24 Jun 2011 – Hurtigruten…

When translated literally hurtrig=speedy or fast and ruten/ruta=route but can also be mean window in some dialects. L&M’s grandfather nicknamed it Speedy Window and it would docked in Tromsø around midnight sounding it’s comforting & familiar horn thru’ clear skies or storms. The first time on hurtigruten was 1978 traveling from Tromsø-Hammerfast (then the world most Northern town) to visit Kari & Bjørn.

http://www.hurtigruten.com/Norway/
16-22 Jun: the Norwegian public access channel NRK2 brought reality TV here. In a 5 1/2 day marathon, the network was broadcasting a live production every minute of the entire trip, of one of the Norwegian Coastal Liner ships, the M/S Nordnorge and was a big success. People were up all hours to cruise along. It might not be easy for others to understand this but having lived in Tromsø and Lyngseidet gave me the insight to appreciate, enjoy and be emotional with the locals!

Taken into consideration that Norway’s coastline is 25,148km (includes mainland 2,650km, as well as long fjords, numerous small islands and minor indentations 22,498km; length of island coastlines 58,13km) and in certain parts, the only form of transportation is by coast. Perhaps then can one imagine how important the coastal liner is. It is no wonder that it is such a fine merchant marine and seafaring nation. Hurtigruten calls to 34 ports between Bergen and Kirkenes, most never visited by commercial cruise liners, these ships deliver cargo, post and passengers to towns and remote communities, some of which are home to just a few hundred people.

Just learnt that in Vardø (3rd last port of call before Kirkenes), Queen Sonja was there opening the monument for the victims of the witchcraft trials yesterday. It was documented that 91 people, mainly women were either burned at the stake or tortured to death in the 1600s.

Personally not sea-faring of nature but have done this route from Bergen-Kirkenes in 1984 and will say that it is the most beautiful and spectacular trip in memory. All pix are downloaded here as my other pix are in SIN and I am posting this in Norway! If ever to do a cruise again, this will be it!

Love for life in all its forms is the basic ethic of Witchcraft – sources unknown