Norway Day Three: A Cloudy And Cool Tromso Morning

I didn’t get much sleep last Friday night, my first night in Norway. It was hard adjusting to the time difference and the 24 hours of daylight. Although  it was cloudy, you still felt the presence of  light even in a darkened room. It was strange just knowing it wasn’t dark.  I finally dozed off for a couple hours and awoke around 7: 30 a.m. with a steady rain falling outside. 

Thankfully the heavy rain soon stopped. I looked at the radar and saw what appeared to be  a few hour break in the rain.  I was going to  hike some trails  in the fishing village of Sommeroy.  It was about an  hour drive from Tromso. However, it  looked like it would be raining again  by the time I got there. 

So I  donned my rain gear and began to roam the rain soaked streets of Tromso. It was Saturday morning and the streets were empty as a chilly wind blew in off the ocean. Morning temperature was around 40 degrees. 

I walked from the waterfront near downtown and up the steep streets leading into the residential areas on the hills that run through  the middle of the island. 

There were mainly homes on the hillsides but also some larger buildings.  I believe these colorfully painted building are schools. 

The streets wound upward along hillsides  with picturesque old wooden houses, 

mixed in with modern apartment buildings. 

Up here many of the folks were awake.   I heard a few lawn mowers in use  on this overcast and wet morning. The lawns were well maintained. 

Even though it was June the trees, which mostly are, I believe, a type of birch, had just begun to set their first leaves. 

There were only a few flowers in bloom.  They were, however, exotic and very beautiful. I  wish I had more time to explore and learn all of the names of these foreign trees and flowers. 

I continued my upward hike and found what I was looking for, a wooded trail. I found some nature in Tromso!

I followed this trail and immediately was greeted by a number of seagulls that appeared to be nesting in the area. 

I soon learned why. The trail led to a wetland adjoining a small lake. And there were hundreds of seagulls sitting on what appeared to be nests on the ground. 

I also saw a number of other birds but it was hard to get good photographs in the overcast and drizzly  conditions. This was a  unique looking bird I have yet to identify. Any help will be appreciated.

I also saw some ferns prodding through the wetland soils. 

It was June  but more looked more like early Spring back home. I saw a few more wildflowers along the path.

I walked into a picnic area along the lake and thought how magical it would be  on a warm summer night under the midnight sun. It was cold and chilly when I visited on Saturday. 

I made my way back along the trail seeing a few more unfamiliar birds along the way. Here is a link to some more photographs of the birds I saw on my walk. Tromso Day Two  morning walk birds June 2 2018.

It started to rain as I walked down the hill just as I came upon a cemetery. I always loves visiting cemeteries on my travels. They always reminded me of the briefness of our mortal lives and so much more so after the tragic events that occurred in my life this past year. I didn’t want to spend much time visiting the graves in the rain and I was going to walk past it.

Something made me decide to enter and I came across this gravestone. It had a sudden and emotional impact on me, having just celebrated my 60 birthday. 

The poor infant, who only lived for only one day was born, and died two weeks before me in the same year I  was born. I felt the sadness of his parents. It was so real. They must have been grief stricken as my mom and dad were experiencing the joy of my birth, their first born son. His parent are now buried next to him. 

I again reflected on our mortality, thinking of my beloved  Linda and her husband  Charles who we lost in a tragic accident last fall. Tears filled my eyes as I again asked that question that has haunted me since the accident. Why?   It seems not an hour goes by and I ask myself this question. .  It was strange how in  this small cemetery in this remote town  I found  some comfort knowing, unlike this poor child, they lived full and love filled lives.   They were blessed to live, find each other and love. And their special love for each other produced the most wonderful four children. It was a blessing so many never receive.  I was glad to find this small comfort by stopping in this cemetery so far from home.  Life is strange and very short. We must enjoy every day we are given for someday we will all reside in a cemetery. And some foreign traveler may visit us. Here is a link to some more photographs of the cemetery. Tromso Day Two Cemetery. June 2 2018. 

I continued my walk back down towards my hotel observing the strange plants and trees along the way. I wonder what type of flowers this plant will produce? I wish I could stay and find out.

When I made it down to the main streets of Tromso I found a few more folks were now out and walking in the light rain and cool temperatures. It started raining hard again just as I made it to my hotel. I would have preferred sunshine but I was thankful I was able to get in this reflective walk in remote northern Norway. Here is a link to some more photographs from my walk. Tromso Day two morning walk June 2 2018.

Man is not himself only…He is all that he sees; all that flows to him from a thousand sources…He is the land, the lift of its mountain lines, the reach of its valleys.  Mary Austin