Tromso

Friday 8 August

Out of the North Sea and back in to the fjords for an 8am arrival in Tromso.  Weather quite a bit cooler with misty rain as we berth, so we are fully kitted up to face it.  The city area of Tromso is on the island of Tromsoya and we shuttle bus in from the terminal.  Although there is a bridge, we go via a tunnel about 2km long, and in the middle of the tunnel is an intersection with a roundabout!  No rain in town at all, no wind and even some blue sky - so quite a bit of clothing becomes redundant.

Tromso is Norway's 7th largest city (about 70,000 people), dates to the ice age, and, for 38 days it was its capital while the Royal family was evacuated following the German occupation of Norway.  It has no full darkness at all from late April to mid-August and, conversely, from November to January, it is always in full darkness.

Quick email catch up in a library and then to Polaria for an arctic experience, including marine research, aquarium, seals and a great Panorama theatre for a breathtaking feature on the wildlife and fjords, and another on the Northern Lights (out of season for us).  Then a very good self guided tour over a 1940's sealing vessel, the M/S Polstjerna, which has been housed in town as a museum - and includes many other displays from the seal hunts, arctic transportation, polar expeditions and the Sami people.

A wander through town (found two entrepreneurial girls, about to enter year 9 selling their home made cakes and drinks in the main library - one with a cousin living in Melbourne).  Plenty of activity on the streets as Tromso is currently staging the 41st World Chess Olympiad and uniformed team members from all around the world were wandering.

Some very nice old wooden buildings, including Tromso Cathedral dating to mid 19th century.  Busy harbour with ferries and lots of hotels and restaurants.

Mid-afternoon departure for the North Cape with time in the Crows Nest and on our verandah as we cruise through the fjords and past tiny settlements and some fish farms.