Thursday, 28 Feb, 2019
Song: Pochohantas by Neil Young
In December 2017, our good friend, Charisse, decided she wanted to see the Northern light for her 50th birthday. So when she extended the invitation to join her, I was so excited as Aurora Borealis has been on my bucket list since I first heard Neil Young sing about them back in the 70s I think. The trip was initially planned for October, then November and finally March 2019. In other words, a long time in the making.
We had to pay upfront if we wanted a good cabin with a bit of space on an upper deck, so by January last year, all was confirmed. We had long time to wait!
We thought of skiing before the cruise, seemed too good an opportunity to miss for David, then Charisse did her knee, so like me, skiing was out. I then thought of adding on a East European leg or a trans-Siberean train ride (also on my bucket list), however, Simon and Mel chose March for their wedding. Some minor adjustments were made date wise and we decided to keep it simple, a week in Norway, followed by the 12 day cruise and straight back home for the wedding.
Finally, over a year and a bit later, we set off on Thursday evening, with a suitcase jam packed with new thermals and gloves and on Friday morning glimpsed our first sightings of Norway.
What I learnt: Life is meant to be difficult and mine are all first world problems, so only hiccoughs really. Also, good things come to those who wait
Kim's journey 