Tromso, Norway
Tromso is the gateway to the Arctic. It’s the northernmost part of the world we have ever visited. Landing at the airport, we were greeted with snow-covered walkways as the snow continued to fall throughout the day. Getting to our Airbnb was interesting as the stairway was laden with mounds of unshoveled snow. Donned in our boots and heavy coats, we finally arrived at the bottom of the stairs. Our first excursion to see the Northern lights was scheduled at 8 pm to board the van. We toured the quaint town and discovered the unique architecture, cozy cafes, and vibrant atmosphere of this northern gem as we wandered its picturesque streets.
Excitement was building as we boarded the van. Our tour guide informed us that the chances of seeing the lights were slim since it was still snowing and the sky was not clear. Everyone was allowed to exit, but like us, the desire to see the lights was stronger. Our destination was to head to the Finnish border, as the weather was expected to be better for seeing the lights. The drive was scary as we sat behind the driver, only to see giant snowflakes obstructing the view of the road. At one point, visibility was much better, and it looked like we were going to visit Finland. About 30 miles before the border, our tour guide told the driver to stop and pull over. The lights were not visible to the naked eye, but with the camera, BAM, there they were. With a clear sky, it looks like the haziness of the Milky Way. Depending on the geomagnetic field, colors of red, blue, and green could be seen; however, on this night, green and slight reds were visible. The desire to see the lights was one that we braved in temperatures as low as -8 degrees. Even the small campfire and ski gloves weren’t enough to keep our hands warm. With photos captured, it was time to make our way back to Tromso. We arrived back at our Airbnb at 2:00 a.m., only to head out on our next dog sledding adventure at 8:00 a.m.
This wasn’t our first experience with dog sledding. We have done it once in Toronto and again in Quebec. The difference with this experience was the education we received regarding the history, their breed, and the day-to-day activities that happen behind the scenes. It was very informative, and Mitchell got to play with the puppies. In the hut, we were served reindeer stew – a first for us, and surprisingly, it was delicious. This is a must-do in Tromso.
