Stavanger

Wandering through the streets of Stavanger, we felt as though we were coming home again. We spent the morning renewing our old acquaintances from our last visit here: the twelfth-century cathedral, the Valberg Fortress, the Oil Museum. For all I know I really may have actually been coming home again. Mom’s family, the Galloway clan, came from Scotland. However, those Galloways could well have been descended from Norse raiders. One can only wonder how many fiery eleventh-century Scottish lasses were attracted to the rakish newcomers from the north. (Yes, dear, but why can’t you just go out with a nice local boy?) The streets here feel like old friends, as do the shops and the parks, and the great men, on whose heads the seagulls casually perch.

We met another old friend this morning. Captain Atle Knutsen just came aboard the Viking Mars. He was our Skipper on the Viking Sun for the company’s inaugural world cruise almost five years ago. He and his wife Laura became part of our family for half a year as we circled the globe together. Lordy, how time flies!

Stavanger feels like an old friend. It’s good to be back, but perhaps the only thing better than seeing old friends is making new ones. We have had our share of that delightful task on this cruise as well. It is surprising to know that my new buddy from Australia and I have more in common than one might think. Of course, that’s what traveling does for us. It reminds us that the things that unite us are far more numerous and important than the things that divide us. It’s all joy. It’s all good. And we are having the time of our lives.Read more