Norway holiday July 2009

This year was going to be special, and turned out being extra-special - we both had a retirement to celebrate! We had booked a holiday on the Hurtigruten ferry which travels up the Norwegian coast from Bergen, and round the North Cape to Kirkenes, just a few kilemeters from the Russian border. We booked to travel both ways - the ferry calls at ports during the day on the way back that had been visited at night on the way north.

We started with two nights in Bergen to allow a bit of sightseeing there. This is the view of the old part of Bergen from the top of Fløyen.		Beer - the price takes some getting used to. At least it's more or less the same everywhere.
Bryggen - where there are old Hanseatic houses.		Bergen manhole cover in the Bryggen - there are several variants.
On board MS Nordlys and travelling north.		Approaching the Gerainger Fjord.
King Neptune visits after crossing the Arctic Circle.		Stone cats in Tromsø.
MS Nordlys and one of the local fast catamarans.		The children's monument at the North Cape.
The North Cape monument.		View to the west from the North Cape.
In the panoramic lounge on MS Nordlys.		Passing one of the older boats.
In Hammerfest - we didn't join the Polar Bear Society, I'm sorry!		Heading south in glorious day long sunshine.
Leaving the Trollfjord.		MS Nordlys seen from a tour bus in the Lofoten Islands.
Midnight sun (well almost) over the Lofoten Islands.		The ship's ensign.
Passing the island on the Arctic Circle; another globe monument!		Somewhere between Bodø and Trondheim!
The façade of Trondheim Cathedral. This is a bit of a fraud - it was only completed last century; the original was never finished.		Returning to MS Nordlys in Trondheim.
Old wooden boat and newer sailing boat in Kristiansund.

This really was a fantastic holiday. Norway's scenery is truly spectacular (and they have so much of it!), and the Hurtigruten voyage allows you to see so much of it. We took just four of the tours, being content just to sit on the ship and watch the scenery go by for much of the time.

It's really cold in the far north though! Maybe back to France again next summer ...