23 rd January 2025


An earlier start than we have been getting used to .
Up and having breakfast still in the darkness (except for the lights of the restaurant of course.)
as we come along side in Kirkenes.

Kirkenes, again is a very small town ( but it does have a decent sized Hospital) and is about 10kms from the Russian border or as the Norwegians say, the Norwegian border.















After today’s activities we point the Nordnorge south and head back from whence we came.

Today is quite possibly one of the highlights of the trip besides just actually being here in Norway.

We will be picked up at 9am and taken by bus to the SnowHotel. That in itself is not a highlight but what we do whilst we are there certainly is.

Firstly, we had a visit with some Reindeer that are staying here being tended by a Sami lady.
All Reindeer belong to the Sami people but still roam freely.
Their  diet is purely lichen which amazes me for such a large beast.









I can hear the dogs in their kennels behind us so its time to say hello and we go past the puppy playground to see some pups about 4 months old.











So we will be going on a Husky ride.
A quick detour for people to put some more kit on, its difficult to know what to expect, except it will very cold, particularly once we start moving.
As we left the bus it stated it was -17.

Anyway the moment. I have never been so happy to do something so different, in the most extraordinary environment.
We were out for about 40 minutes or so, having a brief stop to watch the sun come up over the horizon.
Which for the locals this was the first time they had seen that yellow ball in months.













This excursion was absolutely fantastic, even if we both came back in so much pain from our frozen digits. 

We spent too long out with the dogs ( dont care) so only had a bout 10 mins to see SnowHotel and missed out on the warm fruit juice altogether.
Needed to be on that bus to get back to that ship.

Had the most delicious Tomato Soup for lunch back onboard whilst we slowly started to defrost.
Neither of us has felt that cold ever…….

Quiet afternoon, stuart disappearing for a sauna to defrost the last bits ( and sat around in the room in shorts) 

As we departed Kirknes, a mist appeared from the sea as though it was simmering. 
The occasional thin ice sheet proved this was not the case. 
As we proceeded north the mist thickened and we entered a fog bank. The regular, parallel waves that we pierced only added to the surrealistic sensation. 









That is the excursions done and dusted so now we need to concentrate on making the absolute most of the next 5 or so days on board.


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