Arrival Day

The adventure began at 3:00am when my alarm dragged me out of bed. By 3:45am, I was on a National Express coach heading to London Victoria. From there, it was a combination of the Underground and the Stansted Express to catch my Ryanair flight from London Stansted to Gdańsk at 11:35am.

I landed in Gdańsk at 2:30pm, just enough time for a quick visit with my dad before it was time to run back to the airport. No leisurely coffee, no sightseeing just a flying family visit before boarding my next flight.

At 6:50pm, I took off with Wizz Air for Tromsø, and at 9:35pm I finally landed in Northern Norway.

After collecting my bag, I hopped on the airport bus into the city centre and checked into Enter Backpack Hotel. The first priority was easy: dump the heavy luggage and free my shoulders from carrying what felt like half my wardrobe across Europe.

Of course, before I could properly relax, there was an essential stop to make. I headed out for a quick shopping trip to 7-Eleven to stock up on a few basics. Anyone who has travelled solo knows the feeling when finding water, snacks and breakfast supplies suddenly becomes a very important mission.

By this point, I had been travelling for nearly nineteen hours, crossed multiple countries and taken two flights. Most sensible people would have gone straight to bed.

But this was Tromsø in June, where the sun barely seems interested in setting, and the Arctic adventure was only just beginning.

Day 1 – Colourful Streets, Arctic Views and the Best Cod I’ve Ever Eaten

My first full day in Tromsø was supposed to be simple.

The plan was to walk around the city, discover some street art, photograph whatever caught my eye and generally soak up the atmosphere of life above the Arctic Circle.

As it turned out, Tromsø had plenty to show me.

I started by wandering through the town centre, where old and new architecture sit side by side. Traditional wooden Norwegian houses stand proudly next to modern buildings, creating a fascinating mix of history and progress. As a photographer, I loved this contrast. Everywhere I looked there seemed to be another interesting detail, colourful façade or hidden corner waiting to be photographed.

Making my way towards the harbour, I stumbled across a lively group of people, all dressed up and racing boats around the marina. Everyone seemed happy, chatting, laughing and working together. There was a wonderful energy in the air that immediately made me feel welcome. I had absolutely no idea what was happening, but it looked far more exciting than a routine day by the water.

Of course, once an event photographer, always an event photographer. Before I knew it, my camera was out and I was instinctively looking for moments, reactions and interesting compositions. Old habits die hard. While everyone else was simply enjoying the spectacle, I found myself photographing the competitors, the crowds and the atmosphere. Whether I’m at a corporate conference in London, an awards ceremony in Cardiff or a harbour in Northern Norway, my brain automatically switches into event mode whenever people gather together and something interesting starts happening. Sometimes the best moments while travelling aren’t the ones you plan. They’re the ones you accidentally walk into.

One of my missions for the day was to hunt down some of Tromsø’s street art. I found several murals, graffiti pieces and sculptures scattered throughout the city. Some were easy to spot, while others felt like hidden treasures waiting to be discovered down quiet side streets. The city itself felt like an open-air gallery.

By lunchtime, I was ready for one thing I had been looking forward to for weeks: eating reindeer.

At least, that was the plan.

I headed to the Barbros Bistro, determined to try one of Norway’s most famous dishes. However, my hopes were quickly dashed when the waiter explained that reindeer hunting is seasonal and currently not happening. In fact, hunting reindeer at this time of year would be illegal.

So much for my Arctic culinary adventure. Fortunately, the disappointment lasted about thirty seconds. Instead, I ordered cod with vegetables. And wow. Honestly, it was the best cod I have ever eaten in my life. Perfectly cooked, fresh, delicate and packed with flavour. The fish practically melted in my mouth. The meal wasn’t cheap, just over £24 including a tip, but every single penny was worth it. Sometimes travel experiences are measured in memories. Sometimes they’re measured in fish.

