Suzanna Travels

My disclaimer: Apologies in advance for mispelled names or an incorrect recording of an event. If you have a correction, request for me to remove something, a quip to add, or photo, please email me at look@mytrips.com. And apologies for some of the prophetic digressions in this journal....

Gate1 Tour: 10 Day Affordable Norway with 5 Day Scenic Coast Cruise: Mountains, Fjords & Northern Lights Pursuit

Our trip: https://www.gate1travel.com/europe/scandinavia/2023/escorted/scandinavia-escorted-10dnomfsc23.aspx

Package Includes

Flights New York-Oslo, Bergen-New York Other departure cities available. Airline taxes & fuel surcharges Intra-flight: Oslo-Kirkenes
8 nights accommodations 2 nights Oslo (We paid for an extra night before the tour starts)
5 nights aboard Hurtigruten ship, standard inside cabin 1 night Bergen
Hotel taxes, fees & service charges Hotel porterage Port fees
All transfers included only with airfare purchase on package arrival & departure dates
19 meals: 8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners with wine or beer
Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout Entrance fees per itinerary

Special Features

Visit Oslo's world-famous open-air Vigeland Sculpture Park brimming with over 200 sculptures
Embark on the coastal cruise in scenic Kirkenes, a small town near the Russian border
Dock in 33 ports of call. Your ship is uniquely designed to explore the Norwegian coastline
Enjoy sailing through the Lofoten and Vesteralen islands renowned for their spectacular beauty
Dock in the port town of Svolvaer, the quaint capital of the Lofoten Islands
Cruise the magical Helgeland Coast with vistas of thousands of islets and steep granite walls
Cross the Arctic Circle, a special moment on your journey south along Norway's coast
Dock in ancient Trondheim, with its colorful history mirrored in its handsome architecture
Tour in Bergen, the 900-year-old harbor town established by Viking King Olav
Coastal Cruise Features & Amenities Coffee & tea with all meals; wine or beer with dinner, Complimentary Wi-Fi access in public areas

Gate1: Please be aware that Norway is an expensive destination. This is an Off Season program. Offering the same quality as one of our Classic tours, our off-season Affordable tours are an ideal way to enjoy the sites with fewer crowds and milder temperatures while saving money.

Norwegian Money - Very easy to convert

I got $200 USD of Norway money from my Wells Fargo bank.

1 usd = 9.85 Norwegian Kroner on 1/21/2023 and NOK NORWAY - KRONE 0.101

USD NOK (rounded)

1 10

5 50

10 100

50 493

100 985

Cost of our trip

We paid $4238 per person to Gate1, and $236 to the ship for the excursions.

cost

Note: For the ship excursions, my AmEx card showed 2455.00 Norwegian Krone as $236.15 charge.

This screen shot shows Gate1 price $3749, but price had already gone up to $3779 when we booked.

On 3/10/2023 after the trip when I am writing this journal, the price has gone up almost one thousand ($1000) dollars !!!!

On 3/10/2023, I did price comparison on the Hurtigruten site https://www.hurtigruten.com/

This was our room. I am so glad we upgraded. I do not think I could have handled an upper bunk, or a couch that folds out to a bed.

The bed had one HUGE HUGE pillow and one small too-squishy-for-me pillow. What is it with these HUGE pillows? We asked if they could remove the HUGE pillows, but they do not have anywhere to put them. They said to cram it under the desk or under the bed.

And we had two chairs. The second chair was in the way.

In our room I was next to the window - note the very narrow space around the bed

that I had to traverse at night in the dark holding my crotch when I had a stong urge and need to pee....

foiled repercussions from trying to stay hydrated!

The November 4, 2023 Gate1 Land Only cost is $3299 per person.

The November 5, 2023 Hurtigruten cost is $2934 per person.

I would go with Gate1 tour because it includes the Oslo & Bergen hotel and tour, flight to Kirkenes, etc.

DAY 0 - Fly to Oslo, Norway Saturday February 25 to Sunday February 26

Saturday when we flew out was the day before the official tour starts.

Priscilla drove to my house Friday night. Saturday we repacked her stuff into a different suitcase.

2:30 pm Gary drove us to the Atlanta International airport.

The plane was a 2-4-2 configuration and we had the two left seats in row 39.

Departed 7:45 pm. Duration was a tough 8 hour 30 minute flight to Amsterdam. Arrive 10:15 am.

Good pasta dinner on the plane. Then it was time to sleep. And that was elusive. Sleep was NOT going to happen.

It was a really, really rough night. I got NO sleep. I do not want to do that again. I should consider paying for Delta comfort class next time.

We had a 4 hour wait in Amsterdam. There was a very long walk to the gate. Sit, relax.

Depart Amsterdam 2:25 pm for a 1 hour 50 min flight to Oslo. Arrive Oslo next day 4:15 pm.

Two (new to me) announcements one of our plane flights

The captain had an addendum to the flight crew demonstrations. He was required to tell us if you are using the oxygen mask and you are wearing a mask, you must remove your mask first before you put on the oxygen mask. Seems like the flight crew could just change their demonstration to include that instruction.

The captain also announced that you must ask persmission to photo or video someone during the flight. I think there have been so many problems and fights on airplanes lately, people record the disturbance and it makes it to the news. Of course the person causing the problem is not going to grant permission to record (or maybe they will, but who has time to ask permission when there physical fight happening). You would think that the airline would welcome all photo and videos to investigate the problem. Anyway. That is my two cents.

DAY 1 - Sunday February 26 - In Oslo, Norway

Arrived in Oslo 4:15 pm.

The Amsterdam to Oslo flight was my first introduction people in Norway.

There were children. Lots of kids. It seems unusual. Birth rates for many countries are dropping, but apparently not here. Priscilla and I got the family with 3 kids in the row behind us. Father was in the middle. Very active girl behind Priscilla window seat and very active boy behind me in the aisle seat. They didn not have any electronic entertainment, unlike most all American kids require electronic entertainment devices. They were very, very bored and expected to be entertained and they required constant parental attention. The father taught the boy to lower and raise the tray table. He slammed it shut every time and my seat would lurch forward. Then were was the constant kicking on the back of my seat. I turned around and gave the boy a stern look a couple times. That did not work. It was very annoying.

The middle seat between Priscilla and I was a very large man. He was grabbing armrest space and his elbows were on both sides came over the arm rests. Priscilla got a krick in her back from her seating position trying to avoid his thick arms. I tried to lean over in the aisle, but then I get bumped by people walking down the aisle.

Anyway, this was a very very tough flight. Priscilla really needed the toilet. She was a trooper and made it to the airport bathrooms.

I had a carry on bag, pick up Priscilla suitcase at baggage claim, thru passport control, Gate1 guy was right there for our transport to hotel (Gate1 cost for transfer is $77 per person).

It is 5:10 pm in Oslo and we are in the shuttle to the hotel.

Thomas is driving.

There was a crash on the main route, so Thomas had to go back roads.

We arrived one day early before the tour starts, so our Gate1 tour guide had to start working a day early. Thank you Minna! She met us at the hotel. Got checked in.

That is the first time I have had to use my room key to enter the elevators.

The Olso Hotel:

Clarion Hotel The Hub Oslo, Oslo, Norway Standard Room with Breakfast CF 1 Twin Room / 1 Night $215.00

https://www.nordicchoicehotels.com/hotels/norway/oslo/clarion-hotel-the-hub/

Phone: +47 2 310 8000 E-mail cl.thehub@choice.no

Address Biskop Gunnerusgt. 3 0106 Oslo , Norway

810 hotel rooms 23 meeting rooms, two bars, a restaurant, library and GrowHub, our amazing rooftop garden, indoor pool, gym and relaxation area.

Distance to airport 50km, Oslo Airport Gardermoen

Distance to Oslo Central Station 100 meters

We ventured out to find dinner

We ended up at a pizza place that had "American" style. We got a small pizza, Priscilla got a salad, I got onion rings.

They bring the credit card machine to your table to pay. The bill was 300 ($30 USD).

I had to enter 400 to include the tip. It showed up as $38.85 on my AmEx bill at Peppes 27 Karl Johan Oslo Norway

I saw a Burger King. A Whopper sandwich is 121 ($12 USD)

I was very, verry tired and we went to bed about 9.

Priscilla gave me a Melatonin and I actually slept! Real sleep and no Kindle book reading.

DAY 2 - Monday February 27 Oslo, Norway

Gate1 Description:

Arrive in Oslo, Norway's 1000-year-old capital city; transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure to rest and relax. Your tour begins with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 6 PM, followed by dinner. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 4 PM Overnight: Oslo Meals: Dinner

Up about 8 am. Breakfast at the Clarion Hotel is included with the room. It was an excellent buffet.

And a most excellent location of our hotel. We walked acroos the street Central Station (Train station)

We walked to the Library and Opera house.

Library

This is my photo of the Library.

In my library photo above you can see the adjacent Opera house.

The cut-away corner of the building has won many awards. It was built this way so you could see the opera house from Central Station.

Opened in 1785 following an endowment from Carl Deichman, who bequeathed 7,000 books and 150 manuscripts which formed the basis of the library's collection.

Libaray finished in 2012.

The library has an estimated 4,000 visitors a day.

Opera House

This is Rafal Konieczny photo Opera house from wikipedia.

Opera House

1,100 rooms in a total area of 49,000 m2 (530,000 sq ft).

The main auditorium seats 1,364 and two other performance spaces can seat 200 and 400.

The main stage is 16 m (52 ft) wide and 40 m (130 ft) deep.

Main auditorium has a chandelier containing 5,800 handmade crystals.

Seats include monitors for the electronic libretto system, allowing audiences to follow opera libretti in Norwegian and English in addition to the original language.

The angled exterior surfaces of the building are covered with marble from Carrara, Italy and white granite and make it appear to rise from the water.

It is the largest cultural building constructed in Norway since Nidarosdomen was completed circa 1300.

Construction started in 2003 and completed ahead of schedule and $52 USD million under its budget of $760 USD million.

Our Oslo tour guide said it was "built $20,000 USD UNDER budget. They used the extra $ to stop leaks".

Opened in 2008

It has won culture award and Architecture awards

The roof angles to to the ground level and you can walk up the roof for a better view of Oslo

Munch museum

We walked to this museum. I'm glad Priscilla suggested we pay the entrance fee to go inside. Wow!

From the sign in the museum

Edvard Munch (1863-1944)

Bequeathed more than 26,000 of his artworks and literary diaries to Oslo.

Museum establised in 1963 to show the collection. This building opened 2021

Also Includes 900 artworks donated by Stenersen (friend of Munch)

From another sign in the museum

Our understanding of Edvard Munch's art is constantly evolving and changing. The museum's research and exhibitions are influenced by the society around us and what questions we think it is most releant to ask today. In this exhiition, we want to show Muchh's art as something unfinished and open, where there is room for different perspectives and narratives.
The exhibition is divided into twelve different themes that you can experience

Alone
To Die
The Scream
Love
Gender
Outdoors
Naked
Others
Oneselft
In Motion
On the Surface
Variations

The twelve themescapture the emotional aspects of Munch's art, the types of motifs he worked with and his innovative exploration of different artistic media. There is no right or wrong route through the exhibition - we wantto leave it up to each individual to find their Munch.

There is a "Childen's Peephole Trail" where they can look through a hole and see small scenes of Munch themes.

The Scream

There are four version of The Scream by Munch. There one at the National Gallery, and the other three are here at the Munch museum.

In the Munch museum, they show one at a time, but not in sequence.

One scream is displayed for one hour. So you may wait 2 hours and see the same one!

We saw 2 screams.

Here are the three displayed in the Munch:

This the text on the sign for the the 3 Screams:

1893 Crayon on cardboard

Munch loved to experiment with different media. In the 1890's he created a number of large drawings using pastel or crayon. These drawings are more spontaneously executed than paintings, but also much more fragile - an aspect which here masterfully underlies the existential theme of the work.

1910? Tempera and oil on cardboard

The picture is executed with brushes and fluid paint, the image abounds with smooth, undulating lines of colour, reminiscent of soundwaves. We do not know for certain when this version was made, therefore the dating is followed by a question mark.

1895 Lithograph

Munch was a world-class graphic artist and many of his prints were more widely know than his paintings. Such was the case with the lighograph of The Scream. Printed in around 30 impressions, it was this bold black-and-white version that was first reproduced in books and journals.

The Munch also has other artists. My photos of Jackson Pollack were blurry .From the sign adjacent to the Pollack painting

In his studio, Jackson Pollack is busy working around a canvas. It is more than just his latest painting. It also represents a radical new way of making a work of art. Danciing around the canvas, he whirls thin lines of paint over it an pours, drips and splashed paint on top. these actions are significant because the process itself - the performance - is now part of the art.

His canvas lies flat on the floor. Suddenly there is no longer any up or down, foreground or background. The the abstract expressionists it is all about understanding art in a totally new way - by creating it in new ways.

Pictures have no borders when artists stop recognising boundaries and work right up to the edges of the canvas - you could even imagine the image continuing beyond the frame.

From the web: Pollack invented his style of pouring paint to make accidental shapes. Many critics referred to the style as the "drool school".

After the museum, we came back to hotel to rest a bit.

Then venture back out in the other direction

Past the Parliament building

To the Nobel Prize building

City hall

Wharf harfor.

We went inside the Oslo Central Station (train station).

Priscilla finally found some decaf coffee to enjoy.

Before we go on another trip together, we need to practice our whistle. I didn't realize she was trying to get my attention to watch an artist painting.

