So the meals are very nice onboard. Though we are the last seating for dinner and also the last to be served! Still, it was worth it. After dinner, there was a talk in one of the bars, which we missed most of, but did get to try the canape served. Still not absolutely sure what it was other than tasty. May have been air dried lamb.
Then to bed as we had to be up early for our Trondheim tour. Just getting off to sleep and an announcement started – Joe said I was up and out before he’d fully got out of bed – it was a northern lights announcement! Not the spectacular ones you see all the photos of; in fact, a lot of people thought it was just clouds. But they were bright and moved and occasionally turned green/yellow (but were mostly white). So we were out on deck until sometime after midnight watching the light move over the sky. Came back in a bit cold and finally fell asleep just to have the alarm go off – felt like I’d only just got to sleep!
Up and early breakfast and on a tour bus for 7:50. Bus left at 8 and drove through a dark Trondheim. Sunrise this morning was 10:01 and our tour ended at 10:00. So peered out the window at wooden houses as the bus wound it’s way up a steep rise to a lookout point over the city. We were told that we were lucky to get up there, as a day or so ago there was too much ice for the bus to get to the point. So we had a lovely view and the guide pointed out the sites of interest. Nice with the city lit up and Christmas lights on. Then we drove around the university and through the ‘mansion’ area – all the large beautiful houses. The guide said we could look at the Christmas decorations, but as we left the area she said she was very disappointed in their decorating – there was actually very little up!
We ended the tour at Nidaros Cathedral where we had a guided tour and then a chance to walk around. Joe and I elected to walk back to the ship, so had a wander around the Archbishops palace (but didn’t go in), and then through town along the river. Pretty city. Back on board and Joe was still taking photos as we were leaving. As the ship left port we got fed mussels from the area as we went past Munkholmen. Joe took loads of photos of the island (as did everyone!)
The rest of the day, we pretty much stayed on deck, though we had a brief talk in the afternoon about the northern lights and we also changed/added some activities. Then back to the room to rest before dinner and at about 6pm got another announcement. Joe had been checking the app he’d downloaded, so we were getting ready to go on deck anyway – again I was quick off the mark! These were much brighter than last night/early morning and stretched across the sky. But still mainly white. Hoping to see some more colours before we head back home!
While at dinner we docked at Rørvik, so finished eating and went out on deck for a look at the town. It was raining horizontally, so I didn’t stay out long, but Joe stayed to try to get photos (he’s weird like that). Now back underway and waiting to see if we’ll see more lights!
Frog Blog
So the talk last night was to introduce the senior officers and to go over the excursion for today. Then we headed up to the top deck to have champagne and watch Bergen disappear off the stern. So we’ve now had champagne on board a ship in the sub-Antarctic and sub-Arctic. But we’ll actually be going into the Arctic this time. Then to sleep.
Up earlyish, sort of, finally roused ourselves and to breakfast as we hit ‘open water’ – I put that in quotes because we never really leave the shore! But it was rougher and at one point things went flying in the dining room. We hit quieter waters by just before our early lunch (11.30!) I’ll have to put a schedule at some point – we had a few stops last night and this morning before reaching Ålesund, which was our first excursion. But we spent time on deck looking at the villages and one stop (Tuvik?). The title comes from the fact that going past a lighthouse (Joe has photos) I thought it was bouy sized – about as tall as me – as it was just a concrete looking structure with a light, but as we went around it, it became clear it was a decent sized two storey house. Everything looks small from the ship, with the tall mountains around!
We had a walking tour of Ålesund, our excursion for the day, looking at the Art Nouveau and got a quick tour of the museum. The city was, like most Norwegian places, all wood, but in 1904 it burned down – completely. About 5 buildings survived. So they set out to rebuild, but said no wood. It’s the only Norwegian town/city with almost no wooden buildings (we only saw a couple!) And it was build to modern design, which is why it’s all Art Nouveau. Reminded us of Napier in New Zealand – only nouveau not deco! The excursion was about 2 hours then we were back onboard and off about half an hour later.
We had another talk – this one about the excursions and we’re now trying to decide if we’re adding one and changing one. Probably change to whale watching, but will we be able to see anything in the dark? Then Joe took a few photos from deck as it was getting dark and we now wait for dinner.
Frog Blog
So up earlier and had breakfast at the hotel before heading back to the room to pack. Breakfast was quite nice – lots of different things. Once packed we checked out and made reservations for dinner for new year’s eve. So at least we’ll get fed. Left the bags at the hotel and headed off to the aquarium (that site is in Norwegian!).
