NB Day 6: Kjøllefjord

We are now in the Barents Sea … named for the Dutch explorer by the same name.

We had some time to relax between Honningsvåg and our next stop — Kjøllefjord. Short though the stop would be, I was looking forward to it. Primarily for the opportunity it presents for a glimpse of Finnkirka, a sea cliff formation that is shaped like a cathedral. I had read that it could be quite dramatic, especially at night when it is lit up.

The name of the formation essentially translates as the Sámi Church. While it was considered a navigational landmark by fishermen and traders, for the Sámi it is a place of spiritual importance.

Well, I did get to see it. I even bundled up and went out on deck at the bow since formation is on the starboard side, but the weather didn’t cooperate. Between the strong wind, the steady rain, and the motion of the ship, I had to make do with a couple of ‘memory shots’ just to remind me of the place.

And then onward we continued to Kjøllefjord, passing Foldalsbruket along the way. The bright red building, which dates back to 1917, is apparently the largest wooden structure in the northern region. Once a fish and oil processing facility, today it houses a cultural center and museum.

The big surprise for me was all the jellyfish in the water … moon and lion’s mane … first time seeing the latter. Seeing how big they are is enough to keep me out of these waters.Read more