Monday 6th August 2012
Back in touch again after our time in Russia, no internet up there.
Up early we watched the ship dock at 6.45 am in Kirkenes, and we were cleared to go ashore within 10 minutes, good to be back in civilisation.
I left on a trip at 7.30 am to the Russian boarder and a museum. It was interesting to see that part of the boarder, where 3 countries almost meet, you can see Norway, Russia and Finland from one place. A lot of Russians come over the boarder here from Murmansk to go shopping in Kirkenes, more things in the shops, even if they are more expensive.
It was a good trip saw some fjords and lakes, learned about what it is like to live this far north with 4 months of very little daylight. They have lots of skiing and a street lights along the ski area for use in the winter, there is also a bridge so they can ski across the road.
Hugh went into town with the couple we sit with at dinner, as he did not want to do the shore excursion I did. He would probably have enjoyed it we saw the open cast iron ore line and the hydroelectric dam across the river. He went into town to the church and to a museum in what was the towns air raid shelter during the war,. I think we should have swapped.
Quite cool here little bit rain but not too bad. Good morning, lunch now.
We have not done much this afternoon, watched the ship sail out of Kirkenes, there is a small island in the middle of the harbour and you come in one side and out the other, like a roundabout. I went to a lecture on editing photos, he made it sound easy I may give it a go. Watched the film war horse on the cabin TV.