[Update: On the last day of the trip I still could not hear her whistle to get my attention - like I said, we will work on that.]

Before the meeting, Priscilla got a glass of white wine in the hotel bar. Very expensive. To be expected in Norway? Geez.

6 pm Gate1 Welcome meeting with a welcome drink. I got a welcome beer.

Meet our great tour leader Minna. She is from Sweden. She has been a tour guide for 17 years.
A toast:

"Skol" is the Danish-Norwegian-Swedish-Icelandic-Faroese word for "cheers", or "good health", a salute or a toast, as to an admired person or group.

The story: They would put beer in two bowls, then shout Skol and bump the bowls together so it sloshes from each bowl into the other bowl so if one bowl had poison, now both bowls will have poison.

32 people on the tour. Apologies for misspelling or incorrect information

Chris - Ohio
Barb - Mich
Doris/Jim, Linda/Alex, Margaret/Robert - NY (the 3 sisters)
Tony/Mary Lou - Phil. 19th Gate1 tour!!
Susan - Chicago
Brocha - Atlanta
Merrita - Philly
Steve - upstate ny
Debbie - Ny
Lynn/Alan - Maryland
Maggie/Al - NH
Roberto, Richard - Ft Laud
Naki?, Yvonne - sisters, LA
Suzanna - Atlanta
Priscilla - NC

This is a very well-traveled group

No tipping in Norway at restaurants, but tip $2. Per person to the Gate1 city guide on Tuesday.
Weather - do not trust the weather man. Always be prepared with layers.
30 F tomorrow
It is THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR to see the Northern lights.
On the ship you must activate the announcements in your room to hear the notice to go out an see the lights.

Use the Arora app to show where are the Northern lights.

Suggestion to use Google Translate for voice and printed material.

After the Welcome meeting is the Gate1 Group dinner. The dinner includes another drink.

Minna was at the same table as Priscilla and I and Deborah - talked about health care.

Minna was very nice and asked my profession. I always start out by saying I am a travel journalist, but that is a hobby. I pay for my hobby as a technical writer. Priscilla explained my project of following my grandparents travel. I bring their photos from 1950's and I go back to the same places and take the same picture. I post the pictures on this web site.

Dinner menu:

Scallops appetizer - different presentation of small, raw scallops with caviar.

Main dish is beef - very, very good medallions. Prime rib consistency, very tender.

Dessert is chocolate - excellent!

Maybe we will see the Northern lights tonight...

Go to the top of the Norway Journal Table of Contents

DAY 3 - Tuesday February 28 Oslo Tour

We did not see any aurora borealis / northern lights last night... But my cousin in Alaska saw them on February 27 (last night):

Gate1 Description:

This morning, take a city tour of Oslo. Start with a visit to the modern City Hall.* Then, pass the National Theater, the 19th century Royal Palace and view the Cathedral. Next, visit the Vigeland Sculpture Park, designed by Gustav Vigeland. The park contains 192 sculptures with more than 600 figures. The park's most popular attraction is the Monolith column, measuring 46 feet high, it is carved from a single block of granite and took three stone sculptors 14 years to complete.

Rest of the day is at leisure, or perhaps take the optional tour Treasures of Oslo, to visit the Fram Museum and Kon-Tiki Museum

*In the event that the Oslo City Hall is closed due to local events, it will be substituted with a visit to the Oslo Cathedral

Our Gate1 Tour Guide Minna gave us very good information about Oslo, where to go, what to see, what to eat and recommendation to buy spikes.

"It might be a good idea to purchase some spikes during your free time in Oslo. There is a big chance we will experience some slippery conditions on this trip."

Very rough night last night. Priscilla was commenting on her very dry hands. I was using the lotion from the hotel so I asked if she wanted some and gave her a blob. Trouble started around 11:30 pm. It turns out she is allergic to something in the lotion. Coughing all night. Or it could have been the dust mites in the duvet. At least I got about 4 hours of sleep which is my norm. Deal with it and move on. And loose the tude.

I need to get better ink pens if I am going to write this journal. That was the last thing on my TO DO list and did not get it done. I am on my third pen and it is difficult to write with.

8:30 am bus tour of Oslo with Elsa Holm. Driver is Svane.

On this tour we will see

Wharf Harbor promenade
City Hall where they hand out the Nobel Peace Prize
KonTiki museum
Fram museum where you can get on the ship
Walk 45 minutes around the park with the "Angry boy" statue.

Population Norway 5 million. Population Oslo 700,000.

"Os" mean god. "lo" means hill. Oslo mean "meadow of god".

Cathedral built 1697 (this was very near our Clarion hotel - I could not find the name of this cathedral)

Akershus Fortress built 1299-1859 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akershus_Fortress. It has been used a prison, military office, museum, royal residence.

National Museum has 90 rooms and they are still filling it up.

13 hundred people were killed in the Black Death. It killed half the population of Norway.

The Danes invaded and ruled here for 400 years.

1624 Oslo burned and they built the new city here. It burned 17 times.

There is still a building here from 1626!

1814 Napoleon war - "We lost and Norway was given to Sweden".

Union with Sweden for 100 years.

The Prime Minister is from the Labor Party. He governs along with 20 or 9? other parties.

There are 9 government parties - Democratic, Labor etc.

There are 169 in parliament (not the correct term) in government.

There are 22 ministers (11 men and 11 women)

There is a place in Oslo call "Oak Hill". It has the only 7 oak trees left in the city after Viking ships used the rest.

Munch art work made 28,000 pieces and 20,000 are here.

Pink (the original color) building built in 1902.

It was a warehouse and now office.

At one time it was the largest (tallest?) in Europe.

1550 pillars in the the ground support the building. It is very strong.

There is a street here that cost 9.3 million to build.

It is 700 meters long

It is heated and has 600 trees different types of trees planted the whole length of the road.

The tree have labels to indicate where the tree came from. Every tree needs a different soil and temperature.

There are 11,000 electric cars. Many are Tesla. Norway license plates start with "E"Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â for electric. More than half the cars here are electric. Tesla, $50,000. There are Chinese, Korean Hundai, MG, Swedish Volvo etc electric cars.

There are electric ferries also.

There are 3,000 bicycles around Oslo and dangerous electric scooters.

It is not legal to carry any weapons. No knives, no guns.

It takes 3 years to become a policeman. They make $60,000 USD salary the frist year.

Harbor Promenade

Elsa was shocked to see two war ships in the port! One is German and one is Spanish? Usually there are cruise ships here but unfortunately, there are bad things happening now in the world...

They used to build ships here along the harbor promenade.

We are standing by orange tower #7 harbor markers. There are 30 markers now.

The ferry in the harbor goes to Germany. It is an overnite ride.

There is another daily overnight ferry that goes to Copenhagan.

Floating sauna/toilet/shower.

Elsa asked permission to take photos. The guy jumped in the ice-covered water and boasted that it was refreshing. He was an American.

In the photo below:

Glass sculpture in the middle of the harbor weighs 300-ton

It looks like a floating iceburg

Every 24 hours it turns around 360 degrees.

The tall building - Pink (the original color) building built in 1902.

It was a warehouse and now office.

At one time it was the largest (tallest?) in Europe.

1550 pillars in the the ground support the building. It is very strong.

Trolls come out in the evening and at night. They do not like the sun. They have 4 fingers and toes.

Norwegian coffee: Rleali. But it is "not that good".

You must be 18 years old to buy wine and 20 to buy spirits. Very expensive here. Store closes at 1 pm on Saturday.

An apartment downtown: 1 bedroom for $500,000 USD.

$500 a month plus electricity.

Elsa $150 a month loan. She live outside Oslo in a 3 bedroom

Norway has an oil fund for pensions.

They invest in 90 different countries. Only use interest to pay out.

Retire at 62, pension is lower. 67 has higher pension.

At 65% of income for you whole life.

You need to work 40 years to get the top highest pension.

We are getting off the bus - Use channel 5 on the Whisperer

Nobel Peace Center

This is the beautiful Nobel Peace Center

Building dates from 1872. In 1989 this building was a train station

In 2005 it opened as a museum to tell the history, prize laureates and their work, and story of Alfred Nobel and the other Nobel Prizes.

The ceremony actually takes place in City Hall every December 10 (commemorates Alfred Nobel's death).

The exhibition "NOBODY PLANS TO GIVE UP" is being shown Spring 2023.

City Hall

This is where the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony takes place every December 10 (commemorates Alfred Nobel's death)

City Hall finished in 1950. It is called "Goat Cheese" because it looks like the brown cheese that they eat here in Norway.

From the web: Brunost ( lit. '"brown cheese"') is a common Norwegian name for mysost (whey cheese) a family of cheese-related foods made with whey, milk, and/or cream.

They boil the Goat milk until it carmelizes and that is why it is brown.

Before we go into the building Elsa pointed out the Fridtjof Nansen memorial.

He got the Peace Prize in 1922. Explorer, scientist, diplomat. He helped 400,000 people get a Nansen passport, including Marc Chagall

There are beautiful wooden carvings on the side of the building

In the back pavillion - Swan statue - the bird of the city.

It is free to enter.

You walk into the building into this HUGE room. This is where they give out the Nobel Peace Prize in this room.

The main mural is bright because it is painted on wood.

On the side walls it is painted on the concrete walls. It tells a story of war and war ending. Elsa was very genuine at this point, and emotional. "War is NOT GOOD."

The Nobel Prizes

According to Alfred Nobel's will of 1895, are awarded to "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind."

There are 5

Physics
Chemistry
Physiology or Medicine
Literature
Peace - "to the person who has done the most or best to advance fellowship among nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the establishment and promotion of peace congresses")

Awarded annually.

A recipient is known as a "laureate"

They get a gold medal, a diploma, and a million dollars

The Peace Price is 1 million dollars.

The Kings Hall. Pictures of current and past rulers. Kink Huddell? is ruling now with his wife.

Elsa spent alot of time explaining the murals on the painted walls. The detail areas tell story of the country and history.

We walked up the stairs and into each room upstairs

You can get married in this Munch room!

On your wedding day, you can request any song to be played for your wedding or event here at City Hall.

There are 48 bells in the Clock Tower. They weigh from 4 kilos to 4 tons. It takes 7 years to learn how to play the bells.

They play every hour

Munch Room Oslo City Hall

Elsa spent a long time in this Krogh room explaining many of the frescos.

I did not get the name of this room and I could not find it anywhere on the Internet.

Politicians that rule Norway work here. They meet every month.

The used the American and French constitution and added Norwegian to make theirs in 1814? May 17 they celebrate like our 4th of July with parades and National costumes

We took a group picture here. If anyone can sent me that picture, I will post it here!

The tapestry hanging in this meeting room is also in the United Nation building in New York.

On straw from Norwegian farm. Design by Else Poulson.

The last hallway has with gifts from other countries.

10:45 and we are back on the bus after the City Hall tour.

Sculpture park

At 11:15 we are at the park.

The bus drops us off the BACK of the park.

Before we entered, she pointed out the ski jump on the mountain. https://www.kollensvevet.no/

It is free to enter

Vigeland (the artist) said to give him 850 meters and he will give Oslo all of his sculptures for all his life! The government, the people that knew his talent donated for the park.

221 sculptures

No sculpture has a name.

All naked but it is NOT pornographic. It is art.

They are made of bronze and Norwegian granite.

Circle of Life - women and men of different ages twirl together.

That is what this park is about: birth and death and everything in betweeen. We all depend on each other.

A very tricky decent from the Circle of Life to the Monolith. The stairs are icy so we opt to trapse down the beside the steps in the deeper snow.

There are some kids sliding/sledding down the snowy hill.

The monolith

120 people carved into this monolith

It is one stone weighing 28 tons. The stone was found on Swedish border and transported with special boats, and slide on ice on the land.

They walked the stone from the fiord to here. Moving 7 meters a day, it took 6 months.

It is stuck down in the ground 7 meters.

It is 70 meters tall.

It took 3 men 14 years to do the carving from 1924 to 1944.

They started at the top. Young people at the top and death is on the bottom.

The carving is so detailed Elsa said a doctor could recognize veins on the men.

It is very smooth to touch.

It took 20 years of his life to do this.

We have great weather today. There is snow, but there is also sunshine! In the summer there can be 14 buses here. We are the only bus visiting today.

It is 35 degree F and 40 at noon. Sun makes it feel warmer.

In the summer there are 15,000 roses here.

Fountain

Corners of life

Birth is on one corner, then walk around to each corner, and death on the final corner.

There are 6 men of different ages holding up the bowl

Angry Boy (Sinnataggen) on the bridge - "We recognize the angry boy in ourselves."

He has a golden left hand and golden penis from being touched. Alot.

Elsa was a our great Oslo guide

The bridge has 58 bronze sculptures to show children, women and men of different ages play, lust, energy and vitalism.
Vigeland modeled these sculptures in the period 1925-1933. They were some of the first sculptures that were mounted in Vigeland Park in the early 1940s.

Noon and we finish the park tour.