After lunch, I continued exploring and came across one of my favourite moments of the day. A young boy had just caught a fish from the harbour and was proudly showing it off. His face was glowing with excitement. It was one of those simple, genuine moments that perfectly captures the spirit of travel and why I always keep my camera ready.

From there, I wandered around Polaria before hopping on Bus 33 towards Mortensgård. This area felt completely different from the city centre. The old wooden buildings looked almost forgotten by time, like a small open-air museum hidden away from the modern world. Walking through the area felt like stepping into another century.

My route then took me along the coastline towards Telegrafbukta.

The weather was absolutely incredible.

Blue skies, sunshine and stunning views across the fjords accompanied me for most of the walk. Along the way, I watched a group of young women jump off a pier into the freezing Arctic water. Apparently, after a long bike ride, this seemed like a perfectly sensible way to cool down.

Personally, I was happy to admire their bravery from a safe and dry distance.

The views became more spectacular with every step. Mountains still carried patches of snow despite it being June, while the crystal-clear water sparkled in the sunshine. It was one of those days when you find yourself stopping every few minutes because the scenery simply refuses to let you keep walking.

By the evening, I decided to give my wallet a small break. Having already splashed out on that unforgettable cod lunch, I picked up supplies from the local Kiwi supermarket and put together a simple dinner back at the hostel. Not every meal needs to be in a restaurant. Sometimes a supermarket picnic tastes just as good when you’re sitting in the Arctic Circle after a day packed with adventure.

Back at the hostel, exhausted from nearly twenty hours of travel the previous day and a full day of exploring, I changed into my pyjamas and prepared for a night.

Day 2 – The Day I Almost Went to Bed

When I finally opened my eyes, it was already around 9am.

Not that I was in any hurry to get up.

The previous few days had been a whirlwind of buses, trains, planes and miles of walking, so I allowed myself the luxury of staying under the duvet for a little while longer. Outside, Tromsø was already awake and bathed in daylight, despite being so far north that most people imagine it covered in snow and darkness all year round.

My original plan for the day had been to explore some of the islands surrounding Tromsø. Unfortunately, it was Sunday and many of the buses either weren’t running or had very limited services. Rather than spend the day fighting public transport schedules, I decided to simply follow my feet and see where they would take me. That decision turned out to be one of the best of the trip.

I made my way down to the harbour where fishing boats gently rocked on the water and the mountains stood guard in the distance. The sky was clear, the air was fresh and there was one thing on my mind: brunch.

I found myself at Full Steam, a restaurant well known for its seafood, and ordered a bowl of fish soup.

Now, let’s talk about this fish soup. It arrived with two pieces of toast and a price tag of roughly £25. Twenty-five pounds. For soup. I spent a few moments wondering whether I should frame the receipt afterwards.

Was it nice? Absolutely.

Was it life-changing? Probably not.

Would I order it again? Let’s just say I was glad I tried it once.

After lunch, I headed across the bridge towards Tromsø’s most famous landmark, the Arctic Cathedral.

I had seen countless photographs of it before arriving in Norway. It appears in every guidebook, every travel blog and every postcard rack in town. Naturally, I had to see what all the fuss was about.

The building itself is striking, but strangely enough, what I remember most isn’t the architecture. When I stepped inside, somebody was playing the organ. I found a seat and sat quietly. The music filled the space, bouncing gently off the walls and rising towards the ceiling. Outside, tourists were taking photographs and ticking landmarks off their lists. Inside, time seemed to slow down.

I have no idea how long I stayed there. Long enough to forget about schedules. Long enough to simply listen.

Eventually I continued my walk, wandering through the quieter side of Tromsø. I found a small cemetery, a tiny harbour and residential streets where everyday life continued away from the tourist crowds. It felt like discovering a different city hidden just across the bridge.

By the time I returned to the hostel it was just before 7pm and I was exhausted. The kind of exhausted where even taking your shoes off feels like a major achievement. I changed into my pyjamas, ate something simple and settled into the comforting belief that my day was over.

