Tour Managers Tales

Misty Fjord Drying Cod The Friendly Locals  Trondheim  Nidaros Cathedral - Trondheim Fast Ferry  Slow Ferry, Trucks and cars on this one Tromso Church  Arctic Cathedral, Tromso Evening Sunset Market Square, Tromso Harbour, Tromso

Hello and greetings from the "Top of the World" today we are in North Cape ..... the town we are docked in is Honningsvag,(only 1311 miles to the Northpole)  one of the most northerly towns here in Norway.  It has been a fantastic 6 days since we left Bergen we have seen some outstanding scenery, the weather has been not bad, with only one rainy day the rest have either been sunny or cloudy. Tomorrow we dock at our last port, Kirkenes, then we head back south, calling at the same ports again but most of them at different times than before so some of them we see during the day rather through the night, there is one highlight coming up and that is the Trollfjord,  we came through at 23.30 northbound and it was spectacular, a very narrow channel and just to make it more exciting the Captain does a 360 degree turn !!! was impressive in the dark ... should be sensational in daylight. A couple of days ago we crossed the Arctic Circle, they had a "celebration" on board kno

Welcome back, arrived in Bergen this evening, and yes it was raining .. as it always does !!! cleared up to be a really nice late evening though.  Tomorrow its city tour with a local guide, visiting the home of Edvard Grieg Museum Troldhaugen, later there is a walking tour through Bryggen, a World Heritage Site. Then at the end of the day we board the M/S Polarlys for the 12 day journey to "The Top of the World".   Come back soon and catch with this fantastic scenic voyage. 

Esa Ylostalo my driver and my friends at Kutilan Linkenne from Rovaniemi. Thanks for another safe trip.  We departed Tallinn early morning for the cruise back to Helsinki arriving at about 13.00, leaving the boat we rejoined our coach and met up with our Helsinki City Guide, Sonja.... and off we go on our city tour, passing the Embassies, the Olympic Terminal, view Uspensky Orthodox Cathedral, a stop in Senate Square to view the beautiful Lutheran Cathedral, then onwards to the famous Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) for a quick visit, next was the Sibelius Monument ... a great sight in memory of a fantastic composer. It was then back to the Sokos Vaakuna, check in and free time .... the following morning 3rd, unfortunately it was time to bid Helsinki, and Finland farewell as we made our way to the airport and the afternoon flight back to London. Hope that you have enjoyed Finland as much as I have, it is a country of contrasts, but with lots of trees, lakes and more trees, and l

This morning we joined the Tallink Shuttle from Helsinki to Tallinn, the crossing was 2 hours, and the boat was absolutely packed, good for business I suppose !!!  on arrival met up with the local guide , and started our visit to this beautiful old city, a general drive by coach for about an hour with a stop at the Festival Song Ground, then it was into the city and time for the walking part, starting at Toompea Hill, and viewing the Orthodox Church, and then walking down hill to the Town Hall Square, through some of the back streets, until we eventually arrived to our Hotel, the Sokos Viru, in the edge of the Old Town, dinner was included, and then a free evening. Here are some snaps from the day.  City view of Tallinn  Song Festival Ground, Tallinn Orthodox Church, Tallinn

Hello, a bit behind at the moment been a bit hectic this week, I am now at home and have been since the 3rd.... so its catch up time ... let me take you back a few days .... okay a week .... LOL .... We left Turku this morning, all a bit weary the noise on the market square a went on just a bit too late last night, if I never here a guitar and bongo drums ever again it shall be too soon !!! The first stop was at the lovely seaside archipelago town of Tammisaari, time for a walk around the old town that Gutav Vasa thought was going to be the Finnish sea port to rival Tallinn, not to be .... so he moved on up the coast to what is now Helsinki. The area around here is all part of a National Park, a really nice natural area. Our next stop was in one of my favourite towns, Finland's second oldest town Porvoo, time for lunch then I took the group for a walk around the town, the cobbles here are boulders ... hard walking, a lovely Cathedral stands at the top of the hill, a few years a