Lofoten Islands

Photos from Lofoten:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/103620108216329120374/albums/5907964396484441777

We spent the past week well above the arctic circle. Our first impression upon landing at Tromso is that the far north is not as cold as you’d expect it to be. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the town was so lively. There was a market at the town square, and we found a guy selling freshly caught fish (which is surprisingly hard to find in a place where fishing ties with tourism as the top industry). We cooked a lot through Norway, and fresh fish was always a treat over what we can find at grocery stores.

We drove from Tromso to the Lofoten Islands, an archipelago connected by road to the mainland. The islands are filled with small green peaks and dotted with tiny fishing villages. It’s a must see for anyone who likes cute places!

Settlements in Lofoten started over 1,000 years ago because of their strategic location for cod fishing during the winter. Fishermen used to come to Lofoten from January to April and stay in little red cabins that formed small communities. Each had a general store and typically an owner of the community. Fishermen worked for that owner and were paid often paid with fish. The cod was mostly dried and exported - and still is today! We saw many drying racks filled with cod heads. The islands also provide for great hiking and beautiful drives, and if you’re lucky, amazing viewing spots for the midnight sun. Many of the villages are well-preserved, so you can really get a sense of what life was like on the island for a fisherman.

Harbor at Tromso, Norway

These are the last few of the Lofoten Islands, driving from mainland. Today, the Islands are connected by a well-maintained road. 

One of the many cod drying racks found throughout the islands.

One of the larger fishing villages in Lofoten. This one has an active artist community.