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steve@thaib · #1 03-12-2007, 05:15

I know bugger all about Norway but have a bit of a hankering to see the Northern Lights. I have found flights to Tromso for 180euro in January and can get a hotel for reasonable money, so I'm planning a trip.

I'm pretty excited about Tromso, I believe it's one of the most remote places on the continent, and would appreciate a few hints and tips from our Norwegian members so:

Is it wise to go to Tromso in January? Is 3 nights enough or too much? Will there be bears? Will there be pubs? And will the guys there have not seen a woman in so long that they find me irresistably attractive? I have no desire to be rogered senseless by half-crazed Norwegian fishermen with rough hands and a family tree that does not fork...

Tarzan · #2 03-12-2007, 05:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

I have no desire to be rogered senseless by half-crazed Norwegian fishermen with rough hands and a family tree that does not fork...

You just described all Norwegians...

Have no info about Tromsö more then i have friends that been there and they liked it.
Norways coastline is amazing. One of the most beautiful country's in the world imo..

MrDK · #3 03-12-2007, 06:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarzan

You just described all Norwegians...

Took you all but 15 minutes to chip in ...

Tarzan · #4 03-12-2007, 06:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDK

Took you all but 15 minutes to chip in ...

You have a problem with my post?

Petter · #5 03-12-2007, 06:57

Destinasjon TROMSØ - The Gateway to the Arctic

Have a look on this one,havent been there myself but they say its ok,lot of pubs

snakebite911 · #6 03-12-2007, 06:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

I know bugger all about Norway but have a bit of a hankering to see the Northern Lights. I have found flights to Tromso for 180euro in January and can get a hotel for reasonable money, so I'm planning a trip.

I'm pretty excited about Tromso, I believe it's one of the most remote places on the continent, and would appreciate a few hints and tips from our Norwegian members so:

Is it wise to go to Tromso in January? Is 3 nights enough or too much? Will there be bears? Will there be pubs? And will the guys there have not seen a woman in so long that they find me irresistably attractive? I have no desire to be rogered senseless by half-crazed Norwegian fishermen with rough hands and a family tree that does not fork...

It's been eleven years since I visited Tromsø, back in my army days, so I'm not that current on it, but I enjoyed it at the time. January is just about the darkest time of year up there, no sun whatsoever, but the weather is probably pretty stable, which should help you in your quest for the Northern Lights. You might have to travel out of the city for some good viewing, as the city ligts drown the sky out a bit. I had a night outside on top of a mountain, in the middle of the winter, whilst in the army, where I was supposed to keep watch. I watched alright, but straight up, it was an amazing show, huge moving bands of shifting colors. i was pretty much in awe, and not really in a hurry to get back in the warm tent when my replacement showed up.

Tromsø is a university city, so there is a fair amount of students there, including female, so most of us crazy Norwegians will leave you alone. Of course there are some gay Norwegians as well, so if this is a particular fantasy of yours I'm sure you can find some that are up for some rodgering. It has quite a nightlife, so a few beers shouldn't be to difficult to find, although your wallet will scream and plead for mercy. If you were looking for bears on the other hand, january would be a bad time to travel(hibernation), and there are no one in Tromsø. Svalbard would be the place for Polar bears, but not until april or so.

seven · #7 03-12-2007, 08:20

not to many bears around..but many places to drink beer

give you a preview of the northern light..it is amazing really

7

Crustasian · #8 03-12-2007, 15:34

It is a fairly large fishing town and we used to be on deployments further north.The Northern Lights are really good if you are out in the sticks to see them.

It is the middle of their Arctic Winter so temperatures can drop to lower than 35 degrees C.

Not a good idea to get blind drunk and sleep in a snowdrift.

Prices for food and drinks will be the biggest expense.In Norway all booze is very expensive.

steve@thaib · #9 03-12-2007, 15:43

Thanks for help on this guys, appreciated. I did think that it was going to be horribly expensive, but flights and hotels are not so bad.

I did have a look around on 'tinternet and the pictures of the place look amazing.

Bello Uomo · #10 03-12-2007, 16:05

Geir told me not to go to Norway!!

(I think he just wants to protect his homeland from my bad manners though....

)

Tommychrk · #11 03-12-2007, 16:36

Tromso is called Paris of the north due to a very good night life!! Been there once and it is a fun place to be. People are very friendly up north so I am sure you will have a great time. However, in January it will be pitch dark as the sun never rises above the horizon. But hey, all girls will seem pretty

LivinLOS · #12 04-12-2007, 09:38

A night I will remember for my whole life was driving along the ALCAN (alaska canada highway) after having driven for days 20h per day munching pep pills. Met two snowboarders in a VW van on the road who took me along to a set of sulphuric hot spings.

Had to walk 500m through snowy pine tree woods, then these pools of varying temp, stayed in there all night smoking bowls, swapping lies and tall travellers tales all the while the sky was this amazing display of rolling pink and greens. Stunning.

At dawn I crashed out in my van and when I woke a few hours later they had already rolled off. Just chance encounter with a pair of funny lads and my first (and by far most impressive) sight of the lights.