Took a tour with Blue Puffin called ‘Why we Live Here’, essentially the tour guide takes you to, what they consider to be the best places in Tromsø.

Our guide Lucia was from Kristiansund, in the south of Norway and has been studying here for more than 4 years now. Our first stop was the Artic Cathedral, although not officially one, it was designed with huge windows front and back and chandeliers to look like icicles. However, when the sun shone through the windowd, everyone had to wear sunglasses and the priest couldn’t see who was awake, they changed the rear windows to stained glass, the architect did not agree and will not set foot in the Cathedral!

On the way we stopped to view a small village only accessible by boat, not far from one of the salmon farms. Then a visit to the Ersfjordbotn Fjord and Grotfjorden (means rice pudding) with its lovely beach and further upstream, an ideal spot for our picnic of salmon wraps and Solbærtoddy, a hot blackcurrant drink, similar to Ribena.

Saw people skiing on the tarmac paths, very odd but very common in the summer months.

Our final stop was the Husky Cafe, where there were two litters of 10 day old puppies, eight 4 month old puppies and over 200 dog sledding huskies, housed in the dog yard. Fascinating talk on the life of the huskies, who were all happy to be stroked and cuddled! Finished with another cup of Solbærtoddy and a piece of fabulous chocolate cake.

Brilliant tour, especially as we were there, on one of only approx 10 days in the year, the temperature got above 18 degrees!

Last but not least though, you won’t be surprised was the Hard Rock Cafe, the most northerly in the World, for the essential Tshirt!!