The ironman of travel Yoshimasa Ikeuchi

Lofoten Islands

Hinnoya (Harstad)

Ｎ０ＲＷＡＹ

Ｌｏｆｏｔｅｎ　Ｉｓｌａｎｄ

Aurora

Lofoten Islands

Epilogue

Prologue

Norway

Senja Island

Alta Ice Hotel

Rose flower that freezes at -5 ℃

Commemorative photo with my wife at a Sushi bar

Friendly chef Portuguese

Melting salmon (Tromso)

Alta's World Heritage Rock Art

Scenery from Kautokeino to Alta

Inside the ice hotel in Alta

Alta Ice Hotel

Me riding a reindeer sled

Reindeer sprinting through a snow ranch

Reindeer sprinting through a snow ranch

Reindeer crossing the road

Aurora in Lofoten Islands

It's all made of ice.
The romantic room is minus 5 degrees.
An ice hotel that sleeps in a sleeping bag on reindeer fur is probably comfortable? Enchanted by the fantastic ice sculpture.
The blue light creates a more mood.
The world heritage rock art I was expecting It is regrettable that the museum is closed under the snow.

I immediately rushed to the scene with a photo of a reindeer running at a hotel.
She said she would put up with a reindeer instead of an aurora in the shooting of her knees buried in the snow in a brave figure running by kicking the snow.
She arrives at her destination ice hotel while she is admired by the two-hour snow scene from Kautokeino to Alta.

1 hour 15 minutes from Helsinki to Ivalo.
In addition, we will run a five-hour land route over the bridge on the border between Finland and Norway.
According to the weather forecast one week ago, I decided to set it at -20 ℃.
Kautokeino (Norway is blessed with a sunny day with a temperature of -4 degrees Celsius.
Kotetsu (wife) who is disappointed not knowing whether or not she can see the aurora.

The one-hour flight journey from Alta to Tromso goes smoothly.
The sushi bar of "RA sushi" that I heard at a fish store in the town has a good taste, and the melty salmon nori seaweed is truly Norwegian and makes my tongue groan.
I am satisfied with the high prices in Norway.
The chef's Portuguese friendliness is also good.
The outside changes from snow to rain and eventually becomes sleet.
The wind has added and the weather has become suspicious.
Sure enough, the next morning the high-speed catamaran was canceled, so we will take a 6-hour break until the next flight.

Prologue

5 am

The sea is rough and the temperature is -5 ℃

Dawn

Landscape of Senja

Big pie and ice cream

Cod Meuniere is firm and tastes good

In a blizzard・・・

The hotel is on the second floor of the white building on the left

Freezing road on Senja Island

Early in the morning, I went out to shoot with a tripod, but I lost the sense of my fingertips due to the strong wind
and the coldness that was blown away, and I returned to the hotel early.
I feel like I'm going to have an ominous premonition Early in the morning,
I went out to shoot with a tripod, but I lost the sense of my fingertips due to the strong wind and the coldness that was blown away,
and I returned to the hotel early.
I feel like I'm going to have an ominous premonition.

At 3 o'clock in the middle of the night, I feel the shaking of the building as if it were an earthquake.
The sound of the waves raging in the blizzard, the roaring wind, the building itself seems to be blown away.
"What is this!" I was drowsy while listening to the sound of the wind waves that continued forever.

The second floor of the wooden house on the beach is spacious and comfortable,
and the scent of clean wood makes me hungry for dinner.
Speaking of Norway,
cod and pure white meat with outstanding freshness are entwined with the sauce and condensed the taste.
The dinner party for only two people on Senja Island, which is not on the map of Japan, was wonderful.

Although the weather was rough,
we managed to set sail and arrived at Finnsnes (1 hour 15 minutes) on the Island of Senja from Tromso.
Crossing the bridge from the mainland, you will find Senja Island.
Drive on the ice for 1 hour and 30 minutes in a blizzard that you can't even see before.
Far from enjoying the scenery, it is already a dark world after 5 o'clock.

Finally landing and heading to the hotel

Finally landed on the Lofoten Islands

Breakfast is a lot of rare things

Breakfast is a lot of rare things

I'm full

Dinner appetizer

The next morning is sunny

A blizzard that you can't see before on your way home

The red building on the left is the inn, and the right is the lord's mansion 100 years ago.

Aurora to show between blizzards

First aurora shooting

Scenery of the port town

Landscape from the accommodation

Landscape from the accommodation

Pet dog George

10th generation owner Christian Frederick

The knocking sound woke me up after 1am and the sailors told me to prepare for disembarkation.
I was able to check in at the hotel at 3:00 am, which was good enough.
The next morning, go back to the original road and proceed through the black strait, which turns from cloudy to rain.

There is no sign that the swaying of the ship will subside.
On the inboard broadcast, there is a plain voice saying that the next harbor will also pass.
It was Arrival at the port called Bodo at 2:00 am is decided.
I decided to go back to the cabin and go to bed.

Happening is a part of the trip,
4 hours to the destination Stamsund, While the storm is getting worse,
what happens is that the movie Titanic's sinking footage passes through my head for a moment.
Thanks to the interpreter of Mr. Maeda,
a tour guide I met on board.
It was helpful to be able to obtain qualified information.

Finally, the long-awaited coastal express ship (12000 tons) advances to Stamsund, the gateway to the Lofoten Islands.
The faces of passengers who seem uneasy about the eerie clouds that are gradually becoming rough.
The sway of the ship gets worse, but I can't stand and walk anymore.
My wife is lying in the cabin early on.

When it snows again, I wait in the car, and then an aurora appears in the direction Rudy points.
Admiring her mysterious light, she is so enthusiastic about shooting that she forgets the pain in her hands that is numbing in the negative world.
I wasn't able to make a convincing shot, but I'm sure I'll be visiting this place again next year.

Waiting in the mountains for 30 minutes, the stars peek through the clouds.
"It's amazing" even though the weather is like this.
I see the first aurora around 10 o'clock.
Aurora is the first time I see it, but I'm even more surprised by his talent.
The portable Internet is very powerful in the mountains.

With people who can communicate with each other, conversations will be lively in the Aurora discussions.
After dinner, we will be guided to aurora photography by Rudy's car.
Snow hitting outside, "I can't do it tonight" "Shall we go home?" "No, it's okay." Rudy,
who checks aurora information on the Internet, is a reliable navigator.

10th generation owner Christian Frederick
The lord's mansion run by Mr. Kursen (40).
The full-course dinner is surprisingly voluminous and tasty, but
It ’s also the first time that there are many fork knives lined up.
Aurora photographer Rudie I met in town tonight
Invite Mr. van deameer).

The inside of the ship is quiet and the bustle of the trip cannot be seen anywhere.
We finally arrived at the destination.
Reiko (23 years living in the Lofoten Islands) who came to pick us up also said, "This is the event since the Island started."
The smile disappears from the weather information from tomorrow.