Day 6: Almost but not quite at the North Pole

There’s just the Barents Sea between us.

We arrived at Honningsvåg, the northernmost city in the North Cape – in Finnmark county, home of the Sami people. They are the indigenous people and live in four countries: the northernmost part of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The area is also known as Lapland. There are approximately 80,000 of them, more than half of them live in Norway.

We went out for a walk – this was the light at midday.  It was minus three degrees centigrade, but it really wasn’t that cold.Towards the end of our walk, Mummy had to take off her hat and gloves!!! Maybe there’s a little Nordic in her.

Many passengers went on the North Cape tour – again we didn’t go along. That is the most northern point in Europe. And it seems tomorrow when we get to Kirkenes, it will be -16 degrees Centigrade! Mummy decided it would be too cold for us as we have never experienced such weather and it will be two hours out in the cold. And no Ice Hotel for me either  – absolutely not!!! said the Ice Hotel. Change of plans – stay-in morning.

Back in the ferry, there were still little touches of Christmas. The rest of the day was getting to the next port – our last for the day at 20.00. It was supposed to be a quick stop but the snowmobile excursion was late in coming back which added to the time that the ferry was running late. They won’t be letting down the gangway at the next port – so we’ll have to wait till the morning to have our next relief.  That’s ok. We can hold easily for 12 hours except when we have bed tummies – but we’re over that – thankfully.

So tomorrow will be another day with a twist. Natasa will be walking us in the morning.

May’s comment: A quiet Christmas Day – eating, short walks, napping. Another 364 days till Christmas!