Crossing the Arctic Circle
Today’s daily newsheet notes both sunrise and sunset as “All Day”. We’ve arrived in that part of the world where the sun doesn’t set between May and August.
When we left the party around 11pm last evening, it was still pretty light though the overcast skies that had stayed in place most of the day created the effect of dusk.
The scene was set after dinner and Vishal had plenty of shots of Akvavit ready for the ceremony.
Terry the Viking was there, ready and waiting to initiate those brave enough to endure the challenge. Thankfully, that was not to swim under the ship from one side to the other, as might have happened “in the old days”. Tonight’s stooges merely had to down their Akvavit in one, kiss the polar bear and plunge their hands into icy water to achieve the order of the blue nose - a dab of blue icing!
Certificates were waiting on our beds later, whether or not a blue nose had been acquired!
This morning, there’s one of those magical skies and we have a day at sea to savour it.
Wondering where we were, I pulled up Google maps on my phone. Ha!
A bit less magnification and we have a clearer picture, and half an hour later, we can actually see the Lofoten Islands from our balcony. It’s always good to know where we are!
One thing about a sea day is the luxury of time to have an elegant breakfast in the dining room. No rushing to be out by a set time of our tour, no pressure to “grab and go”.
Merely deciding what to have for breakfast is a time consuming task, since there is so much on offer. Eventually we each choose our favourites, probably the same as we’d select in the upstairs buffet restaurant but served more stylishly and with a little more elegance. My BircherMuesli is followed by French Toast and a bowl of berries with the maple syrup poured by one of the best - we’ve known Binu for many years and were delighted to see him on board Navigator. Though he’s achieved a well deserved promotion, he’s always got time for a chat and a smile and we delight in his success.
Breakfast complete, we can now settle down with our books and the daily puzzle sheet and look forward to lunch.
Next stop Hammerfest!
