N O R W A Y

12th - 25th
June 2002

We arrived in Tromso on Wednesday afternoon in brilliant sunshine. Our hotel is right on the water's edge. This is the view of the harbour from our beroom window. Tromso is an island and is connected to the east by this bridge to the mainland, and by another to the west to still more islands.

In the heart of the town is the old cathedral or DomKirk Made of wood it is plain simple and beautiful

Built in 1965, just over the big bridge to the east is the Arctic Cathedral. The concrete pillars are in strips and supposed to look like icicles. Inside, the stained glass window is supposed to be the largest in Norway. The organ is shaped like a ship. Only 30 years old, it is falling to bits.

Statue in the town's main square.
 We went on a bus for four hours to Skerjoy. Here we caught the coastal steamer back to Tromso again.

We arrived back in Tromso at midnight. The sun really does shine at midnight. Saturday was the day of the Midnight Sun Marathon. There were also rowing races.

On the top of the highest ground above Tromso we found this fine lake for a long walk. The Elverhoy Church. Originally this was the main Church in the centre, but as the town grew, in the 1700's they built the Domkirke, the main Cathedral and this, the oldest church was moved twice before it settled here in 1803.

When we arrived there was the annual service in Finish taking place. I talked to the organist who admitted that he didn't understand the language. After the service he let me have a play on the organ which was very fine.

Monday was not such a nice day. The sun was mainly behind clouds and only occasionally appeared. We even had some rain, so it was a car day. We went exploring. We drove half way to Narvik, then turned left and drove up into the mountains. We did a round trip which included a ferry, and then eventually back to Tromso again.
The end of a Fjord. Reflections in the still water. Waterfalls down the mountains from the melting snow.
Wednesday we went on a long drive into Finland. Then two ferries on the way back to Tromso. This is where we caught the first ferry that you can see in the previous picture.
The Cathedral in Oslo. Just down from our hotel. Inside the Cathedral taken from the organ loft.
After the service on Sunday morning I was allowed to play the organ. A very fine three manual. The Parliament buildings.
The Royal Palace in Oslo. Frogner Park.