WThursday
We have a bigger room than the last hotel. We can walk around and not bump into the bed or the wall.
Nice breakfast, it wasn’t a fight to get food like yesterday with all the tour groups.
Today we are going to learn all about slate cutting.
Off we went to one of the slate mountains. E went to Paeskatun slate quarry. It was owned by 3rd generation slate worker and his nephew – 4th generation slate worker.
We watched him split a huge piece of slate about 10 in thick and 6 feet long and 4 ft wide. He used a vacuum lift that is actually used for lifting glass. The slate is as smooth as glass.
Simon, the nephew showed us how they shaped the roof tiles, first using the old way – hammer and chisel, then a hand cutter (like a paper cutter), to an electric cutter.
We then had a go at using the d hand cutter to cut a coaster.
From there we went to the Alta Rock Carving Museum to take a walk back 6000 years in time to look at really old carvings. Nice little walk down to the water and back up again looking at the carvings along the way.
Then back t the hotel and we are free!! For the rest of the afternoon.
To the little mall to grab a quick sandwich and the off to see the Cathedral of Northern Lights. Wow, not what you would expect a church go be. Very “new age” and modern.
Then a little shopping wandered to a couple of stores the tour guide recommended, and to see a silver smith. I didn’t see any silver that I liked – a break for my visa.
Back for a little nap and then happy hour before we go to a husky farm.
As we left for the farm it started to rain, o goody. Can anyone say – wet dog?
We had bbq’d salmon (I had beef burger) and veggies, that had been prepared by the chef from the ice hotel. They are all related!
Desert was a Norwegian pancake with jam and shipped sour cream – o so good.
The owner – Tina – gave a talk on what it takes to be a dog musher. Lots of work and little monetary reward. She was 4th in the idarod a couple of years ago.
Then out to see the dogs in the rain. They wee very happy for the attention. There were 2 litters of puppies about how 2 months old, cute little things. I had about 5 of them jumping on me at once – that must have smelled the jam and cream on my hands.
Pal, our driver, will have to clean the coach after tonight. We were all wet and smelled if dog.
Back to the room and a night cap to rehash the day. Now to organize our bags as we are off to Narvik tomorrow.