To the Arctic Circle and Beyond...

Even though I'm home now I still have plenty of photos and adventures left over from the summer and I hope to put them all up on my blog in the next little while.

In July, when the days in Northern Europe were stretching to their longest, we left the Baltic and ventured a little farther north, to the Arctic Circle.

The twelve day cruise included many ports in beautiful Norway, cruising through spectacular fjords, gawking at the Midnight Sun and an excurson to the Nordkapp, or North Cape, said to be the most northerly point in Europe.




The view on the way to the Nordkapp. On this tour there was no guide, so I sat in the front of the bus and blabbed information over the microphone to all the guests. The bus driver was very friendly and pointed out all sorts of sights to see along the way.
Almost there!
This, ladies and gentlemen, is a real, live reindeer. I was extremely excited to see him.


The weather in northern Norway was quite warm (for way up there anyway) and the reindeer were all sluggish and tired from the heat.
Here we are at the North Cape with its globe pointing off into the great unknown.

There was a whole field full of inukshuks, built by people to mark their visits to the Nordkapp.
In 1988, seven children from different parts of the world gathered at the North Cape and created this monument to friendship, hope and joy. It is called "Children of the Earth."





Depending on who you ask, the Nordkapp might not be the most northerly point in Europe. There is a piece of land nearby that extends a kilometer farther, but it is an island, not part of the mainland. Either way, this spot has been embraced as the North Cape and it was cool to visit.
There are troll statues everywhere in Norway and lots of troll legends to hear. And of course, lots of troll dolls to buy.

One night after work I went up to the back deck on the ship to read and relax. These photos were taken between 1 and 2 am. I was in love with the Midnight Sun and never wanted to go to bed.

Norway is a stunningly beautiful country and I have photos from other cruises there to post another time. I felt lucky to be able to cruise around and see such breathtaking sights.

The Beauty of Home

Home now, taking some much needed time for self. It intrigues me to find myself in the same place as I was when I started this blog, two years ago today. I can see the great distances I’ve traveled since then. I don’t mean just on land, traversing countries, but also inside me, in my heart and mind and imagination. Travel has a peculiar way of changing a person, something I always notice after the fact, but not when I’m out there wandering around. It makes me, I think, deeper.

I feel that my life has reached a point. A point of what? I’m not sure. I just know that I am there. I have quit my job and come home. I am doing things right now for me, things I have wanted to do for a long time. Running, writing, cooking, working outside. I sit and contemplate the ocean and all its moods, the autumn leaves whirling from the trees to land, sometimes, in my cup of tea, the tiny chickadees that rustle nearby with their sweet little calls, the playful squirrel I saw one morning and now look for every day. I notice the clouds reflected in the still water, the grasshoppers I try not to squash on my morning run, the sweet, earthy smell of decaying leaves in the air. I watch my family, a varied bunch, but warm and wonderful people down to the last. I try to freeze moments in my mind, to hold on to these memories forever. I miss Jack, but he will be here soon, and I can’t wait.

Am I the dreamer or just part of the dream? What will happen? What dreams may come? I don’t know. I have ideas. I will apply for a different job on the ship, Jack will eventually come and live with me in Halifax, I will spend some time in Israel, I will travel, I will come home again and again and rediscover it anew each time. But really, who knows what the future holds?

For now, I am here. The world feels filled with possibility, and life is good.

That is enough.

“We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first
time.”

- T.S. Elliot