The Route to the North Cape - Norway - page 415

children ages 5 to 15, and free for children 4 and under. Hours are January to
May 1, Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm; May 2 to May 31, Monday to Friday
9am to 3pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 3pm; June 1 to August 31 daily
9am to 6pm; and September to December Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm. The
distinctive, contemporary Galleri Espolin, Storvågan ( & 76-07-84-05 ), is
devoted to the works of pictorial artist Kaare Espolin Johnson (1907-94), one
of Norway's best-known artists. Espolin was drawn to the archipelago and was
fascinated by its life and that of its fishermen. Amazingly, this almost lyrical
artist was practically blind for most of his life. He painted not only the fisher-
men but also their wives, their boats, and the drama they faced at sea. From June
11 to August 8, the museum is open daily 10am to 9pm (closing earlier off sea-
son). Admission is 45NOK ($6.40) for adults and 20NOK ($2.85) for children.
On the eastern approach to town, along E10, stands Vågan Kirke ( & 76-07-
82-90 ), a church from 1898 that is the second-largest wooden church in Nor-
way, with a seating capacity of 1,200. It was constructed to house the seasonal
population of fishermen who came mostly for the winter catches, swelling the
population of little Kabelvåg. Admission is 15NOK ($2.15), but the church
keeps no regular hours (it's usually open during the day in summer).
WHERE TO STAY
Kabelvåg Hotell In the center of Kabelvåg's little port, this hotel is a 1995
reconstruction of the original Art Deco villa that once stood here. It is also the
site of the best restaurant in town (see “Where to Dine,” below). Rising three
floors, it's very much an antique wooden structure on the outside, but inside it
is modern and completely up-to-date. The small to midsize bedrooms are rather
simply but comfortably furnished, opening onto views of the ocean and moun-
tains. Each unit comes with a small and immaculately kept bathroom with a
tub/shower combination.
Kong Øysteinsgate 4, N-8310 Kabelvåg. & 76-07-88-00. Fax [phone] units. 900NOK-1,300NOK
($128-$185) double. Children under 8 stay free in parent's room. Rates include breakfast and dinner. AE, DC,
MC, V. Closed Oct 1-May 15. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; laundry service/dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms.
In room: TV, dataport, hair dryer.
Nyvagar Rorbuhotell This contemporary rorbu cabin resort offers
architecture based on those rustic cabins inhabited by fishermen who came in
winter to harvest cod. But the surroundings here are far more comfortable and
elegant than those men of the sea used to endure. The location is convenient,
lying only a 3-minute stroll from the area's museums. Each of the well-furnished
cabins contains two bedrooms and a kitchen, along with a small bathroom with
a shower. Expect wood furnishings and wood walls. About half of the units open
onto views of the harbor. This hotel also offers one of the most helpful staffs in
the area, each of whom is skilled at arranging such adventures as deep-sea raft-
ing or “eagle safaris,” as well as fishing-boat jaunts. Even if you're not a guest,
you might visit its quay-side pub with outdoor table service in summer. In the
main building, the Lorchstua Restaurant serves an array of regional dishes from
the north.
Storvågan 22, N-8310 Kabelvåg. & 76-06-97-00. Fax [phone]. www.nyvagar.no. 30 units. 1,400NOK
($199) cabin for 2-4 occupants. Rates include continental breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Closed Sept-Apr. Ameni-
ties: Restaurant; bar; sauna; laundry service/dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms. In room: TV, dataport.
WHERE TO DINE
Krambua SEAFOOD/NORWEGIAN In the rebuilt Art Deco villa, the pre-
viously recommended Kabelvåg Hotell, this restaurant is the best at the port. It

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