A Norwegian Holiday (Part 27)

A Quiet Seaside Spot in Tromso

From the Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden, we went by bus to a quiet suburb of Tromso named Telegrafbukta (Telegraph Bay). The bus ride took us about 30 minutes as we had to change buses on our way.

There is a little sandy beach in this locality, situated on the south-western part of Tromsoya or Tromso island, which is popular among the local people, especially in summer. Our bus took us past this beach and, after getting off the bus, we walked further north along a quiet, picturesque road running along the seashore. On one side of the road were meadows adorned with many wild flowers and dotted with trees, in the midst of which stood some colourful old wooden houses. And, on the other side of this path was the sea. Further away, across the sea at a distance, we could see snow-capped mountains.

Meadows with wild flowers and trees

Colourful wooden houses

The sea with snow-capped mountains across it at a distance

As we walked ahead, we came to a lovely, secluded spot by the sea with beautiful wild flowers and a rock and pebble-filled beach by a small cove. We had to walk across a small thicket to access it.

Crossing the thicket to reach the beach

The rocky beach and a cove

The quietude of the place was broken only by the sound of the gentle waves lapping against the shore and the hushed whisper of the cool sea breeze

It was a picturesque spot. On the farther side of the cove was a pretty little wooden cottage in the bright red paint characteristic of so many of Norway’s houses. Further beyond stood a small wooden pier, jutting out into the tranquil sea. Some parts of the beach were covered with seaweeds washed ashore. A few Oystercatchers and some other shorebirds, wary of our presence, were foraging furtively on the rocky shore. Fireweed and other beautiful wild flowers stood nodding their heads in the breeze in a small meadow by the sea.

Although it was peak summer, there was a nip in the air and a chilly wind was blowing in from the sea. The sun was shining brightly, high up in the sky, even at that late hour. A yacht stood bobbing on the water, silhouetted against the golden glow of the western horizon. The quietude of the place was broken only by the sound of the gentle waves lapping against the rocky shore and the hushed whisper of the cool sea breeze. The ambience was truly serene…

The cove and, beyond it, a small wooden pier

Seaweeds washed ashore on the beach

A yacht silhouetted against the evening sky

We spent a leisurely time here, strolling around, looking for pebbles and sea shells, just sitting lazily and gazing at the shimmering sea, watching the birds and the pretty flowers, listening to the mellow music of the wind and the waves and taking in the kaleidoscopic hues of the sky as Nature worked her matchless magic on that grand canvas, splashing it with her marvellous palette of brilliant colours.

And, then, it was time for us to leave. It was halfheartedly that we boarded our bus back to the town from this supremely serene and idyllic spot.

(To be continued in Part 28)