Gate1 Description:

Rest of the day is at leisure, or perhaps take the optional tour Treasures of Oslo, to visit the Fram Museum and Kon-Tiki Museum

Optional: Treasures of Oslo (PM) 2 adults x 65 = $130. already paid
Admire the highlights of Norway's great seafaring tradition as you enjoy a guided visit to two of Oslo's most intriguing museums, the Fram Museum and Kon-Tiki Museum. On your first stop, visit the most famous wooden polar vessel in the world - The Fram. The great Norwegian explorers Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen both sailed to the Arctic and the Antarctic regions aboard the Fram.
On this unique tour, board the ship and immerse yourself in its history as you visit the cabins, lounges and engine room that still hold the historic records of the original voyages. Continue to the Kon-Tiki Museum where you will see the fantastic vessels the Ra and Kon-Tiki. Thor Heyerdahl gained worldwide fame in 1947 when he crossed the Pacific Ocean on the balsawood raft, the Kon-Tiki. This expedition, along with subsequent voyages on the reed boats the Ra and Tigris showed how early man had mastered sailing before the saddle and wheel were invented. Approximate tour duration is 3 hours.

Everyone who did not sign up for the optional Treasures of Oslo tour got back on the bus back to the hotel.

We got sandwiches at the museum restaurant (I made a cheese sandwich that I brought with me).

I bought a post card with my Norwegian coin at the museum shop. It was the tapestry in the political meeting room in City Hall.

I will save the rest of my Norwegian money (paper and coin) to add to my foreign money collection at home.

Minna said that she has not used cash in about 5 years. But she gives cash to her boys so they know what it is.

There is a big group of many 50? children playing and yelling screaming and having fun. Elsa said it is sound of Spring. It is an usually warm day in this February winter.

Now we are driving to the peninsula. Bygdoy.

Kon-tiki Museum

The actual balsa raft

At age 8 Thor Heyerdahl he knew he wanted to be an explorer.

He married at 22.

1947 ye was 33 year old. Built the raft. On the raft: 5 Norwegians and 1 Swede (only because he could speak Spanish)

Made of Balsa wood.

Rope with 3000 knots. It moves with the waves.

101 days to trust in the wind and current.

It was a success when they arrived at the islands is the Balsa wood raft.

1969-70 another raft. It sank in 2 weeks and they had to be rescued around Barbados.

their mistake was they chopped the tree down the wrong time of the year.

must chop it down in August when Papyrus is full of liquid.

They chopped when tree was drained and it took on sea water and they sunk.

The Inca Indians helped them chop in the correct month.

The boat was like the ones on Lake Titicaca.

Success on that voyage in 1970.

1978 a new plan.

Tigres means "arrow". Go around Africa but there is a was going on.

143 days, then land on Tigres.

RA 1 sunk

RA 2 ok. There is picture in the museum of RA 2 and Elsa's friend, Hans Peter is on the boat! He is the guy top with the blue shorts.

After they arrive in Tigres, they blew up the RA2 as a protest against the war.

Viking Era 773-1066

Viking ships could be sailed and/or rowed backward AND forward. They had a flat bottom to go on the beach.

There are also women Vikings.

Fram museum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fram_Museum

Fram (means "forward")

You walk into this museum and you can smell the ship. Tar and what else? Our guide explained that is a comforting smell for Norwegians ?!?

First expedition 1899 across Greenland.

1891-? strongest ship in the world. Made of oak with vertical sides so the ship lifts when ice comes around.

The Arctic Drift expedition of 1893-1896

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fram_(ship)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nansen%27s_Fram_expedition

1893ï¿½1896

Fridtjof Nansen's Fram expedition attempted to reach the geographical North Pole by harnessing the natural eastï¿½west current of the Arctic Ocean.

He got the idea from 1881 a ship that sunk in Siberia and three years later, parts of it showed up in Greenland.

A theory of transpolar drift led Nansen to believe that a specially designed ship could be frozen in the pack ice and follow the same track as that wreckage, thus reaching the vicinity of the pole.

Nansen supervised the construction of a vessel with a rounded hull and other features designed to withstand prolonged pressure from ice.

2 years to prepare with the Inuit means "people". Inuit tribe taught them how to dress and how to do food.

Fram launched October 26, 1892.

Length 39 meters

Extreme breadth 11 meters

Displacement light 530 tons

Displacement loaded 800 tons

Drought loaded 3.75 meters

Depth maindeck to keel 4.75 meters

Original propulsion engine, steam expansion 220 HP

Replace engine in 1909 Polar diesel 180 HP

Reached N. Lat 85 October 16 1895

Reached S. Lat 78 on February 15 1911

It went farther North and farther South than any other conventional vessel

My photo of the diorama of Fram frozen in the ice

Fram

Ship was frozen in ice

Ship was specially designed for the pack ice, and hoped it would lift up. Then he waited for the drift to carry her towards the pole.

He got impatient with the slow speed and erratic character of the drift.

After 18 months Nansen and Johansen, left the ship with a team of dogs and sledges headed to the North pole.

So he skiied. 9 month skiing

After 1 1/2 years on the Fram in the ice, Nansen was eager for a change and he set out with Johansen and 3 dog sleds on March 14, 1895 to try to reach the North Pole. They struggled to reach a record 86 o i4' N bofore turning south.

WHen both their watches stopped they could not longer calculate east-west position so that when they finally reached land on Augst 7 they did not know that is was Franz Josef Land.

The two spent eight months in virtual hibernation in a tiny stone hut before, entirely by chance, met up with Englishment Jackson June 17, 1896. Jackson had a base at Cape Flora for his own 3-year expedition.

Nansen and Johansen returned to Norway with Jackson's ship and arrived back to the Fram a week later.

28 dogs down to 2 dogs.

They met an English expedition that helped him and took him to the top of Norway.

3 years on the ice

The ship finally sailed to Norway.

They did not reach the pole, but they achieved a record Farthest North latitude of 86ï¿½13.6′N before a long retreat over ice and water to reach safety in Franz Josef Land.

Meanwhile, the Fram ship continued to drift westward, finally emerging in the North Atlantic Ocean.

The ship was rarely threatened during her long imprisonment, and emerged unscathed after three years.

The scientific observations contributed significantly to the new discipline of oceanography.

Fram's drift and Nansen's sledge journey proved conclusively that there were no significant land masses between the Eurasian continents and the North Pole, and confirmed the general character of the north polar region as a deep, ice-covered sea.

Nansen retired from exploration after this expedition, the methods of travel and survival he developed with Johansen influenced all the polar expeditions, north and south, which followed in the subsequent three decades.

Explorer Amundsen prepared to use the Fram to get to the North Pole, but American Cook and Peary got to the North Pole first.

So Amundsen changed focus to the South Pole.

Shackleton tried in 1909 and did not make it. His wife Emily Shackleton later recorded: "The only comment he made to me about not reaching the Pole was 'a live donkey is better than a dead lion, isn't it?' and I said 'Yes darling, as far as I am concerned.

Nansen's Arctic Drift expedition inspired Amundsen to go to the South Pole with the a boat like the Fram. His boat was Gjoa.

Amudsen reached the South Pole December 14, 1911.

I took a picture of Fridtjof Nansen in his cabin on the Fram ship.

1910-1914 Third expedition.

Fran propellar is normally 4 blades but this one had 2 blades so you could pull it up into the ship when there was ice.

Fram is the most visited museum in the country.

It is a private museum.

We were the only visitors! Only one bus in the parking lot.

Viking useum may be bigger and open in 3 years. The 4th Viking ship that they just found may be dug up.

3 pm and we are back at the hotel.

Priscilla took a shower. She is feeling icky, tummy, head. Covid test was negative. Yeah. She is wrapped up in duvet with chills.. oh no....

I showered, washed my hair using hotel shampoo and conditioner, used the hotel lotion. Organize what to wear tomorrow, and luggage.

Drank 5 glasses of water from the sink. They brag they have the cleanest, safest water...

I also applied a patch behind my ear to start getting the sea-sickness medication. You need to apply patch at least 24 hours before you board the ship. I got the medicine for my Antarctica so it had a 2016 expiration date. I hope it still works. Maybe it is just a placebo and I will pretend it works.

[Update: Yes, the patch was needed, and the medicine worked. I could tell it was effective because of my verydry mouth...]

At 5:30 I ventured up to the roof top bar and restaurant to take sunset pictures.

There was a crane in the way of the beautiful sunset! I guess that is progress. A crane means more high buildings.

I walked to the train station. None of the sandwiches look appetising. I did not want another tomato/mozerella sandwich. The hotel fridge had half of sandwich that I bought yesterday. And no Burger King - it was very busy.

Anyway, I found a Quesadilla with BBQ chicken. No cash, AmEx was 139 ($13 USD) It looked delish and it was delish.

I sat in the train station and watched people. Most everyone with luggage or a bag and cell phone in hand. I have not turned on my phone. It is still in airplane mode. Priscilla sent text from her phone to our families that we are here in Oslo. My family expected I would off-line for the duration.

I have been using my camera to take photos.

[Update: Camera pictures were OK, but last days of trip my cell phone took better pictures.]

And there are children. Many children.

I watch a very unruly little boy on a push scooter. The boy was controlling his mom and dad. Boy gets off scooter, runs down a side hall way, data chasing, yelling. Boy ignores. Dad physically restrains boy and forces him back to the main walkway. Mom gets involved. It is obvious and very apparent that they are young and inexperienced parents. Just like the family that sat in the row behind me in the airplane....

7 pm I walked back to the hotel.

Elevator showed 25 degrees C.

Maybe we will see the Northern lights tonight...

Go to the top of the Norway Journal Table of Contents

DAY 4 - Wednesday March 1 Fly Oslo to Kirkenes, Afternoon Embarkation on the ship

We did not see aurora borealis / northern lights last night...

Rough night. Priscilla coughing. I got maybe 3 hours sleep. 5 am and it is time to get up and at 'em.

Arriba, arriba! Andale, andale! (that is part of the cheer shouted by the cartoon mouse Speedy Gonzales. Arriba means go! and andale means come on!

5:20 bags with green Gate1 tag in the hallway and 5:30 breakfast boxes in the lobby.

It is 5:50 am and I am sitting here in the lobby of the hotel. I ate the salad and croissant, but the bread and cheese in my carry on bag.

It is 28 degrees F in Kirkenes where we are toing today

Driving to the airport, the bus says 3 degrees C

Included in the tour cost:

Intra Flight(s) 2 Adults Included FROM Oslo (OSL) to Kirkenes (KKN) on 01 Mar 2023
Departure 10:55 am for a 2 hour 10 minute flight.

Board the MS Richard With
Category P Outside Twin cabin on Deck 5.

At the airport it was all self-checkin at a kiosk. Get boarding pass, luggage tag. I checked my carryon bag in checked luggage. Put on the luggage tag, drop off on the delivery treadmill. Go through security.

A short wait at the gate and now I sitting on the plane. I am moving very, very slow today. I don't care what dad says, I am going to take two sleeping pills tonight.

Gate1 Description:

A short flight takes you to Kirkenes, a small town near the Russian border and the Sami communities of northern Scandinavia. Continue to the port for embarkation on the coastal cruise ship. After arrival formalities, time to refresh and get ready for lunch on board as you begin your five day journey south, captivated by your first views of the majestic wilderness. As you journey through the fjords you will call on remote small ports that larger ships are unable to reach. Your Tour Manager will lead the group on optional port walks wherever the ship's schedule will allow. Later, dinner together with your Tour Manager sets the mood for the amazing voyage through Norway's most scenic waterways
Optional tours will be available for purchase locally and may be pre-booked though Hurtigruten directly up to 21 days in advance at 866-552-0371. https://www.gate1travel.com/cruises/ships/norway/southbound-excursions They are subject to the following terms:
The tour descriptions and prices listed below are based on 2022 rates and are provided for information purposes only. The following list may not reflect all excursions available at the time of sailing. Excursions are subject to maximum/minimum numbers. They may be cancelled locally. The ship reserves the right to rearrange the order of tours subject to local conditions, including weather & site closures Rates are per person and may change due to fluctuating exchange rates Excursions booked on board can be made with cash or credit and will be payable in Norwegian Kroner (NOK) If booked excursions have to be cancelled you will receive a refund on board in local currency NOK

OPTIONAL if available Snowmobile Trip into the Polar Night - 2 hrs 15 mins - From $532
The excursion starts with a bus trip from Mehamn, the world's northernmost mainland town, and you'll head up and over the mountains to the old trading post and fishing village of Kllefjord. Along the way, guides tell you about the indigenous SÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¡mi people, the area's geography and climate conditions, what life is like in this part of Norway, and how the locals effectively utilize nature. Some of Norway's best snowmobile instructors are on hand to ensure you get proper training before departing. Then off we go to experience snowy valleys, invigorating winter air, and perhaps even the mesmerizing northern lights in the clear, starry sky. During spring, the sun returns, resulting in a different, yet equally exhilarating experience with many more hours of daylight and a milder climate. We conclude the expedition in Kllefjord, where you rejoin your Hurtigruten ship. Physical Level: Medium, for some guests Port: Mehamn Available: December 8 April 23 excluding December 25 and January 1

OPTIONAL if availalble: Into the Ice - Stories of a Polar Hero - 1 hr 45 mins - From $172
One of the most impressive figures in polar history was Adolf Henrik LindstrÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¸m, who was from Hammerfest. He participated in all of the expeditions that led to Norway's status as a polar nation. LindstrÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¸m joined Nansen, Amundsen, and Sverdrup on their expeditions to the North and South Pole. He sailed through the Northwest Passage and around the American continent. He was the Norwegian with the most experience in the Arctic and Antarctic areas. He was also an esteemed cook! The bus picks you up at the pier and takes you to Framheim, which is situated on Mount Salen. After putting on warm clothing, you go on an expedition by foot to the top of the mountain. You will really get the feeling of how it is to be outside in the Arctic. You plant the flag at the top and then return to Framheim for a taste of some of LindstrÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¸m's favorite recipes.
Physical Level: Hard, For some guests Port: Hammerfest
Available: November 8 - March 22 excluding December 24 - 25 and December 31 - January 1

Flight time is 2 hours, 10 minutes. We arrive in Kirkenes and there is a looooong wait for luggage. Plenty of time to use the toilet.

