

So I overheard the tour guide berate the receptionist because the Rain deer weren’t there for us as part of our tour so I decided to look for them. No one said I couldn’t hike around their enclosure. I saw the three of them. It looked like they were in a separate enclosure and then I was mad. I thought they lied to me, but when I called them with a Llama call, ( I once owned a Llama named Allegro) they came closer and closer and they were not in a separate enclosure. I gave them a few Rain deer noises and they still came closer. The dogs and deer thought the white hand warmer in my hand was something to eat.

They kept following me until I was at their feeding spot, sorry no food.

Checked out the facilities, sauna and showers etc.

Time for the King Crab Experience

So I wanted to sauna and shower and dry my hair before the big sleep on the ice but ran out of time. Getting nervous about being cold. Hope the sleeping bags are rated for Everest summit weather. I have hand warmers. So many rules too and I hate rules. More later.

Had the last dinner on the ship last night rain deer cheese and Arctic char. Asked for veggies vs potatoes and they were cooked perfectly. Hard to do on a ship.

Then packing and more Northern Lights. It’s getting much colder.

So a quick breakfast and then out of the rooms at 8 and off to the next adventure at 9.

It’s been fun people watching. There are the usual annoying people, this one tall bossy lady who pushed her self to the center of attention. Another woman in a walker that really gets around but the damn walker blocks all emergency access, something I look at in crowded rooms. They definitely overpacked the conference rooms. An emergency would have been mayhem. One of the many perks of being solo in a predominantly couple cruise is that I get that single seat.

The couple I sat next to the last two nights is so predictable, he orders for her, they cheers and then they are silent. If he talks to me she looks straight ahead and never says a word

Average age is about 80 but they all seem pretty active. A big group takes the hiking option when offered. All are curious and seeking knowledge.

I have spoke to one younger couple from New Zealand and I’ll see them tonight at the Ice Hotel. I met a lady from Barcelona that was lost the other day.

I did see some children yesterday but they are commuters. Transportation up here gets pretty sparse.

Other interesting facts. The warmest the water gets is 50 degrees. There was a beach yesterday that they called Copa Cabana. They were pictures of hundreds of people in swimsuits on the beach. Another photo in the slide show was young people in one of the floating saunas, diving in the water.

One village nearby has 38 people, b6 dogs and 5 cats.

20% of the men that fish still die fishing, much better than the old days but still a problem

It stays warmer in the area because of the Gulf Stream. Only 150 days under 32 degrees.

First snow storm was last week

Reindeer swim to go inland for the winter.

Onward…

Just after I got out of the shower, dripping wet, it was announced that there was a Northern Lights sighting. I was in no hurry but threw in some clothes, didn’t bother with a camera and went outside.

Yes there was some lights, when I looked at peoples photos in their camera. I ran in to get my phone. It was spectacular!

So many more pictures. Hopefully more in the next two nights. The temperature is low 40’s but very windy.

I planned to work on my Instagram projects today but then decided, I really should do the Arctic Cape Expedition. Everything is an expedition. This would be taking a bus for 45 minutes and back and seeing the monument and the souvenir shop.

So I did it. The port is called Honningsvag. It is a beautiful town but can’t imagine 15 feet of snow on the sides of the road and having to walk like you are in a labyrinth.

Last night on the ship. Excited about tomorrow!

Tromso has about 80,000 inhabitants and is growing 2-3% a year probably people from other parts of Norway, not California.

Seems very industrial as most of these ports are. Many claims to fame, Northern most McDonalds, University, brewery etc.

Had a busy morning on the Internet still fighting and figuring out a new Instagram idea. I could never spend this much time while working. I think a lot of it is Internet issues. Thought of sleeping in but didn’t. Thought of skipping breakfast or lunch but didn’t.

Seems like most afternoons I get a glorious little jet lagged nap and I did so today. Then an excursion on a bus! Went to see the Northern most Arctic Church. It was kind of an A-frame. So windy but not terribly cold. Every once in a while a little spit of rain, but the drops are huge.

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I keep forgetting to mention that Uo until today, that I have been so sore from walking 20 miles the first two days. Glad I trained for Antarctica because I didn’t for this trip.

The sparkling wine was spectacular. It was made and then stored under the sea for two years! Lots of sparkle

I enjoyed the museum today. I had read about the race to the North Pole. Thank you Jeni Popp for the great Adventure book. Our guide tried to push people away from the part of the museum that explains hunting. Not sure why, probably too many complaints for people in the past, but it’s history. Luckily the world decided killing baby seals was not nice and people stopped wearing oilskins ie fur. It was kinda brutal how they killed polar bears. A rifle was rigged and baited with seal fat and when triggered, the bear was thought to kill itself, not buying that. They also over killed walruses, using their tusks for art. I would like to to see walruses in the wild. Apparently Svalbard is the place

Glad to hear that the Brewers put the Dodgers in their place!!

