On our previous trip to the Baltics, the only Nordic countries we didn't cover were Iceland and Norway, so when a cousin of mine in Vancouver asked us to join them for a cruise to these two countries, we gladly obliged.
This 12-day cruise started at the southwest of Iceland, made a half circle to its northeast, then headed north into the Arctic Circle to a Norwegian archipelago midway between North Pole and the northern coast of Norway, then southeast to the Norway mainland, where the tour ended.
It was a cold weather trip, as you might imagine, but not so cold really, averaging high 40's Fahrenheit, and could be balmy when the sun showed up, like when visiting a cookie cutter town center, or while cruising a fjord.
The coldest spot (low 30's Fahrenheit) was reserved for "the world's northernmost town" Longyearbyen (pop. 2500), 650 miles from the North Pole, where an underground "Global Seed Vault" keeps over one million seeds from all over the world and where there are more polar bears than people.
Old time, harsh living mining and fishing villages had been mostly converted to cozy, scenic tourist towns.
But the rough terrain remains wild and beautiful.
As well as accessible, such as this geothermal spa that seemed to be a popular hangout place for local high-schoolers.
Unlike the many august, solemn looking cathedrals we are used to seeing in Europe, two contemporary churches in little northern Norwegian towns impressed us with their innovative and inspirational looks and design.
When in Viking countries, read Viking stories. I picked up and read a book on the Vikings from the ship's library and got an interesting side view of European history through the aggressive activities these Nordic "barbarians" brought on to the British Isles, the Frankish Empire, Russia, the Byzantine Empire, and the Mediterranean.
And for my aggressive act to the edge of the world, I was awarded a certificate.
* For more photos and details of the trip:
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