Polar Bear Club, Hammerfest

We're well on our way back south now and I have to say that this leg of the journey is not nearly as interesting as the one going north, mainly because of the timings of our arrival in port. It tends to be very dark when we arrive anywhere of interest, so photos are more difficult and I'm sure we're missing some spectacular sights along the way!

However, it was only 11 am when we got to Hammerfest and we were able to have a look around in the dim Arctic light. We also visited the Polar Bear Club, which has a lovely museum where we saw this giant fellow and lots of other Arctic animals and birds.

Back on the ship, we passed the afternoon (in virtual darkness) learning how to tie knots - you never know when it might come in handy! There were stops at Okstfjord, Skjervoy and then Tromso, where we arrived just before midnight.

We had booked for the Midnight Concert at Tromso Arctic Cathedral, a stunning modern A-shaped building with a beautiful stained glass window taking up one end and the most amazing acoustics. The music was provided by a soprano with a world-class voice, a cellist and a pianist, although we were a bit disappointed with the choice of pieces, as they were a bit dirge-like in some cases. Christmas music might have been more appreciated!

It was a late night for us and we've got an early start tomorrow, as we're booked on another tour. Gluttons for punishment!