Narvik day 2

An enormous amount of iron ore mined in Sweden is exported through Narvik. From our hotel window we can see the trains carrying the ore from Sweden to the port of Narvik. It is pretty darn impressive.

The facility where the ore is offloaded from the trains and loaded into the ships.
The brown cars are the ore cars. They go into the concrete tunnel to unload.

The Germans attacked Narvik in April of 1940. Narvik is the first place that they attacked in Norway. They wanted the Swedish iron ore.

This morning we went to the Narvik War Museum. It was fascinating and very well done. The land and sea battles in and around Narvik are explained in the museum. Duke and I watched the movie Narvik before we left home. That made the museum even more interesting.

Map and audio visual display explaining the battle of Narvik

While I was waiting for Duke to finish going through the museum. I talked to Anne, an American Norwegian woman. She met her husband in Chicago and moved to Norway in 1955. She is 92 years old!

Anne and I by the museum entrance

This afternoon we walked to the train station to see where it is. We were on the platform when an ore train went by.

Train carrying iron ore

For dinner we went to a restaurant called Fiskehallen. The name means fish market and the restaurant is in the restored fish market building.

The Fiskehallen restaurant
Duke had a whale burger
I had fish and chips.

They were each very good.

Tonight is our last night in Norway. Tomorrow we take the train into Sweden.

Havila Polaris to Narvik

This morning we did some laundry in the no charge washing machines on the ship. While the machines were running we had breakfast. Then we packed, and disembarked from the Havila Polaris in Finnsnes.

Doing laundry
The Havila Polaris pulling out

In Finnsnes we got the bus to Narvik. We changed buses once. Both buses were very comfortable and the countryside was scenic.

Our bus
Duke and I on the bus

In Narvik we walked to the hotel.

Our hotel in Narvik, the Scandic

We played some cards in the bar on the top floor of the hotel. Later we had a pizza for dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Our pizza
The view as we walked back to the hotel.

Havila Polaris Day 4

Today is our last full day on the Havila Polaris. I have been pleasantly surprised that we have had WiFi with internet the whole way.

This morning we crossed the Arctic Circle.

Roger and I as we pass the Arctic Circle monument.

A bit later we joined the Arctic Circle celebration. The Nordic god Njord, the God of the sea, appeared to baptize those who were above the Arctic Circle for the first time.

Njord baptizing a woman with ice water

We played cards until we docked in Bodø.

Playing the card game Hand and Foot. Duke and I had never played it before this trip.

In Bodø we disembarked and went exploring.

Statue of King Haakon VII in Bodø
Inside Bodø cathedral.

When we got back on the ship we decided we should take advantage of the jacuzzi and Sauna since tomorrow we disembark.

In the jacuzzi
In the Sauna

Havila Polaris Day 3

Today turned out to be a beautiful day. We didn’t get rained on, and the sun came out.

The view from the aft deck this morning.

Mid morning we arrived at Trondheim. We had about three hours open to explore Trondheim. First we walked to the cathedral.

On our way back to the ship we stopped at the post office and then at the government liquor store.

Getting ready to buy stamps

Then we hurried back to the ship for lunch.

Trondheim main square
Heading back to the ship

This afternoon we had a presentation about Norwegian mussels and we got to sample some.

Learning about mussels
Mussels sample

While we were on deck we also passed this old lighthouse

Kjeungskjær Lighthouse

During dinner we went through some very narrow channels.

Very near rocks

Gudvangen to Bergen

This morning before leaving Gudvangen we took a short hike above the Fjord.

Hiking near Gudvangen

Then we caught a bus to Voss and from there a train to Bergen.

waiting for the bus in Gudvangen
Arriving in Bergen
Walking to our hotel in Bergen

Since we are going to be in Bergen for two days and it was racing this afternoon we decided to take a break and play cards.

Playing cards in the 12th floor lounge

We had a great dinner tonight at a restaurant near us called Bryggeloftet & Stuene.

My mussels
Duke’s wolf fish

As we walked to the restaurant it was pouring rain. While we were playing cards the Feelings music festival started right next to our hotel. Both coming and going to dinner we were mingling with the crowds.

From our hotel stairs we can see some of the festival.