Scenes From Norway

We have all been very saddened by the recent events in Norway. Here are just a few of my favorite Norwegian photos -- from the south to Svalbard.
(Click on the photos for larger views.)

A Taste of Bergen (Norway)

My apologies for not posting in awhile. 

I don't do well in hot, humid weather.

Every time I visit Bergen, I find myself on the street facing the harbor (Festningskalen). So, I decided this would be a pleasant, alternate walk from the ship's dock. (Besides, "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line"--more or less.) This nice walk eventually ends up at a Bergenhus back entrance.

And, waiting in the harbor, one of my favorite ships, the Deutschland.

No, not Bryggen.

(More to follow.)

Off to Norway

Important Opportunity to Experience Hurtigruten

(from Wikipedia)

View portions of the voyage of the Hurtigruten ship, NordNorge, on her Norwegian coastal journey completed on Wednesday morning, June 22nd.


When you have the link in view, you can then view any portion of the cruise by clicking on the voyage map to the left of the link. (Service is spotty inside fjords--Geiranger fjord and Trollfjord.)


(Please note:  I am not on this ship at this time.  I just happen to love Hurtigruten and thought you might like to be on this virtual cruise! Click on "View portions....." to go to the link.) 

Gravdal to Trondheim

 

 

Gravdal (Lofoten Islands) Web Cam Photo

 

See, it's not all ocean!
Forgive me for getting this out of sequence, but I thought you might have already looked at the Lofoten Island postings and would miss this, if I put it in there.

Scenes From Bergen, June 23rd

Bergen is always everyone's favorite. It is nice to come for a 2-3 day stay, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy all the sites. From Bergen, one can take the Norway in a Nutshell one-day tour, offering the train to Myrdal, scenic train to Flaam, cruise along the fjord to Gudvangen, with a motorcoach ascent to Voss, ending with a rail journey back to Bergen. This requires a special trip to Bergen, because it cannot be done while there on a cruise day. (Be sure to click on the video link in the lower right hand corner on the "Norway in a Nutshell" page.)

 

 

 

 

After visiting Bergen for the day, the Ocean Princess will be at sea on June 24th before arriving in Dover early on the 25th.
(What would it be like to spend a few nights in a Martello Tower? I will tell you more after joining the ship.Click on the link to see Guy Ruddy's Martello Tower in Dymchurch. The five of us will be staying in the Martello Tower in Folkestone.)

Geiranger, July 22nd

The motorcoach tour from Hellesylt is a very scenic drive. When it reaches Mt Dalsniba, there is a descent into the village of Geiranger. There are many photo opportunities along the way. The ship waits in the basin below.

 

 

 

 

Hellesylt, on the Way to Geirganger--July 22nd

Not everyone will get off the ship in Hellesylt, only those on an overland trip to Geiranger. After dropping off the land tour passengers, the ship will continue through the Geirangerfjord to the town of Geiranger and wait for the tour passengers there. Those who remain on board will want to take the shuttle boat into town to explore the town, or take one of the many tours to the top of the mountain.

 

 

Trondheim, July 21st

 

 

 

 

More Lofoten Islands

(Ocean Princess will be here on June 20, 2010.)
When we visited last July, the Lupines were profuse.
Just a brief note about animals who live (and eat) in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Because there are 24 hours of sunlight, they continue to eat for 24 hours. I never saw one undernourished animal! The cows have one unique problem--the milk producing element expands so much it drags on the ground.

 

 

 

 

The varied landscape makes these islands a particular treasure. Access from land and sea is from Bodo, Norway, or when visiting on a cruise ship.

Scenes From the Lofoten Islands