Hurtigruten Day 8: Arrival at Kirkenes, Return Flight

At 7.30 a.m., the alarm clock gently wakes us up. The cabin has to be emptied until 08.00 a.m., as at noon time, the next guests already get on board in Kirkenes. It is not a problem, it goes in no time. For the last time, we enjoy the breakfast buffet. It really offers anything that can be desired. There is even porridge for the many english people on board; We really enjoy our tasty breakfst, as the sea calmed down and the stomach is recuperated.

We spend the last hour in the fresh air and watch the entry into the harbour of Kirkenes. Unfortunately, the nice weather definetely left us, it is clowdy but it doesn't rain. During the landing we are greeted by the Norwegian national anthem played by brass instruments and a children and teenage delegation performs a formation dance. It is clear: today is the national bank holiday of the Norwegians, the day of the constitution of Eidsvoll.

Then we are standing in the crowd of deck no. 3 and wait to the gates to get open. After 6 eventful days we leave our "MS Richard With" and are back on solid ground . Our suitcases are also already waiting, thus a short "bye" and "Thank you" to Morten, our active Norwegian tour guide, a last look back, into the bus and to the airport. Kirkenes is a dusky place, apparently this is due to the winter and the cloudy weather. Everywhere dirty snow remainings, far and wide nothing green, everything is so miserable. In summer time it is probably nicer here.

At the airport the usual things, check-in, a specially thorough control up to the shoes, then waiting. In between, the whole building swings, was that an earth quake or the aftereffects of the sea condition? There is sun is above the clouds! The route runs straight over Finnland and Sweden to Oslo-Gardermoen. Here, there is nice weather again, and it is warm! First I take off my ski-underwear that I really needed until then. We wait for the flight to Copenhagen. Unfortunately, we have to change there. Once we are in the plane, we already arrive. Here, it is raining, but we do not have to get outside; A big and clearly arranged airport. Our gate of departure is not determined yet, thus we walk the terminal up and down, have a piece of pizza to eat in between and then we finally start again in direction to Munich. The MD 87 is rather a little plane but damn fast and we arrive 20 minutes earlier in Munich. Unfortunately, there is no service at all, even the mineral water is charged!

Munich has us back! We take our luggage from the conveyor belt and start our long way to the rapid-transit railway. We get through the customs withour any problem, the gate opens and who sits there amidst with a flower in hand: our grandma! And then our children also appear! What a surprise! Of course, the last kilometres home are more comfortable by car. 20.30 p.m., the floor swings, it was lovely! We will come back!

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