The Munz girls in the Arctic circle - Tromsø

Our last big trip in Norway was to Tromsø in Northern Norway (69 degrees N). Tromsø has the Northernmost university in Norway and there is a lot of arctic research being conducted there. We spent our first day at Polaria - an arctic aquarium where we watched a video on the Northern Lights (which, sadly, is the only time we saw them during our time there), a video on Svalbard (which prompted a lot of "Did you see that when you were there, Mommy?" questions, and enjoyed the seal training and feeding sessions. Our second day we spent around our rental house enjoying sunrise around 11am (first light was around 9am) and then sunset right around 12:00noon (last light around 2:30). The girls also got out to play in the snow (which they loved!) Right after last light, we got to see the moon follow the same trajectory as the sun. The morning we left, we headed to the bus stop at 5:45am in blizzard like conditions. Don't feel bad for us though, while waiting at the bus stop a whole group of reindeer (with very impressive and distinct antlers) walked right in front of us down the road! We took a video (capturing 8 of them) but it is too big for the blog (thus the blurry photo). Seeing the reindeer was an unexpected highlight and eased the sting of not seeing the northern lights. No complaints about the views from our rental house - absolutely breathtaking.

We arrived at night so didn't see this view until the next morning.

bus ride into downtown

Polaria in the background - the exterior of the building looks like ice blocks

Polaria's claim to fame is having bearded seals in residence. Weighing in at a cool 305 kilos - this photo is of a harbor seal. They had 2 of each kind.

We took this photo at "high noon" (aka sunset)

The "before" picture

At the airport

Back in Moss after walking through the Christmas Market in Oslo "on our way" home

Nice sunset in Moss behind decorated streets to welcome us home

Copenhagen Day #3-The Scandinavian Versailles

On our third day in Denmark, we packed up and headed north of the city to Frederiksborg Castle, also known as the Scandinavian Versailles.  We did an audio tour of the castle, which is also The Museum of National History.  Then we drove towards Kronborg Castle and saw it from the outside, as well as from the car ferry that we took from Helsingor, Denmark to Helsingborg, Sweden, before driving the 5 hours back to Moss.  We then returned the rental car at 9pm and walked the 45 minutes back to our apartment.  It made for a jam packed day, and the girls(especially the older two) really enjoyed seeing a castle from the 1500's up close. 

 Frederiksborg from courtyard

 It was extremely impressive, even while overcast

 They were awed too!

 Mainly by the size of it

 The Chapel

 Juliet was Elizabeth's "helper" with pictures in the castle, while Sydney and Evelyn did the audio tour

 Various shields on The Chapel walls, including one for President Eisenhower

 A museum to keeps coats on, it was chilly in the hallways

 Ornate furniture

 The Great Hall was ridiculous, the ceiling was mind boggling

 "Are you talking to me?"

 Another helper pic

 "We are happy to be in The Great Hall", (in a Dan Akroyd Conehead voice)

 The gardens from the castle window

 Sydney could have led tours by the end of the audio tour

 Evelyn posing with some of the artifacts

 Our buddy H.C. Andersen

 And a desk with some of his artifacts

 Sydney with the full breadth of the castle

 And she thought these pruned trees were really interesting

 Kronborg Castle

 Kronborg Castle from the ferry

Helsingor, Denmark from the ferry