Backpacking Towards to The Arctic Circle, Norway with Emily May 2016
Our journey continues......to Trondheim.
After the train tracks jumping fiasco, we settled down to a very pleasant and wonderful ride up north to Trondheim city. We reached the city at about 10pm, there were still glimpses of daylight as we made our way to our Airbnb (costed SGD148.00 for 2 paxs /2 nights), just outside the city. It took us longer than the usual 15 mins to our host's apartment, cause we took a few wrong turns we ended up in the middle of the city along the river. With the help of some happy or drunk youngsters (celebrating their National Day) we managed to reached our lodging after an hour.
Day 9: Trondheim
We woke up early to explore the city, with its colorful warehouses, busy waterways and its rolling hills, Trondheim is without doubt one of Norway's most photogenic towns. We strolled along the waterway to exploring cafes and shopping mall inside a row of converted warehouses. Then we made our way to the Old Kristiansten Fort at the top of the hill, all the way are up-hill slop. Oh! the view are breath taking on top of the Fort.
After taking tons of photos, we descented down towards Old Town to look for the restaurant called Baklander Skydsstation. Best fish soup ever! & Hot Chocolate to die for! Named Best cafe of the Year by National Geographic in 2012!
Total bill: 406 NOK about SGD 70.00
On the way down from the Fort, we came across this; a bicycle lift to go uphill. Where you step on to a metal plate coming out from the grove on the road, it will move up and carry the cyclist uphill. This is so cool!!!. There are lots of young adults in and around Trondhiem, this is mainly due to there is a university here, the Norwegian University Of Science & Technology.
After our sumptuous lunch and hot chocolate, we explored Old Town then to Nidaros Cathedral.
Norway's third-largest city and its historic capital is a pleasure to explore, with wide pedestrian streets, some great cafes, restaurants and Europe's northernmost Gothic cathedral; the Nidaros Cathedral. Built over the burial site of Saint Olav, the king of Norway in the 11th century, who became the patron saint of the nation.
We spend the remaining of the day exploring the city, it's so very easy to navigate around, we had coffee at the Torg City center and to the supermarket to pick up something to cook for our dinner.
We did our laundry too at our Airbnb lodging, our host was such a nice and friendly guy. He works as a assistant Nurse at the city's Psychiatric hospital. Wonderful young man, lay back and easy going, on the night we check-in, he stayed up late talking to us and gave us directions and advise on the attractions and places we would like to visit the next day. He even encouraged us to cook in his kitchen.
Felt so blessed to have met nice and helpful friends throughout our journey!
our host and us in his house
This is the Museum's courtyard next to the cathedral
Day 10
This evening we will be departing Trondhiem by train, continuing our journey up north to Bodo, the Arctic region, where we will be boarding a cruise ship to Honningsvag.
So we have the whole day to explore the city again and do some shopping too. Its getting colder as we went further up north. I needed to get thick socks and a pair of long pant, cause I only packed three-quarter yoga pants for this trip, took for granted it was late spring going into summer.
In between shopping we hung around the shopping mall, drinking coffee and people watching. I think, we are the only 2 Asian Chinese in the whole city, I gotten this impression when I spoke to the sales person, they were stocked! that I could speak such good English! which they understood.
My overall review on Trondhiem was, this is a really beautiful university city, its very hip, modern and colorful. With a very seamless blend of the old and new in term of its buildings and culture too.
By 10 pm, we left our lodging and walked to the train station, our train going to Bodo depart at 11.40 pm and will reach Bodo at 9.15 am the next morning. Train fare: SGD30.00
Day 11: Bodo, The Arctic Region.
When we alighted from the train, I could feel we were near the sea, cause I breathed in fresh sea breeze!! Once we exited from the Station, I looked ahead that's the view I saw.(above photo) beyond that we saw the Alps.
Throughout the train journey, I had already started seeing the Alps (Saltfjellet mountain),across the lake, its became more pronounce with snow capes rugged terrain once we crossed the Arctic Circle somewhere near Mo I Rana.
Its a total change of landscape here, the land of Mid-night Sun, where there's 24 hrs of day light during late spring and summer.
