2025 POSTCARD FROM NORWAY - Wednesday 5 November - Friday 14 November

I left home at 7am and was at Gatwick by 8.10pm so very early for my 11am flight to Tromso. Managed to get Assisted Travel so they took me to their lounge. Wandered downstairs briefly to pick up a bottle of Famous Grouse otherwise a quiet wait in their lounge. We took off on time and arrived half an hour early, thanks to a tail wind, so had to wait for my taxi to turn up. Checked into the Clarion The Edge Hotel – not that impressive. Mediocre room with no cupboard space, and not even a good view. So a poor start to the holiday. After breakfast on my first day I had to find my way to the Northern Lights office to get my wristband for my evening tour, and then I took a short walk around a small part of Tromso – wet, grey, miserable old day. Spent the afternoon updating all things IT !!!! On Thursday 6th I joined a group to see the Northern Lights. They first tried to put me in a big bus with 49 others. I put in a complaint and got moved to a small bus for 15 – which is what I thought I had booked!!! Good day…… but exceptionally tiring. Spent a lot of time in the bus while others got out and about! It was however a very long tour – 5.15 I left my hotel room, and I got back at 1.30am – 8 hours. Not good for this old lady! On Friday 7th I had booked an Arctic Nature Tour. OK but not the most exciting. Saw a few reindeer, and some beautiful fjords but not much else. They all walked down to a beach for hot drinks and pastries at ‘lunchtime’ but I stayed in the bus with my hot drink. I cancelled my next two ‘Lights’ tours – the thought of two more evenings of sitting in a bus for hour after hour of not sure what/if you are going to see the Lights is simply not on! I spent Saturday quietly in my room, except for a brief foray into Tromso to pick up a few nibbles for my room. Another very wet and grey day! On Sunday I woke to a smattering of snow so everything was white, and during the morning there was more snow! At lunchtime I walked over to Tromso Cathedral where I picked up a delightful husband and wife team who were to take us [me and 2 others] on our afternoon tour. They were kindness itself to me helping me around the little Town, and we had a wonderful tour of the Arctic Cathedral. We arrived whilst an organ recital was taking place so we were very spoilt to be able to listen to that. With help from the ‘team’ I got a bus back over the bridge and they saw me back into my hotel. A lovely afternoon with a delightful couple. Spent Monday in my room on a very dark day with sleet falling most of the day. On Tuesday I went for a short walk to Tromso Cathedral and was able to get inside to have a look around. Took a short walk around a little of the town but it was very icy underfoot [even got my new walking stick out] so returned to my room fairly quickly. Wednesday and Thursday were spent quietly in my room, although I did start my packing on Thursday afternoon! On Friday I was picked up around midday and taken to the airport. Heavy snow worried me, but incredibly we took off – and landed - more or less on time. Not the best of trips. Was glad to get home and get out for a walk!!