Wayfare Wednesdays! A Travelogue of Ports Unknown! Norway Day Five

Ahoy there me mateys!  Welcome to the newest installment on me Log, Wayfare Wednesdays!  As ye scalawags know, yer Captain always be spending me time dreaming of the next far off ports and searching of a good adventure.  So I thought I would give the crew some insight into the fascinating people, places, and things I saw while ye all were wallowing in port in some filthy tavern, swilling grog, and missin’ the sights.  Ye know in case ye miscreants ever get the chance to plunder visit these destinations in the future . . .

wayfare

way·​fare |  ˈwāˌfa(a)|(ə)r, -ˌfe|, |ə

 archaic : an act or course of journeying (source)

As some of ye may know, I recently had a line on a rumor of a bit of Viking treasure, Scottish ruins, and Elizabethan artifacts.  The sea was a’ calling.  So off I went.  After eighteen days of adventurin’ in Iceland, Norway, Scotland, and England, I be back to share me tales.  I shall be splittin’ these stories into several installments due to yer befuddled, swill-saturated noggins.  The first foray was Iceland.  Next stop – Norway!

If ye missed day one of Iceland click here.  For day two of Iceland click here.

For day one of Norway (Bergen) click here. For day two of Norway (Geirangr) click here.  For day three of Norway (Lofoten) click here.  For day four of Norway (Tromsø) click here.

Norway was the land of fjords, natural wonders, and the midnight sun.  We (me and the ma) spent six full days there with one full day at sea (Arrr!).  The fifth (and last) day was in Honningsvåg.  We saw:

Honningsvåg

This is the northernmost city in Norway.  We were supposed to do a helicopter ride this day.  But due to weather it was cancelled.  The Ma and I got put onto a random tour instead.  The town was tiny but cute.  Also there was a statue of the famous dog, Bamse (Teddy Bear).

Sámi Culture

The Sámi are an indigenous culture that inhabits Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.  About half ot the people live in Norway.  They were traditionally nomadic but have modernised.  Many make their living by fishing, farming, and herding reindeer.  We got to stop at the home of a Sámi member and hear some details about his life as both a dentist and reindeer herder.  This stop was too short and I could have listened to him talk for hours.

 

Nordkapp or “North Cape”

This is the spot in Norway that is the gateway to the Arctic.  This is where two seas (the Barents and the Norwegian) and two oceans (the North Atlantic and the Arctic) meet.  The name comes from English explorers Richard Chancellor and Steven Borough in 1553.  The first tourist to Nordkapp was Franciscan priest Francesco Negri in 1664.  Other famous visitors include Emperor Wilhelm of Germany, King Louis XVIII of France, King Oscar of Norway and Sweden, and King Rama of Siam.  The Globe Monument matches the mini-one marking the Arctic Circle at 66° 33′ but is much bigger.  It was so rainy, foggy, and windy that most of the photos didn’t turn out.  Here are some that did.  Trust me when I say the weather was fierce!

The Midnight Sun

And of course as we headed back south on our journey out of Norway (sad!), the Ma and I did have to take some photos of the famous Midnight Sun at midnight!

Keep a weathered eye out for more of me wayfare adventures.  Next stop Scotland!  Arrrr!

x The Captain

Side note:  The Wayfair Wednesday featured image (source) is of two sailing vessels “dressed overall” with their international signal flags.  Signal flags are the flags used to contact other ships.  Well unless ye be a pirate in which case the Jolly Roger and yer cannons speak well enough.  A ship dressed overall “consists of stringing international maritime signal flags on a ship from stemhead to masthead, from masthead to masthead and then down to the taffrail. It is a sign of celebration, and is done for occasions, anniversaries, and events, whether national, local or personal.”  (source)  Well, Wayfare Wednesday is certainly a celebration, occasion, and event no matter how ye look at it.  Arrrrr!