Traveling with the Hurtigruten: the fjords postal boat. Norway

Short trip to Norway, in navigating the fjords of the post from Bergen to Kirkenes and visit the capital Oslo.

Text by Anna M. Photo of Mark G.
Everywhere you read, it says, it says, it says that is the cruise with Hurtigruten voyage is the most beautiful in the world .... What can I say about this? I think that there is absolutely a journey and then a place that holds the title "most beautiful in the world." Every place, every trip is different from another and the world is all beautiful, just look around to find out. So .. as I am concerned the trip with Hurtigruten was a beautiful journey, a wonderful cruise and it is the detail scenario running slow while browsing, but only make it to every corner of the world is so beautiful I can not support something so strong.

The Hurtigruten as is now held, in part, yet its historical role of the ferry to connect quickly the population living on the coast and islands of Norway but is now touring its employment contracts. Historically began as bet for reducing the time of delivery of the mail (hence the name 'post of fjords'), resulting in few days time for delivery of a letter from Trondheim to Hammerfest, and land was about three weeks ( in summer and five winter [1893]). Subsequently converted to tourism, transforming its postal ships in real cruise ship, now scorazza up and down the coast Norwegian million tourists ... and this is what we did ... we scorazzato for the Norwegian coast from south to north.
This year the time to organize the trip, for various reasons, it was not so much we have consulted the catalogs of some 'of the industry to find what they did the job. Compare pricing, services ... and finally we booked with the Giver. Service even if we are not afraid to leave because the documents for the trip came a few days before departure. A chronicle of the need we have not been able to book directly on the site of the corresponding Hurtingruten postponed tour operator

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Interesting:
www.visitnorway.com
www.hurtigruten.com

Guide used:
The Rough Guide: Norway - Avallardi Editor - Second Edition
Hurtigruten - Erling Storrusten - Distributed sull'Hurtigruten

 

Monday's start a 'morning at a time in Bergen, to make a little' things we will first stop in Frankfurt and then to Oslo. The airline and 'the Scandinavian Airlines, whose service on board and' pay: the use of low-cost but the prices of the companies normal!
Oslo to complicate things a bit. Despite the condition of passengers in transit, we had to retrieve our luggage from the arrivals, go to plan departures and redo the check-in again. We and the bags are included. I did not understand why 'of this complication but their content.
We arrive in Bergen in the late afternoon, the sky does not promise anything good, but Bergen, according to the guides and 'a very rainy, summer included. So .... c'e 'little wonder.
The Flybusses (65Kr), just out from us in less than 25 minutes, until center in the city '.
Bergen is situated on a peninsula surrounded by seven mountains and its pleasant atmosphere makes it one of most towns' finest we saw during our trip. Although 'has become an important industrial center and has a port also has maintained the characteristics and the air from a small town.
Flybussen left, we head towards our hotel (Hotel Neptun). Place serious luxury. Not the place that we would have chosen but we buy the packages of the agencies that touches us. We allocate a room on the fifth floor, very nice but not 'quite right for us. E 'a smoking room and the smell of smoke, just open the door we knock. We immediately noticed that it failed to specify the tour operator the type of room we wanted, hopefully good for the cabin on the ship. Anyway .. take our luggage and our key and return to receptions with the intention of making us change the room. The hotel is not 'fully satisfied and then there.
After this first hitch go out for dinner. The streets are packed with people, street artists, musicians, mimes. A liveliness' vitality and a 'more' from Latin countries that Nordic country.
To make a meal from McDonald puntatina just to see How 'here ... such and such to the rest of the world, apart from the price here is not 'small matter even for these synthetic meals!

