We found an open museum, and what a find! If you are ever in Svolvaer you must see the Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum. It’s a private collection of WWII memorabilia created and run by one seriously passionate Norwegian (William Hakvaag). It’s taken him over 30 years and is obviously a labour of love.

Everything from uniforms to Hermann Goering’s ceremonial revolver. The highlights for me were a 1kg Nazi gold bar, Eva Braun’s purse and Hitler’s magnifying loupe. The watercolour and sketches he has by Adolf have raised authenticity questions around the world.

Just INCREDIBLE !

Dad – you MUST look at the website www.lofotenkrigmus.no

– Posted from my iPhone

The 4 hour bus ride up the E10 was magnificent. Perfect sunny skies, clear seas, huge rockfaces and lunatic tunnels. It’s the kind of trip that would be perfect with your own car so you could stop to take photos or pause at some of the old fishing towns to absorb the ambience (and smell). We passed Arne on his bike. I have to admit that I was a little jealous.

Svolvaer is again tiny and quite with almost everything closed, which suited us. The town has an excellent outdoor shop with lots of climbing gear to drool over. The area is well known for climbing. Made me wish I had brought my gear !

V is feeling a little fluey, so we bought some supplies and opted for an afternoon at our ‘hostel’. Great views of the surrounding mountains and the harbour. A pefect spot for a nap after some tea and choc chip cookies.

Sunset 23:41, Sunrise 2:12

Travel Tip

According to LP the Sjøhuscamp is the cheapest accomodation in Svolvaer (still not cheap to us). They also charge Kr50 extra for internet access. The public library is just up the road with free access but it closed at 15h00. If you stand across the road from the library you will find an open access point “dlink” that will give you access as of 19 May 2010 (not sure if it is the libraries AP). It’s a little slow but seems fine.

– Posted from my iPhone