The weather is beautiful with sunny skies and a temperature in the low 60's. We later learned that this was the first day in six weeks that the locals have had sunny skies! And they were out enjoying the wonderful weather.
The ship was docked several miles away from the city center, so we took the shuttle bus in and then started off on our DIY self-guided walk.
We headed across the Tromsoya bridge to our first destination...the Arctic Cathedral.
The cathedral's ultra-modern architecture features eleven arched triangles of glass, steel and concrete with a beautiful stained-glass window. It was built in 1965.
We could not go inside, but I had read that the most impressive thing was the stained-glass window, so I grabbed this photo from the internet.
It depicts Christ descending to earth.
The other side of the church has a futuristic organ and icicle-like lamps of Czech crystal. And this also is a photo from the internet.
Outside back view of the cathedral. Very impressive, but we needed to move on...
Our next destination was the cable car ride up Mt. Storsteinen for views of Tromso and the surrounding mountains.
We hurried up the hill to the cable car station and had to wait in line only about 20 minutes for the ride to the top of the mountain.
There it is, right next to the bridge. It is in an unfortunate location, right beside one of Tromo's main thoroughfares.
There were well-worn paths at the top that led one to various viewpoints.
We took the cable car back down and gasped at the line of tourists waiting for the cable car that stretched way down the parking lot. We were lucky to get here as early as we did ahead of all the tour buses. The cable car holds 28 passengers; with only 2 cars going up and down, these people had a long, long wait in the sun.
We headed down the hill stopping by the cathedral again for another picture with the sun in a better position.
Then it was back across the bridge and to the Polar Museum. The museum opened in 1978, on the 50-year anniversary of polar explorer Roald Amundsen setting sail from Tromsø on his ill-fated last expedition.
Tromso was the center of seal hunting in north Norway and the town was established as the "Gateway to the Arctic" in the late 1800s.
Inside there were exhibits showing this polar seafaring tradition.
The permanent displays showcase the harsh lives of the indigenous Sami peoples in the Arctic during the 16th and 17th centuries and highlights the desperate need to survive that fueled the hunting and trapping of seals, polar bears, reindeer, whales and walruses almost to the point of extinction for their meat and skins.
A number of gruesome hunting tools and traps are on display...looking way too realistic.
The museum also celebrates Norway’s great explorers: Fridtjof Nansen—who opened up the Arctic Circle in the 19th century and Wanny Woldstad--the first woman to winter in the Arctic, and many other explorers.
Outside there were replicas of various boats used for hunting.
It was a nice museum and the price was right since they honor senior rates, which is almost like 2 for 1 tickets. Always pays to ask!!
Onward to our next point of interest: The Mack's brewpub Olhallen, the oldest pub in Tromso. I knew Terry would like to taste some local beers and Mack's has 67 different ones on tap. Mack's is the world's most northern brewery.
We found it, but it was closed--it was Sunday and we thought all pubs would be closed, but we did find one open, so went in. On the television was the Norway Iron Man race, which we enjoyed watching for awhile.
Then it was back to the ship. That evening as we sailed away, we took photos of the midnight sun.
July 1 at Tromso: Sunrise, 5:49 am; Sunset, 5:49 am
Our next port is Lofoten Islands. To continue reading, scroll down and click on Newer Post.
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