Oh no! A suitcase broke open! It is in huge clear plastic bag. It is Brocha's. She will need to buy a new suitcase in Bergen to fly home....

At 12:15 we are sitting on the bus in Kirkenes. The most Eastern place in Norway.

The signs here have both Norwegian and Russian language.

Population is 3500.

Kirkenes means "center of the church".

In World War II Germany has a base here so this city was bombed alot. The whole city was destroyed.

You must be 18 years old to get driver license here, but you can start practiciing at 16 years old.

Gas 23.75 (for a liter I think), 22.65 for diesel

The tire ritual:

There are summer tires and there are winter tires. Winter tire have steel studs/spikes.

They are only allowed certain months of the year.

Spikes are NOT allowed in Bergen. But for an extenuating circumstance, you can buy a permit for 5 EU to drive with spikes.

When we lived in Minnesota we had studded snow tires. We still had the tires when we moved to Florida. My brother would go out to the beach and pretend to get stuck in the sand. People would bet that he would need to be towed. He got out every time because they didn't know he had studded snow tires on the car. People in Florida don't know about these things.

There are no polar bears on mainland Norway.

Norway is a member of NATO. Sweden and Finland are not members. They are waiting on Turkey to decide if Sweden and Finland can join NATO.

You can install the Aurora app on your cell phone to know the location of the Northern Lights at all times.

It is now 1 pm and we are sitting here on the ship getting the safety talk.

Life jackets are not in the rooms. They are on deck where they will be distributed if needed.

If you hear 7 short and one long, immediately go to Deck 5 muster station.

Next is buffet lunch. Then after that we can get in our room.

The Hurtigruten Ship named "Richard With"

the ship

Priscilla and Brocha enjoying INCREDIBLE VIEWS!

FOR FREE WI-FI: Go online and join the Hurtigruten Ambassador program (at no cost) and you will get free Wi-Fi on the ship.

This is a working ship. It delivers mail and people.

When we get to the ship, we'll have a buffet lunch, then we'll go to our cabins.

https://www.gate1travel.com/cruises/ships/ms-richard-with/

Port Schedules for 5 Day Southbound Scenic Coastal Cruise

https://www.gate1travel.com/cruises/ships/norway/southbound-ports

https://www.vantagetravel.com/cruises/vantage-cruise-line-our-fleet/europe-small-ships/ms-richard-with

Ship Statistics for the Hurtigruten ship named "Richard With"

Built: 1993; Refurbished: 2018

Gross Tonnage: 11,205

Passengers: 623 (or 590?)

Berths: 464

Length: 400 feet

Number of Decks:7

Interesting comparison, ship Statistics for the Antarctica ship Ocean Diamond that was on in 2014

Built: 1974

Gross Tonnage:

Passengers: 190

Berths: 94

Length: 400 feet

Number of Decks:7

An another comparison, this is Royal Carribean Wonder of the Seas ship statistics

Maiden Voyager: 2022

Gross Tonnage: 236,857

Passengers: 6,988

Staterooms: 2,867

Length: 1,188 feet

Number of Decks:18

Zip Line: Yes

Water Slide: Yes

About the Richard With

This ship proudly bears the name of Captain Richard With, the founder of Hurtigruten. His establishment of the Norwegian Coastal Express back in 1893 had an enormous impact in life along the Norwegian coast.

The ship was built in 1993, 100 years after the founder completed his first Hurtigruten voyage and refurbished in 2018.

On board, there is beautiful art by the famous Harr family. The panorama lounges, Horisont and Syvstjernen, treat you to unforgettable views of the surrounding scenery. Ship amenities include comfortable lounges and ample deck space, affording perfect views as you glide through some of the world's most beautiful and untouched coastal scenery. It also has a small library, where you can immerse yourself in a good book, and a cafe serving snacks and drinks 24 hours a day.

Ship article about hybrid conversion:

Hurtigruten MS Richard With starts conversion to battery hybrid propulsion
February 13, 2022 , Cruise Industry
https://www.cruisemapper.com/news/9996-hurtigruten-ms-richard-with-starts-conversion-battery-hybrid-propulsion

Port Schedule for our Southern sailing route

This is a working ship. It delivers mail and people.

We were supposed to stop at 33 ports.

The shortest stop is 10 minutes and the longest stop is an hour.

The ports where the ship stops changes daily because of the weather.

The Hurtigurtan disclaimer: Please note that port schedules are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed.

We did not stop at Snadnessjoen or Bornnoysund. Docking was cancelled because of high winds.

When that happens they have to drop stuff off at the next port. If people where supposed to get on or off the ship, then they need to figure out how to make changes to their schedule.

At one port there was a road that is commonly closed, so the ship has an alternate dock at that port.

For one of our excursions, we got off the ship at Harstad and the bus took us to Sortland where we got back on the ship.

This was our port schedule, but the printed schedule was wrong on the first day because there was a departure delay.

The second port says arrival at 20:00 (8 pm) but our actual arrival was a 8:34 pm.

Excursions for our trip

The excursions change for every sailing!

Everything depends on the weather and the route.

Southern route excursions are different than Northern route excusions.

Winter excursions are different than non-Winter excusions.

I hesitate to write Summer because of this quote pertaining to Scandanvia:

"Summer is the best day of the year"

There is an Excursion Meeting to explain the trips that are available.

They also have a thick book to explain almost all of the available excursions.

You pick the excusions that you want go on and the cost is charged to the credit card associated with your room.

We signed up for the Hammerfest Charterbus, A taste of Vesteralen, and Tronheim sightseeing.

On the list below, the Date is printed "2.3" and that is March 2, 2023.

The NOK column is the cost. 3990 NOK is about $399 USD, 100 NOK is $10 USD.

On our first day onboard, our first excursion (the Hammerfest Charterbus) was cancelled because they had to shorten the time in port. The alternative was a short (7 minutes) walk to a monument on the shore. They adjusted the charge on the credit card.

I think someone in our group did the snowmobile excursion and I think it was at night. That would have been magical to see aurora borealis on that adventure. But alas, it was not to be. No Northern Lights sighting.

Finally we are in our room! Yeah, get horizontal.

Our room has one bed. Uugh.

I was expecting two small beds.

We were already unpacked when we checked on changing rooms but that would have been a downgrade.

Whatever. One bed was fine. And it was fine becuause of the duvet covers.

In the USA a queen bed (or full bed or king bed) is made with one sheet covering the mattress and one sheet (and blanket) covering on top. Both people are supposed to use the one sheet (and blanket) and that is where the inequities occur. One person usually grabs more of the covers. Or the one sheet is pulled tight over both people and your back is freezing.

On the ship, we had individual duvet covers on the bed so I had my own luxurious cocoon that covered my back and wrapped around my front. It was fine.

The bathroom on the ship had liquid hand soap, shampoo and conditioner. I didn't use any of my own stuff.

Tip: Best to take shower when ship is not moving, or make sure the ship is tilted the correct way for water to drain so your bathroom floor doesn't become a shallow puddle.

There is a switch to turn on the bathroom lights and another switch below that one with a red light to indicate the bathroom floor heater is turned on. Nice!

On the ship you must activate the announcements in your room to hear the notice to go out an see the lights. We were already hearing announcements in our room, so ours was already activated.

This is when we had a little more unwanted "excitement" (how to you type air quotes?) - Priscilla could not find her wallet.

When we were back in Atlanta she showed me that she was bringing her wallet that she normally uses, but she was removing things she would not need on the trip. When you open the wallet other people can see the money.

I had a black cloth zipper bag (with embroidered flowers) that was the perfect size for a credit card and some cash. I had used the bag on several trips. I suggested she use the bag instead of her wallet. When you unzip the bag, no one else can see how much money is in there. But the key thing about the bag was the ribbon and SAFETY PIN to anchor it to your person.

I am all about safety pins. I carry many safety pins with me because you never know when you need to secure something.

Well, the zipper bag was not pinned to her person. Oops. Big Oops. And it is nowhere to be found.

Priscilla handled the situation well. She got Minna to email the airport to see if it turns up. Then Priscilla got busy locking the cards and sending emails to the airline and airport.

Later in the trip Priscilla mentioned this Oops, and Maggie said she saw the stewardess holding the bag. So the airline has it!

I had no problem letting her use my other credit card for the trip duration.

[Update: She got no communication about the wallet. She is home getting a new drivers license....]

Lesson learned: Bring at least two credit cards and put them in separate places. Hide money in different places.

I have a money belt, and a zipper pouch on my person. I also slide $50 USD bills into the hem of my pants - if I'm in a cab I can access the money in my hem in an emergency.

Every day there was a schedule on the ship.

Every day they had these on the program

Point of interest - Some thing that we passed. Meet up on Deck 7 to hear the history and take pictures.

Lectures- In both German and English

Daily Gathering - A pictoral review of the events that day, sunrise/sunset times tomorrow, likelyhood of seeing the Northern Lights, and three Norwegian words.

The Kirkenes program include a movie about "Pomor trade"

Trade carried out between the Pomors of Northwest Russia and the people along the coast of Northern Norway.

It was based upon the bartering of fish products and grain. Flour and grain were brought to northern Norway by the Pomors.

It was carried out for 150 years - 1740 until the Russian revolution in 1917.

At 22:10 (8:10) there is a "waving competition" This is a tradition to acknowledge the ship traveling in the other direction.

There was announcement that "In Berlevag you must come up on deck and make noise."

Bar and Restaurant hours:

I attended the Daily gathering on Level 4:

At each daily presentation:

Sun times for the next day: Sunrise is at 7 Sunset at 4:30.

They showed a complicated chart of the likelyhood of Northern Lights sighting that night.

They taught us some Norwegian:

"Morketid" season. "Mork" means dark.

Midnattol means "midnight sun".

Arstrider - means "season".

Our FIRST dinner onboard on Wednesday March 1 in Kirkenes

We waited outside the dining room. Minna went to a lot of trouble making sure groups in our group were seated together. A group of six, a couple groups of four. These were our assigned seats for all of the dinners.

My table was Minna, Priscilla, Deborah, Lynn/Alan, Maggie/Al. Very nice conversation. And great food.

Very impressive:

Every day the menu was tailored to the port and the local ingredients.

Every menu contained allergens for every dish (like almonds, barley, oat, rye, wheat etc)

Every menu had Wine pairings for every course. Wine was extra cost option. Our Gate1 tour included one glass of wine, beer, or soda with each dinner.

This Kirkenes menu is "A near-Russia Experience"

With the exception fo the Cold War years (1945-1989), the border areas in eastern Finnmark have been a place of trade and cultural exchange between Norway, Russia and the Sami popuation. Today the Norwegian and Russian culinay culture meet on a plate on Hurtigruten.

Starter - 3 choices

Russian Borscht (beet soup), vegan yoghurt.

Of course I had to get the borscht. It brought back memories of my Russia trip when (almost) everyone on the tour got very sick. In my Russia journal I wrote

I couldn't keep anything down. It was a tough night - I have to say that Borsch (beet) soup looks lovely the second time. Turned everything pink! I felt so much better the next day and ate a full lunch.

The culprit of that sickness was mayonaisse. Lesson learned is DO NOT eat any food with mayonnaise when traveling.

Carrot tart with Nyr cream and almonds

Sami Laibi - Marinated herring, whipped sour cream, perfectly boiled eggs, and pickled onions

Main Course - 3 choices

Cod - Fried kale, beet and barley risotto and a nut butter with mushrooms

Grilled celery - Sauteed kale, sugar peas, pickled red onion. Baked cherry cherry onion puree, fried celery.

Lynn ordered the celery, but didn't care for it.

Finnmark reindeer - Reindeer sausage, bacon, sweetpotato pure, Fried mushroom and kale, lingon-berry Sauce.

I got reindeer:

Dessert - 4 choices

Sveler - Cloudberries and syrup

Ice cream of the day - 2 small scoops.

Cheese of the day

Russian honey cake - Sour cream and salted caramel sauce.

Maybe we will get the Northern lights announcement tonight...

Go to the top of the Norway Journal Table of Contents

DAY 5 - Thursday March 2 On the ship: Hammerfest

We did not get any aurora borealis / northern lights announcement last night...

Gate1 Description:

Dock this morning in Hammerfest, the world's northernmost town. Despite its remote location, it was the first Norwegian town to have electric street lighting and its own power station. A well protected harbor has been the cornerstone of the town's growth with a booming fishing industry that competes with some of Norway's major ports. Just before midnight tonight, the ship docks in TromsÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¸, one of the best places in Norway to possibly view the Northern Lights*. Tonight's dinner together on board caps the day
Overnight: Coastal Cruise Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Finally a very relaxed morning. Breakfast is served until 10 am.

Buffet had bread, cheeses, fruits (banana if you are lucky, apples) some salads and pasta.

And there is a hot bar where Priscilla located the porridge (oatmeal). That is my go-to meal when traveling.

The hot bar also included this hot Norwegian chef serving up hotcakes!

They also had eggs "sunny-side up" ( a bit runny on top).

Doris asked if they could cook the other side and for eggs "over-easy". That can't be the first time they have heard that request. The girl had an odd reaction, but she cooked the eggs perfectly withouth breaking the yolk. And we got our over-easies! Thank you Doris!

Wet women in bathing suits wrapped in a towel came down the stairs!

