After our strenuous day yesterday, we retired at 9 p.m. and both were asleep in minutes. We woke up at 7 a.m., went down for a substantial breakfast, then checked out. The elevators in European hotels are very tiny so it took us three trips to get our luggage to the lobby. After the fiasco on check-in, we didn't trust the bellhops. Found a taxi and were at the airport for 10:00. We were served two meals on route and both managed an hour or so of sleep. We were glad we had a two-hour layover in Toronto as it took almost that long to clear customs, go through security yet again, recheck our bags and get to our gate in the same terminal. Had another light meal on the flight to Ottawa. Called Vada once we arrived and by the time we had our luggage, she was there to pick us up. Both of us have vowed to take one less suitcase next trip. We rationalized our vast quantity of luggage by the fact that we needed clothes for warm/hot weather as well as very cold weather, plus dress-up clothes for evenings on board ship.
Norma called and said that her Melodie was very happy to see her - so happy, she didn't appear to hold a grudge for leaving her. She, like the two of us are glad to be home.
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Saturday, 26 July 2014
A Day on our Own in Copenhagen
Neither of us slept too well last night so were awake well before the alarm went off at 7 a.m. We had enough time to have our last fix of Swedish pancakes with lingonberries and maple syrup. Our Captain managed to make up the two hours so arrived in Copenhagen on time. We debarked at 9 a.m. and found the taxi lineup. The first one refused to take us because we had so much luggage! We got to our hotel about 9:30 a.m. and checked in our luggage. Our room would not be ready until 2 p.m. After a quick chat with the concierge and a city map in hand we set out to explore. We decided to walk to Fredericksberg Palace and its extensive grounds. Also, we wanted to wander the streets to see the only houses in Copenhagen. Everyone else lives in apartments. This was a wealthy area near the Palace something like our Rockcliffe Park. On the way, we noticed a small store selling binoculars and high-quality clothing. Norma suggested we go in to look. She immediately spotted a stuffed toy that looked suspiciously like a Norwegian Fiord Pony. We asked the clerk if it was one but he wasn't sure. She decided to pass on it because it was made in China not a Scandinavian country. Meanwhile, I spotted a few lovely pottery birds, three razorbills (a lifer for me on this trip) that would look perfect with my kitchen window collection. Turns out they were made by the head of the Danish Ornothological Society and that is why they were so authentic looking. He had passed away ten years ago and they were selling them for his widow and only had a few left. For some reason, I didn't succumb then and we continued on our way. By the time we headed back, I decided to buy one. Now I have a great souvenir, too. We also discovered a beautiful lighting store with chandeliers and lamps made from thin veneers of birch, copper, paper, and plastic. The chandeliers reminded of the first one I bought for our house. It was of teak and at Halloween, Warren and I decorated it to look like a Jack'o'lantern.
Copenhagen reserves sidewalks for pedestrians and has an extensive system of bike lanes. They are on the same level as the sidewalks but have a different pavement. A couple of times we were yelled at and were nearly wiped out before we figured out the system. Bicycles wait at the pedestrian crosswalks when the light is red. We hardly saw anyone jay-walking.
We returned to our hotel about 1:45 and registered. We asked for our luggage to be sent to our room. It was to arrive in five minutes. After an hour of waiting, I called the front desk to inquire. I called again after another fifteen minutes. I called again after another ten and said if it wasn't there in five minutes, I'd be down to pick it up myself! Four minutes later a harried bellboy rang our doorbell. I told him that was the longest five minutes I had ever experienced. Turns out it had been delivered to the wrong room and then they couldn't remember which room.
We grabbed a few things and set out again, this time to the Rosenborg Have, a former palace where the Crown Jewels are kept. On the way, we walked through a section of the city dedicated solely to pedestrian and bicycle traffic and a range of shopping from low to very high end. Buskers were in abundance and the streets were very crowded. We passed by The Round Tower, one of the oldest buildings here. We were much too tired to even think about climbing it. We returned to our hotel room at 5 p.m. We had been on our feet for six hours. I even had to stop to bandage a blister. On arrival in our room, we noticed a fresh fruit basket with some. Trail mix and chocolates had been delivered. We think it was delivered as an apology for the delay in getting our luggage. Or maybe it was delivered to the wrong room too! Too late, since we hadn't had lunch, we dug in.
Other than a brief heavy rain shower, the weather is beautiful - 28 degrees Celsius and sunny with just a hint of a cooling breeze every now and again. Norma's beads came through again!
We have decided to order room service tonight and go to bed early. Plane tomorrow.
Copenhagen reserves sidewalks for pedestrians and has an extensive system of bike lanes. They are on the same level as the sidewalks but have a different pavement. A couple of times we were yelled at and were nearly wiped out before we figured out the system. Bicycles wait at the pedestrian crosswalks when the light is red. We hardly saw anyone jay-walking.
We returned to our hotel about 1:45 and registered. We asked for our luggage to be sent to our room. It was to arrive in five minutes. After an hour of waiting, I called the front desk to inquire. I called again after another fifteen minutes. I called again after another ten and said if it wasn't there in five minutes, I'd be down to pick it up myself! Four minutes later a harried bellboy rang our doorbell. I told him that was the longest five minutes I had ever experienced. Turns out it had been delivered to the wrong room and then they couldn't remember which room.
We grabbed a few things and set out again, this time to the Rosenborg Have, a former palace where the Crown Jewels are kept. On the way, we walked through a section of the city dedicated solely to pedestrian and bicycle traffic and a range of shopping from low to very high end. Buskers were in abundance and the streets were very crowded. We passed by The Round Tower, one of the oldest buildings here. We were much too tired to even think about climbing it. We returned to our hotel room at 5 p.m. We had been on our feet for six hours. I even had to stop to bandage a blister. On arrival in our room, we noticed a fresh fruit basket with some. Trail mix and chocolates had been delivered. We think it was delivered as an apology for the delay in getting our luggage. Or maybe it was delivered to the wrong room too! Too late, since we hadn't had lunch, we dug in.
Other than a brief heavy rain shower, the weather is beautiful - 28 degrees Celsius and sunny with just a hint of a cooling breeze every now and again. Norma's beads came through again!
We have decided to order room service tonight and go to bed early. Plane tomorrow.
