Today the Hurty landed in Tromsø, Norway’s Arctic hotspot and a surprisingly modern city that is home to the world’s northernmost university, UArctic. I couldn’t help wishing I’d been able to find a hoodie with that emblazoned across the front!
After a bus ride that made good use of Tromsø’s many underground tunnels — including one that goes beneath the sea — I boarded the Fjellheisen gondola, following a breakfast that would have made my dad proud. The spread included dansk røgbrød, sardines, baked salmon, cured salmon, smoked salmon, smoked mackerel and shrimp. Basically, my breakfast was an entire Scandinavian buffet though I forgot raw vegetables.
With an ascent of 421 metres, the gondola didn’t challenge my aversion to high places as much as the Bergen experience, and the reward was a commanding view over Tromsø and the vast Arctic backdrop.
Next came Polaria, the Arctic aquarium, which houses a permanent group of resident seals — including bearded seals, harbour seals and a ringed seal — as part of its public exhibition and education programme. I have mixed feelings about the whole experience, so I’ll just leave it at that.
I was thrilled to visit the beautiful Arctic Cathedral. Unfortunately, it was absolutely teeming with tourists. My ship has only around 350 guests, but there was another mega-cruise ship in town which rather changed the atmosphere everywhere I went.
I spent quite a bit of time wandering around Tromsø after my various adventures. I found the centre surprisingly heavy on souvenir shops, especially those selling Sami-themed goods that didn’t always feel authentic. That said, I absolutely love the vibe here — there’s something about the mix of modern Scandinavian architecture and the Arctic feel that really appeals to me.
And finally, cheers to this!!! 🙌🏻
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