June 15: Our ship docked at Alta Harbor at 7 o'clock. Alta is known for its stunning natural beauty, with majestic mountains, fjords, and the surrounding Arctic wilderness.

After breakfast, we set out to hike the nearby mountain. The journey wasn't too long, about 4 to 5 kilometers from the pier to the top of the hill. The final few hundred meters involved climbing on large rocks, which proved challenging for some of the older passengers from the ship. As we descended the mountain, we had a delightful encounter with a group of fifth-grade students from a local school on an outdoor activity. They eagerly chatted with us, asked numerous questions, and even recommended the local shopping center to visit. They taught us some Norwegian phrases along the way, and their enthusiasm, curiosity, and confidence were fascinating. We were even more surprised to come across a group of kindergarten children climbing up the mountain, led by teachers at the front and back – something unimaginable in the United States. It's no wonder Norwegians love outdoor activities and have a spirit of adventure instilled in them from a very young age.

After our mountain adventure, we visited the Northern Lights Cathedral in the city center. The church was newly constructed. The church's architecture was quite remarkable. The building exterior was titanium sheets with a large spiral and a belfry inspired by the natural beauty of the Northern Lights. It required an entrance fee to see the church's interior, which we gladly paid. Instead of traditional sculptures of Jesus or religious figures, there was a stunning 4.3-meter-tall bronze sculpture of a man, adding a modern and artistic touch to the sacred space. Beneath the bell tower, a gold ladder, seemingly an artist's imaginative creation, led upwards, perhaps symbolizing a path to heaven. Our visit to the Northern Lights Cathedral left us in awe of its innovative design, harmonizing the majesty of nature with contemporary artistry, making it a truly captivating and unique experience, different from other churches in Europe.

Later, we took a bus to the Alta Museum, the World Heritage Rock Art Center, outside the city. It is dedicated to showcasing and preserving the unique heritage of Alta Rock Art, a collection of ancient rock carvings that date back thousands of years. The Alta Rock Art consists of more than 6,000 rock carvings on large panels spread across the landscape, depicting various scenes from prehistoric life, including hunting, fishing, rituals, and daily activities of the region's early inhabitants. The rock painting park was well-maintained, ensuring the priceless paintings were protected and accessible to visitors. We wandered along the path and deeply appreciated the skill and artistry of the ancient people who created these remarkable carvings.

Most of the museum-goers were from our cruise, and many had taken the bus to the museum like us. As we were ready to return to the ship, the bus station outside the museum was bustling with eager cruisers to return to their vessel. Only a few of us had purchased tickets in advance through our phones. When the first bus arrived, the driver was meticulous, ensuring everyone bought a ticket before boarding and only the front door was opened. It took quite a few minutes for only a handful of passengers to get on. The line was long, and people started wondering how long it would take to get on the bus. A little while later, the second bus came, stopping right in front of us. The second bus driver opened all the doors and gestured for everyone to board without tickets. We all rushed in, and the bus departed promptly. Looking back, we noticed the first bus was still slowly loading the passengers.

We decided to try a different restaurant with Brazilian cuisine in the evening. We did remember to bring our saved wine out. Unfortunately, the mediocre food didn't meet our expectations, leaving us somewhat disappointed.

6/15 - 北纬69.97度（Alta)

早上七点船来到Alta港。下船后先去爬山，路程不算长，加上从码头到山脚的一段大概有4，5公里，最后几百米是在大石头上爬上去的，有些年纪大的人就有点困难。在我们下山时，来自当地学校野外活动的五年级学生与我们聊天，问了我们好多问题，还推荐我们去当地购物中心看看。一路上还教我们不少挪威话，他们很热情，好奇和自信，很有意思。最为惊奇的是还碰到一群幼儿园小朋友也在往山上爬，前面有老师领队，后面有老师跟着，这在美国是不可思议的事情。难怪挪威人喜欢野外活动，勇敢的冒险精神从小就开始培养。

爬完山后就去市中心的教堂。这个教堂建筑很别致。进教堂要收门票，但这教堂和其它的不一样，没有耶稣塑像而换成了艺术人像。

坐公交车去城外的博物馆，那里有2～7千年前的岩石画。岩石画公园修建得很好，把这些无价之宝的岩石画保护起来又便于游客观赏。博物馆里绝大数参观者都是从我们游轮来的，很多人都是坐公交车来的。回码头的车站挤满了游客，第一辆车来了，像我们这样手机上已买票的少之又少。司机做事认真，每人必须买票才能上车，而且只开前门，几分钟也没上几个人。过一会儿来了第二辆车，正好停在我们面前，那司机将所有车门都打开，挥挥手不用买票，大家一涌而上，车就开走了。再回头看第一辆车还在慢慢地检票呢。

晚上试了另一家特色餐厅-巴西餐厅，不敢恭维，口味一般，有点失望。