Today day visit to the city 'of Bergen. The Hurtigruten part 20, so we have all day to know this city '.
Breakfast at the hotel and 'an anticipation of what will be waiting' in those days. Unfortunately we are not accustomed to have breakfast 'salty' but 'sweet' for where we find some difficulty 'in choosing food. Elicited laughter 'when we use someone's door egg containers, disposable model, to put the jam. Were placed close to the jars of jam, there were other containers to use for this purpose ... Bah ... have served well in order even if a separate ladies there looked as if we from mars. I start my series of breakfasts with cereal and yogurt, while Marco is in despair because 'can not find the hot milk. C'e 'cold but not hot.
Just to amortize the cost of the hotel and the fact that I do a normal breakfast and not a foreign eaten like some people with what is eaten in one meal we feed an entire village in Africa. I said to depreciate somewhat 'costs and to make the' Italian 'to the end, I pack two paninetti for lunch.
Leave our bags in storage at the hotel go out to hear the city '. Alternatively we could leave our bags at the information from the City 'for a cost of 20Kr but a suitcase and at the' free is just as well leave them here.
Bergen offers a lot of things to see, a very distinctive, the fish market (the preferred place of Marcus that hates fish), various museums and palaces as well as' churches and fortresses. And what we begin? Since none of this. Bergen, as I have already 'said and' surrounded by 7 mountains. Among the most 'well known and visited Mount Floyen that you can' reach with a funicular (60 Kr) and Mount Ulriken, il piu 'alto (m. 642) in the area, reached by cable car. After the necessary information from a friendly guy at the information we decide to walk, walk on the mountain Ulriken.
From the city center 'take the bus number 31 which leaves us near the hostel Montana, from here the path that leads on top' of the mountain. Initially appears as a dirt road which then becomes a rather steep trail. In an hour of walking we reach the point of arrival of the cable car from here, in less than one quarter of an hour we reach the real peak of the mountain. The view of the mountains around and 'beautiful. Landscape and 'very special: it is a fact of lakes and mountain. Just below the top we see a hare variable intent to breakfast, his legs still bear traces of his' mantle 'winter.
The arrival of the cable car you can enjoy a beautiful view over the city 'and the sea.
Return in the city 'by making a variation of the path. Rather than go down the same path they choose another that takes us exactly to the arrival of cable, e 'un po' meno straight but the previous some 'more' long.
Back in town ', we spend the rest of the day, strolling through the streets of downtown, looking at the monuments and palaces. We also puntatina nell'affollato a fish market and Bryggen district to see the old wooden warehouses. This neighborhood and 'was inserted by UNESCO in the list of 89 international monuments to save. The banquets of fish plenty of fresh fish (or so 'they say). Shrimp, cod, and more ... Next to the banquet of fish other stalls with a myriad of baskets of strawberries and wild berries. Sitting on the harbor so many people enjoy the sandwiches with shrimp sold in the markets.
Finally sitting at the edge of the fountain, like many others, Torgalmenningen, we see the street people and tourists to the square. A pair of musicians playing country tunes songs (in English, of course), a strange atmosphere that makes this enjoyable stay.
A small note demerit for Norwegians. Eh eh eh .. their bad habit of spitting on the floor, I understand that it may be a remnant of some Viking custom ma ... non e 'tanto carino. I am not joke .. I have never seen so 'many people spit on the ground. And as a cleaning even shine them. It is said that our city 'is dirty but I do not think that their are much more' cleaner.
Towards evening, retrieved our luggage we head to the pier for boarding sull'Hurtigruten stopped at the port awaiting its passengers.
Queued at check-in Mark begins to despair. Apart from a young couple who come in and we saw a queue in the rest of the people present at check-in has long passed the age 'of retirement. 'I knew that I was one thing to grandma', questo e 'il commento di Marco!
And so 'to 20.00, the MS Polarlys Hurtigruten leaves the port of Bergen due north promising an unforgettable journey in the company of the current of the Gulf (I have written on all sides, can not remember!). Just to make things' Piero Angela of the situation, the Norwegian coast and 'green and lush anziche' covered with ice (in winter means) as Greenland just because 'the current of the Gulf penetrates so fjords prevent' the formation of ice during the winter.

Sull'Hurtigruten and 'provide a guide in Italian, describing the trip and are distributed each day of flying with the program of the day, the news and what you will see', strictly in Norwegian, German, English and French.
The ship travels at night but not 'make the case for 24 hours non-stop for all to see everything.
We go to breakfast pretty soon. The hall e 'gia' packed with grandma, the majority of German origin. The buffet for breakfast and 'very rich, but savory dishes. There are even sardine .. Sardines for breakfast, I seem a little 'too, but there' chi se le gusta. I take my usual orange juice and my shield cereal with yogurt and Marco wanders in search of hot milk (which obviously is not there 'and be required to staff) and something sweet. Find 'just the bread and jam with many black seeds.
And around us, many grandma who are eating with eggs and bacon, coffee rivers', cheeses and meats. They do not have these problems cholesterol? There are some who wonder whether the passport in danger of discovering that the conscripts are Tutankamon! Mah.