Enjoying a leisurely dinner and talking to you all. Cheese and a liquor made by woman called Feddie Fatlagret Dill-Aquavit! It reminds me of grappa!

I had to laugh at the seafood night. The staff were all excited about it. Tiny head on shrimp with way too many roe. The crab was taken out of the shells, mixed with bread cut and stuffed back into the shells! Were the shells reused too? You can see how left over food is changed into a new dish!

The hours on a boat go by slowly but at the same time quickly. I feel so busy then realize, I spent hours trying to connect a Facebook page to a new IG account. Ugg. The views from the boat cannot be appreciated by photos as you will see.

The person that guessed the actual crossing over the Arctic Circle was just a couple seconds off. She won a flag and the privilege of being the first to be baptized with Arctic water. People actually let a ladle full of freezing cold water be dumped on their head! No thank you. The day was lazy, doing internet stuff and reading books. Finished the book about The All Blacks team in New Zealand and another book on Excellence. Didn’t read quite every word but got the gist of the books. More fiction.

I did wait for dinner and ate at my proper table. I have been spoiled by Berto. I’ll be back at the private dining tomorrow

We had a late port stop so I walked around a bit, not much happening.

This was where one of the soccer games was played!

Around 11 the loud speaker said the Northern Lights were barely in view, I traipsed outside and saw some misty air, nit impressed! Lol. It was along shot that we would see them but we have two more nights.

During the night, it was a bit noisy at the stops, making it hard to sleep.

I wish I had more to say and show but I don’t. I have a little adventure today and made my plans for the rest of the trip, so I am just enjoying my time away.

I signed up for a 5 course meal ahead of time so last night was perfect. As we boarded the boat we were given table numbers that we were to sit as on some dinners, not sure why that makes me cringe, but it does.

I don’t think I am a cruiser, at least not yet. When my kids and I went to the Galapagos, I remember we had to sit with another family. They seemed so perfect. A perfectly blended divorced family with perfect kids and everyone got along. And then there is us, divorced mom with two kids. Later, the perfect family fell apart, with the oldest child having a fit and the parents pissed off. Makes me laugh now and wonder why I cared. That was a 100 passenger boat

Another cruise I took was with my son on the Nile. Also a 100 passenger boat in summer with less than 50 people on it. We kept being sat with others until I explained to management that I was here with my son and only wanted to be with him. They obliged.

Then on the Antarctic trip with my brother, again it was a smaller boat and we always had to sit with others.

Usually I enjoy meeting people. I have made friends all around the world but, as I have met many people on this trip already but it’s just awkward for me.

So last nights dinner. There is a little private dining area before the main dining room. There were several tables, so I chose one a little to the side. My handsome server told me it was going to be a slow night. As it turns out there was just one other table served besides me.

It was to be a 5 course meal with an additional cost of $33. It was well worth not eating at a buffet.

Amuse Bouche, oysters and some flavorful sauces

Two choices of starters

It was a delicious meal and delightful with a very attentive server.

I’ll try to be braver and have dinner in the main dining room tonight.

Today we crossed the Arctic Circle. There was a contest to predict the exact time to the second. I was about 5 minutes off.

The landscape is getting more bleak as expected. It’s 47 but 34 with wind chill and winds up to 26 knots. When I woke up it was 29. The boat is pretty smooth. Later today we will pass through some open sea that is supposed to be a little like the Drake crossing in Antarctica but it is only a couple hours not 48 hours.

Life on the boat is getting to be old hat, lots of eating. Up and down the stairs all day. Last night after dinner we had thinly sliced lamb and something like Grappa. The lamb was like Iberico from Italy. The Grappa I had to let go. There is a viewing deck that has a bar and very comfortable seats looking out to sea.

I slept better last night until my Mother called at 2:15 am. She was having fun with her friends. I ended up staying awake reading and finishing another book, by Colleen Hoover. Also reading a business book about the All Black Team of New Zealand and other work stuff.

I was struggling with deciding on the kayak trip this morning or not. It was so cold and rain was predicted. So I didn’t. At our longer stop in Trondheim, I decided to walk to the famous cathedral that was built on top of the grave of former Viking, founder of Catholic religion in Norway and King of Norway.

On the way…

The Old Town Bridge (Gamle Bybro) in Trondheim is one of the city’s most picturesque landmarks. It’s often called the Bridge of Happiness (Lykkens Portal) because of its distinctive red wooden gateways. I felt happy not freezing on the water!

I stopped at a cute shop. I wanted all the clothing and after I had a glass of wine at a cute place, I went back and bought just one thing!

I called for an uber and he took forever, I was worried that I would be late, but I wasn’t.