Back from Norway (2/2)

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 Our hotel is located right in the harbor of Svolvaer. We wake up early to avoid wasting the little time we have of day light. The day promises to be again beautiful. From our bedroom, we enjoy a new type of sun rise, as there is already light around, when the sun comes up, but the light is what you usually see in the evening, at the so-called Blue Hour, between the sun set and darkness. The tones here are not the usual warm ones in the morning.

Driving around the Lofoten Islands, around Svolvaer, on snow and ice, was challenging at first, but the rented car was adequately fit and equipped and we had no problems. Still, we systematically added 30-50 percent to the time between places.

In the evening, we drive to a beach by the northern coast of the island, a place where there is nothing between us and the sky. We are, of course, looking for the Northern Light.

The night is falling and it is not yet really dark when Akiko takes a picture, look at it and officially declares the presence of activity up there in the sky. We stop the car, get the tripod out and in position, place the camera, set it up as necessary, and point it to the sky. The first shots are nothing to be excited about. But as the level of environment light goes slowly down, the activity level in the sky increases significantly and soon become both more active and more visible.

The spectacle continues for quite a while, slowing down at time to quickly restart with more intensity.

After a while, we decide to return to the hotel in the city, a 45 minute drive. This vision was the purpose of the trip to Norway and we were both happy to have receive such a gift from mother Nature.

The next day we drive again around, going through smaller roads to reach small fishing villages. Again, with a very intense light under a perfect weather, the scenery is magnificent.

Cod drying outside as it has been done for hundreds of years.	Fishing village by the water.

In the evening, before returning to the boat, we enjoy a very long sunset with intense pastels colors. While the sun sets early, the light stays around for quite a while and offers beautiful tones.

 We board the Lofoten, the older and smaller ship of the Hurtigruten fleet for the second part of the trip. Soon after our departure, an announcement signals aureal activity in the sky. The spectacle starts again.

The North Cap. While the temperature was not very low, the strong wind made it difficult to move around.	The small monument at the North Cap.

Oslo, the last part of the trip.

The Nobel Peace Center	The City Hall