Thursday, November 27, 2014

#1 We went to Norway end of May first two weeks of June so here are some photos to prove we were there.
I have divided the posts up into three sections:

#1 the trip North on Hurtigruten
#2 the trip South
#3 the Family visit in the West

access the three posts under 2014 November on the right side at top of posts

So here we go:
First days we were in Bergen and astoundingly we had SUNNY skys!


The plaza in Bergen is expansive


We were met by a youth drum group on parade


At the other end of the plaza approaching the fish market we came across this tour bus!


Here is a long shot of tram going up the mountain side.


View of new fish market


Here is our happy shopper investing in new sweater


Breyggen - area across from fish market


Inside the fish market, Norwegian lobster ..ummmm lunch coming up


More fresh seafood..


Outdoor seating area prepared for chillier days with fur lined chairs and wrap blankets (not needed that day) for dining in the "outdoor" eating tent


Here was a face that looked familiar
(I swear it was Judy Dench)


Beautiful - rare- Sunny day on Bergen Waterfront


Our boat arrives from the North to disembark passengers and prepare for us


A beautiful tour boas (Bergensfjord) departs from Hurtigruten area (next 3 shots)


Fuel tender arrives to refuel Nordlys


Swirled cobblestones on foot bridge en route to Hurtigruten terminal


Hurtigruten terminal check-in counter


Escalators from check-in to familiarization lounge and boarding area


Introduction to Hurtigruten in familiarization lounge


Ready to board


Nordlys at first stop headed north


We stopped at Alesund and took excursion to aquarium and also to mountain overlooking this beautiful city.
here are two shots on way to acuarium.




An intricate wall designswe saw on the way thru town



Entrance to Aquarium



Another kind of all art at back of Aquarium



Penguins outside of Aquarium, too dark for photos inside


View out towards the ocean of new construction next to the penguin area


Here we stopped on top of mountain overlooking the city



and a shot of the docks where a "small" cruise ship dwarfs our inter coastal Nordlys


Alesund on return trip to ship


car ferry


"Sail house" of condos?




Leaving Alesund we see snow capped mountains in June!


Looking west towards the ocean we are protected by many islands.


Big rock


Beautiful harbor setting


Lofoten harbor



salted cod drying on racks in Lofoten


Typical Cod fisherman's boat



Crusing north of Lofoten





Inter coastal cruising






Entering Trolfjorden on trip north





Inside Trolfjorden



Shear rock inside the Trolfjorden (Ane looks Cold)


Beautiful light inside the Trolfjord looking up



Waterfall (foss) near end of fjord


later that night I got up to record the midnight sun







Next day we passed Chruch Rock



That afternoon some Cod fishermen came aboard to demonstrate Cod tongue harvesting




Arrival in our northern most port Kirkness


Here we took the land excursion to the Russian boarder.
to walk thru this gate is free but to return to Norway it will cost you something like 5,000 NOK (about $1,000)



Map at the boarder and what it said (if you can read it)




 Ane always finds a friend wherever she goes..


Pretty rifer side Norwegian house
(Shengen House -built after the treaty- where according to our guide nowbody lives)







We then stopped at a fjorde side park to enjoy the 80 F weather there in Kirkerness which again was the furthest north we went.




And then to a lookout over the harbor with Nordlys in the harbor



and here we take a break, next we post the trip south and the family visit in Songfjorden
For the trip south return to the top and click on post #2 on the right hand side under November