PLACES VISITED
Vesteralen and Lofoten islands
We undertook this journey with the goal of attending the Northern Lights. We bought the trip
"Perspectives and Emotions" with Hurtigruten in France(http://www.hurtigruten.fr). this trip begins in Oslo
We take the train to Bergen. We had second class tickets. All cars have the same comfort.
In first class, you are eligible for Norwegian newspapers and magazines, no need to buy a 1st class ticket.
In Bergen we boarded the ship MS Trollfjord, a boat built in 2002 and made the complete circuit
Bergen to Kirkenes on the Russian border, and then return from Kirkenes to Bergen.
monday, february
13, 2006
departure to Oslo in the early afternoon because our SAS flight in the morning was deleted.
From the airport an express train leads us to the city center in 20 minutes. (Price: 160 NOK)
tuesday, february
14, 2006We decided to take the train to Bergen and at 10:30 we boarded a railcar
created for children and the disabled. This type of car with a slide does not exist in France but it is a
excellent idea because all children have played during the 7:15 trip. During this long journey, we were
surprised to see several young women who knit, a rare phenomenon in France. The route Oslo - Bergen is
of 475 km. We start from sea level to rise up to 1222m and then descends to sea level
The varied landscapes traversed are: frozen lakes, snow-capped mountains, ski resorts, fjords ... The beauty on earth
 Oslo railway station |
 landscape between Oslo and Bergen |
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landscape between Oslo and Bergen |
landscape between Oslo and Bergen |
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landscape between Oslo and Bergen |
landscape between Oslo and Bergen |
We went to the ferry terminal and we got on the ship Trollfjord.
We left Bergen to 22:30 as planned.
our boat
wednesday, february 15, 2006
At 6:45, we are at Maloy for 45 minutes. At 10:30, we stop at Torvik for 15 minutes.
We start again to Ålesund that we reach to 12H and we will leave at 15H. We walked in the streets
of this charming city where we had the chance to see the fishermen selling their products from their boats.
We have recognized Ålesund visited in 1997 except that the old pharmacy has become a restaurant.
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Maloy bridge |
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Ålesund |
Ålesund |
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Ålesund |
fisherman at Ålesund |
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fisherman at Ålesund |
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thursday, february 16, 2006
Arrival in Trondheim in the morning at 6 o'clock. After breakfast, we visited another Trondheim as seen in 1997.
Trondheim was icy. You should know that in Norway, the sidewalks are not plowed and it is better to be equipped
with spikes during the visits.
 a street in Trondheim |
 Trondheim and its houses on stilts |
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Bybro bridge built in 1861 |
houses on stilts seen from bridge Bybro |
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Trondheim |
Nidaros cathedral |
Trondheim is the ancient capital of the Vikings. The cathedral is the place where the kings of Norway are crowned.
In Norway, places of worship are often owned by the state and are then shared by different religions.
 Munkholmen means the island of the monks |
On the island of
Munkholmen, Vikings executed
their enemies. Shortly after the year 1000, it was built a monastery. It was transformed into a fortress and then in prison from 1658. It was placed cannons in defense of Trondheim. But this did not prevent the Swedish to take Trondheim in 1658 and 1718. |
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Kjeungskjaer light house |
After Trondheim, we are in the land of the Vikings. |
friday, february 17, 2006
At 7:20, we passed the Arctic Circle materialized by this globe.
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 the god of the sea |
We were treated to a ceremony hosted by Neptune, the god of the sea, which we presented a certificate proving that we have crossed the Arctic Circle. |
we arrived to Ornes at 9am and left to 9:30. From April 4, it is possible to make the trip to the glacier
Svartisen and then taking a bus for Bodo, stopping at Saltstraumen to see the strongest ocean current
in the world.
 Ornes |
 Ornes |
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Ornes |
Ornes |
Ornes
We stopped over in Bodo, a harbor where ferries leave for the Lofoten Islands.
 Bodo
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 after Bodo
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after Bodo
We were disappointed to have stops at the Lofoten Islands in the night, in both directions. we went down to
Stamsund and Svolvaer but it was too dark to recognize the wonderful landscapes seen in 1997.
Too bad!
saturday,february 18, 2006
Arriving at 6:45AM in Harstad, the capital of Vesteralen that we leave at 8:00AM.
 Harstad |
 Harstad |
We stopped in the small harbor of Finnsnes
 Finnsnes |
 Finnsnes |
before arriving at Tromso at 14:30.
 Tromso bridge |
 Tromso view from the boat |
the Arctic Cathedral in Tromso (1965)
We took the tour of "Husky safari" through the Arctic Cathedral.
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A 22H, we had a presentation on the Finnmark for only three French on board.
We learned that it is offensive to call people "Lapp" but needs to be said "Sami"
sunday, february 19, 2006
Today, we are at 2000Kms north pole. As it is Sunday We have had a brunch.
At 9:30, we stopped at Havoysund
 wind turbines before the arrival at Havoysund |
Havoysund |
At 11:45, we arrived in Honningsvag.