Or at least I thought it was.

A couple of hours later, just after 9pm, I happened to glance out of the window. That was all it took. The sky was glowing. Not softly. Not subtly. Glowing like someone had spilled liquid gold across the horizon.

I knew instantly that if I stayed in bed, I would regret it. Within minutes I was out of my pyjamas, back in my day clothes and heading for the bus.

Photography has taught me many things over the years, but one of the most important is this: When the light calls, you go. No excuses. No negotiations. Just go.

I caught the bus to the cable car station and arrived to find it almost deserted. For a brief moment I thought I had missed my chance. Then I spotted a sign explaining that the cable car was running until midnight and tickets could be purchased online. Such a relief.

A few minutes later other people began arriving and together we slowly made our way up the mountain. And trust me, nothing could have prepared me for what was waiting at the top. The city stretched below like a miniature model. The fjords shimmered in gold. The mountains rolled away towards the horizon. And the sun simply refused to set. I stood there for what felt like hours, taking photographs, staring into the distance and occasionally reminding myself that it was almost midnight.

At one point I found patches of snow. In June. Naturally, I behaved exactly as any mature adult would. I played in it. Standing in snow above the Arctic Circle at midnight under a blazing sun was not something I had expected to experience when I booked this trip. Yet there I was, grinning like a child.

Eventually, at around 1:30 in the morning, I made my way back across the bridge towards the hostel. My feet hurt. My eyes were tired. I had been awake for far longer than any sensible person should be. But as I walked through the quiet streets of Tromsø, still illuminated by daylight, I knew one thing for certain. Some experiences are worth losing sleep for. This was one of them.

Day 3 – Working Above the Arctic Circle and a Midnight Adventure in Poland

The alarm went off at 7am. No, that’s not a typo.

After returning to the hostel at 1:30am from my Midnight Sun adventure, I somehow thought sleeping for a few hours before a full working day was a perfectly reasonable idea. I may have been slightly optimistic. Still, I didn’t come all the way to Tromsø just to sleep.

The first task of the morning was packing everything back into my backpack and preparing my camera gear for the day ahead. Unlike most of the tourists wandering around Tromsø, I wasn’t there only to explore. I had two food photography sessions booked, which was actually the reason for the trip in the first place.

One thing I was particularly pleased with was my choice of backgrounds. Instead of carrying large photography backdrops all the way from the UK, I had bought two white paper boards locally on Saturday. They worked perfectly as clean backgrounds for food photography. It was a trick I first started during a food photography trip to Florida, and once again it proved to be a winner. Sometimes the best travel hacks are the simplest ones.

By the time I was ready to leave, there was nobody at the hostel reception. With no one around to check me out, I simply dropped my room key into the check-out box and headed off. I still needed somewhere to store my luggage for the day, so I booked a bag storage service through Radical Storage. For €6.99, including insurance, I had somewhere safe to leave my backpack while I worked. Money well spent.

My first stop was Bengts Bistro, followed by Coco Café.

Both shoots went smoothly, and everyone I met was incredibly welcoming, friendly and accommodating. As a photographer, you quickly learn that the people can make or break a shoot, and in Tromsø I felt genuinely looked after. The food looked fantastic, the staff were wonderful and I came away with exactly the images I needed.

With the work finished, I had just enough time for one final wander through the side streets branching off from Tromsø’s main shopping street. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular. I simply wanted to soak up a few last moments of Arctic life before leaving. It felt strange knowing I would be flying home that evening.

Three days earlier, Tromsø had been just another destination on a map. Now it felt familiar.

