Thanksgiving with my mother and brothers and their families was a whirl, with no time for sketching. I left her yesterday, all manicured, pedicured, massaged, read to, fed, and now installed in a private room in her nursing home. She's in the tender and capable hands of my sister-in-law, my nephew, and my brothers, so I'm going to stick to my year-long plan to make a 6-day trip to the Arctic Circle, on a working ship's voyage up the Norwegian coast. (Is that enough prepositions for you?) My husband and I leave Thursday.
I fell HARD for the idea of this voyage when I first read about it last February in a New York Times travel article by Paul Schneider. If Paul's compelling story featuring northern lights, arctic hurricanes, and broodingly beautiful coastline doesn't get your wanderlust all riled up, then I don't know what would. Of course, you may find your pleasure basking under sunny skies. Me, I was born in the middle of the Bering Sea, in a blizzard, on an extinct volcano, at home. This Norwegian coastal voyage will be luxurious compared to my ragged entrance in this world.
Here's Paul's article, from which the title of this post is drawn.
And click here to visit his website. He's a wonderful writer, as you'll soon see.
And here are some photos by Florian Seiffert of Germany, of scenes from his October Hurtigruten voyage:
I will spend many hours onboard our ship, drawing, painting the scenes laid out before me in the dark and wintry days ahead. See you soon!
A working SHIP! Now I'm really envious.
Posted by: quirkyartist | December 29, 2009 at 04:44 AM
What great comments and suggestions! Thanks for all of them! Miguel, oops, I forgot the salsa! Felicity, you made me laugh---and, yes, it was incomparably beautiful.
Posted by: Laura | December 14, 2009 at 07:23 AM
Oh congrats on your voyage! I'll be so curious to know where you go! Enjoy!
Posted by: Margaret (Peggy) Stermer-Cox | December 03, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Laura, Your one brave women, I was born in Pittsburgh Pa and( still live hear) in may when the winters last bite was hear but to go out and be in the cold on a boat well I don't think that would be my kind of thing. I'll be in the cold hear and under the covers thinking of you with my heating pad on and my thick wool socks:) So so happy about your Mom.
To you and yours I send Peace.
Linda
Posted by: Linda | December 02, 2009 at 07:20 PM
Please be careful!
Posted by: ceceliamurphy | December 02, 2009 at 06:42 PM
Laura! Sounds absolutely fabulous. We are thinking of going to Finland in Feb for much the same reasons! But not sure at all yet. I hope you have a fantastic trip and I look forward, as always, to seeing your sketches.
Bon voyage,
Roshan
Posted by: Roshan Reddaway | December 02, 2009 at 01:09 PM