Friday, 25 July 2014
Amber Beads and White Nights
As we approach the end of this memorable cruise, I would be remiss if I did not mention Norma's amber beads. She was very taken with our Lithuanian guide's stories of witches and the pagan beliefs of some of the Lithuanians to this day. At the end of our tour, our guide handed out to each of us a small package of amber stones taken from the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Our guide said that they would bring us good luck. Ever since then, Norma has made certain that her beads came with us on all of our shore excursions. I think there must be something to it as we have enjoyed spectacular weather at all of our scenic stops. Many of them are usually cloaked in fog, accompanied by cold, wind, and rain. This was especially true of our stops north of the Arctic Circle. We were blessed with warm, sunny, calm days so were able to have wonderful views of the gorgeous scenery. With only a couple of exceptions - before the amber beads - our shore excursions have been fabulous with fantastic guides. We chose well. There isn't one thing we would change. We even managed the Metro in Oslo and a hike on our own making it back to the ship before she sailed. And at our last tourist stop in Norway, our last visit to a souvenir shop, our last chance to buy one, we found the pony!
I cannot remember if I mentioned the Scandinavian term for the extremely long days they enjoy from late June through July. They refer to them as White Nights which are so appropriately named. We are still experiencing them and are at last far enough south to enjoy an after midnight sunset if we stay awake long enough.
Something else we found very remarkable was the lack of noise in the cities and towns we visited, unlike at home. We did not hear music blaring from homes or apartments. The Scandinavians, who live in much closer quarters than we do, were considerate of their neighbours. Likewise, drivers did not have their stereos turned up full blast and we were not treated to that thunderous pounding from their cars. Motorcycles purred - their mufflers were very powerful and we were not subject to a lot of revving noise. It was Heaven!
Today we spent the sunny morning on calm seas on our balcony updating the blog, choosing the pictures to go with it and then packing for our debarkation tomorrow morning. We haven't made arrangement for our transfer to the hotel - we hope we can catch a cab outside the pier - but I'll make sure Norma has her beads with her. I went to card making and made arrangements to meet Anne for dinner. I am now trying to send the rest of the pictures from yesterday but internet seems sporadic today. There will be another post about our day on our own in Copenhagen then we will be on the plane home. Hard to believe.
I cannot remember if I mentioned the Scandinavian term for the extremely long days they enjoy from late June through July. They refer to them as White Nights which are so appropriately named. We are still experiencing them and are at last far enough south to enjoy an after midnight sunset if we stay awake long enough.
Something else we found very remarkable was the lack of noise in the cities and towns we visited, unlike at home. We did not hear music blaring from homes or apartments. The Scandinavians, who live in much closer quarters than we do, were considerate of their neighbours. Likewise, drivers did not have their stereos turned up full blast and we were not treated to that thunderous pounding from their cars. Motorcycles purred - their mufflers were very powerful and we were not subject to a lot of revving noise. It was Heaven!
Today we spent the sunny morning on calm seas on our balcony updating the blog, choosing the pictures to go with it and then packing for our debarkation tomorrow morning. We haven't made arrangement for our transfer to the hotel - we hope we can catch a cab outside the pier - but I'll make sure Norma has her beads with her. I went to card making and made arrangements to meet Anne for dinner. I am now trying to send the rest of the pictures from yesterday but internet seems sporadic today. There will be another post about our day on our own in Copenhagen then we will be on the plane home. Hard to believe.
Thursday, 24 July 2014
View from the Top of Mount Dalsnibba
A View of the Fjord at 1500 metres and our Ship
Majestic Mount Dalsnibba and Djupvasshytta Lodge
Woke for the usual reason at 2 a.m. to our first hint of dusk and a hint of what lay in store for us. The skies over the hills and the sea were tinted with pink and lights from the small towns twinkled on the shore. I tore myself away and returned to bed. Norma was up at 4 a.m. and sat bundled up on the balcony watching the scenery until I got up again at 5 a.m. and joined her. I woke up to her excited screams : "Mary Lou, Dolphins!!! and managed to stumble out of bed fast enough to watch five of them cavorting in the ship's wake. (We later learned that they were harbour porpoises.). We managed to get a window table at breakfast while the ship was docked at Hellesylt so didn't miss a thing. (Some people got off the ship here to join overland tours.) We were back on our balcony to enjoy the rest of the trip through the fjord to Geiranger. Geiranger is a small village of 250 permanent residents which can easily swell to 9,000 once cruise ships dock and tourists pile in by car to admire surely the most photographed fjord in Norway. The waters were calm and turquoise in colour. A myriad of waterfalls cascaded from the top of the cliffs into the fjord. Tiny houses clung to the cliff faces. We wondered how they got there. There appeared to be no roads. As we waited for our tour time, we noticed a road switch backing up the side of a cliff with many buses negotiating the steep turns. This, we learned, was the Eagle Road open all year round and the only link to the rest of Norway in the winter.
Once the tour bus started, immediately we began our climb on a road to Oslo which is closed in the winter. We were to climb 1500 metres from sea level to the top of Mount Dalsnibba with a photo stop at 1000 metres. Needless to say, the ride was spectacular as we took so many hairpin turns I lost count. Sometimes it felt that we were hanging over the edge of the cliff. The bus often had to stop along the way to allow other vehicles on their way down to pass. We climbed (in the bus this time) above the tree line to the glacier fields atop the mountains. Once there we joined crowds of other tourists taking pictures of the panoramic 360 degree views. You could see our ship in the harbour. It looked as tiny as a charm on a charm bracelet. Norma resolutely started walking. When I asked her to hold up so someone could take our picture I was told in no uncertain terms: "Mary Lou, we only have 15 minutes and I want to check out the souvenir shop." I followed her into a tiny, very crowded shop with lineups at both cashes and the washrooms. We both started looking around for the most coveted souvenir of the trip. We lost track of each other. Then I spotted the elusive creature that we had been looking for in every souvenir shop in every port of call in Norway. I couldn't find her so I yelled "Norma!" Up she popped. She was so excited she bought two. She said she had checked out that shelf and hadn't seen them. (I think I deserve a finder's fee.) As she waited in line, I gave her some Krona, and left her to make her purchases so that I could admire the view and snap some photos - which is the reason we chose that tour - not to stand in line in a souvenir shop.