After collecting my bag, I headed to the airport for my 10:10pm flight to Gdańsk. You might think I had plenty of time to relax before departure. You would be wrong. Very wrong. The photographs from the day’s shoots still needed editing and delivering to the client. So there I was, sitting in the airport with my laptop, sorting images, adjusting colours, exporting files and trying to upload everything before boarding. Around me, people were browsing duty-free shops and enjoying a quiet drink. I was racing against the clock. As the boarding announcements started, my stress levels increased slightly. Then slightly more. Then quite a lot. Eventually, with what felt like seconds to spare, I clicked “Send” on the final email. Almost immediately afterwards came the last boarding call. Perfect timing. Or terrible planning. I’m still not sure which.

A few hours later, I landed in Gdańsk at around 1am. Knowing my parents and my friends would be a sleep at that time, I had booked a hotel close to the airport. Or at least I thought I had. What I failed to properly consider was that “close” looks very different on a map at midday than it does at one o’clock in the morning. So there I was, dragging my backpack through unfamiliar streets in the middle of the night. Some sections had no street lighting at all. There were moments when it felt like I was walking through the middle of nowhere. Looking back now, it probably wasn’t my smartest travel decision. In fact, let me save you the trouble. If you ever find yourself arriving at Gdańsk Airport after midnight and your hotel isn’t directly connected to the terminal… BOOK A TAXI. Seriously. Book the taxi. Your future self will thank you.

Fortunately, I eventually reached the hotel in one piece. The shower felt glorious. The cup of tea felt even better. And when my head finally hit the pillow, I was asleep almost instantly. Tromsø was over. My camera cards were full. My legs were exhausted. And my heart was already wondering where the next adventure might take me.

Day 4 – Good Friends, Good Food and Heading Home

After the madness of the previous few days, Day 4 started at a much gentler pace.

I woke up around 9am, made myself a cup of tea and enjoyed the simple luxury of doing absolutely nothing for a little while. No buses to catch. No flights to board. No mountains to climb. No deadlines to meet. Just tea. And honestly, after the previous seventy-two hours, that felt pretty amazing.

At around 11am, my best friend Ola picked me up. We’ve known each other since high school, which means she remembers me before photography, before travelling and before life became one long series of adventures and airport terminals.

Ola runs her own food business, and I had promised to help her update her food photography. We had done a session together some time ago, but since then she had changed her menu and wanted some fresh images for advertising.

The plan was simple. Photograph food. Catch up. Drink tea. Solve all the world’s problems. You know, the usual. The funny thing about food photography is that people always think the hardest part is taking the pictures. It’s not. The hardest part is photographing beautiful food while trying not to eat it.

And Ola’s food certainly didn’t make that task any easier. Everything looked incredible. Even better, everything tasted incredible.

The few hours flew by as they always do when you’re with old friends. We chatted, laughed, exchanged stories and encouraged each other. There’s something special about spending time with people who have known you for decades. They remind you where you’ve come from and somehow make you feel exactly like your younger self again. Before I knew it, the session was finished.

Ola dropped me off at my parents’ house where I spent a little time with Mum and Dad, drinking tea and catching up before heading back to the airport. Travel is wonderful. But there is something comforting about sitting at your parents’ kitchen table no matter how old you get.

Just before 5pm, they drove me to the airport and an hour later I was boarding my flight back to Bristol. When I landed, the boys were waiting to take me home.

And just like that, the adventure was over.

Well… almost.

The funny thing about travel is that the moment one trip ends, the next one usually starts forming in your mind.

I had barely unpacked my backpack before I found myself thinking about where I wanted to go next.

Because that’s the problem with travel. Or perhaps the best thing about it.

Once you discover how big and beautiful the world is, it’s very difficult to stay still.

If you’ve ever thought about travelling solo but felt nervous about taking the first step, I can honestly say that Tromsø is a wonderful place to start. Throughout the entire trip, I felt safe, welcomed and comfortable. The people were friendly, the city was easy to navigate and the scenery was simply breathtaking. In just a few days I experienced colourful streets, Arctic landscapes, incredible food, midnight sunshine, snow in June, new friendships and old ones. Not bad for a long weekend above the Arctic Circle.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have another trip to plan.