Flying Home

I am sitting outside my gate in Oslo... ready to head to Munich then on to Charlotte! If all goes well, I should arrive home in Charlotte at 3:30pm TODAY!

I guess it is only fair that my trip started with a bit of a scare... now ... They could not find my ticket reservation in the computers when I checked in!!! WHAT????!!!!???? After what seemed like an eternity, she found it... BUT now it was so close to check in that they could not issue me a boarding pass in Munich... Now they say it is "NO PROBLEM" and that I just have to have one printed at the gate when I get there... but there is always that moment of panic and fear!!!

At least I know my bags are checked all the way to Charlotte... at least they will make it home in time! Keep you fingers crossed!

Time to say goodbye..

Well all good things must come to an end I guess! I came across the following:

In 1664, an Italian by the name of Negri, wrote "I am standing at the edge of the world... This is where the world ends, and this is also where my curiosity ends, and I can return home satisfied"

Although I can only imagine my adventures continuing with each picture I show or story I share, I agree with Negri... I can return home satisfied!

I am sitting in the airport of the small Norwegian town of Kirkenes, very near the Russian border, awaiting my plain to Oslo. I am filled with so many emotions! It is almost too much to put into words as I think of all the things I have seen, all the people I have met and the amazing adventure I have enjoyed. I think the best way to close this post is to simply say... I am one lucky person! I am ready to come home and look forward to sharing with everyone!

Pictures and a few more posts once I check into my final hotel in Oslo, refresh and relax!

I am on top of the world!!!

Literally!!!! This morning I jumped up very early to take a soak in the jacuzzi as we were ported in the town of Hammerfest (N 070º 39,6' E 023º 39,5'). Hammerfest is credited with being the northernmost town of the WORLD! Although brisk and cool, my new Australian friend Helen and I (the one who lives in AbuDabi), take the opportunity to "bubble in the arctic north"!!

This Skyhawk is truly on top of the world!! Later this morning we will round the North Cape of Norway near Honningsvåg. The North Cape marks the most northern tip of continental Europe. I am truly above any US state and far above inhabitable Canada. I mean I dont mean to sound like I am saying im looking down or anything!!! I am going to grab some breakfast and then maybe a short morning nap.... or maybe not!

I can hardly believe that my trip is coming to a close... Wow... the places I have been!

Sunset to Sunrise!!

Tonight's Sunset....

(11:45pm)

Today's Sunrise...

(12:45am)

give or take few minutes...

SOOOOOOOO cute!!!

Today in Tromsø

Was a spectacular day in Tromsø... Now we head to the North Cape! I actually spent the past 4 hours hiking through the city... so now I think I will relax in the jacuzzi on the top deck while we sail even further north!!

While i soak my tired bones... I am considering the option to go arctic sea fishing tomorrow... EXTREME Angel would be so proud! We will see what happens!!

Hope all is well at home! The picture in this post was taken last night (at exactly midnight) in the TrollFjord. The steep cliffs tower over 1000 meters with only a few meters between the cliff face and the ship. These cliffs are said to be inhabited by the infamous Norwegian Trolls! We actually had a few show up on the upper deck to cause some havoc with the mainlanders!

PS... those of you who are following the blog (if any), I am unable to upload as many pictures as I would like. However, when I reach Oslo in 2 days, I will go back and add the pictures I mean to have with each blog... SO.. please come back and check out the pictures!

I have crossed the Arctic Circle!

This morning around 7:22am (my time) I crossed the arctic circle at 66º 33 minutes North!!! This point is marked with a globe monument (which I am unable to see with the cloud cover). Although I can not see it... I am still excited to be the 2nd Skyhawk t o traverse this route! Maria Swygert was here earlier this summer!

Todays excursion is to travel to the Svartisen glacier. However, with this mornings weather of rain and cloud cover, I am happy I decided to say on the ship! So I can sit here on the 9th deck observation deck and watch everything float by as I drink my cup of coffee and write.

I thought I would take this opportunity to give you a few facts regarding this country I have been traveling for the past 9 days: (yes it is easily googled.. but I actually found these things out on my trip)

1. Norway has about 4.7 million people living within its boarders

2. Its three largest cities are its capital of Oslo (557,000 ppl), Bergen (247,000 ppl) and Trondheim (165,000 ppl)

3. The area of this country covers a little over 239,000 square miles (385,155 km2) with over 187,000 sq miles of mainland

4. Norway is bordered by Sweden, Finland and Russia

I have enjoyed meeting so many people from all over the world. It is my privilege to share meals with a table of very diverse people. In a nutshell... just at one table you have a person from Austrailia who lives and works in Abu Dabi... you have a Belgium born man traveling with an American partner both of which work for World Bank in Washington DC (she grew up in a school very much like Hammond)... and my favorite are Los Angels based Martin the astronomer and his wife Shirley (who are on their way to India). This couple is so adorable and in their 70's with such a jazz for life and travel.

Beyond my dinner table, I have met Jon! A canadian business man, originally from Norway, lived 15+ years working for the studios in California. I enjoyed a wonderful chat with him on the upper solar deck. Very enlightening and welcomed conversation! He let me know that many Norwegians have not even been on this trip I am taking. He and I agreed that it is some of the most spectacular sights in the world. He also was telling me how young I am and that if I liked it so much I should just be adventurous and stay! I told him I am not too sure how that would go over back home!!!

I think I have also become the subject of a game for 4 little Norwegian kids, who are traveling aboard. These little ones will run around the ship trying to be the first to find me. Then run off and find the others, but by the time they have returned to where they found me... I have moved! At first it was a bit annoying... but I have come to find myself participating more and more! I can only imagine the questions going through their little minds and the stories that they imagine about this strange solo US traveler .....

Let todays adventures unfold!