Tromso, Norway
It seems that the further we travel north in Norway the better and warmer the weather gets! This morning we quietly slid into Tromso in warm sunshine and under a cloudless sky. Tromso is a large city which is an important place for ship building, ship repair, and ship supplies as it is the last large centre of civilization for most ships before they hit the High Arctic.
On this still and peaceful morning we enjoyed a tour of the city with stops at the splendid Arctic Cathedral which sits proud, high, white, and angular across the fjord from the main body of the city; the Tromso Museum with its excellent displays on the local flora and fauna, archaeology, and a comprehensive section dealing with the indigenous Saami people; and the Polar Institute with its artifacts and dioramas dealing with the sometimes harrowing tales of failed and successful expeditions into the High Arctic and the Polar region. Being a Sunday morning, we had all of these places to ourselves, which made the visits even more enjoyable.
After lunch the weather was still holding warm and bright and many of us headed out to a nearby lake with several of the staff interpreting for us. The local guides told us that only last week there was ice on the lake and wintry conditions abounding. As a result the fauna has not yet quite got into its spring ‘plumage’ but just to see this city whose nick-name is the “Paris of the North” on such an acceptable day was a delight. Those who chose not to go to the lake spent time exploring the main streets and there many side-streets where the cafes and bars were steadily filling up with local people out to enjoy the first sunny Sunday they have seen in a long time.
Shortly before recap the National Geographic Explorer cast-off from her mooring and gently pushed through the glass-like waters and headed under the dominating road bridge to continue our expedition north.
We are all now shifting gear and getting into Arctic mode for our next stop in a few days where we can expect totally different conditions from those we have enjoyed since leaving Bergen— Bergen! My goodness—that seems a very long time ago! Anticipation is high, excitement is mounting and all thoughts are turning to polar bears. We are ready!