The main attraction of the day and 'the Geirangerfjord. In the morning the ship comes into this fjord and along the two-way (round trip) over the whole day.
The fjords were formed by the glaciers, glacial epoch in which, down from the mountains to the sea. These glaciers disappeared deep valleys were invaded by the sea. The Geirangerfjord e 'uno dei piu' bei fjords of Norway.
The Hurtigruten sailing slowly towards Geiranger (the point of arrival in the fjord). Are impressive mountains that peak to fall into the sea, waterfalls, including the seven sisters. E 'a succession of images from card (apart from the sky .. amongst the gray and less gray) until around Geiranger and from there it's back.
Towards evening the ship returns to Alesund, point of departure, is morning, for this fjord. The ship docks at the port allowing tourists rose this morning, who only wanted to see the fjord, to get out and continue their journey. The Hurtigruten and 'still a ferry, so it' can use it to move from one area to another, covering parts of the route or to do this type of travel.
On the ship the day pero 'e' passed slowly. The views were beautiful to see but we are not accustomed to all this inactivity '.
While lunch and 'a buffet and people eating a more' can not be served dinner at the table and has carried more than 2 'sweet. This evening we have a way to discover the entities' of the group of compatriots. All over 10 and we are helping to lower the age 'of media in the room.
Ironically my age 'un po' advanced participants not to be a negative criticism. It is nice to know that the retired Germans, unlike the Italians, can afford such trips and have the resourcefulness and the desire to do so. This not miss our retirees, but with the fantastic pension that gives our government can do at most in a rubber boat cruise along the Po

At 8:15 the ship docks in Trondheim and makes a break of about 4 hours.
Trondheim was the first capital of Norway and now and 'third city' in Norway. E 'una citta' charming and quiet with an old town still well preserved and two of the most 'large wooden buildings in the north of the country. Very special are the construction of the port where it is said abbondino including salmon, but we 'do not have visas. Flower in the center and 'Cathedral, a beautiful medieval building. And 'from this that we begin our tour of the city'.
Hurtigruten wanting to organize an excursion to see the city ', but we, like many others, with a map and guide to discover the city' for themselves. The center is not 'far from the port where the ship has docked.
The Nidaros Cathedral dedicated to Saint Olav was in the past half of the pilgrims from all over Europe. E 'oggi il piu' grande medieval building in Scandinavia. Inside (35 kr) contains the tombs of all the monarchs and the Norwegian 'hosted all coronations until 1814. Behind the cathedral stands the Archbishop's Palace.
After this immersion in history take a visit to a destination much more 'in keeping with our interests and our needs: Nidaro-Hallen. Cross the nearby bridge over the river Gandbrua NIDELV walk along the River. This is a quiet area into a city park where we can, in complete tranquility 'give us the bird-watching. There are many species of birds and gulls really fun. With a face covered with a black mask. There 'also a very photogenic because' you are beautiful beautiful posing almost want to take pictures.
Riattraversiamo then the river near the NIDELV nidereid bru before moving to another church and then in the port where you can find many of the typical constructions in wood.
Returned to the ship, sailing towards the north resumed. Looking west you can see many small islands, some of these there are also facilities for extracting oil. To be among the resources of the country's' oil the gasoline costs more 'in Italy, if only because it does not boast a record.
During the afternoon we cross the Straits of Stokksund which as the name .. and 'its close! It 'almost impressive the proximity of the earth and rocks that there is' one wonders if they are unsure what they are doing. However the shift in the stress and 'truly impressive and luck that day and' somewhat 'less gray than usual, and a warm us permission to enjoy the view from the bridge.

