We've been wanting to go to Norway for...practically our whole lives and we finally made it. What an adventure !
As we are big whale fans (we were able to see them twice in Iceland) we decided to go visit our companions. We had never seen orcas before and Norway is full of them!
After a very nice wake-up call at 5am, we got on the bus like good old tourists, put on our wetsuits and boarded an inflatable boat.
To say it was cold would be to understate the truth. It was freezing, but braving those temperatures was worth it when we spotted the first orca. The scenery was already something unforgettable so the whales were a nice bonus. The contrast of pink and blue of the sky with the immense black fins of the whales was a magnificent landscape not to be missed! As we were on our way home, two humpback whales stopped very close to the boat as if to say goodbye. It was magical, we were overjoyed.
As we went to Norway in January, there are only 4 hours of daylight each day.
So by the time we got back to town, it was already dark. Luckily for us, Tromso kept its Christmas decorations, so we took the opportunity to do a little photo shoot! Craig was convinced that this house belonged to Santa's elves.
The next day we got up very early and went to the Fjords to take some photos of the incredible landscapes and traditional Norwegian red houses! Craig blended in perfectly with the decor with his little red coat!
After being transported in a UTV buggy by a member of the Sami people (also called the Lapps), we were excited to meet wild reindeer! They were very vigilant and didn't let us get too close, but since we had food they came closer than normal. It was a serene and pleasant experience. They are really so cute when they are very close.
John looked like a pro in his traditional suit.
When we reached the Sami camp, we were introduced to the most amazing white reindeer, named Gurro! He is 12 years old and loves photos! So cute !
Our hosts invited us into their traditional tent and told us a little more about their culture and how everything they do is for the good of the reindeer. (I think I should have been born into this culture!)
Then we were taken from a wilderness area to a luxurious tent for the night. This little gem is perched in the middle of a snow-covered valley, surrounded by reindeer and wild geese! The tent has its own fire system and electric kettle. So we settled in for the night while listening to the wildlife while trying to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights through the window. (you shouldn't hope too much)
The next day we woke up to freshly brewed coffee and a bit of ice from the rain that had fallen overnight! We got ready and went to the husky center! Yeah! We could hear them before we even saw them! You can really see that they enjoy sledding, all waiting and hoping to be chosen to go! There were 300 of them and we were allowed to cuddle them all as much as they were because of their kindness! (one even licked my mouth!)
When it started to get a little colder, we took shelter in their well-heated wooden cabin where we enjoyed coffee in cute wooden cups!
That night we went to see the cathedral and stayed in a superb houseboat, moored in a lake fed by the Fjords. There was a wonderful view through the dining room window! (It's not a TV haha)
These photos were taken in the early morning!
The next day was probably one of the happiest days of our lives. We were lucky enough to see more than 300 reindeer that we were able to approach and cuddle! It was incredible! Just have a packet of food when you go and they will all come and surround you. Isn't that ingenious? On the other hand, one of them hit me in the butt with his antlers and I had a big bruise! He must have been really hungry because I ended up dropping the food and he dove in!
After an amazing afternoon, we took the car to take some photos and ended up in a cable car to get an overview of Tromso. It truly is a winter wonderland.
We fell in love with this place, the people who live there as well as the animals and we can't wait to return.