I did not know there was a hot tub on board. Maggie and Al partook of:

That hot tub has a most spectacular view!

This morning we passed the Northbound Hurtigruten ship.

They made the announcement when it was to happen. I got a great video of the ships doing what reminded me of the "ET phone home" sounds of machines communicating with each other. As the ships pass each other:

2 long from them (maybe I missed their first one)

3 long from us

2 short from them

1 short from us

1 final very short from them.

And they sail away.

Now I am coughing. Uugh. I hate getting sick when traveling. If Gary were with me, he would have a big supply of cough drops. I should have packed some cough drops.

There is a pay washer and free dryer on level 3.

I was enjoying the view on level 7 in the Explorer lounge. The group of six (3 sisters) were there. Margaret checked the Aurora app and she told us that it said the light are over Russia right now. It says "a 1% cahnge to see the lights here and a 2 % chance to see them in Arkansas". What?!?! Arkansas? She didn't have her glasses on and realized that "AK" is Alaska (not Arkansas). I hope she doesn't mind me writing this story since it is a good funny memory from the trip!

At 11:45 on Deck 7 outside a "Point of Interest" talk about Milk Island.

There were dairy farms on this island.

And now there are only Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) stations.

The gas deposits are 170 km away. At a place they call "Snow White" in the open sea.

There are pipes under the ocean. The pipes are 300 meters BELOW the bottom of the ocean floor.

Here is my picture of huge orange tanks on a ship. Natural gas transport.

The ship can hold enough gas for 60,000 people for one year. Exports to Europe.

It was processed here:

90% of electricity comes from water.

The gas station is here on Milk Island becuase they closed the fish farm and the area was depressed.

It employs 3300 people.

Hammerfest Walk to the Arc

We signed up for the optional Tour Hammerfest Charterbus fr $10 USD, but the tour was cancelled because the time in Hammerfest was shortened (because of our delayed departure? maybe). So we did the group walk to the monument.

12 noon to 1 pm in Hammerfest

Go to Level 3 to exit the ship. Scan your key card and the machine says "Goodbye".

7 minute walk to the monument the shape of the earth.

Hammerfest population 11,500.

About 3000 reindeer graze here in the summer so they built wall around the city to keep them out of town. The wall worked the first year. The second year the reindeer figured out how to go over the wall.

12:45 and we are back to the ship. They scan key card to get back on the ship.

Lunch runs until 2 pm I am hungry!

It's Al's birthday today!

2:30 lecture on Living in Logoten

by Roman.

The highest mountain is 1000 meters.

There is a level road connecting all E10 for major islands in Lofoten

Leknes and Svolvaer - airports in Lofoton

The road goes around the mountain.

He showed a photo of an Air BnB. It was a container on the top of a cliff. There were two of them but the wind blew one container over the cliff and it blew the other one 3 yards so the edge was hanging over the cliff. Scary. I wouldn't want to stay there!

Lofobunard is the national dress. Each one is a little different in each region.

November and December is the dark period.

Lof gets the midnight sun (when the sun never sets)

The quota for cod is 1 million per year. There is a different quota every year. A person in a helicopter and sees the fish, then they decide the quota number and they dictate whether you can use a net and/or hook fishing.

You need a special license to fish king crab. You must live there for 2 years before you can even try to get a license.

Processing plant pays for the fish 4 EU per kilo of fish.

The body goes to Italy, the heads go to Nigeria. They turn it into powder and add spices.

Rorbuer is a name for a typical house for fisherman. You can row right up to the house.

A quote pertaining to Scandanvia: "Summer is the best day of the year"

Recommended documentary: North of the Sun. 45 minutes long,

4 pm lecture on Modern Explorer.

I am sorry I did not get the name of the person giving this excellent talk. Priscilla had a conversation with her and she does many things around the ship - wait tables, clean rooms, front desk duty and excursion desk duty.

1911 Dec 14 Amundsen reached the South Pole Amundsen's South Pole expedition - Wikipedia

Fram expedition - they had a theory to freeze the ship in the ice and then it will move with the ice over the North Pole. It did not work....

She said that if an explorer wants to leave an interesting journal, then they need to add some dramatic stories. Nansen drew a picture of a Polar Bear in his journal.

1925 both the poles had been reached. But there are actually THREEE poles:

North Pole

South Pole

Mount Everest - this is considered a pole.

In 1994 Erling Kagge was the first person to complete "The Three Pole Challenge" on foot.

She said Cecilie Skog(1974- ) was the first woman to all three poles. I could not find that on the web anywhere, but maybe someone needs to update Wikipedia with that bit of information.

1947 Kon Tiki - RA1 and RA2.

Liv Arnisen - from her book Snille piker gar ikke till Sydpolen, 1995

"I hope that this tour to the South Pole can show others, especially girls, that the most is possible, as well if we venture into new and unknown areas. To fulill one's dream it need to be transformed into an aim, then the planning can start - followed by hard work. Most goals can be acheived, if only the reason behind them are true and strong enough."

And so it is.

It is 5 in the morning on 3/12/2023 when I am writing this.

I could not sleep because I had so much in my head that had to share and write about traveling. My dream (my "aim") to follow my grandparents to travel to the same destinations is fulfilled. I cannot follow them to Afganistan, or to Beirut Lebanon (but I do have grampa's "tourist map of Beirut" from 1959.

It took work and planning, but my goal is acheived. And I have to this web site to share it.

My goal on this Norway trip was to travel to another country and that is done. I was careful not to make the goal to see the lights. It's not good to set yourself up for disappointment.... I digress. Back to the Norway journal.

She told us about the Ice Legacy Project - Crossing the 20 largest ice fields on earth. Do all the glacier in 10 (or 20?) years. Sadly, it seems like that will become an easier challenge because of global warming is melting alot of ice.

She told us about the site: PlantFlags.com to "connect with your inner explorer" .

The video on that site featured a photographer, filmaker, nurse and explorer, expedition leader, birder and conservationalist, adventurer.

It subtlely (is that a word?) humors me that a journalist/writer is not featured when, every single explorer keeps diary or some written medium to document the exploration so everyone of them is journalist.. It is my obsession.

During the entire trip, I am scribbling with an ink pen in a little book.

I must have 50 of these little books from all different countries around the world.

No one else on the trip can relate or understand to this obsession.

Their meduim of choice is photos and mine is words.

At one time I tried to NOT write on a trip. That did not work.

I love coming home, and typing the trip journal and putting some organization to my scribbles.

The travel journals are my "rocking chair memories". 20 years from now I can say "did I really do that?"

And these are memories for anyone else who was on the trip or anyone on a similar trip to relive and wants to remember the experience.

Ahhh, I digresss again. It is now 6 in the morning four days after returning from Norway. Back to the trip journal.

But first I have to say that I am enjoying not following proper English sentence structure and punctuation. This is my record told my way. I hope others can also enjoy it.

5 pm gathering for the daily expedition presentation.

They do this in presentation in English AND German. Impressive

Several people in this room are coughing but I think Priscilla wins with the strongest one... she just left to find a cough drop.. or maybe a stiff drink would help (or not..) I've been sadly avoiding all alcohol since it weakens my immune system. Attempting to stay hydrated instead I have been getting a Sprite - it has a tart tang in your mouth with every sip.

I asked the Vantage person how many on their group has 12 people. Our Gate1 group has 32 people. Another German group I found out has 57 people.

He told us about the film documentary "The Arctic Camels"

About Torarin Saetereng.

When Torarin and his sister Svalin want a horse for riding, their parents buy two Bactrian camels. The family soon discovers that camel training is not for amateurs. Therefore, they go on an expedition to Mongolia, hoping to find a professional camel trainer who will accept an invitation to train their camels in Arctic Norway. And deep into the Gobi desert, they actually find a candidate.

You can google it and watch it online.

House cost 1,350,000 kr ($135,000 Euro) for a very large house in Oslo.

1,500,000 kr ($150,000) for a 14 square meter (150 square feet) house. Whaaat! That is tiny. Our room on the ship is 118 square feet!

At 10 am tomorrow outside on deck 7 you will be able to see the man-made channel. It is named Risoyrenna. From the web:

The Risoy channel (Risoyrenna) is a shallow sound transformed into a major shipping lane.

It runs 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) long and 7 metres (30 feet) deep, with a bottom width of 100 metres (330 feet)

It is the result of a long effort to improve the Risoyhamn access port.

Before it was dredged, it was a shallow bay that you could cross on horseback at low tide.

Hurtigruten founder Richard With and member of the Norwegian parliament, worked to open the channel and trading post at Risoyhamn for more shipping traffic.
It was widened and opened in 1922

Navigating the channel to Risoyhamn and on to Harstad was an easier passage that opened up Vesteralen from the north.

Tomorrow we go under some bridges.

We are traveling down channels. Maybe detour to stop at te mouth of fiord. The Captain will decide tomorrow if that is possible.

Svolvaer population is 25,000.

Dinner tomorrow opens at 5:30 to accomodate the people going on the excursion.

Note that some excursions were cancelled becuase not enough people signed up. You will be automatically refunded your payments.

Their attempt to broaden our Norwegian vocabulary. The three words for today:

Take means fog

Vind means wind

Bolge means waves

Sjosyk means sea-sickness

Tomorrow Sunrise is a 7:17 am. Sunset will be 17:30.

Good news! Possible sighting of Northern lights in Tromsa!

They always end these sessions with some Norwegian music and art. Today was "Running to the sea" by Royksopp. You can google it watch the official video. Here are the Lyrics:

I could hear them howling from afar I saw them rushing to your car

In a moment all went screaming wild Until the darkness killed the light

I remember running to the sea The burning houses and the trees

I remember running to the sea Alone and blinded by the fear

And the river flows beneath your skin Like savage horses kept within

And all is wasted in the sand Like breaking diamonds with your hand

I remember running to the sea Remember falling to my knees

I remember gliding off the shore Until I touched the ocean floor

And the river grows inside of me

Here is a tip to view the lights:

He said to close your eyes for at least 5 seconds, then open them to see the light.

Your camera will see the lights before you see them. Take a photo, then look at the photo and maybe you will see the lights.

I remember in Iceland the bus driver set up his camera tripod for steady sky photos. But to no avail there either. The lights, they are elusive.

And thus, the Gate1 disclaimer kicks in : Please note: Northern Lights viewing is subject to correct weather conditions and sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Dinner

Dinner tonight has reindeer on the menu again. Or beef ribs, or mushroom risotto.

I have not seen moose or elk (the animals or on the menu) but he said that local people do eat them.

Starter - 3 choices

Reindeer tartar

Ligonberry cream, pickled mushrooms and Himmeltind cheese from Aalan Farm

NO NO and no! No "Tartar" and no "carpaccio" when you are traveling. Priscilla learned that lesson in Peru with Alpaca carpaccio.

Cauliflower soup

Fried cauliflower and green herb-infused oil

Beetroot

with vegan hollandaise and root chips

Main Course - 3 choices

Hampshire Pork Rib

Pan-fried vegetabes, herb-baked potatos, marinated red cabbage and a red wine sauce

Bottarge Boreale Rissotto

Steamed turnips, radishes, parsleys and chives

Forest mushroom risotto

Topped with sauteeed mushrooms, radish and parsly

Dessert - 4 choices

Nyr cheese cake

Rasberry sorbet with Gangstad farm

Vegan cheese cake

Ice cream of the day

Cheese of the day

Maybe we will get the Northern lights announcement tonight...

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DAY 6 - Friday March 3 On the ship: Vesteralen and Lofoten Islands

No Northern lights announcement last night...

Gate1 Description:

A highpoint of your cruise is the voyage today through the magnificent Lofoten and Vesteralen islands. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, this collection of Arctic islands off the northwest coast of Norway are renowned for their spectacular natural beauty. Here, observe how the ship navigates magnificently through a remarkable network of inlets before arriving in the port town of Svolvaer, quaint capital of the Lofoten Islands, easily identified by the backdrop of its towering Svolvae rgeita Mountains. Time to discover the small fishing village and soak up the Bohemian atmosphere

These optionals were not available on our cruise

NOT AVAILABLE OPTIONALs:

Lofoten by Horse - 3 hrs 30 mins - From $305
The tour starts with an early evening bus trip from Svolver to Hov Hestegaed on Gimsey. Here, we begin our guided trail ride on Icelandic horses through magnificent nature. We journey across on a long white -sand beach along the Norwegian Sea; through rugged, rocky terrain; and among remnants from the Viking Age. During summer there is perpetual daylight, but during autumn and winter we ride in darkness, listening to the waves slap against the shoreline and gazing skyward to seek the mystical northern lights. The route and horses are well suited for both beginners and experienced riders. Icelandic horses are known for their gentle temperament and comfortable gait. If you wish to go a bit faster, you get the opportunity to try trot or tÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¶lt (faster than a walk but slower than a gallop). Come along on this unforgettable Lofoten experience. Physical Level: Medium, For some guests. Max weight of passenger is 243 pounds. Port: Svolvaer Available: All Year excluding December 31

Midnight Concert in the Arctic Cathedral - 1 hr 15 mins - From $119

Hear beautiful Norwegian folk songs - as well as moving sacred and classical music selections - amidst flickering candlelight in the Arctic Cathedral's elegant sanctuary. This incredible musical experience is enhanced by the cathedral's fantastic acoustics. The Arctic Cathedral is actually a parish church, but it is commonly referred to as a cathedral because of its soaring architecture. The wall behind the altar is decorated with one of the largest and most monumental stained-glass windows in Europe. Join us for an unforgettable visit and midnight concert at the cathedral. It is an inspirational event that will fill your soul - and a perfect way to end the day. Physical Level: For all guests Port: TromsoÂ¸ Available: All Year excluding April 17 2022 and April 9 2023

Awake at 6 am.