Shortly before seven o'clock in the morning the ship crosses the Arctic Circle, and for this we all have layers of name certificate that shows this important event (ooohhhhhh).
As we are concerned, we wake up around seven to have breakfast and prepare for our first hike. Visit to the glacier Svartisen (840 Kr). Leaving our ship, who continued his journey, for a small boat we head towards the inside of this area. In a little more 'of an hour, navigating between natural landscapes and looking in the distance mountains and glaciers come close to the glacier Svartisen that comes in all his majesty'. I emphasize that what we see and 'only a small portion of this glacier. The Svartisen and 'the second glacier, by extension, of Norway, second only to Jostedal glacier. Svartisen the name literally means' black ice 'driving justified the origin of the name to its color.
During the journey by boat, we spotted two eagles of the sea, striking the proud and austere behavior of these animals.
Leaving the boat to get to the lake front which overlooks the glacier, and 'possible or go on foot in about ten minutes along a dirt road or take a bus that will' by bus along the same road. A few elderly and some pigretto (not old) the other should be all on foot. Then arrived in front of the lake, a trail along the entire reach of allowing the foot of the glacier, we will a good number but we are unable to reach the glacier. The time that we have not 'a lot and after a while' we must abandon our resolve and turn back. We discover later that in the visitor center, we have not visited, had been prepared a buffet with sweets.
Resumed the boat for a short excursion continues by bus with a young guide who speaks French and English that explains all the things around us sfrecciano during our trip to the city 'where Bodo return the ship.
La zona e 'molto bella, other mountains, fjords other, but the bus does not stop and it' a shame because 'you can see everything' passing ', the only two stops that were made of a commercial nature very near a bar / shop in an area that was not a crab ', and another, always taken in a hotel / restaurant on the close of the fjord where Salffjord passes the famous (I even knew they existed) Saltstraumen current. Four times a day this current push in this close to 372 million cubic meters of water at a speed 'average of 29 km per hour. As a result of this strong current vessels will have to pass must spend two hours after the flow and ebb of the water.
Apart from all this nice theory that you see and 'this close (150 meters) with a nice deck that overlooks and some fisherman on the shore.

Sull'Hurtigruten return to Bodo, which are the 15th
Bodo, we could not visit because 'we were on tour with the excursion, and' the capital of the province of Nordland (which original name!). Among the curiosities' City 'and I read that' seat of the headquarters of the northern Norwegian Defense and the episcopal see. The City 'and' very young, because 'e' was founded in 1816 as a consequence to the many shoals of herring that you came, thus ensuring 'a fast development of the town. But then if the herring are gone but the City 'has been able to develop other activities' economic. During the second world war 2 / 3 of the City 'was destroyed by aviation in Germany.

In the evening we reach the famous Lofoten Islands. This is a chain of islands and pointed peaks of immense charm, which extend in Sea of Norway. It 'was one of the main centers of winter fishing in Norway is at the beginning of the current of the Gulf (always her) meets the cold, icy and we say, the ocean, thus attracting' myriad of cod from Barents Sea. Despite the season lasts only from February to April, the fishing remains one of the business' most 'important of the area also in the rest of the year. You can see the countless stable wood used to make dry fish raised here and there in every port.
In addition to the cod and the fish, the islands are home to colonies of seabirds in the south, while to the north are the beaches and fjords.
Both hoped to be able to see these places, but thanks to these fantastic low fog and rain, the visibility 'and' rather low.
At 22, we arrive at Svolvær and the rain continues to fall without ceasing.
On the port you can see the wooden huts of fishermen, called Rorbuer used for shelter by fishermen during the fishing season, are now rented as holiday homes to tourists.
Return shipping in the direction of TrollFjord, one of the most 'beautiful fjords, according to the guide. The rain has stopped falling but the fog did not lift much.
The TrollFjord, or the Troll Fjord, and 'long-only 2 km. Craft entering the narrow gorge of the fjord along slowly throughout its length and then, with some maneuvering to turn the ship to head for the exit of the fjord. The path stretch and 'very charming, smooth stone walls that overlook the fjord to arrive then at the bottom where a postcard view, with mountains covering the sea, is the master.
My tour guide, who at this point I believe was written by a masochistic, argues that the landscape is much more 'charming and spectacular with the bad weather. I say this, but if you are with accidents of drizzle and fog is that the company makes you see the silhouettes of the mountains and the fjord, how do we say that the landscape is more 'with the beautiful clear sky? Surely this depressing climate from 'to a landscape that is not so mysterious and dark in perfect harmony with the most' fervent stories on Troll pero'..;. In any case, all, or nearly so, the passengers are out on deck to enjoy the show, the ship's personnel distribute what they call 'Troll of soup', a kind of red brodaglia nothing inviting to the perfume that I looked good from tasting.
I am 24 and 'impressive how much light there' yet.
For those who do not know, but I think they are just a few, as the statues of the Troll are now on sale not only in the souvenir shops in Scandinavia, but also lots of fancy shops in Italy. The Trolls are spirits who live in the bowels of the earth. They are spirits who sometimes help and sometimes hinder men. Initially, the Trolls have been described as a gigantic creatures then become mostriciattoli from pale complexion due to life underground that we know now. The sun is said that it 'can turn them into stone, and not' in fact unusual to hear tell that the formation of some islands or mountains shaped rather strange and grotesque are due to Troll you are petrified.
It is said that forged sword Odino (god of war) and the hammer of Thor (son of Odin).

