I like Tromso. Not a big place. The centre is probably about the size of Inverness. It sits on it's own island., so last night their was another long bridge to reach the town, then a cycle half around the island to take me off the island to my campsite on the other side.
There is a newish, large cathedral known as the arctic cathedral made of concrete. Not to sure about the design!
There are tattoo shops, Thai massage parlours, burger and grill places, an indoor shopping centre, fancy looking bars and a few empty shop spaces.
There are also fishing boats, some original old wharf style buildings, museums and some big hotels. Further up the fiord is a cruise liner, but not as big as the ones which visit Invergordon.
I visited the polar museum. I recommend it. Trapping and hunting were a way of life here. But like elsewhere it was done to such a level that species reached near extinction levels; For example, Svalbard has a special variety of Reindeer, but during a single Winter, a couple of hunters could easily shoot 100. They were protected in 1925. Not so the seals-you can no longer shoot the young for their white coats, but adults still get hunted. The blubber is made into low grade engineering oil and the cars at the moment are being stored as there is not a market for them. I have not seen a live seal during all my time in Norway.
Also in the museum , really interesting exhibition and information on early arctic exploration. I liked the bit on Nansen and his attempt at the end of the 19th century to reach the North Pole. He did not, but acquired loads of scientific information and got home after great hardship,3 years later.
I then met Sandra again. A Belgian girl, I met her and Bertrand first night out of Trondheim. They have been cycling same route as me but I missed seeing them along the way. SHE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT ON SENJA. Fell off on a downhill going around the rocky cliff face and had to be taken to hospital in Tromso. She had a couple of nights' stay there but luckily her scans were clear- no breaks, just bad bruising. Her face did not look good-did not like to take a photo! However it would have been a lot worse if she had not been wearing a helmet. In my blog for that day I said I was not taken by the cycling on the first part of that island. I think I am lucky I did not come off my bike.
There is a botanical Gardens but you can't see everything.
There is a newish, large cathedral known as the arctic cathedral made of concrete. Not to sure about the design!
There are tattoo shops, Thai massage parlours, burger and grill places, an indoor shopping centre, fancy looking bars and a few empty shop spaces.
There are also fishing boats, some original old wharf style buildings, museums and some big hotels. Further up the fiord is a cruise liner, but not as big as the ones which visit Invergordon.
I visited the polar museum. I recommend it. Trapping and hunting were a way of life here. But like elsewhere it was done to such a level that species reached near extinction levels; For example, Svalbard has a special variety of Reindeer, but during a single Winter, a couple of hunters could easily shoot 100. They were protected in 1925. Not so the seals-you can no longer shoot the young for their white coats, but adults still get hunted. The blubber is made into low grade engineering oil and the cars at the moment are being stored as there is not a market for them. I have not seen a live seal during all my time in Norway.
Also in the museum , really interesting exhibition and information on early arctic exploration. I liked the bit on Nansen and his attempt at the end of the 19th century to reach the North Pole. He did not, but acquired loads of scientific information and got home after great hardship,3 years later.
I then met Sandra again. A Belgian girl, I met her and Bertrand first night out of Trondheim. They have been cycling same route as me but I missed seeing them along the way. SHE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT ON SENJA. Fell off on a downhill going around the rocky cliff face and had to be taken to hospital in Tromso. She had a couple of nights' stay there but luckily her scans were clear- no breaks, just bad bruising. Her face did not look good-did not like to take a photo! However it would have been a lot worse if she had not been wearing a helmet. In my blog for that day I said I was not taken by the cycling on the first part of that island. I think I am lucky I did not come off my bike.
There is a botanical Gardens but you can't see everything.
Comments
Post a Comment