Greetings! I thought I would put my trip itinerary and links to some activities I’m doing, if anybody wants to follow along.
I’m flying to London Heathrow tomorrow, Jan 25, arriving there Friday morning. I’m meeting my friend Louise at the airport, and then she and I are boarding a bus to Reading. Our friend Bill is picking us up in Reading, and driving us to his home in Devizes, England. He lives on The Cartway, if you want to Google Earth it.
We’re going to a Robert Burns dinner on Saturday Jan 27 – I’m not sure where it is – local pub anyway. Burns’ “Ode to a Haggis” will be read. And I will be trying out vegetarian haggis! (I know that doesn’t seem right, but I figured I just had to try it)
Louise is flying back to Switzerland I think on Sunday, and Bill’s birthday is Monday. I don’t have any specific plans for my time in England – yet – but Bill said he and his wife Anthea have some stuff planned. I’m just planning on visiting with them and chilling in the countryside of England.
Then, Feb 6, I’m flying to Oslo and meeting Louise there. We’ll spend the night there (at the Radisson Blu Airport Hotel), and then the next morning we’re flying to Kirkenes (pronounced “sheer-keh-niss”). That afternoon, we’re going dog sledding! Keep in mind, it will be dark after about 2:30pm, so we will be doing this IN THE DARK!
https://www.hurtigruten.us/excursions/norway/7f-husky-sledge-adventure/
We’re spending the night of Feb 7 at the Scandic Hotel in Kirkenes . Hoping to either have a drink or dinner at the SnowHotel there.
Feb 8 we board the Hurtigruten Nordnorge boat. We’ll be in an Expedition Suite on Level 5. There’s a sauna, jacuzzi, workout room, gift shop, ice cream shop. And it’s a cargo / ferry / cruise ship. So, not all that fancy.
https://www.hurtigruten.us/our-ships/ms-nordnorge/
There is an Expedition Team on the boat, so we’ll be participating in activities, and getting off the boat when the stops are longer than a half hour.
The next organized excursion we’ll be doing is a midnight concert in the Arctic Cathedral in Tromso, on Feb 10.
https://www.hurtigruten.us/excursions/norway/8c-midnight-concert-in-the-arctic-cathedral/
Later in the day on Feb 10, we’re doing a horseback ride in Lofoten. This will also be in the dark!
https://www.hurtigruten.us/excursions/norway/9d-lofoten-by-horse/
Then, on Feb 12 we’re doing a tour of a marble/limestone mine, culminating in a candlelit dinner in the grotto. I just reread the info for it. Sounds like we’re having “meat soup.” Most of you know I don’t eat meat, but I think I may have to make an exception for this …
https://www.hurtigruten.us/excursions/norway/11e-bergtatt–magnificent-marble-mine/
We arrive in Bergen on Feb 13, and are spending the night there at Det Hanseatiske Hotell.
Then, on Feb 14 I’m flying back to England and Louise is returning to Switzerland.
The following weekend, Anthea’s family is coming to celebrate Anthea’s birthday. And on Feb 18 I’m conducting my fifth wedding! Over the phone!
And, then, Feb 19, I’m flying home.
I should have wifi for most of my trip, so I plan to update as I go.
Talk soon!