Europe's most beautiful islands are nowhere near the Mediterranean
I imagine the Mediterranean was made by Greek and Roman gods, luxury-loving, outrageous, keen to squeeze in as many extras as possible ('I want a temple! An olive grove! A whitewashed village and lots of flowers').
None of that for the Norse gods. All they wanted was sea and mountain and the occasional chilly beach unfurled like a welcome mat. The stark handsome landscape is elemental, pared down like Nordic interior design, patrolled by eagles and whales.
Light in the Mediterranean is often harsh. In Norway, pale Arctic light means you never have to squint. Often, it isn't even sunny, but that brings a constantly changing show of bruised clouds and moving shadows, rainbows and patched light.
Even in the rain, the Lofoten Islands have the beauty of black-and-white landscape photos. But today I'm lucky: biblical bursts of occasional sun illuminate the mountaintops and turn bays into kaleidoscopes.
On the return, we stop at Flakstad Church, built in 1780. The building is bright red in fields made yellow by dandelions and backed by green hills. Beyond is a bay of white sand fronting neon-blue shallows as the Lofotens casually deliver another sumptuous sight.
The light in summer lasts until long after midnight. The scenery is still there as Silver Dawn sails out, and as I tuck into an all-Norwegian dinner in elegant SALT Kitchen, whose menu changes with the destination.
It's still there when I retire to my elegant stateroom in the late evening, and pull the curtains for the night on Norway, one of the grandest shows on Earth.
THE DETAILS
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CRUISE
Silver Dawn sails the Mediterranean in November 2025 before transiting to the Caribbean and Central America in December and crossing the Pacific in early 2026 for a series of Australia and New Zealand cruises. By May 2026, the ship is back in Europe via Asia. A 10-day Norway cruise return from Copenhagen departing on June 21, 2026, costs from $13,840 a person all inclusive. See silversea.com
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The Age
2 days ago
- The Age
Europe's most beautiful islands are nowhere near the Mediterranean
Never mind, there's plenty more. The road to A is, well, awesome. The fishing village has a half-abandoned air – what oil-rich young Norwegian wants that life any more? – but is moodily located in a cleft in dark granite mountains fronting a restless sea. I imagine the Mediterranean was made by Greek and Roman gods, luxury-loving, outrageous, keen to squeeze in as many extras as possible ('I want a temple! An olive grove! A whitewashed village and lots of flowers'). None of that for the Norse gods. All they wanted was sea and mountain and the occasional chilly beach unfurled like a welcome mat. The stark handsome landscape is elemental, pared down like Nordic interior design, patrolled by eagles and whales. Light in the Mediterranean is often harsh. In Norway, pale Arctic light means you never have to squint. Often, it isn't even sunny, but that brings a constantly changing show of bruised clouds and moving shadows, rainbows and patched light. Even in the rain, the Lofoten Islands have the beauty of black-and-white landscape photos. But today I'm lucky: biblical bursts of occasional sun illuminate the mountaintops and turn bays into kaleidoscopes. On the return, we stop at Flakstad Church, built in 1780. The building is bright red in fields made yellow by dandelions and backed by green hills. Beyond is a bay of white sand fronting neon-blue shallows as the Lofotens casually deliver another sumptuous sight. The light in summer lasts until long after midnight. The scenery is still there as Silver Dawn sails out, and as I tuck into an all-Norwegian dinner in elegant SALT Kitchen, whose menu changes with the destination. It's still there when I retire to my elegant stateroom in the late evening, and pull the curtains for the night on Norway, one of the grandest shows on Earth. THE DETAILS Loading CRUISE Silver Dawn sails the Mediterranean in November 2025 before transiting to the Caribbean and Central America in December and crossing the Pacific in early 2026 for a series of Australia and New Zealand cruises. By May 2026, the ship is back in Europe via Asia. A 10-day Norway cruise return from Copenhagen departing on June 21, 2026, costs from $13,840 a person all inclusive. See
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Europe's most beautiful islands are nowhere near the Mediterranean
Never mind, there's plenty more. The road to A is, well, awesome. The fishing village has a half-abandoned air – what oil-rich young Norwegian wants that life any more? – but is moodily located in a cleft in dark granite mountains fronting a restless sea. I imagine the Mediterranean was made by Greek and Roman gods, luxury-loving, outrageous, keen to squeeze in as many extras as possible ('I want a temple! An olive grove! A whitewashed village and lots of flowers'). None of that for the Norse gods. All they wanted was sea and mountain and the occasional chilly beach unfurled like a welcome mat. The stark handsome landscape is elemental, pared down like Nordic interior design, patrolled by eagles and whales. Light in the Mediterranean is often harsh. In Norway, pale Arctic light means you never have to squint. Often, it isn't even sunny, but that brings a constantly changing show of bruised clouds and moving shadows, rainbows and patched light. Even in the rain, the Lofoten Islands have the beauty of black-and-white landscape photos. But today I'm lucky: biblical bursts of occasional sun illuminate the mountaintops and turn bays into kaleidoscopes. On the return, we stop at Flakstad Church, built in 1780. The building is bright red in fields made yellow by dandelions and backed by green hills. Beyond is a bay of white sand fronting neon-blue shallows as the Lofotens casually deliver another sumptuous sight. The light in summer lasts until long after midnight. The scenery is still there as Silver Dawn sails out, and as I tuck into an all-Norwegian dinner in elegant SALT Kitchen, whose menu changes with the destination. It's still there when I retire to my elegant stateroom in the late evening, and pull the curtains for the night on Norway, one of the grandest shows on Earth. THE DETAILS Loading CRUISE Silver Dawn sails the Mediterranean in November 2025 before transiting to the Caribbean and Central America in December and crossing the Pacific in early 2026 for a series of Australia and New Zealand cruises. By May 2026, the ship is back in Europe via Asia. A 10-day Norway cruise return from Copenhagen departing on June 21, 2026, costs from $13,840 a person all inclusive. See
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Sky News AU
Prince George's McDonald's craving hits during Greek island yacht trip with Royal Family
News Corp Columnist Angela Mollard discusses a royal worker needing to leave Prince William and Princess Katherine's super yacht to get something special for Prince George while sailing the Greek islands. 'This Greek island is one of the few that has a McDonald's restaurant,' Ms Mollard told Sky News Digital Presenter Gabriella Power. 'You can imagine a 12-year-old just having a hankering for some burgers and chips. 'No one is prepared to confirm it was a McDonald's run.'
