Hurtigruten Day 7

Hurtigruten Day 7

This morning at 9am we arrived into Kirkenes which is the half way point and where we turn around and head back south. Unfortunately the weather is not the best with misty rain but it is not that cold.

Kirkenes is located in the north east in northern Norway close to the Russian border. Kirkenes is also known as the capital of the Barents Region and the gateway to the east.

We have no excursions arranged so will just take the 20 minute walk into the town.... just follow the pot plants! My research before we left home told me that there was nothing to do here unless you are on a tour and that pretty much sums up this place.

In the town there is a town square that has a market... only two stalls today.... and not much else other than the church. We did find a secondhand shop which was one of only a few shops open where we did buy Peter another fold up umbrella for 10NOK... about $2AU and his 3rd for this trip.... let's hope it lasts till we get home!!

I did also find a sports store where I bought a new jacket to replace my near new Kathmandu jacket that Peter jammed in the bathroom door and completely demolished the zipper!

Nothing much on for the afternoon other than resting and watching the new passengers orientating themselves. There are a lot of groups on tour on this ship... one being Grand Circle Travel and they come on with their own guide. Every announcement is repeated in 3 or 4 languages!

At 3.30pm we had a FREE walking tour in the port of Vardo to the Memorial to the Witches burned in Finnmark. This exhibition commemorates those who were executed during the witchcraft trials in Finnmark from 1600 to 1692. During the trials 111 women and 24 men were prosecuted for practising witchcraft. Of these 77 women and 14 men were executed. The use of torture was common during the trials.

We were scheduled to stop here for an hour which was just enough time to walk to the memorial and back via the Fort. Our tour leader set a brisk pace which was just what I needed to energise myself as I was feeling the effects of another late night.... 1am to bed!! I don't think my body can take much more of this holidaying.... late nights, early mornings, beautiful food and no alcohol free days!! I need to go home to rest and recuperate!!

What will Day 8 bring??