Tromso - Olhallen pub

I know the time zones are all mixed up so Luke will get a birthday yesterday and today.

Happy birthday Luke xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think we have worked out the standoffish style of Norwegian personality.

Slept in after a disturbed night last night watching lights in the sky and we were welcomed by a colourful sunrise and snowy mountain peaks.  In many instances cruising very close to the shore to get a spectacular view of the mountains covered in snow and the surprising number of towns and villages, and single houses along the shore.  Not sure what the main produce is in the farm along the way but most have hay which has been cut, wrapped and stored in barns.  Nearly every house on the water has a little boat house on the waterline.

Called into the little village of Finnsnes to pick up passengers and some goods to be delivered further along the cruise.  A surprising number of the locals use this ship to travel from town to town, visiting friends and relatives and for work.  The ship is also used to transport cargo from town to town, it's a real working ship.

Only a 20 minute stop in Finnsnes then up the fjord to Tromso.  Arrived in Tromso about 2 o'clock, just as the sun was setting.  We had no plans in Tromso so we decided to visit the oldest pub in Tromso and see if their beer we've been drinking on board is the same quality at the bar.  The Olhallen pub and brewery is the oldest pub in Tromso and the most northerly brewery in Europe.  They have 72 beers on tap, unfortuneatly we didn't have time to try them all.  Pam, Denise and Noelene had a wine, I had a beer and Maureen had 5 beers, we had to drag her out so we could get back to the ship on time.

Went for a walk along the pedestrian mall then headed back to the ship for tea.

There is a road and houses along the shoreline dwarfed by the mountain behind

 Cruising into Finnsnes

Views from the ship

Off we go again

Just lucky the captain knows what he's doing

Absolutely freezing cold

through the fjords

To Tromso

Where the seagulls huddle together to keep warm

Very Christmas feeling to the town

Tromso Cathedral

Christmas shoppe

Pedestrian mall

Olhallen brewery and pub

I  had a dark lager

Maureen had 5 beers

That map again

Pedestrian mall at 4pm

Crepes are a popular afternoon tea obviously

Can't avoid those northern lights

Mosaic in the cruise terminal "Gateway to the Arctic"

An after dinner walk on the deck to check out the moon before a well deserved sleep