By Laura Lopez-Odriozola (Upper Sixth)

On the last day of the Autumn Term 12 Sixth Formers, along with Mrs Goodman and Mrs Keeler, embarked on the Norway Night Sky Physics Trip. 

The Aurora Borealis sightings started off well, with some girls being able to see the Northern Lights from the plane as we arrived in Tromsø. 
On the second day we visited Tromsø University’s Museum of Physics and took a walk through the city, during which we saw the Arctic

Cathedral and walked across the Tromsø Bridge. After dinner in the hotel we went on a Northern Lights Safari, which involved taking a mini bus out of the city, where there is less light pollution, and we were able to see the Aurora’s more clearly. 

Next up was whale watching. Although the weather was unpleasant in the morning, we saw plenty of Orcas and Humpback Whales. 
The fourth day started off relaxed, with a visit to Polaria, the aquarium, some souvenir shopping and a visit to the Polar Museum, where we learnt about the history of Tromsø. 

We then put on some extra layers, ready for our overnight Sami experience. For dinner we were given a traditional Sami Reindeer stew which was fantastic. Sleeping in the hut at such a low temperature was a new experience for all of us, but thanks to the Arctic sleeping bags we were given, and the number of layers we had on, we kept warm through the night and managed to get some sleep. 

Dog sledding in the morning was an amazing experience. Although it was very cold outside, the adrenaline and excitement meant we barely noticed. Snow shoeing was also a new experience, but after some practice (most of us) managed to get the hang of it. 

Just before the blizzard started at the end of our trip, we managed to see the Aurora Borealis once again. 

After making our way back to the hotel we ended our Norway adventure with pizza.