Trolls vs Geology/Lights Update!!

[UPDATE! See latest pictures added. At 1 am, the crew announced that the Northern Lights were on display, so we quickly got dressed and went out on the deck to see a fabulous display of shimmering green lights. Absolutely amazing! The lights would become bright and then disappear so quickly it was hard to set the camera before they were gone, but what a sight nevertheless! The next 48 hours should be great as well, but we're so grateful we at last got to see this amazing vision. Back to bed!]

Today, we reached exactly halfway up Norway's coast, 840 KM from the south tip and 840 KM from the northern tip. Here in the port of Brønnøysund, the sun came up at 10:30 and set at 1:30, but any interval of daylight was subdued due to heavy cloud cover and light snow. Because of the sun's angle at this latitude, light looks very different, even unearthly, so today's long walk to the Torghatten mountain seemed like walking in an Ansel Adams' study in whites, greys, and blacks. Stunning!

The highlight of our trek was a visit to Torghatten mountain, a huge rock with a hole through the middle (you can barely make out the hole in the attached photo but it's big enough to sail a ship through). Forget what the geologists have to say about its formation---ancient lore includes a saga involving troll kings, naughty troll maidens, a hat, a bow and arrow, and..too convoluted to convey but for more information, check out the true story at

https://www.hurtigruten.com/en/inspiration/coas…

Trolls are slovenly and ugly with fat bellies, misshapen features, and dirty unkempt hair, but if you can't tell for sure if it's a troll or just one of your unsavory neighbors, check out the toes or fingers. Trolls have 4, not 5, on each appendage.

We are crossing the Arctic Circle in an hour, and by the time we get to the Lofoten Islands tomorrow, the sun will disappear for good (or at least until we get back to Oslo Tuesday). The long black night should help in our quest for the aurora borealis!Read more