Honningsvag ,Norway

Honningsvag, Norway.
Most cruise itineraries are set in stone and nothing changes ,Prinsendam is not, especially in this part of the world. Late yesterday our Captain Dag announced a change in tack, taking us inland on an 8 hour journey ,through amazing and lovely places. Unfortunately it was misty ,and so not quite what he wanted us to see, but still spectacular at times, it cleared ,mirror calm ,and mountains to behold. Loefoten Islands on one side and the Mainland on the other .So green and inhabited ,in the most isolated places, even if it was just with tiny summer houses .Beautiful water ways ,narrow at times ,sheep farms ,quite a few in one place..One huge bridge which we can lower masts and things to fit under, so this is unique to all but a special few ships..
Our charming ,elderly, commentator Bard, is also an artist, so last evening we had the first of his series of drawings .Very special.
Today Honningsvag ,An Island linked with an undersea tunnel ,this is where you visit the North Cape ,or Nord Cap, in Norwegian ,which I have done…so we chose the King Crab expedition. Not far, but through a 4km tunnel of sheer rock, Norway does tunnels with ease, [would have the Nevis knocked into shape in an instant…] it is used for running/jogging in winter, as they have 3 mtrs of snow here, and of course almost darkness ,so utilise the tunnel for things indoors..
Off for our lesson on King Crabs, brought here by Russia well to nearby Murmansk, and have multiplied terribly and of course eat everything that moves in their ocean ,and spreading of course throughout the land…Caught now and expensive to buy, but still they seem to be regulated in some ways, although further South they are unregulated, to try to stop them, we said you won’t, and they know that…bad really.. Anyway a pretty place on the shore with the Sami tents for the cooking . We saw the process ,and our nice young guide was expert in the killing.. instantly… and chopping off the legs, they have thousands of eggs ,and a good percentage survive, so good at reproducing. [they are the Alaskan Variety]..cooked for a time ,longer than we would ,and then cooled in the sea water .We sat and ate them, with nice flat bread , mayonnaise, and lemon, sweet and like our crayfish,[different texture] , pretty much ,very good.! .One US lady cried when they were killed…!! We were a very small group .Some of the questions ,felt like being on an outing with 5 year olds, not everyone of course, but so very naïve.. made me proud of our education system.! A little way away were reindeer, such a delight , wild and just grazing along the roadside ,so lovely to see.
Honningsvag is small , just 2500 people ,smells of fish, has big coils of rope decorating the Quay, nothing fancy here ,seeing huge racks of cod drying, outside ,amazed that these take over a year or more, to be cured ,and are sold to Europe, Portugal buys a lot ,and Asia. Avalanche protection is all above the town, and although its not so cold that the harbour freezes, in winter ,the winds make it hard to bear ,wind chill dropping the temperatures dramatically. Houses have small windows of course ,for less heat loss. Dandelions grow huge, [long daylight] and it’s a tough world away up here. Fishing ,a mainstay, and tourism to the tune of 300,000 people in summer… Here today is the COSTA Pacifica ,in excess of 5000 people on board…imagine that…hardly saw any though.!
It was very cold, our faces freezing, so not too long out walking today .Look forward to a spectacular sail out tonight, we saw herds of farmed reindeer this morning ,and cliffs to amaze.
Fog rolled in so we didn’t see much, but so needed to rest, the White Nights, and that is what they are, so bright even at 3am,are not easy, even with good drapes…! Those who went to the North Cape today did see anything so we will try Surday morning, for a sea view, which is by far the best anyway…
Bye from us in far flung places..もっと詳しく