We learned today that Norwegian law is very strict. Norwegians themselves are not given harsh prison sentences. Twenty-one years is the maximum. Crime rates are low. No the other hand, Norway, on the other hand, comes down hard on international criminals. These fishing trawlers are Russian. The wandered into Norwegian waters and the boats were impounded. Apparently they won’t be released to the owners until a huge fine is paid. Mostly, the fines don’t get paid, so the ships languish in the harbor until they are worthless rusted husks.

Russians are a real presence here. The border is only about 20 miles away. Almost all the stores in Kirkenes have Russian language under the Norwegian on all placards and signs. Clerks speak both Russian and Norwegian. As a final act of war, the German soldiers blew up the town, absolutely leveled it, even the church. Everything here is "new" since 1945, but the weather here ages everything quickly. Russians liberated the town. The residents were mostly hiding in a tunnel. The monument to the Russian soldier sits on a little hill in the center of the town.

Andy and Marisa are Austrians who left us today. They got off the ship in Kirkenes and will fly home to Austria from there.
We have met some very nice people on this voyage. Lois and Patrick are celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary today. They said their vows again on the rear deck just before I snapped this picture. they headed off to the Russian Border on these off-road vehicles when we got to Kirkenes.