Tromso, Day 2

Sunday, June 28, 2015

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We decided to sleep in today. Wisely as it turned out because it rained all day! We had a filling complimentary hot breakfast at the Clarion Collection With during the last hour of service at the buffet. We were in no hurry because of the rain but also because we had museums in our sights today and the earliest opening was 10am. We walked past a Hapag-Lloyd cruise ship, Europa, docked near where Hurtigruten docks. We walked down to the 34 bus stop to see what time it was running today as we couldn’t figure it out from the website. It turned out that it was only at 10 past the hour on Sunday. We had just missed it and didn’t want to wait an hour or wander. I pulled out the Tromso map and showed Clay the Polaria was with 250 yards past the Mack brewery pub that we walked to last night. He agreed to just walk. We would like to get our money’s worth from those 24 hour bus passes. We already have with the roundtrip yesterday, but still. The Polaria is an aquarium that focuses on Svalbard. Since we are flying there tomorrow, we were ready for it. At 11am, shortly after we arrived they had a bearded seal training/feeding session so we went straight there and managed to hold onto our spots at the railing. There were 2 really big seals and 2 smaller ones. They worked in matched teams. At noon they showed a panoramic film on Svalbard and at 12:30pm they showed a panoramic film on the Northern Lights. We hustled out and up the hill to the bus stop to try to catch the 34 bus for a ride around most of Tromso island. We just missed it again! We walked back into to town to look for a minibank (ATM). Clay spent the last of our cash on Polaria tickets (205NOK – 120 for me and 85 for Clay). One wouldn’t take a card without a chip. We’ve heard about this but in all these years of travel it’s the first time it’s happened to us. We went back to the one he used yesterday and it was out of service. The third time was the charm.) We walked on across town to the Polar Museum of Tromso. They had loads of artifacts from expeditions and archaeologic explorations. It was a good companion piece to the Fram Museum in Oslo. We found at least 2 Roald Amundson statues today. We paid 90NOK to get in Polar Museum (60 for me and 30 for Clay). We walked back towards the hotel and as we passed the first of the bus stops, I pointed out to Clay that this was the last possible opportunity we had at 2:50pm to go catch bus 34 and circle the town of Tromso by public bus. It was raining, so I think we both figured once we got inside, we’d be there until we meet the cab to the airport. Clay we agreed so we hustled up again and got there with time to spare. The bad news was that this time the bus shelter was full and we had to stand out in the rain until the bus came. When it came only about half the people boarded. It was a mostly full bus but we got good seats by the back door. They are up a step so you can see out well. It was a scenic ride. The map showed route 34 ending out by the airport, but I had seen a different route map in the bus shelter this morning that ended at the University. The route did end at the University and they made everyone get out there. It was fine, though we had decided to ride 34 back. So, we got out and checked the time table when Clay looked across the street and saw bus 20 over there. It was headed to Sentrum so we crossed the street and got on. We didn’t get good seats at first but by a couple of stops later we had the good seats by the back door again. It was about 30 minutes or a bit more to circle back to the center of town. We could see a Hurtigruten ship had docked and there were about 100 people scurrying through the town’s street with and without luggage as the bus came down the hill. We got off bus 20 near the cathedral to go in a shop I had seen from the bus outbound. They had some cool t-shirts, but with packing space tight, Clay said he is holding out for one from Spitsbergen or Svalbard. Good call! We walked on back to the With. It was about 3:30pm and you know what that means. Complimentary waffles! We had 2 each with hot chocolate. We were chilled and wet. It hit the spot as a sweet hot late lunch. The blackboard did not yet have written on it what is for dinner. We’ll be surprised. I won’t be disappointed no matter what because I am so full of waffles that I don’t even need any supper. No worries. Dinner was meatballs in gravy. They were kind of like small meatloaves instead of balls. Served with potatoes and vegetables. Soup was tomato. Caramel pudding for dessert.

I checked weather for Longyearbyen tomorrow and is should be partly to mostly cloudy and in the low 40sF and will feel like the mid-30sF. Ouch! I have threatened to pack my waterproof/windproof pants in my carryon in case I want to put them on between the airport and the hotel. Clay scoffed. He also made a decision not to pack his lightweight silky high-tech fabric long underwear. I cannot understand it. He brought a thick heavy pair of wool socks that won’t fit inside any pair of shoes he has with him or the ones he just bought but he left behind underclothes that would have taken up less space! He is rethinking that decision now.


The Hurtigruten ship, Finnmarken that was here today from 2:30pm to 6:30pm left right on time. It sailed out under the Tromso bridge. Finnmarken was evidently a newer and larger version of the ship we were on, Nordkapp. It was shaped a little differently. It looked like it had a nicer aft restaurant. It also looked like the top deck of cabins had balconies! That would have made a huge difference.

Norwegians say hey. They spell it HEI! When you meet one in a shop or something, they'll greet you by saying it twice in a kind of high voice. Really, both men and women in a higher pitched voice than the regular speaking voice. Some some hey hey and others say hi hi. Once in a while someone will mix them together. Hei! Hei!

Good night. I’ll hope for Internet access in Svalbard! Till then…

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