On this last day, we walked to the university nearby- this can be done by skis in winter! The university is modern, walkways between buildings are heated, and, as I learned later, they have a cafeteria with daylight tempered light, to have more energy during the day.
As a finale of the trip, we went into the Ishavskatedralen (Arctic cathedral).
Then, it was again exciting to get back to the airport. Not because it is so far away (the normal bus goes directly from the home to the airport!) but because I had forgotten my passport at home in Oslo; so this was my first flight without a passport!! But it was no problem.
These five days resulted in 2668 pictures, eg of the northern lights. The result of the postproduction can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXTVqF3f02o
2014.01.02 - The Polar Museum
Our first stop was the Polar Museum in the middle of the city. A really well done exhibition about the Norwegians and their mostly successful attempts to become national heroes by exploring the north. We did not have breakfast this morning as our next station was Egon and its pizza buffet. Unlimited pizza for 105kr. After a long time there, we took a tour to Giæverbukta, the western centre of the city, and found out there is nothing of interest. So, we headed home to relax a bit. Then, around 23.00, we left on foot to the very north of the island for the daily hunt of the northern light. At the very top, we stayed for a couple of hours but saw 'just' smaller ones, nothing compared to the ones the day before. But at least, we were at the northernmost point of the northernmost city I've ever been too!
2014.01.01 - Aurora
The day started with seeing the Viennese New Years Concert. Nice to think about home, actually.. We went to the city centre, walked around a bit in the city centre. Prestevann, a lake in the proximity of the city was our next destination. We came home with the intention to warm up and going to bed early. This plan did not work because we had to gaze at the northern light for around an hour. Again, wow. Wow.
2013.12.31 - Beginning the new year
Somehow, me stayed up for a bit too long. During breakfast, a norwegian play on tv ('Boeing boeing') caused us to come just at around 14.00 into the city. We went to one of the two arctic expositions, Polaria, with seals and all kind of arctic knowledge and stories. Afterwards, we went up to Fjellheisen, the gondola up the mountain in the east of the city. From there, we had a wonderful view both on the golden city of Tromsø and on the other side on the stars. Then, we took the last bus home (10pm-ish) to warm up a bit. At midnight, we went in front of the houses to see the fireworks. A few minutes after midnight, in addition to the colours of the rockets, a northern light appeared. What a start in the new year. After that, good time, right?, we had dinner and went out again to have the first of several northern lights photo sessions. My camera got a software update to automatically make pictures every few seconds. The result of that hopefully will be a time lapse video.
-- my goodness, Aurora Borealis, wow.
Prosit!
-- my goodness, Aurora Borealis, wow.
Prosit!
2013.12.30 - Darkness in Tromsø
Cosy breakfast, going to the city, walking around the city, seeing the Hurtigruten ship "Nord Lys", and wishing to go all the way from Bergen to the North with it, one day, when I have more money. The city center is really cosy! Nice Christmas decoration and cosy atmosphere. They don't use salt here in Norway for the streets, just a bit of gravel was lying around. So, partly, we slipped around more than we went. However, we went over the bridge to have a look at the famous iceberg-like cathedral, which really looks nice. We walked around in that area and decided to take the cable car in one of the next days. Then we went to a coffee and had it comfy for a bit.
Dinner followed, two episodes of How I Met Your Mother in TV, and a walk outside, of course equipped with the camera. At 2.30, we came back home, having seen a glimpse of a northern light for approximatively one minute!
From 10.00 until 13.00 it was so-to-say day, but it was just brighter than the other 21 hours of the day, far from normal daylight luminosity. Those 21 hours are surprisingly not really dark, the lights of the city are reflected by the clouds and -we don't know why!- make it so bright that it's possible to read easily, also at 2 in the morning in the outskirts of the city (where we stay).
Tromsø is really nice!
Dinner followed, two episodes of How I Met Your Mother in TV, and a walk outside, of course equipped with the camera. At 2.30, we came back home, having seen a glimpse of a northern light for approximatively one minute!
From 10.00 until 13.00 it was so-to-say day, but it was just brighter than the other 21 hours of the day, far from normal daylight luminosity. Those 21 hours are surprisingly not really dark, the lights of the city are reflected by the clouds and -we don't know why!- make it so bright that it's possible to read easily, also at 2 in the morning in the outskirts of the city (where we stay).
Tromsø is really nice!
2013.12.29 - Tromsø
The master thesis and exam is done, it feels right to travel again.
Taking the flight to Tromsø, a city at almost 70 degrees up in the North, populated by 80.000 people. Here, at this time of the year it is dark. No sun, so I have read.
I was accompanied by a colleague from the Uni in Oslo.
Taking the bus directly from the airport to the student home (Ørndalen). The selection of this place was interesting and quite risky: in October and November, I desperately tried to find a couch surfing place in Tromsø for those five days, but no matter how many hosts I wrote, nobody would answer with a positive response. Youth hostels as well, all closed. So as a last possibility, I wrote into the Facebook group of international students in Tromsø, if someone could help me. And yes, a wonderful German person said I could use her apartment - without her being here! So, we really went to that apartment, found the key in the post box, and had an apartment all for us! After the stay in Tromsø, we are going to meet in Oslo where she is going to stay for a couple of days at my place.
In the evening we had a walk around the area (north east of the island). Beautiful. So much snow! The pictures talk for themselves. So peaceful and quiet!
Taking the flight to Tromsø, a city at almost 70 degrees up in the North, populated by 80.000 people. Here, at this time of the year it is dark. No sun, so I have read.
I was accompanied by a colleague from the Uni in Oslo.
Taking the bus directly from the airport to the student home (Ørndalen). The selection of this place was interesting and quite risky: in October and November, I desperately tried to find a couch surfing place in Tromsø for those five days, but no matter how many hosts I wrote, nobody would answer with a positive response. Youth hostels as well, all closed. So as a last possibility, I wrote into the Facebook group of international students in Tromsø, if someone could help me. And yes, a wonderful German person said I could use her apartment - without her being here! So, we really went to that apartment, found the key in the post box, and had an apartment all for us! After the stay in Tromsø, we are going to meet in Oslo where she is going to stay for a couple of days at my place.
In the evening we had a walk around the area (north east of the island). Beautiful. So much snow! The pictures talk for themselves. So peaceful and quiet!
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