In the morning proceed with nothing to report apart from one thing a little 'Pacchiana that seems like a lot to grandma on the ship. At 10 or so, announcing the start of the ceremony of baptism Arctic, or things of that sort. Mark of course, if they even dream of coming to put the nose, because 'anything that involves a large group of people is not stored for him. Cosi 'I leave to read her book and I'm going on deck to put the nose.
E 'stato un po' hard to understand what happened because 'the crowd was great and pure chaos. In practice, the baptism in the Arctic is to pay a fine of mixed ice cubes on the neck of its unfortunate at the neck so that they can slide down my spine. The very fun thing here I do not find anything funny and I feel a little 'Pacchiana but that too is part of the trip!

Immediately after lunch the ship dock in Tromso, which 'was called the Paris of the north. Mamma mia che big words. A beautiful city ', no doubt, but just compare me to Paris seems a bit presumptuous, what do you think of Paris?
In any case, Tromso and 'the capital of Norway and the north and' the city 'most' of populated area. It was born as a fishing port and mercantile center, develops towards goal 'century, thanks to gains derived from its citizens, fur hunters who hunted the Arctic fox, the polar bear and seal Svalbard and resell the skins here. Again here also left many of the Arctic expedition.
The center of the city 'and' lively even though there are many monuments to see.
Fell dall'Hurtigruten we head immediately to the Arctic Cathedral. Beyond one of these huge bridges that cross the Straits (of which there are two of a 1235 m and the other of 1016 m and e 'in building a tunnel across the Straits). It 's not possible to visit the interior of the cathedral Arctic because of a marriage that is taking place within the church.
If the day was sunny we would have certainly opted for the cable car that leads to 420 slm where you can 'admire a magnificent panorama.
Interesting in the city 'can' visit the center with its shops and amusement park themed with the Arctic, Antarctica and the Barents Sea: Polaria, a number of museums and botanical gardens.
Returned back to the ship sailing, passing under two majestic bridges that connect the close. One of the things that most 'impress are these huge bridges. True masterpieces of engineering. Arches connecting the coast and islands, and certainly pass under its charm.

