Solovetsky Patriarchal Monastery

The name of the monastery is much longer than what I was able to fit into the title of the footprint — Spaso-Preobrazhenskiy Solovetsky Patriarchal Monastery.
Back in the main settlement after ourLäs mer
Solovetsky Island Photo Gallery

Images from today’s visit to Murmansk, Russia are at this link:
https://eenusa.smugmug.com/Cruises/NoGlow/Slvts…
Welcome to Arkhangelsk (Russia)

Our eighth port of call ... new-to-us Arkhangelsk, Russia ... Archangel, in English. A short overnight cruise from Solovetsky Island and up the Northern Dvina River brought us to our destination.
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Arkhangelsk: Monuments & Memorials

On our way to the open-air museum we planned to visit, our guide stopped at a beach overlooking the Northern Dvina River. Huh! Sure, it was a warm, sunny day ... but not nearly warm enough for us toLäs mer
Arkhangelsk: Malye Korely

Malye Korely, the state museum of wooden architecture and folk art of the northern regions of Russia, is said to be country’s largest museum of its kind. It consists of four sectors, with two moreLäs mer
Arkhangelsk: Lunch Time

I very much would have preferred to spend a little extra time at Malye Korely in lieu of the late lunch we had at Paratov, a floating restaurant back in the city. The food was uninspired IMHO.
TheLäs mer
Arkhangelsk Photo Gallery

Images from today’s visit to Murmansk, Russia are at this link:
https://eenusa.smugmug.com/Cruises/NoGlow/Arch0…
At Sea

Having made the turn out of the White Sea and around the Kola Peninsula early this morning, this was a day of sailing the Barents Sea back towards Norway. We are once again above the Arctic Circle.
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Welcome to Honningsvåg (Norway)

Our ninth port of call ... new-to-us Honningsvåg, Norway ... where we were greeted not just by trolls, but also by Bamse, the Sailor Dog.
[The story of Bamse is at this link:Läs mer
Honningsvåg: Nordkapp Tour ... Kamøyvær

While Honningsvåg’s status as Europe’s northernmost city might be questioned, what can’t be disputed (sort of) is Europe’s northernmost point ... Nordkapp (North Cape in English).
On our wayLäs mer
Honningsvåg: Nordkapp Tour ... Skarsvåg

Our second stop en route to Nordkapp was Skarsvåg ... which claims to be the northernmost fishing village in the world!
Monika took us to the king crab tanks here. Apparently, king crabs are notLäs mer
Honningsvåg: Nordkapp ... Northernmost?

Even the postcards I picked up at Nordkapp — North Cape in English — describe the massive rocky plateau that rises some 1,000 feet above the surface of the sea as the northernmost point ofLäs mer
Honningsvåg: Here & There on Magerøya

Our Nordkapp tour with Blue Puffin took us to places around Magerøya Island. In some places we spent quite a bit of time. Other stops were photo-ops that caught our eye.
We wrapped up our tour withLäs mer
Farewell Honningsvåg!

Our last glimpse of Nordkapp was from the ship as Nautica rounded Magerøya Island to leave the Barents Sea behind and continue our cruise south.
Next Port: Kristiansund, Norway ... 684 NM away. ButLäs mer
Honningsvåg Image Gallery

Images from today’s visit to Honningsvåg, Norway are at this link:
https://eenusa.smugmug.com/Cruises/NoGlow/Hnngs…
Day @ Sea

We’ve left the Barents Sea behind and are now sailing the Norwegian Sea. We have received the “Currents” — the daily program — for tomorrow and once again sunrise and sunset times are beingLäs mer
Welcome to Kristiansund (Norway)

Our tenth port-of-call ... new-to-us Kristiansund, Norway.
We were greeted with blue skies and sunshine as Nautica made its way to its berth on Kirkelandet, one of the four main islands on whichLäs mer
Kristiansund: Grip Ruta

Yes, we were lucky and managed to snag seats on the Hagbart Waage, the boat that takes visitors out to an archipelago of islands about 9 miles from Kristiansund.
A glorious day of blue skies andLäs mer
Kristiansund: Grip Welcome Committee

Our delightful day on Gripholmen began with an unexpected welcome committee.
As the Grip Ruta boat approached the pier we were so entranced by the colorful buildings lining the shore that we almostLäs mer
Kristiansund: A-Wander in Grip

Grip, which is located on Gripholmen, the largest of the 80+ islands and skerries, was first settled in the 9th century so that fishermen could be close to the best cod fishing grounds. For centuries,Läs mer
Kristiansund: A Stroll in the City

Returning from Grip, we still had time to stroll around Kristiansund. Since our time in Kristiansund was growing short, however, we limited our explorations to Kirkelandet, the island where NauticaLäs mer
Kristiansund Image Gallery

Images from today’s visit to Kristiansund, Norway are at this link:
https://eenusa.smugmug.com/Cruises/NoGlow/Kris0…
Sailing up Aurlandsfjorden to Flåm

Nautica was already sailing up the 127-mile long, UNESCO-listed Sognefjorden when we rolled out of bed to overcast skies and light rain. We bundled up and went for a wander around the outside decks toLäs mer
Welcome to Flåm (Norway)

Our 11th — and final — port-of-call ... Flåm, Norway ... which we first visited in 2017.
Since we were sharing this port with the much larger MSC Preziosa, that ship was given the privilege ofLäs mer
Flåm: On the Way to Brekkefossen

The most popular activity for people visiting Flåm is riding the Flåmsbana (Flåm Railway). We have yet to do that.
When we called on Flåm in 2017, we hiked over to the Otternes Farm Open AirLäs mer
ResenärWish we could go there!