Honningsvag, Norway
17 June
03.08.2007 -17 °C
Sunday, 17 June
Honningsvag, Norway
No sunrise or sunset today. Temperature: 43°
Honningsvag is located on Mageroya Island. This region, in the late 19th century, was used an an exile for for vagrants, vagabonds, and condemned prisoners. It is a rugged place and, sides fending off the snowy winter, it is shrouded in permanent seasonal darkness - the sun does not rise from mid-November to January. They celebrate 24-hour sunshine May 15 to July 30. Children who grow up in the region assume the whole world is like this until they reach an understanding that their home is unusual. Just up the coast is North Cape, Europe’s northernmost point, with breathtaking views towards the Barents Sea and the polar north.
7:10AM Breakfast: Cereal, fruit, pastries, O.J., coffee.
9:00 - 10:30AM After a few delays with the gangway placement, we departed to walk on the eastern side of Honingsvag towards a light house, which we discovered was fenced off, through residential areas, a school with a soccer field located near the water’s edge,
a quaint white wooden church with its cemetery located at a high point, and......a bit if rain, but we were prepared with our raincoats!
Reindeer
Lutheran Church
Back on board we relaxed a bit before Lunch: Fruit, pork/roast beef potatoes, veggies, pastries,coffee.
1:30PM We walked into town and made our way along the west side. A light rain. We spotted some 13 reindeer grazing high up on the nearby mountainous area. Viewed similar sites: Homes, seaside areas, and intermittent vehicles on this Sunday afternoon.
3:00PM After a rest we walked on the Lower Promenade deck to get more views of the town. We watched some guests returning from their local tours and were surprised to witness local police checking and “wanding” each prior to reboarding the ship. We never did learn the reason for this, as this was the only time this occurred on the cruise. (We were almost led to believe some crime must have been the reason!)
5:45PM Dinner: (Smart Casual Dress) Pineapple fruit, Caesar salad, minestrone soup, salmon, chop steak, potatoes, pecan-chocolate sundae, de-caf cappuccino, de-caf.
7:30PM Listened to the Black Pearl Strings in the Explorer Lounge.
9:45-10:15PM Witnessed a very good view of North Cape from the Lower Promenade deck. It was a very high, massive rocky point - the northernmost point of Europe and Norway at 71° 10’ 21” N. It rises 921 feet from the waters surface, and, as expected, it was very cold and windy.
North Cape
11:15PM Queen's Lounge. Rotterdam Indonsean Crew Showtime. Traditional entertainment from Indonesia. Some very good performances by some talented amateurs.
12:15PM Retire
Walk today: 4.5 miles
