I concluded my previous post by suggesting there would not be much to report due to us being in transit to the start of our cruise. However, a run-in with the Norwegian military changed that.
Oslo
The start of our transit journey was a flight from Copenhagen to Oslo. On landing, we found our shuttle bus to take us to our hotel where we arrived at about 12:00. Because check in at the hotel was three o’clock, we had requested an early check in. Our greeting at the hotel reception was less than welcoming. Clearly the company has a strict rule that check in is at three o’clock, as if all the rooms suddenly become available at that time. With some pestering, they managed to ‘find’ a room for us at two o’clock.
As we were flying out of the airport the next day, the hotel was a brief 15 minute bus ride away. This meant there was not much to do. We went for a walk and found a viewpoint overlooking the runway. This suited me as one of my upcoming camera club subjects is panning. So, we sat for a while and I practiced photographing the plans as they landed.
We were once again early to bed and down for breakfast at 06:00 ready to catch the 06:40 shuttle back to the airport.
Kirkenes
This flight took us north of the Arctic Circle to Kirkenes, our cruise departure port.
We arrived to a rainy, windy, and, at 4 degrees, very cold day. Pristine white patches on the steely grey rocks lingered after the previous day’s snow, but the trees were awakening with green spring buds from their winter hibernation. As recommended by our accommodation host, Tommy, we caught a bus to the Scandic Hotel and walked the 500m to his place.
He lives on the first floor of a two-storey house with our accommodation in the attic. It was a bit of an effort to lug our heavy cases upstairs. I spent a lot of time during our stay stooped over due to the slope of the roof. However, it was very comfortable and had everything we needed, except milk for K’s tea.
By the time we ate a sandwich for lunch, the rain had cleared, but it was still cold.
Tommy offered to take us on a tour round the town and neighbourhood. He was keen to share his knowledge about the war time and recent history of the town. It was occupied by the Germans and at one point the site of a concentration camp housing 3000 Russian POWs. As it is only 10km away, he took us to see the Russian border and told us that at one time there was a relatively free flow of people between the two countries., but not now.
I took a few photographs, including a picturesque hill topped with a Norwegian lookout tower that Tommy explained was no longer manned, but fitted with cameras for border surveillance. The border is defined by two poles 4 metres apart – red and green on the Russian Side and Yellow on the Norwegian side – with the border line in the middle.
About 15 minutes later, we were driving across a bridge when Tommy slowed, looked in his mirror and stopped. A chap in military uniform approached the car and spoke to Tommy, with me being the topic of conversation. The outcome of this was that photographing military establishments is against the law. The tower on the hill is a military installation. They asked us to pull over off the bridge where I was ‘introduced’ to three armed military personnel. They courteously asked to see my photographs and to witness the offending shot being deleted. I also had to give them my name and address. Thankfully it wasn’t a Russian military installation, otherwise, I would have been packed off to Siberia.
Clearly the cameras are being monitored 24/7, but I was surprised how they managed to track the car – maybe a network of cameras?
On returning to Tommy’s house, we walked down to the dock area to try to find out where to board the ship. We quickly found this next to a souvenir shack where we passed the time chatting to the informative assistant. Our next stop was a nearby supermarket to buy stamps for a couple of postcards and provisions for a stay-at-home dinner.
Boarding the Cruise Ship
I am not sure if I have mentioned this previously but, this was to be my first cruise. So, it was with rising excitement and some trepidation that we dragged our cases down to the dock.
We boarded at 10:00 and managed to immediately access our cabin. With a 12:00 scheduled departure, we had plenty of time to acquaint ourselves with our home for the next five nights. It very quickly became apparent that we would have to slow down and relax as there was not much to do on the ship – read more about our experience in my next post(s).
4 Responses
Quite an adventure Martin
Thanks Karen, but I hear you have had an amazing adventure as well, safe travels.
Life is never dull!!
Wow, what an introduction to photography in Norway. But. at least you’re not in custardy somewhere unknown.
Can’t wait to hear how you go on the cruise – suppose it will depend on the conditions that the seas throw at you. Please, please give them calm waters only. Safe travels.