Into the Norweigan Arctic Circle

After Olso, we headed to the furthest Northern point we’ve ever been … inside the Arctic Circle in Norway, and it was very beautiful and well worth the trip.  Although when we first arrived, it threatened to be overcast most of the time, the sun eventually come out.

 

 

We based ourselves out of Harstad in order to be able to access all the amazing natural wonders nearby.  This is Trondenes church and its claim to fame is that it’s the northern most medieval stone church in Norway.  It was preceded by a stave church (like the one we saw in Oslo), and this one was built in the 15th century (although there is claim that it was built in the 13th century).

 

We decided that since the town of Andenes is one of the best places to see sperm whales, we wanted to go out and look for Moby Dick ourselves.  Fortunately, our captain was no Ahab.  The crew aboard our Whale Safari was all about studying and learning from these immense animals, instead of hunting them.

 

Sperm whales are so named for the large amounts of spermaceti found in their head.  This fluid looks somewhat similar to sperm and was therefore initially mistaken as such.  However, the actual function of spermaceti is uncertain.

 

Although they aren’t as acrobatic as the humpback whale, these creatures of up to 20 meters (for males, at least), are certainly impressive.  On our trip, we encountered four of them.

 

Ironically, this sperm whale was called Ishmael.

 

In the land of the midnight sun, twilight has a great color.  This photo was taken at 9:30 PM on a coastal road that was simply breathtaking.

 

These beautiful flowers were in full bloom almost everywhere we went.

 

A typical Norwegian barn.  However with the Scandinavian influence in the Midwest (particularly Wisconsin), this could easily be an image from there too.

 

More of the wild coastal road.

 

 

 

 

 

The Lofoten Islands are some of the most spectacular in the world and one of the main reasons we chose this area to visit.  Here are handful of pictures from our time on the islands.

 

Quintessential.

 

Although it looks great in the summer, I’m not sure how I would feel living here in the eternal darkness of winter.

 

The fishing village of Henningsvær.

 

We drove to the tiny village of Eggum next.  On the way, we encountered some sheep who had taken over the roadway.  As you can see, they also marked their territory.  🙂

 

The coastline was beautiful and the three of us took a hike out along the remote trail.

 

The landscape was a unique mix of alpine and maritime.

 

 

Markus Raetz sculpted this head to be seen in 16 different ways as you walk around it.  The idea is that everything is a matter of perspective.  I agree.

 

More sheep … and X preparing his attack.

 

I’m coming to get’cha!!!!

 

The village of Eggum with billows of clouds forming on the mountain top.

 

More views of the Lofoten Islands.

 

 

 

 

Another gorgeous sunset in an Arctic paradise.

 

That concludes our forray into the Arctic.  Next stop, Finland.

 

Until then…

 

–Jim