Our next stop was at the Lodge for a pastry and a drink of glacier water. Had enough time to dip my toes in the glacier-fed waters before heading back to our ship. Our expected arrival was 15 minutes before the last tender at 3:30 p.m. Just as we got to the outskirts of town, traffic came to a sudden halt. We sat until the last tender was supposed to have left. We noticed our driver on his cell phone and guides from other buses wandering up and down the road. Finally one of the ship's staff boarded the bus to say that the port had gone to Level 2 security and no one was allowed into the town while certain checks were being made and we had to stay on the bus. This wasn't a problem for us as it was very hot and our bus was air conditioned. By the time we got on the last tender, it was close to 5:30 p.m. We sailed a full two hours late. Our captain announced that he was going to try to make up the time. He thinks we will arrive in Copenhagen an hour later than scheduled. Not a problem for us as we have an extra night there before our flight home but some people may be worried about missing their flights.
After all that excitement we finished one bottle of wine before supper, decided on a room- service meal and almost finished another bottle of wine before bed. Tomorrow our last sea day.
P.S. If you haven't already guessed, the coveted souvenirs were exact replicas of a Norwegian Fjord Pony!
Once the tour bus started, immediately we began our climb on a road to Oslo which is closed in the winter. We were to climb 1500 metres from sea level to the top of Mount Dalsnibba with a photo stop at 1000 metres. Needless to say, the ride was spectacular as we took so many hairpin turns I lost count. Sometimes it felt that we were hanging over the edge of the cliff. The bus often had to stop along the way to allow other vehicles on their way down to pass. We climbed (in the bus this time) above the tree line to the glacier fields atop the mountains. Once there we joined crowds of other tourists taking pictures of the panoramic 360 degree views. You could see our ship in the harbour. It looked as tiny as a charm on a charm bracelet. Norma resolutely started walking. When I asked her to hold up so someone could take our picture I was told in no uncertain terms: "Mary Lou, we only have 15 minutes and I want to check out the souvenir shop." I followed her into a tiny, very crowded shop with lineups at both cashes and the washrooms. We both started looking around for the most coveted souvenir of the trip. We lost track of each other. Then I spotted the elusive creature that we had been looking for in every souvenir shop in every port of call in Norway. I couldn't find her so I yelled "Norma!" Up she popped. She was so excited she bought two. She said she had checked out that shelf and hadn't seen them. (I think I deserve a finder's fee.) As she waited in line, I gave her some Krona, and left her to make her purchases so that I could admire the view and snap some photos - which is the reason we chose that tour - not to stand in line in a souvenir shop.
Our next stop was at the Lodge for a pastry and a drink of glacier water. Had enough time to dip my toes in the glacier-fed waters before heading back to our ship. Our expected arrival was 15 minutes before the last tender at 3:30 p.m. Just as we got to the outskirts of town, traffic came to a sudden halt. We sat until the last tender was supposed to have left. We noticed our driver on his cell phone and guides from other buses wandering up and down the road. Finally one of the ship's staff boarded the bus to say that the port had gone to Level 2 security and no one was allowed into the town while certain checks were being made and we had to stay on the bus. This wasn't a problem for us as it was very hot and our bus was air conditioned. By the time we got on the last tender, it was close to 5:30 p.m. We sailed a full two hours late. Our captain announced that he was going to try to make up the time. He thinks we will arrive in Copenhagen an hour later than scheduled. Not a problem for us as we have an extra night there before our flight home but some people may be worried about missing their flights.
After all that excitement we finished one bottle of wine before supper, decided on a room- service meal and almost finished another bottle of wine before bed. Tomorrow our last sea day.
P.S. If you haven't already guessed, the coveted souvenirs were exact replicas of a Norwegian Fjord Pony!
Wednesday, 23 July 2014
Another Relaxing Sea Day
Woke up feeling much better to the sun pouring in the cabin and a balmy breeze blowing. It reminded me of how wonderful it was in SE Asia. Believe it or not, I managed a morning nap that took me to 1:30 p.m. Time flies when you're having fun. Went to the card-making class while Norma had a bath and did some laundry. We plan to attend afternoon tea and trivia but haven't decided about dinner yet. Will either have it on our own in the restaurant or order room service.
Tomorrow, we sail through one of the most photographed fjords on Norway and take what is purported to be, one of the most spectacular drives. We are looking forward to it.
Sent from my iPad
Tomorrow, we sail through one of the most photographed fjords on Norway and take what is purported to be, one of the most spectacular drives. We are looking forward to it.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
Harstad, Norway
The cruise through the fjord revealed many pristine 'summer farms' so called because they are only inhabited in the few summer months from June through September. We docked at the small town of Harstad in the morning and we took advantage of some free time to try to buy a stuffed Norwegian Pony as a souvenir. Harstad is the largest town in Norway (23,000) that is north of the Arctic Circle. After visiting three shops, one suggested we try a toy store but again we had no luck. Then it was back to the ship to prepare for our hike up Mount Kjeipen. As we drove through the countryside on our way to the starting point, Norma spotted the elusive pony. Made her day!
We had exceptional weather for our hike - sunny skies and a temperature in the low 70s with a bit of a breeze. Despite feeling under the weather (colds), we managed to make it to the top and enjoyed the magnificent views that were unimpeded by the usual fog. We were treated to some fabulous potato bread at the top. We both really enjoyed the fresh air and a chance to stretch our legs. The path was narrow and rock strewn which made it a difficult hike and our trusty poles got a lot of use. We were pleased to note that we weren't the last either coming or going. There was a small lake near the top and many took advantage and went swimming. We were sorry we hadn't brought our suits. On the way back to the ship, I managed to get a picture of the elusive pony through the window of our fast moving bus - a bit blurred but recognizable.
After a nap, we dressed up to go to one of the specialty restaurants for dinner, then bed. Tomorrow another welcome sea day and our first sunset (12:30 a.m.) in quite awhile.
We had exceptional weather for our hike - sunny skies and a temperature in the low 70s with a bit of a breeze. Despite feeling under the weather (colds), we managed to make it to the top and enjoyed the magnificent views that were unimpeded by the usual fog. We were treated to some fabulous potato bread at the top. We both really enjoyed the fresh air and a chance to stretch our legs. The path was narrow and rock strewn which made it a difficult hike and our trusty poles got a lot of use. We were pleased to note that we weren't the last either coming or going. There was a small lake near the top and many took advantage and went swimming. We were sorry we hadn't brought our suits. On the way back to the ship, I managed to get a picture of the elusive pony through the window of our fast moving bus - a bit blurred but recognizable.
After a nap, we dressed up to go to one of the specialty restaurants for dinner, then bed. Tomorrow another welcome sea day and our first sunset (12:30 a.m.) in quite awhile.