We spend a night here at this small seaside port, there was no backpacker hostel available, so we did Airbnb (SGD84 for 2 pax), a squint little house 30 mins walk away from the town center, but nearer to the old fort. Our host, a retired University professor staying with her son, who live in the basement below. From the train station, we took a taxi to the Airbnb (Taxi fare: SDG15)
Our cruise ship Huntigruten Kong Harald, departs tomorrow at 2 pm, it will be a 3 days, 2 nights cruise to Honningsvag from there bus to Nordkapp. I am so looking forward for the cruise.
At the meantime, we explored the town center, with only 45,000 populations, Bodo is the gateway to the Arctic and its hosts 2 big annual music festival.
The shape of the town is one long narrow strip of slopping land with buildings facing the sea with one shopping mall.
As we were walking inward away from the sea, saw a group of nursery kids playing around, we shop to take some photos, they were all so cute! most of them wearing mini sunglasses!!
At the background, we heard music playing, then singing...... we walked further up near the bell tower, oh we realised they are preparing for the music festival for the week-end. They are doing sound check. Do not know who the singer was or recognised the song but its was really good. So we set down on the building's step enjoying the music.
main town square Shopping Mall, we had Burger King here
By later afternoon, we when to the supermarket to get stuffs for dinner and tomorrow's breakfast. Went back to our lodging to unload our groceries and ate dinner.
We came out again to explore Nyholms Shandse Fortress which are quite near our lodging.
About 30 mins walk to the fortress, we hung around and took photos for about 2 hours.
Left at about 9 pm, its still daylight with very bright sunshine.
After the train tracks jumping fiasco, we settled down to a very pleasant and wonderful ride up north to Trondheim city. We reached the city at about 10pm, there were still glimpses of daylight as we made our way to our Airbnb (costed SGD148.00 for 2 paxs /2 nights), just outside the city. It took us longer than the usual 15 mins to our host's apartment, cause we took a few wrong turns we ended up in the middle of the city along the river. With the help of some happy or drunk youngsters (celebrating their National Day) we managed to reached our lodging after an hour.
Day 9: Trondheim
We woke up early to explore the city, with its colorful warehouses, busy waterways and its rolling hills, Trondheim is without doubt one of Norway's most photogenic towns. We strolled along the waterway to exploring cafes and shopping mall inside a row of converted warehouses. Then we made our way to the Old Kristiansten Fort at the top of the hill, all the way are up-hill slop. Oh! the view are breath taking on top of the Fort.
After taking tons of photos, we descented down towards Old Town to look for the restaurant called Baklander Skydsstation. Best fish soup ever! & Hot Chocolate to die for! Named Best cafe of the Year by National Geographic in 2012!
Total bill: 406 NOK about SGD 70.00
On the way down from the Fort, we came across this; a bicycle lift to go uphill. Where you step on to a metal plate coming out from the grove on the road, it will move up and carry the cyclist uphill. This is so cool!!!. There are lots of young adults in and around Trondhiem, this is mainly due to there is a university here, the Norwegian University Of Science & Technology.
After our sumptuous lunch and hot chocolate, we explored Old Town then to Nidaros Cathedral.
Norway's third-largest city and its historic capital is a pleasure to explore, with wide pedestrian streets, some great cafes, restaurants and Europe's northernmost Gothic cathedral; the Nidaros Cathedral. Built over the burial site of Saint Olav, the king of Norway in the 11th century, who became the patron saint of the nation.
We spend the remaining of the day exploring the city, it's so very easy to navigate around, we had coffee at the Torg City center and to the supermarket to pick up something to cook for our dinner.
We did our laundry too at our Airbnb lodging, our host was such a nice and friendly guy. He works as a assistant Nurse at the city's Psychiatric hospital. Wonderful young man, lay back and easy going, on the night we check-in, he stayed up late talking to us and gave us directions and advise on the attractions and places we would like to visit the next day. He even encouraged us to cook in his kitchen.
Felt so blessed to have met nice and helpful friends throughout our journey!
our host and us in his house
This is the Museum's courtyard next to the cathedral
Day 10
This evening we will be departing Trondhiem by train, continuing our journey up north to Bodo, the Arctic region, where we will be boarding a cruise ship to Honningsvag.