Breakfast at 6:30.

A Taste of Verterlen Excursion

Off the ship at 7:15 am when the Taste of Vesterlen tour departs

There are two busloads. One bus is German, the other German and English.

Gate1 Description: We did this OPTIONAL tour: A Taste of Vesterlen - 4 hrs 15 mins - From $135 USD.

The tour starts with a short sightseeing jaunt through the streets of Harstad before traveling by bus to the Trondenes peninsula.

Here, we visit a white medieval church, one of North Norway's premier cultural heritage sites from the late Middle Ages.

You are truly on historic ground. At the Trondenes Historical Center, we visit an exciting exhibition complete with sounds, smells, and original objects from the region throughout history from the Viking and Middle Ages through today.

The bus then takes us across Hinnya Island, where we view beautiful fjords, steep mountains, and large fertile agricultural fields.

Then we cross the Gullesfjord by ferry, and enjoy a hot drink and some freshly baked cakes.

The tour then continues along the Sigerfjord to Sortland, where we rejoin the ship.

This excursion is a beautiful experience during all seasons: idyllic in the summer, but just as picture-perfect in winter.

Physical Level: For all guests Port: Harstad Available: All year excluding December 25 and January 1

Bus sightseeing tour through the streets of Harstad

Harstad 150 years old. Population

1875 198 inhabitants

1891 430

1900 1152

1910 2341

2023 24,000 inhabitants

There were herring fisheries here and now there is housing where the fish factory used to be.

1500 students at the college here. Study nursing, economics and something elso illegibly scribbled in my book.

This is a terrace town. Houses are built on the side of the mountain.

There is a sport hall, footbal statdium.

There is a place where you can go in bathing, swimming in a tunnel. It can accomodate 1000 people.

Bus to the Trondenes peninsula and visit Trondenes Church, one of North Norway's premier cultural heritage sites from the late Middle Ages.

The church in Trondenes Kirke of Harstad: Harstad Kirke (Harstad Church)

From wikipedia: Harstad Church (Norwegian: Harstad kirke) is a parish church of the Church of Norway in the town of Harstad.
The white, concrete church was built in a long church style in 1958 using plans drawn up by the architect Jan Inge Hovig. The church seats about 600 people.

1150-1400 finish midevil church.

1958 they finished building this church.

There was one architect (I could not understand the name) did the inside and the outside.

After 1100, majority of catholic converted to Lutheran. Catholics should tithe 10%.

8:20 am and we are now sitting in the pews of the church for a short service in English and German.

After the service and prayer then a song.

It was really nice to hear the Lord's prayer and the hymn sung in both languages

Everyone is super-bulked up with the heaviest of coats, hats , gloves.

I brought heavy mittens that fold back to expose my fingers but I did not use/need them. I found my small, thin gloves were entirely adequate for the short times that we were outside.

Priscilla got a picture of our boat sailing away. We go overland on the bus and get back on the ship at another port.

Oh geez. I gotta try not to cough... once I start, it is difficult to stop. Think about Paul's advise to relax and dicipline yourself not to cough. I've been wearing my mask because I don't want to spread germs.

8:45 and we are back on the bus.

Bus shows temperature of 2 degrees C (35 F) outside.

Visit the Trondenes Historical Center "an exhibition complete with sounds, smells, and original objects from the region throughout history from the Viking and Middle Ages through today."

Bus temperatrure sign says 1 degree C (33 F).

Weather report says more snow is coming so it will keep the snow plows busy.

We are driving to the museum and he announces that

At 9:50 we will depart so we have 50 minutes at the museum and farm on the sea side of the building.

That is 10 to 10, not 10:10 !

Trondenes Middelaldargard Museum

Remove your spikes!

A Viking

Drying fish

The Black Death 1340 to 1350s

The bubonic plague came from Asia and raged in Europe and probably killed 25 million people.

It came to Norway through Bergen in 1349. In some areas 75% of the people died.

The depression after the Black Death occurred with union between Norway and Denmark.

Prisoners of War 1941-1945

100,000 POWs sent to Norway. 13,700 died.

Germans were "The occupying power"

Prisoner cards

410 cards of the prisoners that died in the POW camp at Trondenes.

Card has name, age, occupation, when and where they were taken prisoner, state of health, when they died and cause of death.

Trondenes Middelaldargard Farm complex

This is from the sign:

A reconstruction of a farm complex from around 1200 based on Trondenes history as known through archaological ecavation and written sources. There is much we do not know for certain about this time. The farm shows how a Norwegian farm of an average wealthy fishing farmer's family may have been in the Middle Ages, how their houses were built, and how they pursued their daily routines.

Most of the building parts are constructed by the museum's own craftsman using professional tools and building techniques. Ser-Troms Museum has partnered with NTNU's (Norwegian Technical and Natural Sciences University) Department for traditional craft and technical building conservations that uses the farm construction as a learning arena for its students.

This photo is from the web site https://www.visitharstad.com/ting-a-gjore/trondenes-middelaldergard-p4967163

That looks like a wonderful time to visit

This is my picture of the farm house when we visited

Priscilla inside the farm house.

This house is for one family.

The first baptism was done here in 999.

They do not name their children when they are born. They wait to make sure they are going to live, then the child is named.

The Stave Church and Priscilla gazing out upon the fjord

This is a replica of a Christian Stave church. It is special construction with posts in the corners

From wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stave_church

A Stave Church is A medieval wooden Christian church building once common in north-western Europe.

In Norway, stave churches were replaced and only 28 stave churches remain standing in Norway. Most built between 1150 and 1350.

The structure is post and lintel construction, a type of timber framing where the load-bearing posts are called stafr in Old Norse (stav in modern Norwegian).

Bus across Hinnyoya Island, where we view beautiful fjords, steep mountains, and large fertile agricultural fields.

Population is 3,000.

There is an island in the fjord - 200 people live on this island.

There is a very strong, fast wind now and blowing snow. I am sitting in the bus by the back door. The door is open and it is snowing INSIDE the bus.

The bus tires must have spikes to drive here. There is TONS of snow. The roads are packed snow and ice.

There are four cannons here. The largest in the world ?!?

40.6 cm cannons about 16 inches.

in 1944 the Germans occupied here.

Germans were mining iron ore.

Germans also occupy Denmark and Sweden.

German naval fleet was on this Norway coast.

Cannons were here to protect the harbor.

But the cannon were never used. The war ended when the cannon arrived here.

There are elk and moose and reindeer that we might see on this drive to the agricultural area.

Most farms have sheep. lambs come in may and june. They graze up in the mountains.

Agriculture is subsidised by the government.

part of their taxes go to farmers.

Barn traditional color is "barn red"

strawberry production going on here now. and Egg production. Chickens are in the barns

There is a horse race track here.

We are passing a ski slope for downhill skiing. Most Norwegian do cross country skiing. K. Simonsen ski area

The fiord water here NEVER freezes.

Temperature of the fiord water is +1 to 3 degrees C (33 F - 37 F).

The sea water temperature is -3 (26 F) and colder.

We are stopping in Strawinen. Or do my journal scribles say Stvawimen or Stvaumen?

We have to get OFF the bus and walk across bridge. The bus drove across and we got back on the bus on the other side of the bridge.

It is very very slippery.

I did OK in my snow boots. but Many people on this tour have spikes. Minna's original handout in Oslo said we should buy some spikes.

Priscilla got some for spikes in Oslo for about $10, but they come off her shoes easily. There is another more expensive style if you are going to buy some spikes.

He said it was photo op for us to walk across but in retrospect, I think it was too dangerous for us to be on the bus driving across the bridge so they made us walk.

The guide said the police closed the bridge to clear some of the ice before any more vehicles drove across.

10:40 and we are back on the bus driving to the place where we get on the ferry.

Spruce trees are here. it takes 80 years to grow before you can use for building.

Birch is mostly used for firewood in Norway.

It is free to fish in salt water here in Norway.

Now we are in in Hermistad where there are some dairy farms.

Ferry to cross the Gullesfjord -

It is also possible to cross a suspension bridge to reach the islands. We got on the ferry.

Around 11 we will get on a ferry to cross the fiord.

We will stay on the bus when it drives onto the ferry. then get off the bus and go upstairs.

We were on the ferry for about 25 minutes

They had "some tea and cakes snacks included in the tour."

I took a picture of waffle and brown cheese. these are very traditional Norway snacks and sweets.

On the ferry, we "enjoyed a hot drink and some freshly baked cakes".

This is the famous "waffle and brown cheese" In Oslo, our guide Elsa said we should try this when we are in Norway. It was.... ok....

The City Hall in Oslo is called "Goat Cheese" because it looks like brown cheese

From the web: Brunost ( lit. '"brown cheese"') is a common Norwegian name for mysost (whey cheese) a family of cheese-related foods made with whey, milk, and/or cream.

They boil the Goat milk until it carmelizes and that is why it is brown.

I wish i had gotten the name of the other sweet on the plate. It was also good.

11:30 and we are all sitting on the bus which is ON the ferry. We are ready to drive off the ferry.

But someone is in the bathroom on the ferry! Oh no! The man was almost frantic because the bus was starting to move and his wife was still on the ferry!

The bus could NOT wait on the ferry. They must unload all the vehicles so the waiting vehicles can drive onto the ferrry.

The tour guide jumped off the bus and ran back to the ferry to escort the lady to walk off the ferry back to the bus. Crisis averted.

It truly is a panic moment when you see your tour bus driving away without you!

There is trouble on the road ahead - a milk truck has driven off the road. We think we can get by. We got by...

3500 feet high mountain. 900 feet is the highest elevation where a tree can grow.

Harstad port is where we got off the ship.

We will get back on at Sortland

It is really snowing hard now. Yes, we made it past the milk truck that had slid off the road.

The bus thermometer says 0 degrees C (32 F)

Awful road conditions but the guide assured us that we are in the best of hand with our bus driver.

There are frequent avalanches here that close the road. When that happens, the ferry must go to the alternative landing port..

"Every man's right" law says that you can use nature freely without paying or asking. You can camp, pick berries, fish in salt water.

we are now in a TOTAL WHITE OUT driving on this road.

The first snow usally comes in October. It snows until March in the spring.

Today is usually very heavy snow. Maybe only 4 days in the year are like this snow.

In august the snow at the top of the mountains is gone.

We will get to the National Road 85 in a moment and driving conditions should improve

Mid july blueberries.

Cloud berries - little yellow berries - in August.

Lingen berries - red

We are going through a 2.2 km tunnel. We can see Norway from the inside.

95% of the electricity production comes from water.

Electric heating in houses here. It used to be cheap, but now electricity is more expensive.

Need more insulation and install a heat pump where 1 kilowat will heat a big room.

5 minute stop at noon.

The ship will be at the port at 12:15.

Bus along the Sigerfjord to Sortland, where we rejoin the ship.

Sortland population 10,000.

They are painting the town blue.

The sea territory is 7 times bigger than land territory to manage.

Norway coast guard headquarter is here in Sortland.

The bus drive and guide timed it perfectly. They stopped the bus a waited a short time, then slowly start driving across the bridge when our ship is going under the bridge. Very cool. I wish my picture had come out.

They timed this perfectly for the bus

This is my picture

I am on the bus on the bridge and our ship is going under us !

Crazy Snowing

As board the ship in Sortland

4:10 pm Friday.

Sitting on the deck in the viewing room. Absolutely fabuous scenery. Everyone else records their memories with pictures. I attempt to do it with words. However my attempt falls way short to capture the scenery in words because I am a Technical Writer. Superlative adjectives do not come easily for me.

I have not seen any floating iceburgs yet..

There are snowy mountains on BOTH sides of us

Every second there is another spectacular view.

And that is it. I just lost my words. I cannot do this scenery justice with my meager words.

So pictures are the way to go.

This a bridge that we passed UNDER. Not sure is this was part of the Atlantic Road. Many bridges to link the islands.

We passed a salmon farm and I did not take a picture of it and I did not attend the salamon fillet demonstration. I'm slowing down...

With the Whisperers I have to take the ear plug out of my ear so I can take a break from writing.

My patch behind my ear came off. I'm not going to replace it.

Lunch today they had potato-leek soup. Yum. yesterday it was vegetable soup. The tomato soup before that was very salty.

7:10 pm meet Minna off the ship.

7:20 museum on the walk with Minna.

LOFOTEN WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum

27 years this museum is open.

Our guide is the collector of war stuff and he set up and opened this museum

It's alot of stuff in three rooms.

He has 99th battalion uniforms. You must speak Norwegian to be in the 99th battalion.

1940 April 9, ten German warships passes by here. A ship was shot at and it sank in the fiord.

June 10 Norway gave up and then Norway was totally occupied.

My picture of typewriter with SS-sign

I am having trouble understanding him.

Hitler was an artist before WWI. 1911, 1912, 1913 Hitler paintings. The Hitler art he has is dated 1940. It happens that there were 4 paintings when he received the package. He paid 200 Euro for it.

After WWI it was bad in Germany. Hitler gave them hope that things will be better.

He has been collecting for 50 years.

He has some of Hitlers Disney drawings.

He spent the most time talking about the Disney drawing.

From the web:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lofoten_War_Memorial_Museum

https://www.lofotenkrigmus.no/#

A World War II museum housed in the town's old post office.