Norma's Turn #4 - July 22nd
Awoke to another magnificent morning off the coast of Norway .Beautiful fjords, dazzling sunshine and warm. My impression of the high Arctic was of sitting in the middle of a plate with the horizon circling around me. The sight of 800 million year old mountains crumbling into the Greenland Sea is one I'll never forget. It's been light for 24 hours a day for so long it seems normal.
Hope everyone is doing well. I'll see you soon.
Hope everyone is doing well. I'll see you soon.
Monday, 21 July 2014
Our Little Soldiers!
A Relaxing Day at Sea
Norma tells that she has done nothing today except shop, eat, read, and sleep. I did the same but also went to the card-making class. We enjoyed our afternoon tea and trivia game. Our excuse for doing nothing is that we are still battling our sore throats and stuffy noses.
Our BIG news is that we have booked another cruise in 2015. This one goes from Amsterdam to Barcelona. We change ships in Barcelona and continue on to Rome.
Tomorrow, we are going on our last strenuous hike up a mountain - a tour designed for the physically fit, which we were when we got on board but after all the food and wine we've consumed in the last few weeks, we are not so sure now that we qualify.
Our BIG news is that we have booked another cruise in 2015. This one goes from Amsterdam to Barcelona. We change ships in Barcelona and continue on to Rome.
Tomorrow, we are going on our last strenuous hike up a mountain - a tour designed for the physically fit, which we were when we got on board but after all the food and wine we've consumed in the last few weeks, we are not so sure now that we qualify.
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Cruising the Magdalenenfjord
We awoke to the magnificent scenery of the Magdalenenfjord and breaks in the clouds which had been with us since our departure from Longyearbyen. We were so happy to see the blue skies so that we could truly see all the beauty of this fjord. It was even warm enough to enjoy the views from our verandah. I think the pictures say it all.
We were at 79.34.40 degrees Latitude and the temperature was 6.5 degrees Celsius (43 degrees Fahrenheit). We were struck by the bright blue ice of the glaciers and the turquoise blue of the waters. We saw some northern elephant seals sunning themselves on a peninsula which we were trying to make into walruses. No signs of polar bears so guess a trip to Churchill will have to be in my cards.
The fjord is not long in length and we were the only cruise ship here so our Captain turned the ship around so that all cabins had 360-degree views. Truly stunning and well worth a day's sail to get this far north. We stayed in the fjord admiring the views from 7 a.m. until noon before leaving for our next destination, Harstad, Norway.
Unfortunately, we have both picked up sore throats and runny noses but are determined not to let that stop us from all of our planned activities. After a light lunch and a good nap, I went to a card-making workshop then collected Norma for afternoon tea and trivia contest. We were so abysmal at the first game we went to, we didn't hand in our scores. Turns out we would have tied for second place!
As we are not feeling well, we plan to dine in tonight. We have another sea day tomorrow and I will try to find something else to report.
Sent from my iPad
We were at 79.34.40 degrees Latitude and the temperature was 6.5 degrees Celsius (43 degrees Fahrenheit). We were struck by the bright blue ice of the glaciers and the turquoise blue of the waters. We saw some northern elephant seals sunning themselves on a peninsula which we were trying to make into walruses. No signs of polar bears so guess a trip to Churchill will have to be in my cards.
The fjord is not long in length and we were the only cruise ship here so our Captain turned the ship around so that all cabins had 360-degree views. Truly stunning and well worth a day's sail to get this far north. We stayed in the fjord admiring the views from 7 a.m. until noon before leaving for our next destination, Harstad, Norway.
Unfortunately, we have both picked up sore throats and runny noses but are determined not to let that stop us from all of our planned activities. After a light lunch and a good nap, I went to a card-making workshop then collected Norma for afternoon tea and trivia contest. We were so abysmal at the first game we went to, we didn't hand in our scores. Turns out we would have tied for second place!
As we are not feeling well, we plan to dine in tonight. We have another sea day tomorrow and I will try to find something else to report.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, 19 July 2014
Longyearbyen, Svalbard/Spitsbergen, Norway
Arrived here at 78 degrees Latitude at 8:00 this morning. After a leisurely light breakfast, we prepared for our Rib boat adventure at 11:00. We suited up in enormous flotation suits and goggles and went aboard. The boat only sat ten people and we sat on seats that you had to ride astride like being on horseback. Norma was fine but I had to remember back 50 years to my horseback riding days. One chap arrived in his walker but the pilot of the RIB told him he could not come for safety reasons. Thus he denied a person on the wait list a chance to experience this adventure so we were only nine. Our first stop was to admire a bearded seal resting on a pier then we were off to the open seas! There was a whole lot of wheeing and hooting going on as we crashed through the waves. It was like being on a ride at a Fair. So much fun! When I asked the gentleman seated in front of me if I was the only one making noise, he told me that I was making enough for everyone else. We stopped at a cliff to see nesting Arctic birds and I added a few more to my life list. We then proceeded to an abandoned Soviet coal mining town but the wind had picked up so we began our return. The ride back was much smoother as we were going with the current but I still managed to have a few waves splash over me. (I was sitting in the second seat from the front and no one was directly in front of me.) Two hours passed all too quickly. A quick check at the souvenir shop and back to our room for a room service lunch of chicken soup and sandwich.
Tonight, we are back at a specialty restaurant and yet another opportunity to pack on the pounds. Tomorrow we cruise the Magdalenenfjord which we are both looking forward to. We plan to spend as much time as possible in the Observation Lounge as the scenery here is supposed to be spectacular. We will be at the most northerly point of our voyage at 79 degrees Latitude. Check it out to see how far north we are. I should mention that we have no internet service here so am not sure when I can update the blog.
Tonight, we are back at a specialty restaurant and yet another opportunity to pack on the pounds. Tomorrow we cruise the Magdalenenfjord which we are both looking forward to. We plan to spend as much time as possible in the Observation Lounge as the scenery here is supposed to be spectacular. We will be at the most northerly point of our voyage at 79 degrees Latitude. Check it out to see how far north we are. I should mention that we have no internet service here so am not sure when I can update the blog.
Friday, 18 July 2014
The Maple Syrup Girls.
In Our Matching Jackets. Identical good taste!
Our breakfast waiters have christened us 'The
Maple Syrup Girls'.
A Day at Sea
Slept in this morning but managed to make it to the restaurant for a light breakfast. It may take awhile for the pictures I took of our respective light breakfasts to arrive but keep an eye out for them. Internet is slow this far north.
