7-days Hurtigruten-Cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes

On the present and the following pages, Rudi Kronenberger from Munich (Garching) will tell us about his 8-day dream trip with his wife Rita on the Hurtigruten-ship in the year 2007. Rudi and Rita made a one way tour from Bergen to Kirkenes (without return trip by vessel).

Backstory

A dream came true! This dream already begun in the year 1989 with my first trip to Norway, at that time by bus and the St. Severin chorus; At that time, I started to love this gorgeous country. It slowly continued growing, carefully cultivated by the exchange of letters with our friends Eva and Svein in the partner community Lørenskog near Oslo. Many a calendars have been sent to us since in the beginning of new years in order to entice us to the high north. In the year 2002, it was the time: we explored with the caravan the south west of the country, the mountains and the fjords between Oslo, Kristiansund and Bergen. And it was decided: we had to come back! In the year 2007, the next big journey should take place, but things changed.

At the beginning of March, there was a brochure of Hurtigurten included in the newspaper (Süddeutschen Zeitung). Of course, I immediately jumped at it, but then I put it aside, as the trip by mailboat was a long standing wish, but planed to be somewhen in the future. But then it came over me: why shouldn't I give myself this trip as a present for my 60th birthday? I do not like big celebrations anyway, so, are there any reasons why I shouldn't?

Indeed, Rita had lots of doubts due to the prices, but it was also appealing to her. Thus, it was just a matter of the dates. Unfortunaltely, the desired date between the concert trip to Aachen and pentecost was not possible, as the vessel was already booked up. But a week earlier was no problem. Only the concert trip had to be cancelled. The choice of the excursions in the country, the booking in the "Flight Stock Market", it was all rapidly arranged. At beginning of April, everything was ready. The anticipation pleasure started and the time went by more and more fast.

End of April / Beginning of May 2007

There is a stable high pressure area over the north atlantic; This brings a dreamy early summer weather to us in Bavaria. But I am critical about the weather card of Norway, as the anticyclone over Spitzbergen carries cold and humid air from the north to Norway, and the webcams from Bergen to Hammerfest show, in the best case, a closed cloud cover, otherwise rain, fog and snow. But the weather situation changes, the anticyclone disappears in eastern direction, a north sea cyclone slowly takes place and then warm air flows from the south alongside the Norwegian west coast and the webcams deliver some joyful pictures.

Only the temperatures make me shiver and to come to the decision to take the winter coats out of the cupboard, as from Tromsø, the temperatures go straight to cero. Rita does not fully believe me, but we do pack the winter coats. At the very last minute I pack my winter gloves in the rucksack, but then Rita refuses to do the same. But this will have consequences! And then, the time had come!

Description of a jouney - Index

In the following 8 pages, the 7-days cruise from Bergen to Kirkenes will be described in detail with numerous pictures.

Hurtigruten Day 1: Arrival flight, overnight stay in Bergen

Hurtigruten Day 2: Sightseeing Bergen, departure

Hurtigruten Day 3: Alesund, Geirangerfjord, Molde

Hurtigruten Day 4: Trondheim, Trondheimfjord, Stokksund, Rørvik

Hurtigruten Day 5: Arctic Circle, Bodø, Fisher Island Stott, Lofoten, Raftsund

Hurtigruten Day 6: Raftsund, Trollfjord, Tromsø, Artic circle baptism

Hurtigruten Tag 7: North Cape, Mehamn, Barents Sea

Hurtigruten Tag 8: Arrival in Kirkenes, Flight back

At the very bottom of each page, there is a button to get to the next page. By this way, it is possible to witness the tour day by day.

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Author: Rudi Kronenberger; Copyright: Patrick Wagner, www.urlaube.info