Sehnsucht …
“Nowhere is the drama of dark and light played out more starkly than in the north”
George Mackay Brown
Days 5 and 6: There was a pattern to the days – while the light lasted, standing on the ice and snow encrusted upper deck, we watched the majestic waters and mountains of the Norwegian coast unfold like an IMAX movie; Slartibartfast’s finest work.
The sun never rose from behind the mountains but cowered beneath the visible horizon spreading a pink/blue glow which would begin to fade almost as soon as it arrived.
Approaching the next port, the streetlights would be on and the quays lit by an orange glow. Once off ship, a walk around the town would be in snow covered, near night such that all our memories have a dream-like quality. I am left with nothing but a deep desire to return. It is the equivalent of my impractical but intense desire to live in the wilds of Scotland’s northwest; the Germans have a word for it – sehnsucht.
The images were taken in and around Honningsvåg. In the freezing temperatures the decks were quiet much of the time except at night when the northern lights put on a show. The swimming pool was always quiet – I was never tempted!
northumbrian : light 
Beautiful! I can quite see the reasons for your Sehnsucht 🙂
Many thanks, I am already planning a return 🙂
it looks like a magic wonderland :o)
It is Easy, it is 😉
Your images are imbued with a yearning….
Thanks Sue – an accurate reflection 😉
Wow, what a gorgeous scene! I envy you the experience.
Many thanks Cate – it was breathtaking wherever you looked.
Amazing, Robin… Just amazing!!
Many thanks Malin – it is so magnificent up there but I guess you know that.
Desolate, inhospitable places have a way of inducing feelings that can only be expressed in German. 😉 Your photos are pure magic. I would have totally gone in that pool.
p.s. I mean “desolate” and “inhospitable” only in the most positive sense of the words.
I sort of regret not using the pool like I sort of regret not volunteering to have ice cubes poured down my back as we crossed the Arctic Circle i.e. not very much 😀
Weirdo. I’m sure it would have been most lovely. 😉
I know, what a stick in the mud I am 🙂
Those pictures are amazing, what a wonderful trip this is.
Many thanks Andrea, I can only recommend that one day you take the trip. In the winter at least, I would always travel north and not do the return trip, it is inevitably something of an anti-climax as the light returns and the snows thin.
Just fabulous Robin 🙂 I hope you had your towel (for hitch hiking of course)!
Don’t panic Sarah, I never leave home without one 😀
Photographing that award winning coastline is a cinch 😉
It’s probably the only cruise I would ever think of doing!
Quite right too – Hurtigruten is a ferry service not a cruise company 😉
I am most deeply indebted to you: sehnsucht is a word that describes precisely my foolish yearning for places I could never have lived, but still long for … I shall pass this post on to my very dear blogging friend Simon Johnson; for his blog created such sehnsucht as to bring tears to my eyes …
… and I am indebted for the link to Simon’s blog – it looks fascinating, particularly the posts related to Scotland and Thurso (where I spent some time when working occasionally at Dounreay and holidaying near Tongue).
Simon’s blog is something I am missing more than any other. He is a brilliant travel writer, and a man of huge intelligence. Even his food posts never failed to bring water to the mouth. But now he has a serious commitment to undertake, and I support him in whatever he does. 🙂
The images are totally amazing, Robin! And I know how much you love the cold 🙂
Many thanks Jo – even the good lady is persuaded, just a matter of having the right wardrobe 🙂 (thanks for the tweet too).
Super photographs, Robin.
How that pool appeals!
Many thanks – that pool was heated so much too warm for you I think 🙂
More great pics Robin but I ust ask why it’s impractical to live in NW Scotland? – if you wait about ten years you can stay in our B&B on Skye on the way!
Many thanks Iain. I would head north tomorrow, it is the good lady who is not persuaded – too far from civilization where civilization = M&S and Zara 😦
Strange lady! 🙂
These are wonderful Robin-especially the 4th image-beautiful, beautiful color and light-
Many thanks Meg – that one was taken at 13:24 and already the light is nearly gone for the day. Strangely, I think I could acclimatise – I am well adjusted to hibernation 🙂