 Honningsvag |
 Honningsvag |
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Honningsvag |
Honningsvag
is especially known
for many tourists who visit the North Cape because this is where the boats stop. |
where we took a bus to the North Cape. From 13 km from the finish,
the three buses went on convoy preceded by a snowplow. In winter only buses are allowed to go
to North Cape.
 The North Cape is represented by the globe |
 the latitude of North Cape |
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I almost lose my head |
landscape of North Cape |
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landscape of North Cape |
A beautiful sky leaving Honningsvag
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In the evening we saw the Northern Lights but we missed our shots.
monday, february 20, 2006
Today the weather is much colder and we even see ice patches appearing on the sea
Barents Sea
First stop at Vadsø between 7H45 and 8H15
Vadsø
then it is Kirkenes, the last town step of the boat.
 Kirkenes |
 Kirkenes |
our boat Trollfjord at the port of Kirkenes among ice
We took the trip to the Russian border without a consistent view of the Russian and Norwegian Customs.
 border |
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If you've never seen open-pit mine, so take the tour. If so, the Russian border in winter
not worth the trip. We can not even bring a T-shirt, the only gift shop offers only Russian dolls!!
Kirkenes is a melting pot of different peoples: 10% of Russians, Finns, Sami, Norwegians
and even a small French community.
tuesday, february
21, 2006While Charles was at the doctor in Hammerfest, Anny took place within the polar bear royal club founded in 1963.
 Hammerfest |
 Hammerfest |
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Hammerfest is the northernmost city in the world. |
After we stopped to Øksfjord then for 2 hours we had a rough sea.
 Oksfjord |
 Oksfjord |
wednesday, february 22, 2006
We had breakfast at 7:30 to make the trip to Harstad-Sortland. During a visit to the church of Trondenes
, The ground was frozen and one of our German colleagues slipped and opened the skull.
He was taken to hospital and returned mid-morning.
We had enjoyed by the northwest part of Vesteralen, but the trip along the fjords was beautiful.
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the ferry that takes us across the fjord |
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We arrived before our boat at Sortland.
The boat stopped at Stokmarknes, the birthplace of Hurtigruten.
 Stokmarknes |
 Stokmarknes |
We passed the Rastsundet Strait and at the end we saw the entrance of the Trollfjord.
The ship did not sail there in winter because of ice.
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The entrance to Trollfjord in the center of the picture |
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In the Strait of
Rastsundet, the boat
touches the shore. Unfortunately, the weather was not present to fully appreciate the scenic beauty. |
In the evening, the ship arrived in Svolvaer, we have landed, but apart from the small fishing port.
We have not recognized much.
thursday, february 23, 2006
We were on deck at about 9 am. We took pictures of landscapes
and small villages located along the coast.
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in the foreground, a salmon farm |
One such village includes a school attended by 7 students and 3 adults. The boat operates
the siren and children send large signals to passengers.
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Soon after, we passed the polar circle indicated by a globe on a small island.
Stopping an hour at Sandnessjoen that we visited without forgetting the sculpture of the Norwegian
priest and poet Petter Dass.
Petter Dass
 Sandnessjoen |
 Sandnessjoen |
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Sandnessjoen |
Sandnessjoen |
We went down to Bronnoysund in fog.
Bronnoysund
friday, february 24, 2006
6:30 arrival in Trondheim and departure at 10:30. Many passengers disembarked and took
the train from Trondheim to Oslo. We regretted not having thought of this solution.
As the Trollfjord, the Coastal Express Narvik made a stopover at Trondheim.
At 11am, the cruise director told us the decoration of the boat: the colors are those of the autumn and winter.
We filmed Kristiansund from the deck.
 Kristiansund
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 Kristiansund
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Kristiansund
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Kristiansund
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saturday, february 25, 2006
arrival at 7:45 in Floro. Shooting from the deck
 before Florø |
 before Florø |
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Florø |
after Florø |
and leaving Floro the lighthouse Stabben.
Sunny day today and we stayed on deck until the arrival in Bergen at 14:30.
 the arrival to Bergen |
 the arrival to Bergen |
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the arrival to Bergen |
the arrival to Bergen |
the arrival to Bergen
We visited the fish market still open on Saturday afternoon.
 Bergen |
 the fish market |
the area of the Hanseatic League was not such busy as in summer.
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It rains 300 days a year to Bergen, but every time we visited we had the sun.
sunday,february 26, 2006
It snows on Bergen. We visit the city in the morning but everything is closed and it is cold.
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In the afternoon, we flew to Oslo and we took the express train to get to our hotel.
monday, february
27, 2006After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we went in the tourist office and got back the "pass"
offered by Hurtigruten. With the Pass, you do not pay transportation and you can visit some museums for free.
 Central station area |
 Central station area |
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Oslo harbor |
Oslo harbor |
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Oslo harbor |
Oslo harbor |
We wanted to know Norway in the winter to see snow scape. This was the case but only
from Tromso and we enjoyed the party Tromsø - Kirkenes we have done under the sun.
We have not had the chance to return because we have found the sun only at the arrival in Bergen.
Our thanks to Mr. Egbert Pijfers, the cruise director who spoke very good
our language and who took care of three small French among the hundreds of passengers present.
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