Honningsvåg,Norway

Hello from the most northernmost land in Europe. When we opened the window this morning,it was sooooo foggy. I thought we were going to walk around in the fog. Do you remember our visit here in 2010?This will jog your memory.

Super foggy ,right. It was eerie especially just hearing the sound of water and not seeing it. So off we go to Nordkapp. The scenery is beautiful isn’t. Look reindeer. This is where all the reindeer of the Finmark municipality come to summer pasture.

Knivskjellodden is technically the most northern land by a few metres but you have to hike there as there are no roads. Unfortunately,or fortunately, as it takes several hours, the ship won’t wait so Nordskapp will have to do. Nordskapp has quite a history told in cute dioramas. It was named North Cape by a navigator on the 1553 expedition to discover a northern passage to China, it was unsuccessful.

These gentlemen are the first tourists to visit. The gentleman with the blue coat is an Italian scientist,writer and priest in 1664. Behind him in 1795 is a French Prince Louis Phillipe of Orleans. With his entourage on the left is King Chulalongkorn of Siam in 1907.

These people are visiting in 1873 with King Oscar 11 of Norway.   Now they are probably slightly exhausted because they have just climbed up from the bottom of the cliff a kilometre away at a place called Hornvika.

You would have to be keen. Look at the path.

Within the Nordskapp area is a restaurant, gift shop,cinema with a film showing four seasons at Nordskapp ,displays and a chapel. The last one has beautiful music playing and is a peaceful place to sit awhile. 

The real event is outside.

The view is fabulous. Sorry no champagne and not even time for coffee.

   
Honningsvåg itself was destroyed by the Germans as they retreated in 1944. When the town was rebuilt, one style of wooden house was chosen so all the houses of that time look the same, just different colours.There are a few more modern buildings now.

   
Fishing is still the main industry although tourism is also important. Did you know it takes 8-10 weeks to dry fish but they can then last for 10 or more years. Norwegians eat them as a snack. Not sure that it is one I would like. Is it to your taste? These buildings are used by the fishermen and were built in the original style of the area. 

There is a museum..,,,but we are not visiting….sorry no time. I can hear you breathing a sigh of relief. At present there is a street art made from recycled sea waste being displayed. Of course there are some great statues and trolls and time for real coffee.