This morning was the fashion show we were asked to model in. Anne, one of the singles we've met showed up and took my camera so pictures will follow of the two of us strutting our stuff. The necklaces we are wearing range in price from $900 to $1900 US. Needless to say that even with a 10% discount we did not buy them.
After a nap, I went to card making and Norma napped some more. We skipped lunch but went to afternoon tea and trivia where we managed to get 33% of the answers correct. No one would want us on their team.
We went to the social travelers get together and then dinner at the Italian restaurant. Tomorrow our rib boat adventure in Spitsbergen.
Today it was foggy all day so no view. We are hoping for better weather tomorrow so we can see the scenery and maybe a glimpse of a polar bear. We are above 75 degrees latitude and the temperature today was 6 degrees Celsius - brrrrrrrrr!
This morning was the fashion show we were asked to model in. Anne, one of the singles we've met showed up and took my camera so pictures will follow of the two of us strutting our stuff. The necklaces we are wearing range in price from $900 to $1900 US. Needless to say that even with a 10% discount we did not buy them.
After a nap, I went to card making and Norma napped some more. We skipped lunch but went to afternoon tea and trivia where we managed to get 33% of the answers correct. No one would want us on their team.
We went to the social travelers get together and then dinner at the Italian restaurant. Tomorrow our rib boat adventure in Spitsbergen.
Today it was foggy all day so no view. We are hoping for better weather tomorrow so we can see the scenery and maybe a glimpse of a polar bear. We are above 75 degrees latitude and the temperature today was 6 degrees Celsius - brrrrrrrrr!
Thursday, 17 July 2014
Hammerfest, Norway
We docked at this small port town of 10,000 inhabitants in splendid sunshine at 1 p.m. and almost immediately met our group for the hike up Mount Salen to the Mikkelgammen Sami Camp. The path was very steep in places and we were both overdressed. We were glad of our hiking poles. Once at the top we entered a Sami-style lodge with a sod roof. A large fire heated the room, the last thing we needed. There we sampled a selection of reindeer meat - boiled, salted, and smoked with bite of delicious bread and some smoked salmon. Not quite as good as Akira's, but close! The reindeer tasted a bit like elk. After that, we entered a typical Sami tepee-like structure with a sod roof. The inside had birch twigs covering the floor covered in reindeer skins with a central fire. A hole in the roof let the smoke escape and also served to deter the multitudes of mosquitoes. We sat down and a Sami man told us some of the history of the Sami people and sang us songs that had somehow managed to survive the coming of Christianity to Northern Norway. We found it all quite delightful.
As the town is very modern we came back to the ship rather than explore it. This city battles Honningsvaag for the title of the most northerly city in the world. It can get up to 9 metres of snow in the winter yet the port remains ice free because of the Gulf Stream. During the polar nights, the Northern Lights can be seen every other night.
Tonight we are getting dressed up to head to one of the specialty restaurants for dinner. Tomorrow the fashion show, and a cocktail party as we have our second sea day (Yeah!) on our way to Spitsbergen and our Rib Boat Adventure to Bird Island.
Sent from my iPad
As the town is very modern we came back to the ship rather than explore it. This city battles Honningsvaag for the title of the most northerly city in the world. It can get up to 9 metres of snow in the winter yet the port remains ice free because of the Gulf Stream. During the polar nights, the Northern Lights can be seen every other night.
Tonight we are getting dressed up to head to one of the specialty restaurants for dinner. Tomorrow the fashion show, and a cocktail party as we have our second sea day (Yeah!) on our way to Spitsbergen and our Rib Boat Adventure to Bird Island.
Sent from my iPad
An Example of the Architecture of most of the Apartment Buildings in Murmansk
I waited until we were out of Russian territory before I wrote the blog about Murmansk just in case!
Murmansk - The Bleak
We docked at the port of Murmansk under sunny skies and our side of the ship faced away from the port so had a decent view of a treelined shore. Having sun here is extremely unusual as it only happens 60 days a year. Our shore excursion wasn't until the afternoon - City Highlights and Oceanarium. The first thing we noticed was that the lilacs were in full bloom as were honeysuckle a full two months behind our lilac season in May. The second thing was that the lawns in the parks were not cut until the weeds were at least a foot high. The clippings were not composted but put into plastic garbage bags. The third thing was the ugly architecture of the many apartment buildings some of which had newer windows but many with windows that looked like they would never open. Plaster had fallen off and most were stained by pollution. Norma saw a well-dressed woman carrying two huge jugs of water from an outdoor tap into one building so it became obvious that many buildings had no running water. As in Ottawa, Murmansk has two seasons - winter and construction. Our young guide told us that she had no hot water in her district of the city for two weeks while pipes were being repaired. We noticed four men digging around one of the sites we visited. They only had one shovel! One would dig while the other three would watch, then they would change places. One way to have full employment numbers. Apartments either faced the port, had a decent view and were cold or faced the city, had an ugly view and were warmer.
The highlights we visited were the Palace of Culture, the magnificent Memorial to the Defenders of the Kola Land, another memorial complex in a lighthouse where we were probably the only ones on the tour to find the memorial book which listed the names of all the sailors killed in the nuclear submarine sinking (a national shame as Russia refused help offered by the international community to rescue their sailors until it was too late). We covered our heads with scarfs to visit a small Orthodox Church decorated with gilded frescoes. Then we were off to the Oceanarium which had been advertised as a centre of research for studying seals. Instead, we were horrified to find we were taken to a small building, ushered upstairs to find a small pool, and were 'treated' to a performance by trained seals along with ear shattering music on a cheap sound system. Those poor poor suffering animals. The sadness I saw in their eyes will haunt me for a long time.
Our tour bus was ancient. Many of the windows had condensation between the panes so that the lucky people in those seats couldn't see out. We were in the back and were treated to the smell of diesel fumes so bad we each got a headache. We were fortunate that we had several stops where we could get off and clear our heads.
After a tour of the downtown, it was with a huge sigh of relief that we returned to our ship. After a nap, we headed to the gathering of social travelers (singles) and to the dining room for dinner. We gained back the two hours we lost the night before so managed to have ten hours rest before breakfast this morning. This afternoon, we are hiking to a Sami camp to, we hope, lose some of the calories we have been packing on.
PS. I forgot to mention that we almost lost the obnoxious young man as he and his equally rude mother came running down the pier when the ship was 3 metres away from the dock the other day. A tug boat picked them up and transported them to the ship. We haven't seen them since so they must be laying low. Maybe they learned a lesson?
