July 5 - Tromsø, Norway

Today was a BUSY day!  We arrived around 7:30 am in Tromsø - the second largest city in Norway - and were off on the "included" tour by 9:15.  We rode on the bus through the city and saw a unique church and then drove to a lookout point where the scenery was worth the price of admission.

Back on board by 11:30 where we had a little over an hour for lunch and re-grouping before our second tour. 

The second tour was also very scenic - the panoramas were "WOW" and I could have taken and posted at elast two dozen pictures of fjords with snow-capped mountains, but unless you were there they would all look the same.  As far as a "great excursion" we wouldn't rate it as such because we drove for an hour....had a waffle....went for a little walk (which was billed as 30 min and it took less than ten min, so we wandered around, the guide making it up as she went); and then drove the hour back.  Still, it was great scenery and that's what we came for.

July 4 - Honningsvag

Happy Birthday America!  We celebrated the 4th of July by sailing through Norway's inside passage to the northern-most city in Europe, Honningsvag, Norway.  We were docked less than 1,500 miles south of the North Pole, well above the Arctic Circle.....WOW.  Just as a point of reference, on this day last year we were in Saigon, Vietnam in 100+ degree temperatures.  We've truly been around the world!

We headed out this afternoon aboard a charter bus for the North Cape or Nordkapp as it's known here, one of the most northern points in all of Europe.  We were told of the 900+ passengers on board nearly 90% had opted for this panoramic trip.  The nearly one hour trip to the mountain top lived up to the billing of hairpin turns nearly all the way with panoramic vistas below.....

But as we reached the top we ran into more and more fog.  And by the time we arrived, you could barely see the global monument which served as the lookout point.  You could still see over the edge a bit, but looking out on the horizon, nothing but dense fog!

The bottom shows what the lookout at Nordkapp USUALLY looks like :)

Sailing The Inside Passage
Beginning last night during dinner and throughout the night and into the 4th we sailed through the islands and fjords of Norway's inside passage.  It reminded us so very much of cruising through Alaska (which is one of the many reasons we wanted to visit Norway).  It was also interesting to look out the windows and see land so very close on an "ocean cruise" - at times it felt like we were on a river cruise! Here are some selected photos of our sailing through this most scenic part of the "Land of the Midnight Sun" - so aptly named because for the four days we were in this region the sun NEVER SET!  You'd think that this wouldn't be a big deal on your body, but it's truly more difficult to settle down at night and sleep, even with thick curtains closed because your body really senses that it's daylight outside!

The Explorer's Lounge on the top deck

July 3 - Lofoten, Norway

Welcome to Norway!

After a full day at sea while we crossed the North Sea we arrived at our first port in Norway - Lofoten.  Our excursion for today, joint excursions from here on out was called "A Viking Experience."  We received a letter yesterday that told us we would not be able to row the Viking ship as advertised and we were at first disappointed.  But the day turned out GREAT!  The weather was supposed to be gloomy, about 50 degrees and 90% chance of rain.....but as is so often our good fortune the skies cleared, it was in the upper 50s and NEVER rained!  Just as an example of our good fortune, while in Shetland two days ago we were told that a week ago when the last cruise went through it was in the 40s, rained all day, and the winds howled at over 40 mph.  And at the show last night we were told that on this same voyage nine days ago there were THREE ports where the weather was so bad, the seas so rough that they could not go into port.....three days!  We are so fortunate!

Today after about a 35 minute bus ride we arrived at a museum then were given a tour of a Viking longhouse.  The original was found less than twenty yards away and is the largest longhouse ever discovered.  We then walked down to the re-created village and got to try our hands at axe-throwing!  When we'd been told in the letter that we could not row the boat we were just hoping to see it.  But not only did we see it, but we got to see it sail up to the dock.  And then we asked our guide if we could get on board for a photo and he arranged it :)  Finally we drove to another island, by going UNDER the fjord through a tunnel and walked around in a fishing village that is exactly as it was in the early 1900s.  It was a great day.

July 1 - Shetland Islands, Scotland

Rugged Beauty of the North

Our final day in Scotland, and our final day of separate excursions.  I left early in the morning for a tour of the "Rugged Beauty of the North" and the scenery was spectacular.  The best part of the long morning came at the end when we walked along the high cliffs overlooking the north sea.  Dramatic, and sensational panoramic views.  Even the video doesn't truly capture how amazing it was.  AND we were warned by our guide to not go anywhere near the edge because the wind was so "fierce" today as she termed it that we might find ourselves blown off the edge!

Walking the Nature Trails of Mousa Island
Kim's excursion was about an hour and a half walk along the scenic Scottish countryside until they reached the Mousa Broch, which used to be an early dwelling.  They climbed to the top and completed their walk....then hung out along the waterside.  The weather for both us - sensational, never got to 60 degrees all day!