Life LackaDaisiCal

Day 6 - At Honningsvag you have the opportunity of booking an excursion to Cape North ....we couldn't resist as we have this thing about getting as far north as possible (like getting up to Muckle Flugga while in Shetland) To accommodate those who want to do the Cape North excursion, lunch is early on the ship and we set off on the bus at 12:30 - because the boat leaves at 4 - so we have to get on the road!  What a road! Honningsvag - see the snow fencing above the Town? Taken through the bus window - this shows you how remote it is - this road takes you to Cape North - you must have a special license to drive it. Although Norway hasn't had it's normal snow fall this year....this road has already been closed twice. This is the tourist centre - what you see on top is actually 3 levels deep into the rock - two levels down is a wrap-around screen theatre, three levels down is a restaurant and chapels for those who want to say thanks.  Here's where we are headed - the Cape ...

Day 5 - By this time there is only 3.5 hours of daylight each day - Tromso. It's hard to take photos. With all the grey and the snow......and a little bit of orange from the life boats! A lot of knitting was done this day - oh, did I say knitting????

On day 4 we were going to cross into the Arctic Circle. Crossing the Arctic Circle is a big deal - even on this ship that does it every week! Did you know that there is a globe on the island of Vikingen that serves as a marker?  Well, that's what we were told, so I knew it but wasn't going to get up that early to see it go by!  (I know, I should be ashamed of myself.) On board there was a competition to predict exactly when the Nordnorge would cross the circle......hour, minute and seconds.  Everyone put in their guess. This was a day of spectacular scenery - island and skerries, rock formations, isolated cabins......and then  the Baptism for those of us crossing the Arctic Circle for the first time! Spectacular sunrise.  Isolated villages. Everywhere you look! See the strange fellow on the right - that's King Neptune - called from the ocean deep for the Baptisms. Then it was time for the Baptism - a ladle full of ice cold water - yes, with ice cubes - down the ...

As Norway's first capital, Trondheim was given special treatment on this trip - Arena had arranged a bus tour - we did have to get up pretty early in the dark to catch the bus and although some of us were grumbling - it was worth it! Up up up we went to get a panoramic view of the city - still with all it's lights on! Same vantage point about a half hour later - looking more to the left. After a tour of the city, we stopped at the gothic cathedral  Nidaros  where a private guided tour had been arranged for us.  Spectacular! After Nidaros, we had some free time - so of course we were looking for a yarn shop that had been spotted during the bus tour! Here's Debbie and Jenece (who was our Australian knitter). Back to the Nordnorge in plenty of time - these ships wait for nobody - you had better get there on time or it will be a costly cab fare to catch up at the next port of call! Next - Crossing the Arctic Circle!

This is no frou frou Cruise Ship that we are on - this is a working Coastal Steamer - while travelling north it makes 34 ports of call - carries freight and passengers - day and night - never stopping for very long. Every day there is at least one extended stop where the tourist passengers (like us) can get off, do a bit of sightseeing and of course shopping!  On day 2 we stopped in Alesund - known for it's Art Nouveau architecture - we got off for a stroll around the waterfront area.  Of course a knit shop was to be found and although I didn't know exactly where it was, somehow my instincts led me there - along up and around was the directions I was given LOL! Aha, as soon as I saw the red felted hearts on the railing - I knew we were on the right track.  Look at the bricks on this street - I'm taking a photo and Hubby is saying "Did you catch the Jaguar as it went by?" - well, yes I did, but I was taking a photo of the lovely street and buildings LOL! Although t...

We made it!  at the top of  Fløyen, Bergen, Norway When I first saw that Rowan and Arena Travel were putting together tours for knitters, well, of course I was interested! (Arena are know for their tours based on specific interests - their catch phrase is "Passionate about your passions" - they offer Quilting Holidays, Elvis Holidays, Antique & Fine Art Tours, Heritage & Literary Tours, Official Queen Events (for Queen Fans), Connoisseur Chocolate tours, Bridge Holidays and Iron Maiden Fan weekends - so of course Knitting could only be next LOL!!!) Knitting in Tuscany, Italy - lovely - some day perhaps. Knitting in the Shetland Isles - sold out almost instantly - a 2nd tour is now being offered....in case you missed the first one and Northern Lights Knitting Cruise in Norway - well, just the ticket - so I booked the Hubby and I and we packed up our cold weather wardrobe and off we went! (This link takes you to the page for the 2012 tour - already on the calendar and...

When I first knit the design "Oslo" from the Jamieson's Shetland Knitting Book 2 way back in the days of She Ewe Knits, I knew that one day..... I'd be wearing it in Oslo! Please excuse the slightly stunned expression - a result of too much fun, too little sleep, and this photo was taken in the Oslo airport on our way home from Norway......so this is the end, let me go back to the beginning....

Thanks to Candice for sending a link my way - this is how Wordle translates Shades of Shetland.

WOVEMBER.COM - where all the really "warm" people are hanging out this month! For all of you who like to win things, there is a photography competition  with a great prize sponsored by Jamieson & Smith . Check out the Hall of Shame and Sign the Petiti on . VOW TO READ THE CONTENT LABELS OF EVERYTHING YOU CHOOSE TO PURCHASE! Wovember was the idea of Kate Davies and Felicity Ford ..........check out their blogs and look for other Wovember"y" posts all over blog land. Today I am packing up some wonderfully warm wooly stuff myself - because "Winter is Coming" - I know, you're tired of me saying that right.....but for some of us, boy, it is coming.  More on this soon.

The views from the escarpment edge are spectacular - looking West! Looking South!   Lackie and Daisy......just lookin'