This morning we wake up with the sea, had not yet proven quest'emozione. The ship which dances and 'a marvel, we try to go to breakfast but after you try to do the stairs we decide that the best thing and' go to bed until this place is swinging a bit.
In the morning a Honnisngsvag Hurtigruten arrives, point to two of the trips do not miss (being the two contemporary and not having anybody dell'ubiquita gift ', either you need to lose strength).
I said .. for those like us, lovers of nature, this morning's' travel to the reserve Gjesvaer, a marine reserve paradise for bird-watchers. While the vast majority of foreign tourists choose the trip to North Cape. Yes .. We arrived a short walk from North Cape, and there we went.
Honninsgsvag and 'the capital of North Cape and has a population well in 2800. Consider the climate of the area say they are more 'than I would have imagined. E 'connected to the mainland by an underwater tunnel, which, of course, arrive at the ship we have not had the need' to go. Industries on the island are fish and green pastures and not 'unusual reindeer.
A Honnisngsvag center's' just a little to be done. North Cape and 'connected to the village by a road 34 kilometers long. North Cape itself, and not 'just a plateau with a cliff overlooking the sea (305 meters high). The point most 'northern Europe but' and 'a small tip to the west the plateau, the tip Knivskjellodden, reachable with a path to be traveled on foot. I went there but I was well informed!
Coming back to us .. The day and the sea are just as bad and the trip by weather condition, we inform you if and 'annulled or not. But we are mountain people and their seafarers for which the excursion is not 'been set aside.
So 'we are, a few dozen people on the bus heading to the small village of Gjesvaer, where a boat will lead us' to see this reserve. The guide speaks only English and Norwegian, because 'he knew what the Italian is going to head north with the rest of our compatriots.
The journey by bus allows us to better see the Arctic tundra, with here and the lakes and a few reindeer that graze quiet. The guide tells us that a gray day like today is not 'an exceptional occurrence, indeed .. are the days of beautiful sunshine to be considered exceptional. I do not know whether he said to make us happy, or other fact is that the thing has not changed a comma of the journey.
Once in Gjesvaer, tiny fishing center, a part of us and the staff (2 persons) of the boat and a cat with a beautiful thick hair (we think, with this cold) do not see soul around.
One thing that struck me in all these countries and houses along the navigation views and 'the absence of external life. That is, the houses are there firm and immovable, the same outside, are not seen to dry bucati, children in the yard or tricycles or bicycles back at home. I understand that the climate and the fact that for many months a year is not encouraging night life outside but this absence of life, we used to hear the cries of children on the streets, the voices of older people sitting on the exit door, I transmit the sensation of countries with life, with a veil of melancholy.
Returning to our trip, all goes quiet until the boat left the coast, takes the deep .. oh gia '.. not 'who is the reserve was placed along the coast and then the very rough sea was not a problem. Ste accidents of islets, where cormorants, gulls, puffins and sea and everything else are appollai are in the midst of the sea. Leaving the coast, the sea began to be felt and I am not referring only to the seasickness that was the most 'least of our problems or the terrible cold and rain that had meanwhile begun to fall but the attempt to not end up in the sea . It 'good to specify that the vessel or boat (call it as you like but still small) was equipped with a mini-cabin and a deck with a railing rather thin. Oscillated the boat at the mercy of the sea which was a marvel, not to mention the 'jump' when he did, against the tide, the waves took. People were all busy to keep everything where it could not to slip. Two elderly ladies were tied with a rope that they found (but not too excessive). So .. rafting on the open sea, and that 'the correct definition. There you may asking, but you have seen these birds .. not speak or photographs to see them with binoculars, as you would expect from a bird-watcher, but they are all pretty committed to not going to give up the birds have finished a bit in the background. In any case, the boat could not be too close to cliffs because 'the wind and rough seas were hurled against (it was missing only the most'), and the fact that it is not at all stable, however, made it difficult to spot the animals, which perhaps for the weather conditions were not particularly favorable rather agitated and ferment. So .. a disaster on all fronts. Frankly, given that on this ship, there were also older people (and one of these and 'have helped to get off! Ndr) and I' looked a little 'reckless conduct on their part, given the weather, this walk. In this case, I am sorry to say this, but here, the more 'that customer satisfaction and' was designed and met the need 'or who dell'Hurtigruten for it to fill their portfolios.
A chronicle of need and those who 'went to head north, has threatened to end in the sea but for the cold and for the strong wind could afford only one touch on the outside and escape, if he did not want to be placed in the freezer next to cod.
Taken the trip with Hurtigruten, which continued to swing at the mercy of the sea and since that 'the last night on the ship, I do not know why' but I shall not 'nostalgia, c'e' il buffet Arctic. Quintals of fish and shellfish and for carnivores, reindeer and whale. Not bad reindeer decidedly tasty little the whale. The Norwegians and Japanese are the only two nations that still hunt whales and of course, have banned this type of hunting for the conservation of the species. Argue, like all hunters, that hunting does not affect most 'from time to reduce populations of this mammal. The environmental think otherwise but this and 'the situation.
Taste some shrimp and shellfish is not well marked, or rather, it is I do not know what they are. To make the shrimp I risked a lynching. Mamma mia if these are tough grandma, it seems that do not eat from the first world war!

