Post by Grubb After our boat passed the island, or large flat rock, that had the globe marking the arctic circle, passengers blinking away the icy rain were offered champagne. Later we were invited on deck for an arctic circle celebration. No sleety rain this time, but plenty of cold wind to remind us where…
Day: May 26, 2023
Lofoten
Post by Ella. This evening, after an early dinner, we got off the ship at Stamsund, located on the island Vestvågøy in the Lofoten archipelago, to board a “Highlights of Lofoten” tour bus bound for Svolvær, located on the island of Austvågøya also in the Lofoten archipelago. At Svolvær, we rejoined the ship. The bus was…
Bodø
Post by Ella. Bodø, a town of 55,000, is situated on the Norwegian Sea just a few degrees north of the Arctic Circle. During the Second World War, the town was mostly destroyed by the Germans. The town was rebuilt quickly and a train station and airport added. Having only 2 hours to explore this…
Crossing of the Arctic Circle
Because of the earth’s rotational tilt, the latitude of the Arctic Circle varies by 2° over a 41,000 year time period. Right now, the Arctic Circle is approximately 66°33′45.6. Cause for a celebration with a glass of champagne. Or if you prefer, get ice poured down your back and you get a free shot of aquavits….
Our route, Friday, May 26
Follow the red dots on the map below. From Rorvik to Bodø (for a 2 hour stop, ready, set, run to stroll around Bodø), then on to Stamsund (where we hop off and take a “highlights of Lofuten” tour this evening, then we meet the ship again to re-board in Svolvær.
She’s a pirate!
Post by Grubb Last night as I sat clutching the dinner table watching people topple over while my stomach lurched between the plunges and upthrusts of our pitching boat’s battle against an angry sea, the thought of eating a meal made me feel nauseous. The few passengers who had staggered to their seats like barflies…
Rough seas wake sleeping troll
Post by Ella. We were warned. The announcement over the intercom, which, by the way, is given in Norwegian, German and English, tells us to hang onto our hats, rough seas with swells twice as big as the night before, to begin in 30 min, lasting a couple of hours. Put away glassware (if you’ve…
The Trondheim Hammer Dance
Post by Grubb I should have known that Monty Python wouldn’t neglect the Norwegian hammer theme in their work. In one of their comedy sketches they refer to the Trondheim Hammer Dance, “a dance which was done every 25 minutes in the town of Trondheim in which the old ladies were struck about the head with…