Collector William Hakvaag (born 1948), opened the museum in Svolvae in 1996

Norways largest exhibition of uniforms and smaller objects from WW2.

This museum recounts the islands' role in the drama of WWII, when the islands were occupied by the German Nazis (1940-1945).

The collection includes lots of fascinating period photos, plus original uniforms, ordnance and even a couple of (decommissioned) mines.

Many rare and never before published pictures from the war.

Norway gave up summer 1940 and was occupied for five years. The worlds first raid was in Lofoten on March 4 1941. English forces came with seven ships and took more than 200 German prisoners and 300 civillians with them back to England.

The museum also has a library of books, printed materials, and photographs from the war.

In 2008, Hakvaag acquired a painting that may have been created by Adolf Hitler. The frame concealed four sketches of Disney cartoon characters signed "A. H."

From https://scanmagazine.co.uk/lofoten-krigsminnemuseum/

Hitler behind the scenes â€“ an artist and vegetarian

Adolf Hitler is probably one of historyâ€™s most talked about men, and there is no lack of biographies. Most people are struck by his brutality, while others are also fascinated by the man behind the public appearance. It is a well-known fact that he was an eager artist, and it has been argued that the whole war might have been avoided if he had been admitted into the Vienna Academy of Art.
Hakvaag bought a painting by Hitler for 200 Euros. What neither he nor the vendor knew was that behind the paintings there were five drawings of dwarfs from Snow White, all signed by Hitler. â€œHe was an artist by nature, which one could also see in his behaviour as a leader. He did not follow the rules of the game and did things that no rational leader would do: for example, sending his troops to Russia without winter clothes,â€ Hakvaag says.

While obviously portraying Hitler as the leader of the war, the museum is also trying to show the person behind the scenes, who was a vegetarian and a non-smoker. â€œHe was a hard-line psychopath, who may not have struck people as the dangerous person he really was at first. This is all part of our desire to make people think for themselves and gain a new insight into history.â€

Priscilla did some laundry. They provide the soap. The dryer was free but it took house to dry stuff. After dinner stuff was mostly dry.

She also got in the hot tub. It is on level 6 at the back of the boat. You have to walk outside about 50 feet in the ice/snow to get to the hot tub in the corner.

Maybe we will get the Northern lights announcement tonight...

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DAY 7 - Saturday March 4 - On the ship: Helgeland Coast, Arctic Circle, Seven Sisters

No Northern lights announcement last night...

Gate1 Description:

Awake to an exceptional day filled with spectacular scenery! As you cruise along the magical Helgeland Coast, vistas of thousands of islets, fertile farmlands and steep granite walls encircle you. Cross the Arctic Circle and pass the idyllic town of Sandnessjoen and on the approach to Bronnoysund, view the mythical Seven Sisters mountain range. Apart from the sheer beauty of the mountains and its waterfalls, the myth about the beautiful seven sisters tells tales of how these female trolls were turned to stone, now captivating sailors as they pass by. In the evening, gather together for conversation and dinner.

OPTIONAL if availalble: Discover a Fishing Village - 1 hr 30 mins - From $145
The town of Svolvaer has been a thriving fishing community since 1828, and is thriving to this day. On this excursion, we explore the town's oldest quarter on the small island of Svinaya. Cod fishing has always been the basis of existence for the people who live in Lofoten, and the fishing industry is still of major importance to the region. Wandering among the 'rorbuer' (fishermen's huts) and iconic stockfish racks you easily immerse yourself in the atmosphere. On SvinÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¸ya you see the sea on one side and a spectacular mountain backdrop on the other. We also visit a gallery dedicated to the local 19th century artist Gunnar Berg, who died at the age of 30 and known for his paintings of Lofoten. On this excursion you taste locally dried and cured stockfish. You also receive at small complimentary portion of stockfish to take back home. We then pass by a renowned local fish restaurant and typical Lofoten fish-processing plant before heading back across the bridge to the Svolvaer town center. Physical Level: Easy, For most guests. Port: Svolvaer Available: Sept 1 - April 8 excl Dec 23 - 25 and Dec 31

Saturday morning. A day to relax on the ship. No excursions.

Dare I say leisurely for a change. No rushing. Sit and enjoy at breakfast.

Then Priscilla saw IT.

She told me about IT. Then I saw IT. She said it was a very European practice.

IT is something that you cannot unsee.

I wonder if anyone else reading this knows what I am referring to.

The guy with the white sweat pants that revealed everything. Nothing was left to the imagination.

Yup. You cannot unsee that. Whew.

The Arctic Circle and the Ceremony

https://global.hurtigruten.com/destinations/norway/inspiration/attractions/the-arctic-circle-monument-on-vikingen/

Crossing the line to the land of the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights.

An invisible line sweeps across Sweden, Finland, Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Iceland - a line that also splits Norway in two. The magic number 66 , 33 marks this line, the Arctic Circle, north of which the midnight sun shines. Above the line, you can see the sun 24 hours a day throughout the summer - or the Northern Lights in the winter, weather permitting.

On Hurtigruten Voyages, we often celebrate crossing the line with rites such as whistle signals and Code Liver oil.

You will see the line marked on a globe on the small islet of Vikingen between Nesna and Ornes.

The exact location of the Arctic Circle varies each time you travel past it. Over the course of a full year, the virtual line shifts by almost 15 metres while Vikingen and its Arctic Circle Monument remain firmly in place. The exact position of the line depends on the angle of the earth axis compared to the plane of its orbit at the time.

The Arctic Circle ceremony

It was tradition for Arctic explorers to take Cod Liver Oil for vitamins A and D so Hurigruten continues the tradition. When we crossed the Arctic Circle, the ship ceremony was a spoonful of oil and a glass of Champagne. The souvenir spoon is perfect for my collection. The spoon is engraved with Kirkenes to Arctic Circle to Bergen.

Picture-posed reactions to the taste of Cod Liver Oil

In the above photo take special notice of the guy with the camera. His name is Roman and he was very visible in all our actvitities. Every day Hurtigruten had well-produced "Expedition Presentation" to show our activities for the day. Roman took a photo of everyone spooning their vitamins. Thank you for documenting our adventure!

I love this more genuine reaction to the taste of the Cod Liver Oil

Post ceremony pictures to document the Crossing of the Arctic Circle occasion.

I got these photos in a text message, so quality isn't very good. If anyone has a better photo, please email to look@mytrips.com

A comment on proper attire - I was humored by Mary Lou's choice of foot wear....

When you pack for this trip, I think our shoes and boots take up the most space in our luggage. We want to be ready for all kinds of situations.

The shoes I was wearing, I purchased the week before I left for Antarctica in 2014 and I bought them because they said "skid (or slip?) resistent" (and they had a velcro closure). So I was thinking "oh, perfect shoes for walking around on the moving ship" (so I wouldn't slip). Right? Wrong.

Any shoes are fine. In a pinch, even cute velvet slippers will suffice (as long you are VERY careful when walking on ice). Note the heavy warm socks are a must for comfort in the cold outside temperature.

A cute animal hat is also noticed! The Hurtigruten guy in the red coat with the moose hat is John (I think).

We sailed by Torghatten Mountain With the spectacular HOLE thorugh the mountain.

Length is 160 m and 35 m high and width of 15-20 m.

Torghatten Mountain - notice the HOLE in the middle!

Saturday 2 pm Daily gathering.

Oh dear, IT showed up again.

We will be at the dock at 6:30 am on Sunday.

We will see the Seven Sisters range of mountains

Social welfare system and economics

Minna gave an excellent lecture about the social welfare system.

Covered by taxes: Education, health, pension

There is free school, universities, and hospital.

Cars and food is taxed.

University is all free, but you have to pay for living expenses.

Average age of univ student is 23.

From Elsa, our Oslo guide:

Norway has an oil fund for pensions.

They invest in 90 different countries. Only use interest to pay out.

Retire at 62, pension is lower. At 65% of income for you whole life.

67 has higher pension.

You need to work 40 years to get the top highest pension.

There is no set minimum for wages. There are strong unions in Nordic countries so there are standard wages for each industry.

Average wage is $5000 a month, and $3800 after taxes.

Average tax is 36%, up to over 50% for some taxes. If you make more, you pay more.

There is NO COST to have a baby.

You get 3 weeks paid leave BEFORE delivery. When baby is born, you get $170 a month until 6 years old, then you get $110 a month.

A single parent (not living with someone) will get additional $250 a month.

Everyone has an ID #.

Parental leave 49 weeks. At least 15 weeks for each parent.

Mom is not required to take any days. Dad is required to take 90 days. The rest of the days you decide between mom and dad.

1 to 3 children is normal.

Parental leave is 100% of your pay.

Another guide said: Gov't pays 80% of your salary plus 10% from the company so you get 90% of your salary.

Another guide told me Abortion is legal up to the 12th week.

There is no day care until 1 year old, then guaranteed day care. The cost depends on how much you make. Maximum cost is $300 a month. Day care until 6 years old, then 10 years of free schooling.

5 weeks minimum vacation leave on all jobs.

Norway is NOT part of the EU European Union.

They have oil money.

Free university for EU students. American student must pay. That is new this year.

English is taught from grade 3.

Health care - you have a GP free but you pay $15 patient fee up to $100. Then everything is free after that.

Under 18 years old is all free - dental, and medical.

Not included is eyes, dental, and cosmetic surgery.

Elderly care pension age is 67.

Early pension is 62.

Work 40 years to get the pension . Minimum $1700 a month and you get a housing allowance.

usually 60% of wage for your pension adjusted for COLA

When you need help, Home services $400 a month. Help with shower, meals, etc.

There are Elder care homes if you cannot look after yourself.

Home purchase average cost is $330,000.

About 4.5 % interest rate for house loan.

0.1 to 0.7% property tax.

Minna's property tax is $50 a year!

Car insurance is $70 a month.

Home insurance is $50 a month.

Travel insurance is included in that.

This health care applies to all Nordic countries.

They know English and Norwegiean. When they are 15 they must learn another language: Spanish, French or German.

I went to a lecture about the Hertigruten ship

During the pandemic, everything was on the cabin TVs.

No alcohol.

there are 9 engines. There is a hybrid engine.

They work 7 days a week. 22 days on, then 22 days off (Bergen to Kirkenes and back to Bergen is 22 days).

There are 2 receptionists. they work 11-7, then 8 hours off, then 3-7. 12 hours a day. A trainee works 10 hours a day

There are 5 officers.

The ship can move sideways.

Captain for about 10 years.

Limit of waves is 10 meters (32.8 feet) and we do not sail.

There are about 60 employee.

They can take up to 200 people without a cabin ("deck passengers"). Deck passanger can be on board maximum 23 hours without a cabin.

Employees are never on a ship more than a month. They must be fluent in Norwegian, Swedish and English.

Since the ship is hybrid, it is more quiet. She said "I can sleep through the night now"

There are 7 ships operating on Coastal route.

Any emergency every happen? Back in 1964 (maybe) a ship hit land. It went out over the radio and locals transported over 200 people in their person boats to safety.

Midnight sun means it never goes down.

Polar night is not sun at all.

It is the opposite in the Antarctic.

Special King Crab dinner

They had this special King Crab dinner for $129 USD.

Oh no! "served with homeade mayonnaise" Remember lesson learned from my Russia trip: DO NOT EAT Mayonnaise when traveling!

You get to select the crab that you want to eat. The crab that I named "Dinner" was gone the next day.

Aye captain, the ship is listing starboard! Water level port side is low! Swim right!

On Saturday dinner is at 6 (instead of 6:30)

It is a special 130-year anniversary menu with these courses

Cured Meat

From Host food factory in Steingen and 6+ month aged=Fjellbris ham from Tind on Stranda, pickled cucumber and potato salad with Nyr from GrondalenGard and Arctic Mustart from Beiarn.

Vegetarian Soup

made with Norwegian geeen peas, with croutons gratinated with 5+ years aged-Jarlsberg cheese.

Main course - 2 choices

Clip fish

From Halvors in Tromso with sugar kelp from Hurtigrutens kelp farm, butter-steamed carrot and kale, potato terrine and Sandefjord butter with Northern Lights caviar from Cibus Maris

Braised Beef Cheek

From Trondelag with Tronder mushrooms confit in sugar kelp from Hurtigrutens kelp farm, potato terrine and red wine reduction

Short-travelled cheese

from local producers along the coast, homemade carrot marmalade, and crisp dinkle bread

Sponge Cake

and vanilla ice cream from Svolvaer. Andivika egg-meringue and Arctic cloud berries

Oh no. The clasp on my bag broke. Thank goodness I packed a small wrap of black gorrilla tape. That'll fix it just fine.

FYI - I found it is also a good to pack super glue, thin wire (to replace lost eyeglass screw), and safety pins. I'm all about safety pins.

Northern lights !

These photos were taken by Lynn. She was in the right place (the back of the ship) at the right time.

There was a short break in the clouds and viola! Aurora borealis whispers across the sky !

Thank you Lynn!

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DAY 8 - Sunday March 5 - On the ship: Royal City of Trondheim, Scenic Sailing

No Northern lights announcement last night, but Lynn (in our group) shared some of her pictures..