The weather for today, do not leave any chance to glimpse 'to take heat from the sun's rays. Heaven and 'covered and as always seems to be so in the autumn. Chissa 'How' here in autumn when the summer e 'gia' cosi '!
Time as the dock at 10.00 Hurtigruten to Kirkenes. On the quay are willing different bus, for those trips, those for the airport and 'those in the city center'. But we 'decide, like many others, to make her walk, in less than one quarter of an hour we reach the information office where we leave our bags in storage for 25 kr / unit.
On my guide mentioned that there is a bus that ran to the border with Russia. So 'just to put the nose ask about this bus: there is more'. With a pair of Roman boys, known on the ship are assessing the possibility 'of all 4 to go by taxi, but costs are high and it seems that the race is worth it as' abandoning this.
Kirknes and 'an almost entirely modern town that overlooks the Bokfjord into the narrow inlet of the Barents Sea. A strange story and 'the fact that the port is located at the bottom of the fjord, and not' touched the current of the Gulf, in short everywhere just can not 'go, and consequently the winter freeze the water and are forced to use the icebreakers to open a passage for passing ships.
Things to do in town ', there really is not' a lot and we have all day to spend. Crossing the center, a pedestrian street with a succession of stores, and we move in the direction of the museum Grenseland, the museum of the border where the theme of the exhibition and 'the border area between Norway, Finland and Russia. Just before the museum is the usual road sign indicating the direction and some cities' in Europe. I do not know .. These signs are located in places like 'say' distant 'from the rest of the dusk, chissa' and perhaps' a way for them to feel less alone or less distant.
In the vicinity 'of the museum, we are not at all interested in seeing, and there' the indication of a pedestrian path and a point of interest. Take this path and follow the signs. There are several bivi streets, these routes are nothing more than a set of ski runs from the bottom that extend into the Arctic tundra. This is a very special environment, made up of hills that you see as the eye can see, lakes and shrubs and small trees. On one of these hills are the ruins of stone buildings, remnants of war. Indeed, during the Second World War, was a city Kirknes' port of miners, together with Malta has the sad distinction of being one of the city 'more European' bombed and what is not 'been destroyed by the bombings was set alight by the retreating Germans. People survived refuge in mines that were closed only in 1996.
But, I do not know if 'for the day or gray, but I think everything so' desolate and sad. The birches are quite Nanette, are all the most high 'or less equal, and this seems to serve to protect them from wind and cold.
A quick walk around the center, is rather cold and then back to the mall, too depressing, a puntatina the supermarket to get some experience and are just past 14:00. It 's not that people around there is so much, sometimes we face some coming dall'Hurtigruten, all who wander all running in search of something to do or see.
At the end .. Time did not seem to improve as the cold increases significantly, so 'we retrieve our luggage and the bus (65 Kr) 15.30 we go to the airport.

Along the way we meet the reindeer that graze along the road. Are not so far away from ', once made the ckeck-in and then solved the problem suitcases back on foot in search of reindeer. It is still one that, with its trend ciondolante (remind me of the rag dolls) grazing along the quiet street.
Airport Kirknes .. beh .. and 'a whole program, but meanwhile Kirkenes has an airport and many centers a lot more' big in Italy do not have and must take an airplane and also move a lot.
I said .. the airport and 'small, only two positions for the check-in. E 'guarded dall'addetto only near' a flight, otherwise it is necessary to press a bell (like the lobby of hotels of once) and 'the train arrives at once. The boarding gates are three but they all refer to a single small room. There 'a small bar and it' s all here. When and 'now the door to the boarding gate is opened and the passengers are directed towards the plane ready on the runway.
After two hours of flight landed in Oslo. Retrieve your luggage and go to seek flybusses that we take 'in the heart of Oslo (110kr cost one way or 160kr A / R). The bus stop and 'just in front of our Hotel (Hotel Rica Oslo).

Alarm not so soon, so 'that at nine the tizia who cleans the rooms is to give the alarm. Va beh .. Oslo little harm us. A quick breakfast in every sense, because 'the waitress to our request to have a cup of hot milk to us saying that the liquid has finished and the' left alone more 'cold! I say ... do not you have gas or a microwave in this hotel? All these stars that are hung out for what they are if you are not able to bring a miserable little glass of hot milk to a poor tourist who does not makes it a nice cold milk nothing to do with coffee caffelatte 'soluble?
So .. leave to the discovery of Oslo with a devil for the hair.
Of course even today the sun and 'went to take a tour and the sky and' gray. I am beginning to think that the tourists are gone deplian of photoshop so massive, not otherwise explain the beautiful blue skies of brochures!

