APPROACHING FROM THE NORTH WE NAVIGATED BETWEEN RUGGED ISLANDS AND THE COAST TO REACH STAVANGER AND WERE GREETED WITH AN OIL DRILLING RIG THAT WAS BEING MOVING TO OFF SHORE.
OIL WAS DISCOVERED IN 1969. EXPERIENCED OIL WORKERS FROM HOUSTON TEXAS IMMEDIATELY RELOCATED. ON OUR CRUISE ONE EXTENDED FAMILY OF GRANDS, PARENTS AND KIDS ARE REVISITING WHERE GRÄND DAD LIVED AND WORKED.
NATO
NORWAY A NATO MEMBER HOSTS COMBINED LAND, SEA AND AIR MILITARY READINESS EXERCISES TO REMAIN VIGILANT OF INVASION THREATS FROM THE EAST.
THREE SWORDS
WE TOURED THE NEAR ISLAND COMMUNITIES AND STOPPED IN HAFRSFJORD AT A STATUE OF THREE 10 METER HIGH BRONZE SWORDS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE STABBED IN GRANITE. IT’S BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN THE SITE WHERE IN 872 KING HARALD FAIRHAIR UNIFIED THE TRIBES OF NORWAY UNDER ONE CROWN.
THE COAST OF NORWAY WITH ITS STEEP AND RUGGED CLIFFS LOCATES HER CITIES DEEP WITHIN THESE PROTECTED SITES. IN VIKING TIMES IT ALLOWED A MEASURE OF SAFETY FROM ATTACKS.
FISHING HAS ALWAYS DRIVEN THE ECONOMY. ITS HISTORY DATES TO 800 AD. IN 1904 FIRES DESTROYED LARGE PARTS OF THE TOWN. IT HAS BEEN REBUILT IN ART NAVEAU STYLE WITH MANY PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY SHOPPING AND WALKING STREETS.
WEATHER IS NORMALLY RAIN AND OVERCAST. (THIS IS NORWAY.) WE WERE BLESSED WITH CLEAR AND SUNNY 29C HIGHS (83F). IT’S A 6 YEAR RECORD.
I INQUIRED A GUIDE IF THERE WERE BREWPUBS IN ALESUND. HIS RESPONSE…..THERE IS ONLY ONE. BUT IT’S CLOSE TO THE SHIP.
WITH A LITTLE SEARCHING WE FOUND THE PLACE. IT’S A LITTLE PLAIN WITH CONCRETE WALLS. LACKING WERE THE FANCY BEER TAPS, POSTERS ON THE WALLS AND THE MANDATORY JUKE BOX IN THE GORNER.
TALKING TO THE SERVER BEHIND TGE COUNTER I LEARNED NORWAYS ALCOHOL COMMISSION PROHIBITS ADVERTISING OR PROMOTING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
THEY CANNOT HAVE LOGO T-SHIRTS, HATS OR ANY MERCHANDISE THAT COULD PROMOTE THEIR BUSINESS. THAT MEANS NO HAPPY HOUR OR. DARTS
NEVER IN NORWAY
THEY WERE FINED ONCE WHEN A PHOTO OF A GLASS OF BEER WITH THEIR LOGO MADE ITS WAY ONTO FACEBOOK.
SO IN NORWAY IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO NOT FIGHT CITY HALL.
AFTER 2 DAYS AT SEA WE ARRIVED AT THIS PICTURESQUE TOWN. THIS IS OUR MOST NORTHERN STOP. TODAY THE SUN SET AT 11:15 PM AND WILL RISE AT 3:30 AM.
SPECTACULAR CATHEDRAL
CATHEDRALCATHEDRAL
SUMMER SHOPPING STREET
NORWAY ADOPTED ELECTRIC VEHICLES. EVEN OUR BUS.
ELECTRIC BUSTROLLS ARE EVERYWHERESCENIC OVERLOOK
NORWAY HAS INVESTED THEIR OIL FINDS TO BENEFIT CITIZENS. THEY CANNOT TAP THE PRINCIPLE ONLY THE ANNUAL INVESTMENT EARNINGS.
THE BUS RIDE RETURNING TO THE SHIP WAS VERY INTERESTING. THE ROAD ENTERED A TUNNEL THAT RAN UNDER A RIVER AND INCLUDED A ROUND-ABOUT WHILE IN THE TUNNEL UNDER THE RIVER.
DEPARTING KIEL VIA THE CANAL TOOK 12 HOURS TO REACH THE NORTH ATLANTIC.
THIS IS THE BUSIEST CANAL IN THE WORLD. CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN 1887 AND 1895. THIS FRESH WATER CANAL STRETCHES 61 MILES AND CONNECTS THE BALTIC SEA AND NORTH SEA. NEXT STOP NORWAY
NAVIGATING LOCKSWINE TASTING
WITH 24 HOURS SAILING TO REACH NORWAY THERE WERE ACTIVITIES: SHUFFLEBOARD, PUTTING, NEEDLEPOINT, BLACK JACK TOURNAMENT AND RED WINE TASTING.
WE SHARED A TABLE AT 1600 HIGH TEA WITH A LOVELY COUPLE FROM COLORADO THAT RAN TO HAPPY HOUR 2/1 REFRESHMENTS UNTIL 1830.
MEMORIES OF KIEL:
THERE ARE EXTENSIVE BIKE PATHS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IT’S OBVIOUS ELECTRIC SCOOTERS ARE A PROBLEM IN SOME AREAS