This blog post describes the content of the video, which you can see below:
In this video, we go into Norway! We enter Norway from Finland near the Russian border and want to go where a river splits Norway and Russia. We see some amazing sights and hike up a mountain in the midnight sun. We also go to Vardo, a special island where we see birds we’ve never seen before!
Kirkenes
The first village we encounter in Norway is Kirkenes. Located on the Barents Sea, it is an important hub for trade and transport in the area. During World War II, the village was almost completely destroyed by bombing, with only 13 houses remaining. There are several memorials around the town to commemorate this.
We also find a print shop that can help us put our Instagram handles on the side of our camper. We had been searching for someone to do this for a long time and were thrilled to get those stickers finally. Installing them was some work, but we are delighted with the result!
Grense Jakobselv
When we started this trip, Natalie said she didn’t want to go near Russia. However, as fate would have it, we ended up at the Russian border.
Grense Jakobselv is the northernmost point of the Russian-Norwegian border. The border is marked by a river of the same name and heavily guarded by Norwegian soldiers. They are very friendly and helpful, though, informing visitors about the dos and don’ts near the border and towards Russia.
While we were camping at the free camp spot at Grense Jakobselv, we were told that Beluga whales had been spotted several times. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see them on our first day. Around midnight, we decided to hike up the hill at Grense Jakobselv under the midnight sun. It was a lot of fun and so strange to have full sun at midnight!
When we returned to our campsite, our neighbours told us that the Belugas had appeared yet again, this time while we were hiking, leaving Natalie a bit sad. Fortunately, just as we were about to leave the next day, we finally saw the beautiful white whales! There were about 8 of them, including some babies. They were easy to spot with the naked eye or even better with binoculars, but capturing them on camera was quite difficult.
Vardo
Vardo is a small island located in the Barents Sea, off the coast of Norway. It is the easternmost settlement in Norway and one of the most remote places in the country. The island has a rich history, including being a major fishing and whaling centre in the past. Today, it is a popular destination for tourists interested in exploring the Arctic and experiencing the region’s unique culture.
We drove to the tourist centre in town, where we found motorhome parking spots equipped with electricity. The centre also provided showers, which were a welcomed amenity. We utilized the tourist centre as a workspace for the day while it poured outside. In the evening, we had the chance to visit the oldest pub in Norway, which also happened to be the only pub on the island. It was a bustling spot, and we enjoyed our time there, particularly knowing that it closed at midnight.
There are numerous activities to enjoy around Vardo, and we decided to stay a few more days to explore the area. Stay tuned for our next vlog, where we will share our experiences on this remote island.
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