A calm sail up the fjord to Kirkenes after the rough and tumble of the night. Breakfast had fried eggs this morning as well as the usual buffet food so it was good.

We said farewell to the MS Polarlys and off on the tour to the Russian Border - 13 kilometers away. It was lightly snowing but the sun was trying to break through. The border frontier runs down the middle of a frozen lake then crosses the road. There are 200 Norwegian soldiers on the border and 2,000 Russian soldiers. The guide said that the Russians must be scared of something!

A sign warned about throwing objects across the border, trying to step across the border without a visa and certainly no rude gestures. It was just as imagined a Russian border would be - snow lightly falling, birch trees on heavily snow covered forest. There it was - just across the open gate - very inviting, but we needed to be respectful - no visa - no entry. Large fines imposed for just putting your big toe over the line!! The photo is of me on the Norwegian side of the "open gate - border crossing", with Russia behind me. A small souvenir shop was doing a good trade and there were cars crossing over. Murmansk is the nearest town in Russia - 250 km away. It was a good experience to visit this frontier border crossing.

A drive around Kirkenes - a small town of 3000 people and then a drop at the Rica Arctic Hotel.

Everything in Norway is expensive and Kirkenes must top the list. But hey ...... it's only money.

We are off snowmobiling tonight for 3 hours followed by supper of reindeer meat. Some down time now before that. The sky is also clearing so you never know!

To be continued ....