Within the Arctic Circle - no real sunset now. |
Sea day before Lofoten: King Neptune visited & Captain presided over a Blue Nose Ceremony (seen on the jumbo screen) |
Captain at the Blue Nose Ceremony |
Blue Nose Ceremony - Roger & Tamma get iced. |
Howard was ready with the camera. I slipped up & missed a photo opp with Howard's icing. |
I didn't participate in too many events, but at least Howard went and took some pictures. |
Dancing under the midnight sun by Howard. |
Lofoten Islands here we come, plus unidentified lighthouse. I'm loving the great light at night here up north. |
Howard enjoyed the comedy and magic show by Mel Mellers that night |
Almost 11 PM, sea day up in the Arctic Circle |
Next day was LEKNES, in the Lofoten Islands. The new Viking Sky was in town at the dock; we had to tender |
Tender boat waiting to pick up passengers |
A troll greeted us on the pier in Leknes/Gravdal |
Lofoten Islands: jagged peaks, pilot boats - beautiful! |
Lofoten Island monument |
Took a tour which went to this beautiful church (Flakstad church, built in 1790) |
Boat hanging in church - very Scandinavian |
Scottish highland cow and calf near church |
The coach continued on, passing scenes like this. |
Fish drying racks in Lofotens |
Typical Lofoten scene between Flakstad & the town of Sund |
Boat and tractor: The small community of Sund was an interesting mix of things |
Cormorant tie-up made by smithy Tor-Vegard Morkved |
The blacksmith at work in his shop in Sund |
A curious motor museum in the town of Sund |
The smithy specialized in making cormorants |
Excursion then took us to Nusfjord, a pretty village. |
You have to pay to enter village |
Huge fish head Nusfjord |
Nusfjord on walk up hill |
Nusfjord from hill across water |
I had to be a bit careful where I walked |
Guess they all face the building to facilitate pooping - don't have to get up, just let it fly! |
Back in Leknes, I photographed the interesting Buksnes Church in Gravdal from the tender |
Gravdal church, lighthouse Buksnes from tender boat |
Rusted ruin in front of Buksnes lighthouse in Gradval |
Part of what's called Lofotenveggen wall of mountains |
Viking Sky in Leknes |
Pretty sure this is Skrova lighthouse seen from ship after departing Leknes |
Wonderful scenery continued that evening while sailing through the Lofoten Islands. It's a special place. |
Straight out of the camera - wonderful light on the bridge at 10 PM |
Could not stay away from deck 2 that night - gorgeous! |
Midnight sun was definitely shining that night |
Light and rainbows around 10 that night were amazing |
Pretty sure this is Rotvaer lighthouse, 3 plus hours east of Leknes |
Finally close to 11 PM as the ship turned to go out to sea I drew the shades and turned off the show. |
Next day and stop was HONNINGSVAG - a colorful place way above the Arctic Circle |
Our company while in Honningsvag was a big German ship (Mein Schiff) |
She got the good dock; we had to use one which required use of a long, steep gangway! |
Took the included excursion to the North Cape. On the way, saw reindeer. |
Off they go - saw more later |
Here's proof I made it to the North Cape. Brr, it was a bit windy out there! I was surrounded by Europeans from "Mein Schiff." |
The museum was interesting - part under, part above ground, with a couple museums, bar, restaurant selling reindeer meat, etc. |
Made Howard take pictures of me at the Cape. Then we hurried back inside. |
There isn't much at the cape, but it was still very fun to visit. |
There are 7 statues like this, designed by children from 7 different countries. |
Back in Honningsvag, I admired this statue of a breed with which I was unfamiliar (lundehunde) |
View from the bed, North Cape area, around 11 PM under the midnight sun |
A typical northern Norway view - near Honningsvag |
Many lighthouses were what I'd call aids to navigation (boring). However, often their settings were incredible. |
Colorful boat. We saw so many boats - pilot, first aid, ferries, cruise ships, tankers, tender boats. |
When I got home I identified this lighthouse. We passed it around 8:30 PM cruising between Shetland Islands & Norway. |