Gate1 Description:

Dock this morning in ancient Trondheim, Norway's first capital, with its colorful history mirrored in its handsome architecture. The city, known as the historical, religious, and technological capital of Norway, is dominated by its University of Science and Technology, as well as the towering Nidaros Cathedral, built over the burial place of St. Olav, the country's patron saint and the Archbishop's Palace.
Later the ship passes the islands of Munkholmen, Hitra, and thousands of islets before crossing the open sea on the way to Molde. On your last night on board, share wonderful memories of this spectacular voyage along the coast of Norway

OPTIONAL : Trondheim SIghtseeing with Nidaros Cathedral - 2 hrs - From $99

OPTIONAL if availalble: Trondheim with Nidaros Cathedral - 2 hrs - From $132

Trondheim is a large city by Norwegian standards, but has managed to preserve much of the intimacy and charm of a small town. It is also a city full of contrasts, with its medieval cathedral, colorful wharves, and beautiful red-painted wooden bridge dating back to 1861 on one hand; and its modern sports facilities, world-renowned education and research community, and lively nightlife on the other.

On this coach tour, a local guide tells you all about Trondheim's highlights as we pass through its streets and neighborhoods, including a short stop at Utsikten (the View) to admire the city from above.

Our adventure continues to the impressive Nidaros Cathedral, built over the burial site of St. Olav, the patron saint of Norway. Construction of this enormous Gothic structure - with its countless details and adornments - began as early as 1070. You quickly see why many describe Nidaros as the most beautiful religious building in Norway.

At the end of the tour, you receive a complimentary book about Nidaros Cathedral to take home with you. Physical Level: For all guests. Port: Trondheim Available: All year excluding December 25 and January 1

It was a really, really, really rough night. An annoucement warned us about high seas.

We were not in channels for about 2 hours and next to the Atlantic Ocean swells.

We were rockin and rollin.

Things were slamming falling on the floor.

I think I rolled over onto Priscilla and she was braced against the bedside shelf trying not to roll out of bed.

Then the coughing. After some time we finally got a teeny bit of sleep.

Minna also had a very tough time. It affect even the heartiest of sailors. But she was a trooper and never revealed a weakness and carried on with her tour duties. And providing a detailed daily bulletin. Great job Minna!

FYI, her site is https://sydafrikaexperten.se/ Sydafrika- Boka er resa till Sydafrika hos Sydafrikaexperten email is mina_n@hotmail.com

Here is Minna. What a great office!

Just for comparison, here is a picture of the office were I work as a technical writer.

I sit at the table near the window.

At work today, there was seven loud people in the pod.

At least there is nice view of the Atlanta skyline....

Let's go back to Norway.....

We are docked at the old harbor.

The new harbor was planned 150 years ago on a man-made island.

I met "Arlene" - a nice single female on this trip.

Tronheim population 230,000.

Trondheim founded in 997 by King Olav - the first Viking king. There is another Olav: "Saint Olav"

Black Death - 50% of Norway perished

Railway Station is the oldest building.

Wooden warehouse on the canal

Bergen is the third largest town in Norway.

Ship building until late 1980's.

The house corners are cut off so the horse and cart can go around the corner.

1277 hospital is still a hospital after 750 years.

Trondheim is completely surrounded by water.

The tram up to the 265 meter to 800 It is the Northern most tram in the world.

In 2025 they will have the World Championship ski jumping here.

Stave church pix. 1180. Only 28 left.

Trondheim fiord is a very open flat landscape. It is very different than any other Norway fiords that have mountains.

There is an island in the fiord.

Moonk island was execution place for the town.

In 1100 a monastery established there.

There is a fresh water well on the island.

Monks made beer and sang too loud in the the wee hours of the night/mornings so people on the mainland complained. They knew how to p-a-r-t-y!

1337 Norway turns protestant.

Catholic monks leave the island and it was fortified to defend the city.

A prison was put there. It was the "Alcatraz of Tronheim".

1445 Norway was occupied by Germany.

University here has 40,000 students. Biggest university in Norway.

Overlook Trondheim at Sunrise

Nidaros Cathedral

76 large sculptures of saints and bible figures. Over 1000 total in the cathedral

Statues are soap stone is "easy to carve".

First row is diciples. second row 4 th statue is King Olav. Olav imposed Christianity. Killed anyone who wouldn't be Christian. This was the Christian center of northern europe. He was killed as a hated king.

The statue with small woman at the bottom is the sculptor's wife. He was scared of heights so his wife helped him take measurements.

I took this photo at the ship lecture.

It is called "The Bricklayer". It is located on the southern West Front tower. It is a pertait of Odin Mathisen a cathedral worker.

According to legend, the cathedral and the town will sink in the fjord if the cathdedral is ever finished.

The mason holds the final stone which will never be put in its place next to him, and the cathedral and Trondheim is thus saved for now.

"The Bricklayer"

Rose window and tower were reconstructed.

10,000 pieces in the rose window. Finished in 1930's.

Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nidaros_Cathedral

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nidaros_Cathedral_West_Front

Built over the burial site of King Olav II (c. 995 -1030, reigned 1015 -1028) - the patron saint of the nation. Hated because of strict reign

Built over a 230-year period, from 1070 to 1300.

Fires in 1328, 1459, 1531.

Major reconstruction 1869 to 1969.

The location for the consecration of new kings of Norway.

The northernmost medieval cathedral in the world.

Architectural style of the cathedral is Romanesque and Gothic.

This the coronation church of all kings in Norway.

The church has three bells.

The 'Great Bell' is the oldest and was cast in 1751.

The largest church bell in Norway hangs in the West Front's north tower. Installed in 1964, it weighs 2,400 kg,

it can be heard 30 km away.

The interior of the nave, viewed towards the east

The rose window

Has 10,000 pieces

12 meter high and 8 meter in diameter. Finished in 1930's

The red field in the middle symbolizes Christ.

Below the rose there are 9 windows with Christ in the middle. The inscription at the bottom: Ã‚Â«Benedicti Venitr Poosidete Regnum. Discedite maledicti in ignem eternum. Ã¢â‚¬Å“(Come blessed, inherit the kingdom, go away, you cursed, in eternal fire)

There are two Organs

Main organ built in 1930 was fully restored in 2014. 127 stops and 9600 organ pipes. Longest is 10 meters

The biggest in Norway.

The old Baroque Wagner organ built 1738 and restored in 1994. It has 30 stops

The interior viewed towards the wast

The High Altar from 1882

Gamle Bybro (The Old Town Bridge) was first built on this site in 1681.

Geez, my hand is getting tired of writing and taking notes.

If the tour guide is talking, I feel compelled to take notes (that is my obsession).

With the Whisperer I could remove the ear piece so I couldn't hear the guide, then I could take a break from writing.

But here I am sitting in the bus. Priscilla took this perfect picture of me trying to endure the travails of traveling.

This is an unhappy and more than a bit uncomfortable Suzanna. I am tired, I need to blow my nose and cough.

xx About the cough:
If that is last time I hear that, that would be a good thing If that is last time I hear that, that would be a good thing If that is last time I hear that, that would be a good thing If that is last time I hear that, that would be a good thing If that is last time I hear that, that would be a good thing If that is last time I hear that, that would be a good thing
Shortened to
That would be a good thing That would be a good thing That would be a good thing

Then the tour guide gave us a book about the Cathedral.

Yeah. I can take a break from writing! Happy selfies. Lose the tude! Yes, we are having fun now.

Please refer to your book for more information about the Nidaros Cathedral.

Our last lunch on the ship.

Lunches are a buffet of food. Leftovers from the previous dinner and more food labeled in English, German, and French.

Here are some pictures of the food on the buffet.

And jalepenos are jalepenos are jalepenos in any language:

We get off the ship tomorrow so I need to repack stuff. The RULE for repacking stuff to go home:

Expect that your checked luggage will be lost so put everything in your carryon that you do not want to lose and/or cannot replace.

I did not follow this rule once when I was repacking and sure enough, my checked bag was LOST!

That was the first time that has ever happened to me. I spiraled into depression because I was so stupid and did not repack correctly.

I could have put my favorite jeans in my carry on, and I could have put the impossible to replace Rice China plate in my carry on. But No, it was in lost checked luggage.

I completed all the proper forms and they actually sent me a check for $1400.00.

Then they found my luggage. The lady on the phone said could not/would not return the luggage because they already sent me the check. Whaaaat?!?

I begged and pleaded. She heard me rip the check on the phone. I promised not to cash it. I wanted my suitcase!

And this story has a good ending. The bag appeared at my front door the next day.

Lesson learned.

Maybe we will get the Northern lights announcement tonight...

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DAY 9 - Monday March 6 - Disembarkation in Bergen, City Walk

We did not see aurora borealis / northern lights last night...

I saw some wind mills (to generate electricity).

Gate1 Description:

This morning, the ship docks in Bergen, the picturesque harbor town established by the Viking King Olav more than 900 years ago. Today, Bergen is known as the unofficial capital of Western Norway, and the world's only city surrounded by seven mountains and seven fjords. After disembarkation, transfer to the hotel where you can drop off your bags before setting out on a city walk with your Tour Manager. See the world-famous harbor area and stroll around the brightly-colored old wooden buildings at Bryggen Wharf, a remnant of the Hanseatic port, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tonight, join your Tour Manager for a farewell reception at your hotel

Overnight: Bergen Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast is served 7-10 am.

Before 10 am put luggage by the elevator and they will transport to the shore. Very convienient Hurtigruten luggage service.

We must leave the cabin by 10 am. We go get our last ship breakfast.

Then find a place to wait.

At 2:45 disembark off the ship. You are automatically checked out . The credit card linked to your cruise card is charged at midnight the previous night. Check off the ship by scanning our cruise card.

Pick up luggage.

Find the correct bus.

The bus thermometer said -7 degrees C (19 F).

Bergen founded 1070.

McDonalds! From someone on tripadvisor about McDonalds in Bergen "Our tour guide told us this McD is in the oldest building of any McD's in the world (it's not the oldest McD's...but the building is the oldest of any other McD's in the world if that makes sense)..."

Fenicular is open till 10 pm. $15 roundtrip.

Sunset is 6:30 pm.

Photo by Ulriken.

About 3:30 Check into Clarion Hotel Bergen. We got a welcome drink. I asked Minna for a Sprite.

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Day 10 - Tuesday March 7 - Depart Norway

Great breakfast in the hotel, except there was no porridge (oatmeal). But they had everything else. Including sunny-side up eggs.

We had a 7:30 am shuttle transfer to the airport for our departure flight

Transfer company was Schaus Buss AS +(47) 9 050 6300

We had THREE flights to get home on March 7:

Bergen, Norway (BGO) to Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS)
Flight Time: 1HR 45M
2/2 configururation

Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS) to New York, NY (JFK)
Flight Time: 8HR 15M Seats

Priscilla and I each had 3 sets (an entire row) to lay down! Yay!

New York, NY (JFK) to Atlanta, GA (ATL)

Flight Time: 2HR 45M - I think actual flight time was 1HR 50M, but they say 2HR 45M because JFK is a zoo and it takes a very long time for the place to go from the gate to take off. Many, many plane to manage at this airport...

Arrive 10:35PM

So tired when I got home.....

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Norway Royalty

https://www.royalcourt.no/seksjon.html?tid=28435&sek=27259

https://www.royalcourt.no/

King Harald V, born 1937. Son of King Olav V and Crown Princess Martha, Succeeded his father as king of Norway on 17 January 1991.

King Olav previous name was Alexander. Change your name to become Norwegian King!

King Olav father King Haakon VII, his previous name was Carl? Moved from Denmark in 1905. Change your name to become Norwegian King! He was the first of the Kings of Liberation.

Queen Sonja, born 1937. Married then Crown Prince Harald in Oslo Cathedral in 1968. Became queen of Norway on 17 January 1991.

Oslo guide Elsa explained Sonja was not royal so Harald had to wait 9 years to marry her.

Crown Prince Haakon Magnus, born 1973. Son of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. Heir to the throne of Norway.

Married with 3 kids.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, born 1973. Married Crown Prince Haakon Magnus in Oslo in 2001.

Oslo guide Elsa explained Crown Princess married an artist and he died. Now engaged to an American "Durik" who says he is an alien. You can buy a $200 medallion from him and you will not get Corona. Per Elsa "They will be our future king and quieen" she says with a big sigh.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra, born 2004. Second in line for the Norwegian throne after her father, The Crown Prince.

Prince Sverre Magnus, born 2005. Third in line for the Norwegian throne after his sister, Princess Ingrid Alexandra.

Princess Martha Louise, born 1971. Daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja. Fourth in line for the Norwegian throne after her nephew Prince Sverre Magnus.

Princess Astrid Mrs Ferner. Born 1932 . Daughter of King Olav and Crown Princess Martha. Married Mr Johan Martin Ferner in 1961.

Some medication suggestions for ship travel....

Cold pills that work for you. Pack maximum number of pills for every day.

Vitamin pills and Vitamin C - The food will be different. There was not very many veggies on the buffet.

Safety pins - to keep things together so you don't loose one - like gloves. Safety pin your wallet to your person.

Sea-sick stuff - Even the heartiest of souls experience discomfort. This was the first time that it happed to our tour guide!

Stay hydrated, less alcohol, less caffeine. Drink Ginger Ale is possible.

Dramamine, Transderm Scop patch, Promethazine, Bonine

Pills for Motion Sickness: Meclizine HCL Chewable tablets 25 mg. antiemetic. One to two tablets one daily.

Ginger 250 milligram 3 times a day,

Pressure point wrist bands Elastic Acupressure on location 3 finger below the wrist on the inner forearm inbetween the two tendons

Aromatherapy, Music - the distraction can reduce the number of pain signals traveling from the spinal cord to the brain

I will end this Norway Journal with stupendous pictures

Priscilla's picture

THIS IS MY PICTURE!

Farewell Norway!

This is Priscilla's picture

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