So we have the whole day to explore the city again and do some shopping too. Its getting colder as we went further up north. I needed to get thick socks and a pair of long pant, cause I only packed three-quarter yoga pants for this trip, took for granted it was late spring going into summer.
In between shopping we hung around the shopping mall, drinking coffee and people watching. I think, we are the only 2 Asian Chinese in the whole city, I gotten this impression when I spoke to the sales person, they were stocked! that I could speak such good English! which they understood.
My overall review on Trondhiem was, this is a really beautiful university city, its very hip, modern and colorful. With a very seamless blend of the old and new in term of its buildings and culture too.
By 10 pm, we left our lodging and walked to the train station, our train going to Bodo depart at 11.40 pm and will reach Bodo at 9.15 am the next morning. Train fare: SGD30.00
Day 11: Bodo, The Arctic Region.
When we alighted from the train, I could feel we were near the sea, cause I breathed in fresh sea breeze!! Once we exited from the Station, I looked ahead that's the view I saw.(above photo) beyond that we saw the Alps.
Throughout the train journey, I had already started seeing the Alps (Saltfjellet mountain),across the lake, its became more pronounce with snow capes rugged terrain once we crossed the Arctic Circle somewhere near Mo I Rana.
Its a total change of landscape here, the land of Mid-night Sun, where there's 24 hrs of day light during late spring and summer.
We spend a night here at this small seaside port, there was no backpacker hostel available, so we did Airbnb (SGD84 for 2 pax), a squint little house 30 mins walk away from the town center, but nearer to the old fort. Our host, a retired University professor staying with her son, who live in the basement below. From the train station, we took a taxi to the Airbnb (Taxi fare: SDG15)
Our cruise ship Huntigruten Kong Harald, departs tomorrow at 2 pm, it will be a 3 days, 2 nights cruise to Honningsvag from there bus to Nordkapp. I am so looking forward for the cruise.
At the meantime, we explored the town center, with only 45,000 populations, Bodo is the gateway to the Arctic and its hosts 2 big annual music festival.
The shape of the town is one long narrow strip of slopping land with buildings facing the sea with one shopping mall.
As we were walking inward away from the sea, saw a group of nursery kids playing around, we shop to take some photos, they were all so cute! most of them wearing mini sunglasses!!
At the background, we heard music playing, then singing...... we walked further up near the bell tower, oh we realised they are preparing for the music festival for the week-end. They are doing sound check. Do not know who the singer was or recognised the song but its was really good. So we set down on the building's step enjoying the music.
main town square Shopping Mall, we had Burger King here
By later afternoon, we when to the supermarket to get stuffs for dinner and tomorrow's breakfast. Went back to our lodging to unload our groceries and ate dinner.
We came out again to explore Nyholms Shandse Fortress which are quite near our lodging.
About 30 mins walk to the fortress, we hung around and took photos for about 2 hours.
Left at about 9 pm, its still daylight with very bright sunshine.
Nyholms Shandse Fortress just next to the Town
That night was the first time we experienced the mid-night sun! 24 hrs of day light, being our curtains are those Lacey ones, Emily kept asking me if is morning already, told her its still late in the night or very early in the morning. After that night, Emily kept her eye-musk nearby.
Day 12: Boarding the Kong Harald Cruise ship to Honningsvag!
We slept in that morning, after having our breakfast of Orange juice, yogurt, bread and ham, we decided to make a quick trip to a nearby supermarket to beef-up our food provisions for our cruise. This being so, cause I only bought breakfasts on board not lunch or dinner. Breakfast were buffet style, but the other meals were a la carte, so.......not so worth it, plus not into 'expensive Norwegian cuisine.'
After marketing, we came back to packed and checked out at about 1.30pm, then took a 30 mins walk to the harbour and wait for the ship to berth.
My next blog ...............will be about our passage thru sea with Kong Harald sailing through the Lofoten Island, pit stop at Narvik, land tour at Tomso and Hammerfast before reaching Honningsvag.
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