The aquarium was nice though a bit small. One of those older aquariums without the huge areas for the creatures. So the penguins, sea lions, harbor seals, and marmosets are all in small enclosures. But we saw the penguins get fed and spent a good 3 hours wandering around looking at what is in the waters around Norway – much like what we would see diving in the UK! Then we walked back into town, around the shops, and got a light lunch. As it was dry today (will wonders never cease) we did a lot of walking – coming back from the aquarium we walked along the ridge between two of the harbours (I would not live on those streets – they are a straight drop down to the water and in ice or snow would be a death trap! Not sure if Joe got photos – maybe when we get back.) We also walked around Bryggen again and Joe got more photos (as it wasn’t pouring it down with rain!)
Back to the hotel to get bags and walked to the ferry terminal, checked in, saw the safety video, and got on board. Luckily they put your bags in your room as we had a bit over an hour before we could go to the room. So we wandered around the ship seeing where everything is. Nice ship. I found the big comfortable chairs in the top deck lounge in the bow and settled in while Joe went and got photos. Dinner was buffet with a wide selection of Norwegian dishes. We have a intro talk at 9ish and departure champagne on the deck at 10 and we’re off at 10:30. First tour tomorrow morning at 11:45!
We should also have internet access – that was one of the first things Joe checked out and sorted. Of course.
Frog Blog
So that was the phrase on a window in our hotel. Or how to stay wet on holiday. We slept quite late today – sort of hard to know when to get up when the sun isn’t up until around 10am! And goes down around 2:30pm. Ugh. But we finally got up and got dressed and headed out – into that foggy nasty drizzly rain that soaks through you. We walked around the harbour and down to the old castle/fort – Bergenhus fortress. Only one battle fought there – they defeated the English fleet that came in to attack the Dutch ships sheltering here. Only the king of Norway had given permission to the English to take the Dutch ships and share the bounty. Only Bergen hadn’t got the message. Joe and I laughed.
We also walked around the park a bit, getting more and more wet. We finally decided against climbing up to the higher section and instead headed off to find somewhere drier with food and coffee. Walked around Bryggen through the little alley ways and finally found a pub serving coffee and food. Of course the bartenders were Australian. I think it’s a law that Aussies have to travel and be bartenders. Very nice and Joe had an excellent fish soup. Fortified with soup and coffee we headed back out in the damp and did a circle around the central part of Bergen. So saw some of the churches, the old leper hospital, around to the park and lake where the art museums are (though didn’t go into the museums), then into the shopping district. When the rain started falling even heavier we headed back to the hotel.
Got dry in the hotel and sat in the bar drinking coffee while Joe uploaded his photos. We then headed out to see if we could get reservations for new year’s eve at one of the restaurants in Bryggen. We ended up with reservations for the 30th! Then had really good Spanish tapas for dinner.
Up earlier tomorrow to go to the aquarium! Also have to pack as we’re off to the ship tomorrow afternoon. Dinner on board then we’re off to the arctic circle. Checked sunrise and sunset times for our journey and a good bit of it just says ‘none’. <sigh> But a good chance of seeing the northern lights later this week. Not sure what sort of internet access we’ll have then.
Frog Blog
So, we’ve had a week of getting ready – warm clothes, seeing people, generally getting stuff done. Then we headed off to stay at Gatwick as our flight was early. As it was we had to get up by 6am to get all checked in and bags dropped off. So we weren’t sure about the alarm in the hotel room and I asked Joe to set his phone. He didn’t say he’d also set his watch. So at 6am all three alarms went off. We woke up.
And our flight was late. Due to fog. And no one said ‘sorry for the f in fog’. We finally took off around an hour late and once we went above the fog it was a lovely day – bright sunshine. Not a bad flight. We descended back down into cloud and rain. Bergen is wet. The drive from the airport to the hotel was mostly through tunnels, which was interesting though not much to look at! At the hotel too early to check in so we headed out in search of lunch and tourist info. Then back to check in and nap because it was dark. Very dark. And we aren’t even at the arctic circle yet!
When it stopped raining we headed back out and scoped out the ferry terminal and had a good walk around. Picked up a couple of things at a grocery store and got change – they have holes in the middle! Most of the places to eat were full tonight – lots of parties! But we found an Indian restaurant and had way too much food. Tomorrow will be wandering around Bergen with Joe playing with his camera!
Frog Blog
