Cruising fjords in winter

Max woke early this morning to a brilliant red sunrise which was soon smothered by a snow storm. I woke late to a snow storm that soon gave way to beautiful soft blue sky and gentle sunshine just in time for our visit to Hammerfest, the most northern town in Europe. People opted for bus tours of the town, but we wanted to go for a stroll and breathe fresh air without the blast of arctic winds that greet us whenever we venture outside on the decks.  The area near the port has a few shops and museums, parks and office buildings.  It is strange for us to be walking in ice and snow, and it was interesting walking along the waterfront and see sturdy fishing vessels ready for sea, and others filled with metres of snow and waiting for better weather.

It is so picturesque cruising these fiords, steep harsh rock peeps through sprinkles of snow that softens the peaks high up as it becomes metres thick, truly like icing on a cake. Tiny villages appear clinging to the small amount of flat land to be had between the mountains and the sea, sometimes just a few houses, other times a substantial town all sharing such a hostile winter environment. They surely are a hardyeople.

Our evening finished with a meal to represent the northern lights,  the potato and wild garlic soup must be the snow storms, the poach salmon and pickled carrot surrounded by a bright green coulis must be the lights the vodka marinated reindeer must represent what everyone does to keep warm, drink and wear reindeer hats,  and the blackberry pana cotta dessert, Maybe that is the bright red dawn of a new day. We retired early again, just can't stay up at the moment, another snow storm has swept in, so no northern lights tonight.