Day 8 – The highest point

We wake up at 8 am on this ‘infinite day’. After mid-May the midnight sun phenomenon arises in the Arctic Circle, where the sun does not completely disappear below the horizon. These days have no sunrise or sunset and are thus officially infinite. What a special way to celebrate our anniversary.
A little after 2 am  last night I woke up and I noticed that the emergency lighting was burning in our hallway to the bathroom. That was the first time I saw that. This morning during the daily talk of our the captain it becomes clear why this light was on. When switching  fuel tanks last night a power cut emerged in the engine room resulting in the automatically switching of the power from  the hotel section to the engines, so that the operation of the ship was not in danger. This caused  the emergency lighting. This is yet another proof of the modern technology of this ship. The captain stresses again that this ship is one of the safest ships that currently sails the world's oceans.
Around 11 am the ship arrives in Honningsvag. It is the first time that a ship of this magnitude docks in this relatively small port, so it takes a little longer than usual. From here we explore the North Cape. The North Cape is located some 35 km from Honningsvag.
At the time, the first visitors were taken by boat to the foot from where they had to climb up  the 300 m high cliff. Fortunately for us, there is now road to the North Cape.
We dress warmly for our expedition as  the weather is nasty. Sleet, freezing rain, drizzle and rain with some dry periods alternate. Normally it should be about 11° but it is hardly 3. And this is without taking the wind chill into consideration. Then we come into negative temperatures. Armed with thick sweaters, thick pants and a winter jacket we disembark from the ship. The other passengers also have done their best to dress as warm as possible, but it does not work equally well for everyone. When I look around  I see some that only expect a refreshing breeze on a Hawaiian luau, others are dressed as if they were not told that there is indeed a road and no more climbing is needed. There are those who have apparently misunderstood that it is only the North Cape and not the North Pole itself. Some dangerously  spin their canes. Still others apparently do not expect to return today to the ship. Judging from the weight of their backpacks, they carry heavy survival packages.
The road to the North Cape leads through a real polar landscape. A desolate landscape of fjords consisting of bare rock, alternated with withered grass. The monotony is occasionally interrupted by a small lake or ice field. Fierce waves break on high rocks. Occasionally you perceive a typical Norwegian wooden house including boat dock and fishing boat on one of the lakes. This is the hard northern life. Reindeer graze on the mountain slopes. And no, there is not one with a red nose. The ice water of the small glaciers are silenced in time. The treeless landscape is of an unusual beauty.
And then we get the rock insight. We are at 71°10'21" latitude, we are officially at the North Cape, the end of our pilgrim journey by ship. What a special moment to experience this on our day, the highlight of our 17th wedding anniversary. And a check of our bucket list.

From the 300 m high cliff we peer over the Barents Sea and look straight down into the depths. From the 300 m high cliff we peer over the Barents Sea and look straight down into the depths.

On top of the rock there is the monument of the globe which was built in 1978 and is currently the official symbol of the North Cape.

Additional on the plateau there are seven wheel-shaped sculptures that were created in 1988 by seven children from seven countries. They are monuments to joy, friendship and cooperation for all children in the world.
In the North Cape Hall there is a restaurant, a coffee shop, a museum, etc. ...
The North Cape got its name from the English captain Richard Chancellor who in 1553 as captain of the Edward Bonaventure was looking for a new route to China and completed the spectacular northernmost point of Europe.
Now it is said that this is the northernmost point of Europe, but this is merely symbolic. Geographically Knivskjellodden at 71°11'08" is somewhat  more northern. And what about the Norwegian polar regions? But we will not enter that discussion. The North Cape is and remains for us what it has been for years, the northernmost point of Europe, the top of the world.
We return to the ship to warm up a little in our warm stateroom. The bubbles and strawberries in chocolate were brought earlier. An anniversary gift from my sister. Really yummy . It  tastes so good after our ‘pole trip’. Perfect as an aperitif.
We dine in the dining room overlooking the fjords.
From the Crow's Nest on the twelfth deck we see the Koningsdam leave from Honningsvag back southward. We've done what we came to do, conquering the North Cape ...