The highlights we visited were the Palace of Culture, the magnificent Memorial to the Defenders of the Kola Land, another memorial complex in a lighthouse where we were probably the only ones on the tour to find the memorial book which listed the names of all the sailors killed in the nuclear submarine sinking (a national shame as Russia refused help offered by the international community to rescue their sailors until it was too late). We covered our heads with scarfs to visit a small Orthodox Church decorated with gilded frescoes. Then we were off to the Oceanarium which had been advertised as a centre of research for studying seals. Instead, we were horrified to find we were taken to a small building, ushered upstairs to find a small pool, and were 'treated' to a performance by trained seals along with ear shattering music on a cheap sound system. Those poor poor suffering animals. The sadness I saw in their eyes will haunt me for a long time.
Our tour bus was ancient. Many of the windows had condensation between the panes so that the lucky people in those seats couldn't see out. We were in the back and were treated to the smell of diesel fumes so bad we each got a headache. We were fortunate that we had several stops where we could get off and clear our heads.
After a tour of the downtown, it was with a huge sigh of relief that we returned to our ship. After a nap, we headed to the gathering of social travelers (singles) and to the dining room for dinner. We gained back the two hours we lost the night before so managed to have ten hours rest before breakfast this morning. This afternoon, we are hiking to a Sami camp to, we hope, lose some of the calories we have been packing on.
PS. I forgot to mention that we almost lost the obnoxious young man as he and his equally rude mother came running down the pier when the ship was 3 metres away from the dock the other day. A tug boat picked them up and transported them to the ship. We haven't seen them since so they must be laying low. Maybe they learned a lesson?
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
Bird Safari to Gjesvaerstatten Nature Reserve
Woke up at 6 a.m. to prepare for our boat trip to the above-named reserve which is composed of a group of rock islands that many species of birds use as safe nesting grounds. Although the rest of this area experienced cloudy, foggy weather, we were again treated to sunny skies and very little wind. Once again, we enjoyed some spectacular scenery on our way to the small fishing village (only 40 residents) where we were to catch our boat. Our boat accommodated three bus loads of people with some seats both inside (where you wouldn't see much) and some outside. We elected to stand for the hour and a half journey so that we would have good views. We saw seals playing in the surf, many puffins, black guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, gannets, shags, cormorants, Arctic terns, and white-tailed eagles. Right up my alley. We both really enjoyed the morning.
The only disconcerting episode were three people who arrived one-half hour late to our bus totally oblivious of the fact that everyone else was on time. They managed to hold up one other bus load from our ship and one from another cruise line docked here who waited on the boat for our bus to arrive. This meant that the boat crew didn't get a break for lunch, there wasn't time for many people to use the one WC available, the gift shop and small cafeteria didn't get the business they expected and our dining room staff was inconvenienced by having to work well past the usual closing time. And this on a night we lose two hours as we cross into a Russian time zone. I cannot get over the nerve of some people who think the world rises and sets on them. Norma says you cannot escape the ignorance of some people.
Tomorrow, back to the bureaucracy of Russia and a tour of Murmansk with some high seas along the way according to the captain.
The only disconcerting episode were three people who arrived one-half hour late to our bus totally oblivious of the fact that everyone else was on time. They managed to hold up one other bus load from our ship and one from another cruise line docked here who waited on the boat for our bus to arrive. This meant that the boat crew didn't get a break for lunch, there wasn't time for many people to use the one WC available, the gift shop and small cafeteria didn't get the business they expected and our dining room staff was inconvenienced by having to work well past the usual closing time. And this on a night we lose two hours as we cross into a Russian time zone. I cannot get over the nerve of some people who think the world rises and sets on them. Norma says you cannot escape the ignorance of some people.
Tomorrow, back to the bureaucracy of Russia and a tour of Murmansk with some high seas along the way according to the captain.
Midnight at the Pier
View from the Bus at 11:30 p.m.
Monday, 14 July 2014
Land of the Midnight Sun - 71 degrees latitude
We docked in Honningsvag at 7 p.m. We have a view of the town and fjord from our balcony. There is a cliff overlooking the port and we noticed two white animals on the cliff face. Were they sheep? goats? A look through the binoculars confirmed that these animals had antlers! Our first sighting of reindeer. I didn't realize reindeer had white coats in winter. Most of the ones we saw later were very shaggy as they were in the process of losing their winter coats.
After an early supper, dressed in long underwear, and our winter coats, hats and mitts, we hopped on a bus to the Nordkapp ( North Cape). Neither of us was prepared for the stunning scenery during our hour bus ride. The land is desolate and wild. The road took us up and up as we passed huge cliffs that plunged into the sea. The views were magnificent. We also had our first glimpse of the Sami people or Lapplanders. They live in either tepees or sod houses much like people did on our prairies.
It was a rare weather moment at the Cape - we had sunshine. According to the guides, there is usually a sideways rain. The winds were very strong so there was a wind chill factor. Inside the modern building, we watched a film showing the four seasons of this beautiful land. We took a shuttle bus back to the ship where we encountered the same ill-mannered teenager who gabbed in his loud voice all the while the guide was telling us interesting facts about life here. I hope he is not on another shore excursion with us. We arrived back at the ship near midnight and poked around in the souvenir shop foor awhile. It is amazing how unsleepy one is when it is so light out. Our ship's information channel tells us that the sun sets at 2 a.m. and rises at 2 a.m. The sun just goes around the sky in a circle rising higher in the sky throughout the day.
This morning we are looking forward to another bus ride to catch our boat for our birding safari.
After an early supper, dressed in long underwear, and our winter coats, hats and mitts, we hopped on a bus to the Nordkapp ( North Cape). Neither of us was prepared for the stunning scenery during our hour bus ride. The land is desolate and wild. The road took us up and up as we passed huge cliffs that plunged into the sea. The views were magnificent. We also had our first glimpse of the Sami people or Lapplanders. They live in either tepees or sod houses much like people did on our prairies.
It was a rare weather moment at the Cape - we had sunshine. According to the guides, there is usually a sideways rain. The winds were very strong so there was a wind chill factor. Inside the modern building, we watched a film showing the four seasons of this beautiful land. We took a shuttle bus back to the ship where we encountered the same ill-mannered teenager who gabbed in his loud voice all the while the guide was telling us interesting facts about life here. I hope he is not on another shore excursion with us. We arrived back at the ship near midnight and poked around in the souvenir shop foor awhile. It is amazing how unsleepy one is when it is so light out. Our ship's information channel tells us that the sun sets at 2 a.m. and rises at 2 a.m. The sun just goes around the sky in a circle rising higher in the sky throughout the day.
