Finland, Norway & Sweden

A 25-day adventure by Meaghan's Travels Read more

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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
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I got the shot
January 28, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -11 °C
Traveler Well done!
2/11/20Reply
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Gazing out of the bus
January 28, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -4 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Random trees
January 29, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -9 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Tromso
January 29, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -8 °C
Leisurely breakfast and nice long shower.
Then a walk around the town which has a pretty setting with the water and mountains.
Picked up some nice Danish jewelry, various scandi specialised jams, some presents, wrist warmers! and some excellent merino blend socks.

I am forever looking at socks for travelling!
For winter I like shorter ones as you already have so many layers on your legs. I also like a merino medium blend. If you are going to be outside for an extended time like snow mobiling then you need really thick wool socks.

Then tonight we are chasing the lights!Read more
Mary MaroskeThe shopping is good at least!! Tromso looks pretty
1/30/20Reply
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
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Tromso harbour
January 29, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -8 °C
Mary Maroske Lovely sunshine ☀️
1/30/20Reply
Traveler Borderline
1/30/20Reply
Traveler Never !
2/1/20Reply
Meaghan's Travels But virge this is your present!
2/1/20Reply
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Chasing the lights from Tromso
January 29, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -8 °C
So tour company running this lights chase was 15 minutes late. Then the seatbelt on one seat wasn't working. Driver tour guide everyone tried to get it working.

Driver was grumpy.

Then alot of phone calls and we were told the managers were trying to sort it out.
Then driver says we will swap buses into a big tour bus.

This is when I think no way.
First its completely different driving a large tour bus to a mini van in icy and windy conditions.
Is the driver skilled in this?
We have already hit a reindeer and seen an over turned bus.

Then we are travelling 2 plus hours but a large bus will take longer.

Next if the weather changes the large bus won't be able to go to the alternate sites.

Then we hear the managers nixed the large bus thank god for safety reasons.

Next more stuffing around and they start talking about taxis. WTF!!!!!

Thankfully our tour guide gave up her spot.
So not impressed with this company - they obviously don't check the seatbelts.

We finally set off and the van is shit - its too small for people wearing lots of gear and the back row which I am in is very uncomfortable.

The lights guide is very upbeat and does a good job with the commentary.

So did we see the lights?Read more
Mary MaroskeAfter all that, let’s hope so!
1/30/20Reply
TravelerOh dear 😕
1/30/20Reply
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Me and the lights
January 29, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -8 °C
So I saw the lights. Guide rated the sighting as a six.
But here is the thing - you don't see the colours unless its a really good sighting so what you see is a very light mist like cream cloud thing. Who knew.
Underwhelming

You only see the colours when you take a photograph.

So this year aside from the lack of snow in europe and the higher temperatures there has been alot of clouds and rain in the north making aurora sightings hard.

Anyway I have seen them and the photos are cool.

And it was -28c as we watched the lights so the hot choclate was very welcome!Read more
Mary MaroskeWell - at least you saw something- even if just a cream mist!! Amazing you only see colours in a photo. Julie’s parents were in Norway last February and they were very lucky to have a great sighting. Some people go and never see anything so you have done well
1/30/20Reply
TravelerGreat photos
1/30/20Reply
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
The lights
January 29, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -7 °C
Photos from the photographer/tour guide.

I think she should have got the shots without the power wire!

Aside from the first two they are so so.
TravelerStill it’s a bucket list thing done !
2/1/20Reply
Meaghan's TravelsTrue
2/1/20Reply
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Tromso to Narvik
January 30, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -6 °C
Leisurely morning in Tromso. We got a late checkout so we could rest and I totally re packed the bags so we only need one meaning we can leave the other one on the bus. This makes a huge difference.

Four hour drive to Narvik.

Narvik is just a stopover but the big news is there is a bath! Yay!

Nothing else to say except that the guide suggested we all change seats and this couple took mum's easy access seat! WT...!!!

