Friday, 15 March
Steps: 9343
Song: Rudolph the red nose reindeer
Cruise Day 7
Båtsfjord- Vardø – Vadsø – Kirkenes– Vardø – Båtsfjord – Berlevåg
This morning we had a stopover in Kirkenes. It has a population of about 5000 and is about 10km from the Russian border. It is also the place where we turn around and head back south. It seems to be a growing community as we saw a new housing development being built. There is also a frightening looking ski jump.
We stopped here for our Husky Adventure which started off by feeding the reindeer. Luckily, in the Sami presentation I attended, I learnt that male reindeers lose their antlers in winter and females lose theirs in spring. (Thus Santa’s reindeers are all females, sorry Rudoph). Reindeers without antlers are not very impressive.
Then it was on to the dogs. The tour company own 180 Alaskan huskies, who love to run. They don’t need any incentive and happily do 3 trips of about 20km at a time. Once again you have to get kitted out with warm pants, mittens, balaclava and a blanket. The dogs already harnessed were so excited and impatient to get going. The noise levels with their barking and howling was something else. They are also very friendly and love to be patted. There are 7 or 8 dogs to a sled with 2 passengers and the dog musher. Our musher was from Yugoslavia. He knew all the dogs by name and personality. The ride takes you into a fjord around the frozen water and onto the mountain plateau. It was very beautiful.
On our return, we were given a hot berry juice and then it was on to the snow hotel.
This hotel is built in December each year in the form of igloos and has 20 rooms with furnishings made of ice. Each room has an incredible ice sculpture or snow art. The temperature inside is a constant – 4°
As if that was not enough excitement for the day, later that afternoon we stopped in Vardø, where 4 crazies from our group took a plunge into the Arctic sea.
After that, things quietened down to the mundane task of doing laundry and drinks in the Taylor’s cabin before heading off for supper.
What I learnt: Kirkenes is in Finnmark, the least populated region of Norway originally inhabited by the Sami. Vardø is further east than St Petersburg and Istanbul. And many more useless bits of information which I can’t remember right now.
Kim's journey 