This morning we are looking forward to another bus ride to catch our boat for our birding safari.
Our First Sea Day
Yesterday, we had our first chance to relax and do nothing and we took full advantage of the opportunity. After a leisurely breakfast in the full-service restaurant where we have discovered the delectable tastes of Swedish Pancakes (crepes) with lingonberry sauce, we adjourned to our room for our morning nap. After a light lunch it was back to bed for our afternoon nap. I arose in time for the "bluenose" ceremony where passengers were christened on the nose by the captain with blue whipped cream to show that we had sailed above the Arctic Circle. Norma woke in time for dinner which we enjoyed with the two bridge teachers on board. The two women met playing bridge online. The American owns her own accounting company where she specializes in international tax. The other is Canadian and a teacher in Victoria.
Norma and I have been busy using up our shipboard credits. Our first purchase was a souvenir Faberge egg each. Norma has a couple of new tops and slacks. I have a couple of new tops and some new jewelry. Norma bought a jacket which I liked so much that I got one identical to hers. Other passengers can certainly tell we are sisters as we have been wearing them a lot. Since we have been such good customers, we were offered a chance to be in a fashion show, modeling some of our new duds and as a bonus, sporting some very expensive jewelry. We were hoping to have our hair and makeup done but no such luck. This happens on our next sea day so will have a full report later.
The weather is still sunny but very cold when the wind is factored in. It is only 10 degrees Celsius and the winds are brisk. Even bundled up in all our warm clothes and a duvet, it is too cold to enjoy our balcony. The long underwear is coming out for tonight's shore excursion. I should also mention that we are having to use our sea legs as we are feeling the motion of the waves now.
This morning at breakfast, the waiter came over to the table with a full container of maple syrup without our having to ask for it. Norma puts it in her tea, on her fresh fruit, on her yogurt, on her musli, and, of course, on her Swedish pancakes. I must admit to using it quite a bit myself! We plan a light lunch and an early cheeseburger dinner in our room before our excursion tonight to the North Cape. The sun will not set tonight so plan to visit the harbour town of Honningsvag before we return to the ship tonight around midnight, I suspect.
We have our first bird excursion tomorrow but I have already seen my very first Atlantic Puffins flying near the ship!
Norma and I have been busy using up our shipboard credits. Our first purchase was a souvenir Faberge egg each. Norma has a couple of new tops and slacks. I have a couple of new tops and some new jewelry. Norma bought a jacket which I liked so much that I got one identical to hers. Other passengers can certainly tell we are sisters as we have been wearing them a lot. Since we have been such good customers, we were offered a chance to be in a fashion show, modeling some of our new duds and as a bonus, sporting some very expensive jewelry. We were hoping to have our hair and makeup done but no such luck. This happens on our next sea day so will have a full report later.
The weather is still sunny but very cold when the wind is factored in. It is only 10 degrees Celsius and the winds are brisk. Even bundled up in all our warm clothes and a duvet, it is too cold to enjoy our balcony. The long underwear is coming out for tonight's shore excursion. I should also mention that we are having to use our sea legs as we are feeling the motion of the waves now.
This morning at breakfast, the waiter came over to the table with a full container of maple syrup without our having to ask for it. Norma puts it in her tea, on her fresh fruit, on her yogurt, on her musli, and, of course, on her Swedish pancakes. I must admit to using it quite a bit myself! We plan a light lunch and an early cheeseburger dinner in our room before our excursion tonight to the North Cape. The sun will not set tonight so plan to visit the harbour town of Honningsvag before we return to the ship tonight around midnight, I suspect.
We have our first bird excursion tomorrow but I have already seen my very first Atlantic Puffins flying near the ship!
Norma's Turn #3
I am enjoying the second leg of our journey. We left Oslo at 4:00 p.m. The hills rising from the Oslo Fjord were dotted with wooden houses some centuries old and very tiny. After a lovely dinner in our suite, we were treated to a full moon rising. The next morning I arose at 5:00 a.m. to see an island with very unusual cloud formations. I double checked to make sure that was what I was actually seeing. It was saying "Welcome to my Mythical Kingdom" a la The Lord of the Rings. I felt I had been transported to another dimension. As I was questioning my sanity the whole image dissipated into thin air and I returned to reality.
We are now on the western side of Norway at 70 degrees latitude with brisk winds heading towards Cap Nord. There are definitely no signs of Norway's gnomes and trolls. We're both excited to be this far north. Soon we'll be experiencing sightseeing at midnight.
We are now on the western side of Norway at 70 degrees latitude with brisk winds heading towards Cap Nord. There are definitely no signs of Norway's gnomes and trolls. We're both excited to be this far north. Soon we'll be experiencing sightseeing at midnight.
Saturday, 12 July 2014
The Starting Point from the Funicular Station
If you look closely, you can see our ship in the extreme right-hand side of the harbour.
Exploring Bergen
We enjoyed wonderful scenery sailing up the Bergen Fjord. The landscape here is very hilly. The Norwegians have a penchant for painting their houses white (with either red or the more modern black tiled roofs) and their outbuildings red whether they be barns or boathouses. All buildings seem to be perched atop bedrock. These colours showing between the evergreens and birch make for some stunning scenery.
Our shore excursion was a hike up Mount Floyen. We met our guide, a Portuguese marine biologist!, at 9:00 a.m. On our walk to the famous Floybanen Funicular (the most popular attraction in Norway according to some), we strolled past the Bergenhus Fortress parts of which were built around 1250. He then took us through the historic waterfront of Bergen known as Bryggen. It has the largest collection of wooden buildings from the Hanseatic League left in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The buildings give the appearance of holding each other up leaning on each other for support and that if one fell down the rest would be sure to follow.
We took the funicular to where we began our hike up the mountain. Of course, the Norwegians walk up to where we began our hike - they are so fit, I am sure they look on us as wimps for cutting our walk by a third. Norma and I were quite pleased with ourselves as we made it all the way to the top above the tree line. I added a stone to the cairn at the top. Most of it was uphill in 30 degree Celsius heat. Bergen broke a heat record yesterday. On the way we enjoyed a few breaks by beautiful clear lakes and as we got above the tree line, spectacular views of the city and the numerous fjords. After the ride back on the funicular, we were left to explore on our own, so we ventured to the fish market. The ship's chef took advantage of the market to load up on fresh fish which we plan to order for dinner every chance we get. We shopped for souvenirs in the Bryggen area and then returned to the ship after 5 hours on our feet. Needless to say we enjoyed our afternoon naps, I didn't even hear the blast of the horn and the captain's announcement that we were leaving. There was a cocktail "block party" where we gathered in the corridors to meet our neighbours before going to dinner at one of the specialty restaurants with Anne and another couple. Tomorrow a sea day and a chance to do nothing but relax.
