Norway Voyage

March 2024
A 13-day adventure by Jo Read more
  • 14footprints
  • 1countries
  • 13days
  • 106photos
  • 1videos
  • 2.2kmiles
  • Day 10

    Bronnoysund

    March 28 in Norway ⋅ 🌬 3 °C

    We crossed the Arctic Circle at 8.45 am this morning, passing close to the Arctic globe set on a rock.
    I received a Find Penguins reminder this morning that on this day in 2019 we were in Queens town, NZ South Island, the furthest south we have travelled. Now 5 years later we have travelled the farthest north.
    There is less snow on the mountains now as we continue south, leaving behind the more spectacular scenery.
    Karen and I enjoy attending the daily briefing from the Expedition team. It's always entertaining, especially if Hil is presenting, she has an adorable quirky sense of humour. She's was a guide at Trondheim and other locations for many years before joining Havila.
    The presentation starts with music from a local band, then info about the places we're visiting, local culture and other "this & that" topics. We always learn something!
    The ship docked at Bronnoysund this afternoon so we took the opportunity of a walk. However everything is closed as it's a national holiday - their Easter weekend starts with Maundy Thursday through to Easter Monday. Once again, another opportunity for shopping lost!
    The most exciting things to photograph were a sign on the harbour indicating that Bronnoysund is the midway point between the north and south of Norway, and a very pretty church.
    Beer, cocktails and cards followed back on board.
    After dinner, the staff organised a game of Easter Bingo, dressed up as chickens! Karen & I were up for it and we press-ganged Syd & Alan to join in. It was hilarious - we were too slow and/or couldn't understand the numbers that were given in three languages. Karen won the third round, her prize a Havila flag signed by the captain! We had a good laugh anyway.
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  • Day 11

    Trondheim & Kristiansund

    March 29 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    The ship docked at Trondheim at 6.30 am in overcast weather. As it left at 9.30 we had a good view of Munkholmen, a small island just off the harbour. It is now a tourist destination in the summer but it has a chequered history.
    In 995 Munkholmen was used as an execution site, then in the early 12th century it became a Benedictine monastery. From 1658 a fort was constructed on the site and used as a prison. When Nazi Germany invaded Norway in 1940, Hitler established a submarine base at Trondheim. Munkholmen was fitted with anti-aircraft weapons, and the fort refitted to store ammunition.
    Weather today is overcast, about 8° and very calm. I've just completed 10 laps of the observation deck for some fresh air and exercise. It's so quiet and calm, the ship is almost silent as it sails along the coast. We've lost most of the snow now and the landscape is not so awe-inspiring but peaceful and beautiful none the less.
    We passed a gas processing plant that Syd is pretty sure he had a site visit there for a week while working on the project with Fluor 30 years ago.
    We docked at Kristiansund for an hour at 4.30 pm. We decided it wasn't worth getting off so we continued our game of Barbu (Karen won, I came last as usual!).
    Kristiansund is built on four main islands, with many smaller islands.
    Apparently, there are 320,249 islands and islets along the coast of Norway.
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  • Day 12

    Bergen

    March 30 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Our last day on board and we're heading for Bergen.
    We woke up to a beautiful rainbow and little waterfalls trickling down the mountains as we pass close by.
    Our cases have to be packed and left near the lifts by 9am and we have until 10am to vacate our cabin. Arrival time at Bergen is 2.45pm.
    We've just passed by the Solund fjords, many islands, fjords and inlets. The wind is fierce on deck!
    There have been a few heavy showers, but the sun is out for us to enjoy the views that we couldn't see at night on the way north.
    Disembarking at Bergen was far less stressful than boarding!
    We're now checked in at the Radisson Blu Hotel for tonight. It's in Bryygen, the quaint district of colourful wooden buildings along the quayside. We took a walk to explore the area and visited the indoor Fish Market, a mix of counters selling an amazing assortment of fresh fish, seafood and cheeses, together with a few fish restaurants.
    We found a very rustic bar along the wharf to stop for drinks.
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  • Day 13

    Bergen to home

    March 31 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    After a good breakfast (buffet, so much choice!) we explored the little alleyways between the wooden buildings. A few shops were open but they are either full of tourist souvenirs tat - eg ugly trolls 🧌 - or real quality Norwegian knitwear which is very expensive.
    Our walk then took us along the harbour and up to the Bergenhus fortress. There are some enormous industrial looking ships which we assume serve the offshore rigs, and a very impressive tall ship.
    The fortress contains buildings dating as far back as the 1240s, as well as later constructions built as recently as World War II. Bergenhus is currently under the command of the Royal Norwegian Navy which has about 150 military personnel stationed there.
    The weather turned a little drizzly so we went back to the hotel before leaving for the airport.
    We caught the airport bus which conveniently stops outside our hotel.
    The check-in process is very slick as is typical of Norway and the flight left on time.
    We had a good view as we flew over the snowy mountains.
    It's been a wonderful trip, a great experience with memories that will stay with us forever.
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