Did wake up early, around 5am here time, but drifted back off to sleep and didn't wake into 8am.
Quick shower and a semi relaxed breakfast before the walk to the train station for the longest journey so far.
We had seats booked so weren't worried about that, but the platform was packed with people with serious kit - rucksacks, climbing ropes, and think we were the only ones not in walking trousers and boots, so thought that storage could be an issue.
Managed to get our bags in the overhead rack, our seats being right next to the buffet, but as the train pulled out we realised we were travelling backwards! Around halfway the engine did swap to the other end and we went forwards, so not so bad.
The journey was scheduled to be 7 hours 12 minutes and is the longest single train journey we'll take, apart from the night train.
Our second stop was Nattavaara, and we all got pretty excited as we got closer to it as we went over the 66° 30' latitude which meant we'd gone into the arctic circle. Unfortunately there wasn't any line, banner or marker to let us know, other than our phones.
As we rode the rails across Sweden the landscape changed. The forests of pine became more sparse as the hills grew more frequent and higher.
By the time we got to the Kiruna stop the landscape was pretty dramatic. By the time we reached Bjoernfjell we were snaking between snow capped mountains, winding our way down towards Narvik.
At one point a load of German tourists got on, and at another station a load of cowboys got on, running through the train with their hats, lasso and even one small child being carried firing a cap gun! They jumped off at the next station to be promptly arrested by other cowboys. Very surreal and we're we've no idea if it was planned or just something random that happened.
Along the journey we'd stopped here and there to let freight trains pass in the opposite direction. Gone are the beautiful smelling log wagons, replaced within wagons carrying something to do with the iron ore mining, very dirty looking
Narvik is right on the coast, so not only do you have the freight trains, passenger trains, but also cruise ships. Although this is very much a winter destination, they do get a fair number through during the warmer months.
We found our accommodation for the next two nights, and have a big family room with an actual double bed. Wandered into town to find the bus station (for Monday), something to eat which was lovely, and then a supermarket for supplies for tomorrow where Alex has a walk planned for us.
Oh, it's 11pm here, and this is the view from the hotel.
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