Our shore excursion was a hike up Mount Floyen. We met our guide, a Portuguese marine biologist!, at 9:00 a.m. On our walk to the famous Floybanen Funicular (the most popular attraction in Norway according to some), we strolled past the Bergenhus Fortress parts of which were built around 1250. He then took us through the historic waterfront of Bergen known as Bryggen. It has the largest collection of wooden buildings from the Hanseatic League left in the world and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The buildings give the appearance of holding each other up leaning on each other for support and that if one fell down the rest would be sure to follow.
We took the funicular to where we began our hike up the mountain. Of course, the Norwegians walk up to where we began our hike - they are so fit, I am sure they look on us as wimps for cutting our walk by a third. Norma and I were quite pleased with ourselves as we made it all the way to the top above the tree line. I added a stone to the cairn at the top. Most of it was uphill in 30 degree Celsius heat. Bergen broke a heat record yesterday. On the way we enjoyed a few breaks by beautiful clear lakes and as we got above the tree line, spectacular views of the city and the numerous fjords. After the ride back on the funicular, we were left to explore on our own, so we ventured to the fish market. The ship's chef took advantage of the market to load up on fresh fish which we plan to order for dinner every chance we get. We shopped for souvenirs in the Bryggen area and then returned to the ship after 5 hours on our feet. Needless to say we enjoyed our afternoon naps, I didn't even hear the blast of the horn and the captain's announcement that we were leaving. There was a cocktail "block party" where we gathered in the corridors to meet our neighbours before going to dinner at one of the specialty restaurants with Anne and another couple. Tomorrow a sea day and a chance to do nothing but relax.
Friday, 11 July 2014
Lillesand by Land and Sea
This morning we docked in Kristiansand again. The beautiful weather is still with us - temperatures in the mid 20s Celsius. We heard that Norway is the warmest country in Europe right now. Also, it is in the high 20s in Spitzbergen, north of the Arctic Circle! Now the worry is, did we bring enough summer clothes?
Our tour today took us to the small village of Lillesand, another picturesque harbour town. Our guide was the same one we had for our walking tour of Kristiansand so had heard most of the information and stories earlier. We boarded a boat in the port of Marvika for a scenic ride past skerries (small islands) including one which the Crown Prince and his family vacation on. I'm afraid that my teacher instincts took over as I had to tell one teenager to hush while the guide was speaking and tell an older gentleman that every time he stood up in the boat to take a picture, we couldn't see anything. We had the feeling that if we hadn't said anything he would have thought nothing of blocking our view for the entire trip. I noticed that he was the only one to demonstrate such poor manners. It is a wonder how inconsiderate some people can be.
We returned to the ship for a very good lunch, and now have time for a nap. Tonight is the one formal night, so we plan to get all dolled up, go to the meet and greet, and meet Anne for dinner at the restaurant.
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Our tour today took us to the small village of Lillesand, another picturesque harbour town. Our guide was the same one we had for our walking tour of Kristiansand so had heard most of the information and stories earlier. We boarded a boat in the port of Marvika for a scenic ride past skerries (small islands) including one which the Crown Prince and his family vacation on. I'm afraid that my teacher instincts took over as I had to tell one teenager to hush while the guide was speaking and tell an older gentleman that every time he stood up in the boat to take a picture, we couldn't see anything. We had the feeling that if we hadn't said anything he would have thought nothing of blocking our view for the entire trip. I noticed that he was the only one to demonstrate such poor manners. It is a wonder how inconsiderate some people can be.
We returned to the ship for a very good lunch, and now have time for a nap. Tonight is the one formal night, so we plan to get all dolled up, go to the meet and greet, and meet Anne for dinner at the restaurant.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, 10 July 2014
On Our Own
After a quick breakfast the morning, we set out on our own to the Akerselva River around 9 a.m. We bought our tickets and managed to get on the correct subway line to Nydalen Station. We were pretty hyped by our success. The next problem was navigating our way back to the ship. There was a certain sense of urgency about this as we had to get back on board by 2 p.m. for our 3 p.m. sailing. The walk was around 10 kms long. First, we had to find the river. Once we did that we were on our way. Our city centre maps did not extend as far as the station so we were flying blind! We kept up a steady pace enjoying the quiet shady path (the weather has been in the 30 degree Celsius range) until the river disappeared on us. Thank heavens, Norwegians speak English. Everyone we approached was very helpful and eventually we found the river again. At one point we passed by some waterfalls that powered some old mills. Very picturesque. The river pulled its disappearing act on us about three times, but before we knew it, it was time to leave the river for a trek through the city centre passing by many landmarks on the way. The route reminded me so much of Ottawa - a Rideau Street construction zone where we had to keep crossing back and forth to avoid the digging, an outdoor market a la Byward, a pedestrian mall a la Sparks Street. We dropped in at the Impressive Oslo Cathedral and heard the organ playing. A quick stop at an upscale department store for a WC break, and we were off again. We walked through a flower market on our way to the Royal Residence for some photos, then back to the ship. We were back at 12:30 p.m. in time for lunch. We ate with the same couple as we did last night. We enjoyed a congratulatory glass of wine before retiring to our suite for a well deserved nap. We were awakened by the Captain announcing the lifeboat drill. We may go to the Meet and Greet singles get together before dinner. We are thinking of room service tonight as we are both pretty beat and we have an early start tomorrow. So begins our second cruise.
Sent from my iPad
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
A Norwegian's Thoughts
I received this message from Akira regarding public art in Norway:
I was chatting with my friend in Norway tonight and I told him what you said.. This is the conversation:
Akira: Blue's aunt wrote in her trip blog "The Norwegians have a policy that 3.5 percent of the cost of any new construction must be spent on providing an outdoor piece of art for the building." That's cool!
Akira's Norwegian Friend: Really? Well, that explains all the modern crap they call art.
Akira's Norwegian Friend: Really? Well, that explains all the modern crap they call art.
Our guide in Oslo shared the same sentiments, however, Norma and I quite liked the sculpture outside the Opera House.
The Opera House Sculpture
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