Crossing into the Land of the Midnight Sun: Travel in Norway has many highlight moments and crossing the Arctic Circle is one of them. This imaginary geographic border circles the earth at 66°33' north and marks the border with the Land of the Midnight Sun. When one crosses the Arctic Circle on a northbound Hurtigruten cruise in summer, you're entering into the Land of the Midnight Sun and similarly when you we cross it on the southbound journey, you leave the southernmost point at which … [Read more...]
Northern Lights – We See the Lights!
December 25, 2009 by
On a Mission to See the Northern Lights: It's 2:30 a.m. when the phone rings. It's the Reception informing us that the Northern Lights have been sighted. Half asleep, I'm not sure if I'm hearing correctly or if this a practical joke? By this stage of our return Hurtigruten cruise, I was beginning to give up hope of seeing the Northern Lights. The person on the phone confirms that it's a sighting so we jump into our clothing, grab our cameras and head out to the back of the ship. It's the … [Read more...]
Nordkapp – Feeling on Top of the World at the North Cape!
December 24, 2009 by
Nordkapp or North Cape is Europe's Northern-most Inhabited Point: Reaching the North Cape (Nordkapp in Norwegian), gives us a sense of achievement - not that we've scaled the steep cliff to get up here nor did we do it tough like the early explorers. On the contrary, our very comfortable coach from Honningsvåg deposits us at the Nordkapphallen (the North Cape Hall) and all we have to do is walk to the world famous globe monument and try not to slip along the way. North Cape At … [Read more...]
Tromsø – Hunting the Northern Lights
December 20, 2009 by
Tromsø has Many Northernmost Claims: Tromsø is a town that can boast of many things. This capital of Arctic Norway is the gateway to the Arctic Ocean and is the largest town in the polar region of Scandinavia. Tromsø is a very important research town and at Polaria, the national centre for research and information, studies of the polar region and the Arctic are carried out, as is marine biology. For those hunting the Northern Lights, the Northern Lights Observatory is here as … [Read more...]
So What's a Trollfjord Drink?
December 18, 2009 by
A Hurtigruten Tradition on Crossing the Arctic Circle: We reached the Arctic Circle this morning and as we pass the entrance of the Trollfjord, it is a tradition on a Hurtigruten cruise that you have a Trollfjord drink. Our invitation says to put on warm clothes and to be out on the deck at 23:30 and we'll have the opportunity to taste some fishcakes and to buy a Trollfjord drink!!! It's freezing and drizzling and there's not much cover on the deck. After a few minutes of waiting, our … [Read more...]
Vienna, the Waltz Capital of the World
December 14, 2009 by
Dance out your Dreams at one of Vienna's Balls: New Year's Eve brings on the best of Vienna's ball season and from January up to Lent the Austrian capital transforms itself into the waltzing capital. Famous for its classical music, waltzes and its grand ballrooms, Vienna is the premier city in the world for waltzes. Starting with the Hofburg Vienna's Kaiserball (Imperial Ball) on New Year's Eve to the School of Dancing Ball, there are hundreds of Vienna balls to choose from. If you love … [Read more...]
Bridges of Paris
December 12, 2009 by
Bridges that Tell of Emperors, Battles and Legends: Paris has thirty-seven bridges that criss-cross the River Seine and these bridges tell long and interesting stories of emperors, battles, legends, etc. Along the stretch from Pont de Grenelle to Pont de la Concorde alone are towering monuments and grand exhibition halls that are remnants of the Napoleonic era and the Industrial Revolution. One of the nicest ways to see these Paris bridges is from a Seine River Cruise. Not only do you get to … [Read more...]
Christmas Festival in Aix-en-Provence
December 9, 2009 by
Aix's Interesting Christmas Festival: The town of Aix-en-Provence has an interesting Christmas festival. Each year in December, the Festival of New Oil takes place at the "Place de la Rotonde" to celebrate the season's new olive oil and fresh truffles. The first pressing of the year's olives takes place in December and provides the much sought-after virgin oil. It was the Greeks who planted the first olive trees in the region and olives and olive products such as tapenade (a purée of … [Read more...]
Biblioteca Joanina – a Priceless Library
December 7, 2009 by
Coimbra University's Library is a National Monument: Once referred to as "The House of the Bookshop" Coimbra University's library is one of the top five libraries in the world. Now called Biblioteca Joanina, this Baroque library was built between 1717 and 1728, during the reign of King João V of Portugal. The library is named after King João V and his coat of arms is over the front door. Nowadays Biblioteca Joanina is a Portuguese National Monument and one of the University's main … [Read more...]
Coimbra University – Coimbra
December 7, 2009 by
Portugal's Oldest and Largest University: There's a buzz about Coimbra University today. We arrive on its orientation day and there's a sense of excitement as new students come to check out their new campus, attend inductions and to get some tips from senior students. Universidade de Coimbra (Coimbra University) is Portugal's oldest and largest university with a student population of 20,000. It is also a very cosmopolitan university with one of the largest community of international … [Read more...]