Beautiful Bergen

Wednesday 27 June 2012

The most gorgeous morning so up on deck at 6.30 to watch our entry into the port of Bergen - brilliant sunshine and still waters, lots of little islands with fishing huts and all painted in traditional colours.  Bergen is the second largest city in Norway  and sits amongst seven mountains.  We sussed out the local bus to the foot of Mr Ulriken
( the highest of the seven mountains) and got a small cable car up to the top -(2106 ft) - amazing views and if we had longer great walking tracks. Wandered about the port area, Bryggen, as its a world heritage listed site  as a monument to the culture and history of medieval Europe. Lots of brightly coloured buildings (even McDonalds had minimal branding) and a fish market with fish that had to be seen to be believed. I asked what one black looking fish was  and when told it was smoked whale and would I like to try some  I very firmly said No Thank you.

Olden

Olden is a small village (population of 480 ) at the foot of a valley which has towering mountains on both sides, its spectacular. Olden is the gateway to the Jostedal Glacier - largest glacier in Europe. There is a wee church which was built in 1759 and one arm of the Jostedal Glacier, Briksdal Glacier. There are also beautiful deep, still, green lakes. It was rainy and misty and the waterfalls were amazing, lots of snow still around so very beautiful. We got the local bus up to the foot of the glacier and got there at 12.20 and the estimated time to walk to the foot of the glacier was 1hr 45mins. We had to get the 1.30 local bus back to ensure we got back on the ship in time....power walking! we did it and as we were walking the mist cleared a bit and we could see the amazing glacier and the mountains.... carved sheer cliffs and waterfalls everywhere.

Flam pictures

Flam is a wee town at the end of Sognefjord,  350 residents, two hotels, one Info Centre and the famous Flam railway that everyone comes to Flam to go on......great scenery - mountains and waterfalls. Slight problem with train tickets as the QE2 was also in port. They berthed before us and Cunard had pre-booked a lot of train tickets.....grrrrr bit of a bun fight  to try and get train tickets and we missed out. However we met a lovely English couple, Sally and Steve, as we tried for train tickets and we ended up walking up the Flam valley through amazing scenery and alongside gorgeous waterfalls. Hot sunshine, picture perfect scenery.....beautiful. Flam will be a highlight experience for a long time. After our hike, swimming in the pool back on the ship and a gorgeous evening departure watching the mountains and waterfalls pass by. Divine. Sun at midnight, strange but beautiful.

Gorgeous Flam

Monday 25 June 2012

Woke up early as we had left the stateroom (cabin) curtains open and its light almost around the clock. I kept peeking out at the amazing scenery passing the porthole. Finally gave in and got up at 5am and went up on deck as we entered the Sognefjord.  The sun was shining, the water was like velvet, only 5 others on deck all silently observing the incredible nature around us. Breath takingly beautiful .. the fjord goes inland 115 miles and is 3,700feet at its deepest but is quite narrow so the sides of the fjord are really close. The mountains that line the fjord are 6000feet high at the entrance to the fjord. There was snow up high and amazing waterfalls everywhere.

Pics to follow.

Stavengar

Sunday 24 June 2012

After a day and a half at sea we arrived at the port of Stavengar. The time at sea was filled with gym, swimming, tennis, table tennis, research on Norway in the amazing library, going to a show in the Grand theatre, yes it even has opera boxes......incredible and eating. Eating is a big activity on board.....breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, supper....its all amazingly fresh, such variety and you can dress up fully formal or elegant casual.

Savengar was a sleeply little town and not  much open in the Sunday. We explored the old town, walked 5k out to a sculpture of three swords that represent the ancient viking battles of King Harald and visited the cathedral. Everything is very expensive....equivalent Newtown to Wellington cityncnetre bus ride is NZ$30

 .

Setting sail for Norway

Friday 22 June 2012

Got the train from Christchurch to Southampton to meet the ship for our cruise adventure to Norway. Raining in Southampton and we wondered why a lot of people were wearing wellies and walking about looking grungy....they were off to the Isle of Wight festival. When we went to walk up to the Queen Victoria to check in the chap at the dock said 'Isle of Wight', thinking perhaps a couple of backpackers were about to hop on the wrong boat. Not sure the Queen Victoria gets many backpacks checked in.

The ship/boat is amazing....a floating shopping mall, luxury hotel, spa, gymnasium...all there for you.

Loving Christchurch

We have found the ideal spot....its got a beautiful river and estuary with amazing marsh life,  great beaches and beach walks, lovely wee ferry boats that you take out to the headland, great fishing and boating, ancient ruins and more history than you can shake a stick at, just the right size village and shops, a Marks & Spencer, great transport links........we love it!