After lunch we were picked up by Barents Safari - afternoon excursion on snowmobiles and King Crab Safari.
We started by getting dressed for the ride in windproof cover clothes, boots and helmet. Then we were instructed to drive a snowmobile - max speed of 120 km/hour, but not quite the speed we should drive. We first drove a short distance to make sure we could handle the machine - then it went beyond the frozen fjord at a speed of 35-40 km/hour. After half an hour we pause and turned around. An excellent tour.
Half Way
The frozen Fjord
Back at the camp
On the way we stopped at a hole in the ice with a crab trap 15 meters down in the water. The guide checked the contents - it was some time since the trap was last up by the hole that was frozen and it was very hard to get the trap up.
From the crab trap we drove back to the starting point. Here they had in the meantime steamed King Crabs and we were served everything we could eat in a 'tipi' (sami-tent) - it tasted really good. A delicacy that had been very expensive at a restaurant. At 4pm we were back at the hotel, just to prepare for our next trip - visit to the Snow Hotel.
A Cing Crab
'Tipi' - where the crabs...
... were served
Kirkenes Snow Hotel and Dinner - Snow Hotel
Upon arrival at the snow hotel, we could grill reindeer sausages over open fire. Then we fed the hotel's reindeer - very nice animals.
We saw the snow hotel - impressive building entirely in snow and ice with 16 rooms - inside temperature is -4 degrees Celsius (25 F ). Outside it was on this evening -14 degrees C (7F). It takes 3 weeks to build the hotel of snow including the beautiful decorations carved into the snow by artists - furniture, beds and bar carved from sea ice and stored from year to year. The hotel is open from 20th December to 20th April - then ice and snow is melting - impressive. After a tour of the hotel we got a three-course menu together with a group of tourists who were staying overnight at the snow hotel.
Entrance to the Snohotel
Bar at the hotel
Hotel corridor
Room
Room
Room
The restaurant was located in an old barn which was renovated (and heated). We were served mushroom soup with roasted reindeer meat, fried Arctic Char (a small salmon species) and cranberry mousse with chocolate cake. Delicious food. Just after the main course, the Northern Lights were shouted - the whole hall was quickly emptied and the serving set until the northern lights had subsided - beautiful light just above the snow-covered pine trees. Those who were staying at the hotel were instructed to survive the cold of the night in special sleeping bags - we were now happy to be driven back to our hotel after dinner. Impressive hotel followed by an excellent dinner.