It 'too early and the City' and 'motivated only by going to those who go to work, tourists, street artists and so feeds the streets of the City' are still there.
Oslo and 'more capital' of ancient Scandinavia, its name and 'composed of two words and the Norwegian As they signify, respectively, God and field.
We begin our visit from the nearby Domkirke cathedral that dates back to the late eighteenth century. The cathedral is located on what once was the largest square in Oslo: Startorvet today has lost much of this luster and not others remains a place where the birds legs and some street person sleeping on his flower beds.
From here we move towards the Parliament (Stortinget). The interior and 'open only by participating in a tour that we did not want to do so we continue our visit Johans gate long before the Nationaltheatret going to get then before the austere buildings'. We enter the classroom to research on Magna said our guide, but not find, and 'August and also around there' no one to ask directions. Return as' our long Johans gate to get to the Royal Palace (Det Kongelige Slott). Built between 1825 and 1848 does not have it canceled and defensive walls. Some ale of the building during the summer, are open to the public and visited with a guided tour. The long queues waiting for the visit does not encourage us all to agree that we too, while the garden and 'open for free without any need to queue. In front of the palace stands a statue of the many present in Oslo, a city never seen 'so with' many statues and the head of each of them the usual gull, perhaps they have erected so 'many to many roost for these birds. The park is' a small haven of green in the city ', there' a small lake and many ducklings that paddle, there is' up to a pretty girl who enjoys impestata them escape, to a certain point, slip on wet meadow, and he nearly ends up in water to her. And Justice 'was done!
We must walk a lot for the city 'but in the end we come to the gardens of Frognerparken. There are trams to reach the park, but after all the inactivity 'on the ship, we just want to walk.
Inside the park is one of the most 'famous Oslo, Vigelandsparken. This is a piece of this park dedicated to a modern Norwegian sculptor, a Gusta Vigeland. The park and the nearby museum displaying a large part of his works. In the park are admired, among others, the statues that make up the fountain, and the obelisk adorning the staircase and along the bridge that leads to the fountain. These are statues that represent women, men and children. Some are of a really 'crazy. Vigeland still not 'the only artist who devotes an Oslo museum, but remember even Edvard Munch. For those who do not know, like myself before going to Oslo, this is the painter who painted that picture chilling entitled 'Scream', its bibliography, which is shown on my driving, I trace the lines of a man with a wheel out of place, I had no doubt seen his work. In any case his death gift 'all his works to the city' in Oslo, which now exhibits in a museum dedicated to him.
The park is' huge, given the area of Vigelandsparken tourists are lost and the park recalls the style and the people who walk quiet a London park.

In the afternoon we decide to take a ferry (10 kr each way) and go to the nearby peninsula of Bygdoy where there are five of the many museums in the City 'including the museum of Viking ships (40 Kr), we choose to visit. In the museum are the remains of three Viking ships. The nearby museum of Norwegian folk traditions that I would have liked to see but it takes a long time, in fact is part indoors, where costumes are stored, manufactured of folk art, etc., that an outside party that rebuilds homes barns, stables, etc.. XVII-XIX century. Near the boarding of the ferry's' hand, the Maritime Museum and the Museum Kon-Tik: where and 'exposed to the raft with which a navigator norvgese, a Thor Heyerdahl completed' in 1947, the famous crossing from Peru 'to Polynesia. In front of the museum stands a huge statue that is reminiscent of the statues of Easter Island.
Returned to port, and 'almost time for dinner, but before choosing a place to go and we still have dinner and see the fortress of Akershus, you can' visit the park of this fortress and the castle, but for the castle and ' now past closing time (18.00).
For dinner we eat in the nearby shopping center Pale'et, we do not have their own idea of where to go and after seeing so many places, very crowded, we decide to leave us by advising our guide. In the ground floor of the mall, there are several exercises that allow you to choose different types of menu ', the Chinese cuisine, Italian, Greek and others. People choose what to eat and then look for the table.

Not just to deny even today the sun is not seen.
After a good breakfast deposited their bags in the lobby of the hotel and there we go around and see the city 'for what remains of this last day
This morning, our goal 'is the botanical garden, also the headquarters of the museum of natural science and zoology. Our guide does not even mention them but we have a map and a brochure where they scored. It 's not easy to get there but walk and walk we arrive at the entrance to the botanical garden. There 'no one, apart from some system that assigned flowerbed. The garden and 'a spell, plants, flowers, a green corner in the middle of the city'. The museums, dell'Universita ', are closed, although it is not clear if they are closed or if you just open a few times, though we walk and we enjoy in this green city'.
To return to the center's change course and go through what could be called the Arab area of the city '. Suddenly, the shops and the local Arabs emerge from nothing and the road, the traits of the people, their clothes, no doubt the Arab quarter.

Our guide defines an Oslo City 'lively that has nothing to envy to other European capitals, you can not' agree on that.

E cosi ', come forward to back home. Retrieved our bags, take the flybuss that brings us to the airport.
Norway and 'undoubtedly a beautiful country, the time is not' the best but certainly return to this country by land means.