Day 11 - Baltic Jewels and the Midnight Sun: Lofoten (Leknes), Norway

 Leknes in the Lofoten Archipelago, Norway – Tuesday, July 5

We continue our journey southward along the brilliantly beautiful Norwegian coast.  Today's port is Leknes, a small town (population just under 4,000 people) located within the Lofoten archipelago.  

Once again we chose the included shore excursion - another "panoramic" bus tour, which took us through majestic mountains and picturesque fishing villages.  We were on the island of Vestvågøy, dominated by tall, steep mountains with wide, green valleys and fishing villages in between, as well as white sand beaches.

Arrival in Leknes at about 8:00 am

Photo Credit:  Brian Anderson
Buksnes Church in Gravdal

Pipe Organ in the Buksnes Church

There has been a church on this site since about 1324, but this most recent iteration dates back to 1906.  The red wooden church was built in dragestil (dragon style), a popular early 20th century Scandinavian design.  

Fishing hut in Leknes

View from the Haukland lookout on the included tour












Domianno was our Guide










The landscape of Lofoten was truly the highlight of the day.  Our guide, Domianno (another Italian, married to a Norwegian) was amusing and light-hearted, filled with descriptions of the various uses of codfish, the major export of Lofoten.  The day was warm with changeable skies - reflected in the photographs above.  Images swirl like the fog that wafts across the craggy mountain tops, as I think back just 24 hours ago to our tour.  Norway is such a beautiful country!





A fond goodnight from beautiful Lofoton, Norway!


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