It’s become normal to wake up to snow capped mountains moving slowly past the window, today was no exception as we sailed into Honningsvag. The town itself is a working town with people employed predominantly in fishing but with two other cruise ships alongside ours today, tourism is important.
Honningsvag is the port that provides access to the North Cape, the most northerly point of mainland Europe. It was here that the trip we had booked today was to take us. The journey took around an hour in the coach but on the way we stopped at an authentic Sami village (built especially for the tourists). Here we met one of these North Norway natives who herd reindeer in this remote and desolate area.
We arrived at North Cape along with around a dozen other coaches so it became quite difficult to get a clear photo of the North Cape monument. However we gave it a good try.(I’ve no idea who the woman next to me is!).
Sylvia decided to pose with nothing but the North Pole behind her.
We visited several exhibtions in the North Cape Hall including one that told the history of the Cape. This included the story of the first tourists (From Thomas Cook) who to get to the Cape had to climb a 200ft cliff. It was slightly easier for us.
By this stage it had started raining so after a little retail therapy at the souvenir shop we returned to the ship.
After a change of clothing,the return of the shorts, we ventured out to view the sights of Honningsvag itself. Following a short photo stop with a troll…..
…we visited a fishing museum.
The museum also contained some fascinating items from the Nazi occupation in the Second World War. Next door to the museum was an Ice Bar where everything including the glasses are made from ice. The shorts enjoyed the experience immensely…….
……although Sylvia decided to wrap up a little.
A final stroll around the quayside ended yet another shore day.
Tomorrow we visit Tromso.
