 |
The ship was built in 1993, and is one of a
fleet on the Norwegian Coastal Voyage, which runs 365 days a year. The
ship is a floating hotel, car ferry and carry cargo stopping 5 or 6 times a
day for passengers and cargo. |
 |
 |
| MS
Kong Harald |
Dropping the ramps |
A
night call at Kjollerfjord for the Hurtigruten. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Deck 4 landing depicts the Northern lights. |
The carpets on the other deck landings, like
the ship have a Viking theme. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| A
tourist coach going nowhere, unlike the coastal voyage! |
The souvenir shop was snow bound, but it was Boxing Day! |
Not sure if this was for taxi's or ships! However accidents happen! |
Sledges were used for people or shopping, propelled like a child's scooter. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| We
were entertained by these children from Molde. |
This 3 year old cutie sang her heart out! |
Christmas in Norway starts on Dec 23rd with the dressing of the Christmas
tree. |
Everyone participates, and the result is inspected by the Tour Manager.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
We were welcomed at Bodo, by this couple in National Costume from the
Harbour Authority. |
 |
 |
Most Norwegian houses have Christmas lights decorating each window. |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
Alesund, a fishing town, has 37,000
inhabitants, and was completely rebuilt in Art Nuevo style after a fire in
1904 destroyed all the wooden buildings. |
 |
 |
|
Across Alsund harbour. |
An
Alesund street. |
The Alesund Boatman overlooks the harbour. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Kong Harald in Alesund |
Islands off Alesund at midday showing the shadow cast by the pink setting
sun |
A
snow covered Kristiansund Street. |
The fishwife statue at Kristiansund, to remember the widows. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| A
wooden church at Rorvik. |
The Artic Circle, marked by a globe. The moon is setting in the blue light. |
King Neptune came aboard to welcome us to his kingdom in the traditional
manner. |
King Neptune is thanked for his visit. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Sailing northwards above the Artic Circle at midday. |
Christmas Eve service was in Bodo Cathedral. |
A
Tromso street at night |
A
19th century wooden Baptist Church at Tromso. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
The Tromsdalen Church or Artic Cathedral in
Tromso, the capital of arctic Norway and gateway to the Artic Ocean.
It houses Europe's largest glass mosaic (140 sq. m) symbolises the dark
period and the northern lights. |
 |
 |
|
Artic Cathedral Exterior |
The east interior. |
The organ loft at the west end. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
Above the Artic Circle, around midday the
earth is illuminated by blue light, if it is not cloudy. It is
produced by the light from the sun below the horizon being reflected by the
blue sky. |
 |
|
Unspoilt snow in Tromso. |
Blue seascape. |
Seascape under the lifeboat. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
Honningsvag is the capital of the North Cape
with 2,800 inhabitants. Notice the protective avalanche fences on the
mountain above the town. |
 |
This is looking south from Honningsvag at midday. (that is neither the sun
nor moon, but a light on a distant jetty!) |
|
Honningsvag |
Kong Harald at Honningsvag. |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Kjollerfjord Harbour |
Modern stainless steel sculptures at
Kjollerfjord. |
Kjollerfjord harbour from the deck of the boat. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Kjollerfjord. |
Sunrise or sunset? |
Approaching Kirkenes |
Frosty mist above the river. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
Between Norway and Russian the border
commission have a control compound. It was -22 Centigrade when
we were there! |
 |
 |
|
Sign at Russian Border. |
The border compund. |
Colin at the border. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
Vistas over Kirkenes with Kong Harald in the
harbour and ice forming on the water surface! Kirkenes dose not
benefit from the gulf stream and so the harbour sometimes freezes over. |
 |
|
Kirkenes harbour. |
|
|
Moon rising at Kirkenes |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Various shot of ice floating on the surface
of Kirkenes harbour. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
The statue of King Olav V stands outside this
1737 fort on the North Cape. This must be the only fort in the world
that has not fired a shot for 250 years, except to welcome the returning
sun. The best looked after and most northerly tree in Norway is this old
Rowan, which is wrpped up by soldiers in October and unwrapped again the
following April. |
 |
 |
|
Kings statue at Vardohus Fort. |
The sentry box. |
The Rowan tree at Vardohus. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
Hammerfest has a population of 7000, and is regarded at the world's most
northerly town at 70 39' 48". The town was raised to the ground in
1944, but the church was built later. It does have a spectacular
stained glass window, which I did not have chance to photograph. |
|
Seascape with dawn about midday. |
The church at Hammerfest. |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Harstad Church |
Interior shots of Harstad Church. |
Harstad. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Sunrise near Harstad. |
A
fjord. |
Mountain view. |
Road, mountains and fjord. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
River view near Revsnes. |
Frosty mist on the river. |
Fjord view. |
Across the fjord near Sortland. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Looking across the graveyard. |
Road view near Sortland. |
Again near Sortland. |
Moon rise and icicles. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Moon rise over Sortland Bridge. |
Seascape near Nesna |
A
peak! |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Pink mountians. |
Pink seascape. |
The Seven Sisters. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Alsthaug Church |
The interior of Alsthaug Church |
Alsthaug sunset. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Museum shop |
Wood working tools |
A
fishing boat. |
A
BMW motocycle. |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| A
cake display. |
Singing waitresses bid us farewell. |
Farewell to Norway. |