20th March 2019. Our visit to Trondheim and then into Boda after crossing the Arctic Circle. 66.37degrees North.

We are at berth in Trondheim, Norway’s 3rd largest city.  We arrived here at 6.00am and depart at 12.00pm. It is the closest thing we have seen to an industrial port. 

We are walking 20 minutes into the city centre, then will see some of the historical sites.

The weather is clear, dry at this moment with maximum temperature of 2C. 

There is a lot of fresh snow on the neighbouring hills. 

Trondheim wad founded by the Viking King Olaf Trygvason n 997 and today has a population of mixed backgrounds and ethnicities. We look forward to visiting the Nidaros Cathedral and Archbishops Palace.   It is the second largest city in Norway and a financial hub for the Northern half of the country with a population of 170,000 people.

The Nidaros Cathedral and Archbishop Palace is simply amazing, superb stained glass windows, wonderful organ, a rustic simple touch for the most Northern Cathedral in Norway and the Arctic.

walked around the streets across the wooden bridge, passed by the University, then to the city mal and city square area. A most enjoyable 3 hours, then caught the local bus back, whilst others in our party walked the 40 minutes. 

We returned with another couple, on the bus, which dropped us 300 metres from the gangway. 

Afternoon we sails by several hundred small islands all part of the amazing visual panorama.  Some heavy showers of rain, noticeably cooler. 

Dinner tonight at 6.00pm, we shuffled seats and sat with another older couple from Western Sydney, enjoyable company.

We stopped at 4 different ports overnight. 

At 7.01 am we crossed the Arctic Circle and a ceremony was held by the exploration team to recognise the crossing.  Weather is again showery with the occasional snow shower, but is still OK.

At 10.15 am another ceremony to celebrate the Arctic Circle and to nominate the winner of the competition as to the closest to the exact time of crossing the Arctic Circle. 

Then at11.00am we meet our guide to determine our excursions in Lapland and Finland.  That is an exciting time in the trip.

Then we arrive n Boda and several of our group will walk with Inger. 

Our ship waiting for us to return from our excursion in Trondheim. 

Crossing the Arctic Circle@ 7.01am. Some 250 people on deck nine as the Expedition Team explain. 

At 10.15 am Njord the god of the seafarers came on board and there was a ceremony and celebration as we had crossed the Arctic Circle and he is here to protect us.  He asked for our wishes to see the Northern Lights, without any storms. 

They then proceeded to tip ice and ice water down the back of people as a celebration similar as to Neptune when you cross the equator. 

We walked 300-400 metres n Boda having docked at 12.30pm.  The weather in this industrial and fishing port in noticeably colder with persistent heavy showers together with several snow showers which are like pellets hitting your face and skin.

Boda is also the starting point for Nordic cross country skiing as well as many of the Nordic Forrest walks? 

We visit the Centrum or town centre, a shopping centre and super,Arlen for wine, soft drink and crisps. 

Fortunately we return to the ship by 2.00pm, just early enough to enjoy lunch in the dining room. 

The rain has become heavier.  We have several ports to visit this afternoon and evening. 

Jeanette has selects our land tour excursions for Lapland and Finland.  That all looks exciting.

We made a wise decisions to return to the ship ahead of busy crowds and the now incessant rainfall.