The local bus dropped in front of the Rica Arctic Hotel. There are a few small hotels in Kirkenes along with three big hotels: Thon Hotel, Rica Hotel and Rica Arctic Hotel. Travels With Sheila chose the Rica Arctic Hotel since I was told that this is where the Snow Hotel picks up overnight guests. We began taking just what we needed for one night at the Snow Hotel, putting into backpacks, stowing suitcases in a baggage room until we returned.
Quite a few of tonight’s Snow Hotel guests were lounging around the lobby along with people waiting forexcursions. I asked Reception where town was, and she answered, “This is town. We’re very small.” Umm, yes indeed. I found that out after I put on Yaktrax, braved the cold to investigate, and discovered Kirkenes (like most of Norway) is a morgue on Sundays. The entire three-block town had stores, a few fast food places and one open restaurants with Whale steak on the window menu.
this is downtown Kirkenes, Norway
a cold and dreary view of Kirkenes, Norway
The wind whipped snow across the streets, and I was frozen to the bone. Back inside the toasty Rica Arctic Hotel, we spent the day sitting around, tedium relieved by conversation with a local fisherman who came in for a cup of coffee. PC (that is his name) filled us in on Kirkenes’ life, information, and trivia.
- PC fishes for King Crab from September 1 to January 1 with an allotment of 2,000 pounds annually. He has been hauling in 10-12 pound crabs using five pots out of the 20 he usually uses because the catch is so plentiful.
- The Female King Crab lays half a million eggs but only 2-3 percent survive. The biggest crab he ever caught was 26 pounds. Really! He showed us a picture of this monster crab on his telephone.
still more Kirkenes, Norway on a Sunday in January
residents of Kirkenes use small pull sledges to carry goods in winter Norway
- The biggest Halibut ever caught in Norway was 1,000 pounds. The biggest PC ever caught was a mere 700 pounds. Again, a picture of him with his halibut. We had no idea that such whoppers existed in the fish world.
- PC works the boat himself several days each week, is the only fisherman in Kirkenes proper, and builds wood piers and walkways when not fishing. There are approximately 20 other fishermen in the fjord.
- An iron mine is the major industry in Kirkenes at this time; finished product is primarily exported to China. Only 50 persons are unemployed in Kirkenes with work for anyone who wants to work. An unemployment figure of less than 1 percent.
Ready for more interesting trivia?
– Krill is used in cosmetics; Chicago is around 3,000 km/1,800 miles north of Kirkenes; and Cod’s eyes turn blue when they die. That explained the Cod’s blue eyes that we saw in Bergen. Not all Cods, maybe 1 out of 100.
Fascinating information for two landlubbers. The Snow Hotel mini-bus with hostess appeared at 6:00p to pick up tonight’s guests. We were a total of five nations representing: Germany, U.K., Australia, Singapore, and America. A short five-minute drive from downtown Kirkenes to the Snow Hotel parking area. Out of the van, we put on Yaktrax, and the driver led towards ice hotel proper, walking into a cold wind. Eerie….
Click here to view the embedded video.
