We spent a week in north of Norway on Varangerfjord. It is the north easternmost corner of Norway. The peninsula reaches for long to Barents Sea. However it is easy to go there from Finland. Along the highway 4 all the way to Utsjoki (1.200 km from Helsinki) and from there to the east and you will be in Varanger.
The weather favoured us. It was almost rainless and half cloudy but the wind from Barents was cold, that we had to have dressed properly. The temperature was between 5- 15 degrees.
Price level in Varanger does not deviate much from Finland. We overnighted in three places. From B & B - accommodation in Vardø we paid NOK 500 (www.utleie-havfiske.com )and from the cottages near Vadsø NOK 650 - 875.

Ekkerøy: An island 15 km to the east from Vadsø. Narrow neck connects it to mainland. There is small village because the former fish factories. We stayed in the house build by Lars Hansens grandfather. It was nice residence. (www.ekkeroy.net)
On the south side of the island there is a steep sandstone bank and there is a large kittiwake society. Local brochure claims it to be the largest in whole Europe.
Shores along the mainland are low beaches which tide exposes largely from sea. On these shores there are many birds. Especially we saw plenty of black-tailed and bar-tailed godwits. There is also to around island a nature path. We made it with bicycles. Pictures ->>

Vardø: Arctic small town in the easternmost corner of the peninsula. It could be the northernmost town in the world. In the town there doesn't grow any tree. Pictures ->>
Hörnøya: At the front of the town is excellent bird island Hörnøya, to which there is a arranged small boat transport. (NOK 250 /person!) Pictures ->>

Hamningberg: Minute fishing village on north side of Vardø. The road there moves across the craggy landscape. With the ponds and shores of the road we saw plenty of birds as for instance red-throated divers, arctic skuas, red-necked phalaropes and white tailed eagles. Pictures ->>

Vadsø is little place but largest centre of Varanger. Immediately behind Statoil there is a good bird shallow. Pictures ->>
We found outside the town a modest cottage quite from the shore of the sea. (www.arctic-adventures.com ,ask Øyvind). There was nice to follow tide and day changes.
In Varanger fresh fishes are only in the sea. Only frozen foods can be get from the shop. Who here wants fresh fish get to catch them himself.

By the road in Finnish Lapland: We drove from Kittilä by road 955 to Inari. That road we don't recommend to anybody. The first 80 km from Kittilä to Pokka the road is in the terrible condition. The rain had made the gravel coated road a real nightmare to drive.
The car looked terribly in Inari and behind the car our bicycles were covered with thick mud porridge. But when the emergency is largest is also the assistance near. Can you imagine! Little before Utsjoki just by highway 4 in the middle of wilderness there was a sign: Car washing 1,50 Euro!
Someone helpful had put washing tackle to the flank of the tree, whereby pump raised water from the lake nearby. Payment coins got to put to the old juice canister alongside the small house. Perfect tourist service! To this idea would be use also elsewhere!
It is also worth stopping in Kaamanen in hotel "Neljän Tuulen Tupa". Behind it there is a bird feeder where visit regularly pine grosbeaks and redpolls. Pictures ->>