Walking the cold streets of distant Vardø, Norway

On my first full day in the far eastern town of Vardø, Norway, I walked around the streets and got to know the place. I investigate the church and its graveyard – in the shadow of the mighty Globus radar installation – and saw some of the history and art installations around town. Vardø is the only town in mainland Norway with a true polar climate (explanation in the video). I even got lucky and saw the Hurtigruten ship coming in!

Note: I did visit the Vardøhus Fortress; that's in a separate video. I also visited the witch memorial at night, fascinating but very dark in the footage I tried.

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Music provided by HumansWin / Pond5

[charlieking]

Thank you for posting this video.
I'm sitting here in our home in San Diego with our friend Ivar Hendrickson. Who was born in Vardø in 1944. And returns every year. Who's grandparents are buried in the cemetery you were filming.

[olivoljan]

My home town. My latest trip there was 3-4 years ago. The reason behind all the derelict houses is, of course, the fishing industry. It was booming in the 80's and 90's, but suddenly everything stopped and people (many tamils from Sri Lanka who had moved to Vardø to work in the fishing industry) left everything behind, even the houses they had bought, and crashed the house market. Suddenly you couldn't get as much as $10000 for your house, and lots of houses were empty for years and everybody knows what happens to empty houses. When I was a child there were appr 4000 people in Vardø, now it's not even 2000, and lots of people are unemployed and struggling with addiction. I admire my childhood friends who has stayed in Vardø. It's not an easy town to live in.

[rhyacinthlevrini]

I am happy that you made it to the "end of the world", literally and figuratively! Your walking tour of Vardø confirmed my imagined impressions, sparsely populated, rundown buildings, and strange vibes. But, there is one historical significance of this island you did not cover, and I hope it is in an upcoming video. The Steilneset Memorial. Carry on, I´m enjoying your Journey.

[steinarhaugen]

As a Norwegian, I'm surprised to see so many run-down buildings. You don't see much of this in Norway in general. Strange!

[grimmreaper]

Thanks for making this video. Exactly what I wanted to see. 😎

[PrimeTimeTravelers]

Another one of these great walk around vlogs. Enjoy these so much! What a great trip you took! We are catching up on your vlogs slowly but surely.

[bosmense]

Fun fact: Vardø is known to be one of the world's coldest coastline settlements. The very coldest is said to be Tiksi, Russia.

[Oddone]

My Fathers home town, nice to see it again after 20 years.
Thanks for posting and cheers from Port Lincoln South Australia. 👍

[kirstireinholdtsen]

Nice humour. I guess you actually are from North of Norway, as me.
It's interresting to watch the most northern part of my country and your entusiasm about everything. I have not been that far north, to Vardø.
But it's sad to see all aboundant buildings in Vardø. I didn't know it is that bad. I read the Major in Town desided to do something about it though, so in time it would be a better looking place, hopefuly.

[kjelloslaw]

When you walked around the fortress you missed the only tree in Vardø.They wrap it up during winter so that it won't die

[MaiMai-qkln]

I used to live in Vardø for 5 years, my family is also from there. Its a interesting place, the winters are super rough and the summers are always short. I did enjoy my time living there, but i was also very happy to move away.

[BengtRonning]

Liked your walkabout report. Will follow you.

[glennblum]

Awesome video and thanks for sharing. You need a bike like you had in Japan.

[DrScopey]

Fascinating explore! Thank you for sharing. Have you visited the Norwegian settlement towns in WA state like Poulsbo WA and the others?

[larryjohnson]

Glad you made made it to the end of the world. It is great seeing you there enjoying your home land. My family came from Sweden and Finland..👍

[BelieveNoGod]

I'm from Norway, but my hometown, are all the way south. Well South-East.
A small city named Halden. Wich you absolutely should visit, some time.
I have not been so far north, as you have. I only reached Bodø, in a holiday.
But I've been in Alta, and Kirkenes, when I was in the army.
Oh, and I see you have a video with "Vardøhus" fortress.
Then you will be amazed of our fortress. "Fredriksten".

[tessjuel]

0:50 No, it's not true that there are no trees in Vardø! There's only one, a tiny little rowan that has to be covered up in winter but it's still a tree!
1:50 Yes, you're right, those books are free. Lots of old telephone boots all over Norway have been repurposed this way.

[mnp]

01:10 Amazing and run down as only place in Norway - was just my impression there 10 years ago
12:26 it is a salmon ;)

[aasasddfds]

Nice film. I enjoy watching this in a caravan parked in Vardø. I'm here at the moment and my feelings are similar about the buildings and atmosphere. If I could only ask you to use Germans not nazi in your videos. It is Germany who started war, not a naziland (of course together with Russia called Soviet Union then). Keep up the good work!

[gemmalee]

😮 'wish i could visit this place before i die