Huskys and the Northern Lights

Well, talk about killing two birds with one stone! I booked a trip with a close friend to Norway, Tromso to be exact, to see the Northern Lights and go Husky Sledding.

The Northern Lights are never guaranteed to be seen. It depends on the weather, the magnetic something or other, or God, whichever theory of how they are formed you believe. So, when booking with a company we chose to book a bus tour, safe in the knowledge that we would have a warm bus, cookies and hot chocolate to help us see through the night is the lights chose not to appear!

After a 3am wake up and the day travelling, we struggled to keep our eyes open for the 6pm-1.30am tour!  But glad that we did, as after a stop and an hour wait they finally appeared, dancing through the sky - green, red and purple - disappearing over the hills and trees as they went. Pleased that I had brought my DSLR camera and new tripod as this meant I could capture them in their full glory!

Then the following day we were lucky enough to see the lights again, this time with the husky sledding excursion combined!

Taking it in turns to steer and sit on the sled, we covered 12km with the team of 5 dogs pulling us along.

 And then we finished the night with soup, fresh bread and hot chocolate in a traditional Norwegian hut.

Quite possibly two of the best experiences of my life!

Go up the Shard

31st January 2015  - I went up the Shard.

Taking a very dear friend of mine, Michael, we booked tickets for 6.30pm knowing that it would be dark and London would be lit up by street lights, traffic headlights and attraction lights.

At £24.95 per ticket the Shard is not a cheap London attraction, however for that price you get awesome views and the possibility of remaining up there to savour these for as long as you like.

First we had to go through airport-like security screening, removing jackets and belt and having our belongings scanned. Then it was time for a cheesy photo which would later be superimposed onto various Shard backgrounds!  Finally we made it to to the first lift of two. Approx 20 seconds and we were at floor 33, a short walk and another 20 seconds and we were at level 69 - a fact not lost on Micheal's dirty mind! The first viewing area had glass walls completely surrounding all 4 sides. It was quite unnerving and on several occasions I had to reach out and touch the glass 'just to check'! Up a few flights of stairs and level 72 was the highest viewing platform, open to the elements with the spikey shape of the shard visible above you if you tipped your head back. Yes it had glass walls, but level 72 had no ceiling, and with the wind howling and the bitter cold air we didn't remain here long!

In total we spent about an hour up the shard. Was it worth the money - yes. Would I go up again - probably not. In the dark we could see the London Eye, Tower Bridge, the river and St Paul's.  During the day you may be able to identify much more.

 Prior to our visit I took this view of the Shard from the other side of the river

 Bridges crossing the Thames

 Toilets looked out through glass windows floor to ceiling at various views of London!

 Tower Bridge

Open to the elements above - level 73