A Northern Treat watching the Northern Lights

Northern Lights in Norway

A visit to see the Northern Lights had always been on my husband's bucket list - so what better way to treat him on his 30th birthday than to surprise him with a short break to Tromso in Norway for what turned out to be an emotional journey for both of us.

In 2006 my husband turned 30 and one of the things he had always talked about was seeing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) and visiting a place called Tromso in the Arctic Circle in northern Norway.

So, being the kind, loving and generous wife I am, I secretly planned and booked a 5 night trip to Tromso over New Year.  Needless to say this was when I was working full time - now I just give him sex vouchers...if he's lucky (joke!)

I contacted a local Northern Lights guide called Kjetil Skogli to arrange a tour with him and even booked in a night of husky sledging too.  Kjetil is amazing, his passion for the Aurora Borealis is second to none and he will go to great lengths to track 'her' down.  He's a lovely guy who we still keep in touch with from time to time and since we spent the night with him he's even taken the lovely Joanna Lumley out to hunt the Northern Lights!

He supplied us with all the right Arctic gear, picked us up from the hotel and took us away from the lights of the city and into the total darkness of the mountains.  I can't describe what it felt like to be surrounded by complete stillness.  It was truly amazing. He dug a hole in the snow and made a camp fire. We ate reindeer (don't tell the kids!) and drank hot tea...we set up camera on tripod and waited.

Then, the most amazing thing happened.  The Northern Lights appeared.  They moved me to tears.
We saw them again the night before we were due to come home (2nd Jan '07) and they were colours of pinks and purple on that night and danced right across the city.  We were lucky enough to watch them from our hotel window.

Just because I love this picture I'm going to share this one too.  This is my husband and I, in the 'snow hole' waiting.  We didn't realise at the time but the Northern Lights were trying to peak above the mountain top which you can see behind us.

For anyone who hasn't witnessed the beauty of the Northern Lights I can only describe them as magical, almost haunting and eery in some respects.  The different patterns and colours that are constantly changing are beautiful.  This video here will give you an idea of how they move.

I count myself very lucky indeed to have had this experience and it's one I will never ever forget.