Ok I am back again. Had a lovely bath but plug wouldn't come out and reception wouldn't answer so down I go in my thongs and nightie. Apparently there are only two people on duty in this high rise hotel and nobody can get the plug out so we have to change rooms! Of course there is no help in changing rooms or apology. Oh and my card wouldn't work and mum couldn't get the door to open so the lazy rude receptionist had to leave her post to rescue mum!

This is the scandic chain of hotels which we have been staying in. Random standards and service.

In Tromso we stayed in the new Clarion Edge hotel which was fantastic with the most beautiful toiletries.

Anyway in the morning I realised I had left my shoes and socks in the old room so asked the cleaners who had just finished making up the room and they said there were no shoes. Of course I go in and there they are. Makes you wonder about the cleaning standards, and their eyesight. Then a sock was missing so I check everywhere then ask the cleaners who tell me they threw it out. Can't even begin.

Ok I need to end this entry!Read more
Mary MaroskeWe did Air BnBs and a few hotels and stayed in a Scandic hotel in Oslo. It was ok apart from being full if Americans who had been on a cruise who didn’t know how to behave at breakfast. Like most chains I am sure they are hit and miss. Yours sounds like nursing homes- not enough staff on at night to answer call bells🤣
1/31/20Reply
Meaghan's TravelsAirbnb is a great way to go. We are doing that in sweden
1/31/20Reply
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
A sunny afternoon in Norway
January 30, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -9 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
I see the light
January 30, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -4 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
A little town with lights
January 30, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -4 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Could be artwork
January 30, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -5 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Artistic darkness
January 30, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -4 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
The blue mood
January 30, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -9 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
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Narvik to Slovaer
January 31, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C
I could happily have given Narvik a miss. Its not a tourist town and the only thing here is a museum on Norway's part in WW2. Interesting if you are into that.
There is an app with a commentary but you can't get the wifi unless you have a sim that receives texts os which I don't.
So this museum visit and town, given the sloppy hotel, is annoying me!
I would have preferred an extra night up north.

There is a quick drive through town, 40mins in the museum and then up the mountain for a view photo. But if you are a skier then the town is great given that there were two people sking and no queues - whole mountain to yourself. Brilliant.

There is a cable car to a stunning view that weirdly doesn't open till 1pm so we are hanging around for that. I say that because the sun sets early. Hopefully it will make this stop in Narvik worth it.

Ok back now and after waiting around for the cable car to open its too windy for the cable car to come down with people.

But the view up the mountain is pretty good.

Still its not a place worth visiting.Read more
Mary Maroske Nice
1/31/20Reply
Mary Maroske Plenty of snow 🤣🤣
1/31/20Reply
TravelerGood to know !
1/31/20Reply
TravelerI’m with Anne .... will avoid !
2/1/20Reply
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Bright snow
January 31, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
A mixed bag
January 31, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
More little houses
January 31, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -5 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
A little church
January 31, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -1 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Peaceful
January 31, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ -3 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
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Lofoten Islands
February 1, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C
Rainy and cloudy today but we press on!
At least its not 40 degrees with bush fires.
Mary Maroske The islands look nice. Doesn’t Princess Mary holiday there??
2/1/20Reply
Meaghan's Travels Does she? It is a very beautiful part of Norway
2/1/20Reply
TravelerYes I’m sitting here sweating profusely reading this .
2/1/20Reply
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Loften Random
February 1, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 0 °C
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
Henningsvaer - Lofoten Islands
February 1, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C
TravelerSo looking forward to going there! April 7, Already having trouble sleeping through excitement.
3/1/20Reply
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Finland, Norway & Sweden Meaghan's Travels
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Lofoten perfect
February 1, 2020 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C
Mary MaroskeJust gorgeous
2/1/20Reply
TravelerWow!
2/1/20Reply
Traveler Location location location
2/1/20Reply
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