The Year of Many Travels (Part 4): A Cruise to Norway

My husband is 78 and I am now 68, so finally getting to see Europe and especially my ancestral home of Norway, is very satisfying given that many people our age can no longer travel far from home due to illness, disability or lack of financial means.  We cannot hike the mountain fjords, nor walk the neighborhoods freely like we could when we were younger, but to have the privilege to travel is a joy in itself.  A 7 day cruise was planned beginning June 2. 2018 from Amsterdam.  We had already enjoyed a week in Paris and three days in Amsterdam.  (The Year of Many Travels Part 3) .  Now we were to set sail on the Koningsdam  (Holland America line) at 5PM on June 2nd.

The Koningsdam is one of Holland America's newer ships (launched in 2015) and very large with a 2650 passenger capacity.  We settled into lounge chairs for the Sail Away Party on the aft Seaview Deck.

Bon Voyage Party

Toasts of "Bon Voyage" with a couple of  Dutch passengers

The Sea View Pool Deck

Goodbye Amsterdam!

Passing A'Dam Lookout and the Eye Film Museum

The passengers gathered aft for our "Sail Away Party" celebrating our week's cruise along the Norway western coast.

We had to go through the North Sea Canal with the IJmuiden North Sea Canal Lock that would take many hours to get out of Amsterdam port to the Open Sea.  While we sailed north toward Norway, Ron and I took in a show and got back to our room about 10 PM.  I opened the shades to our balcony and was taken aback by the bright light.  This was my first experience with being in the  Land of the Midnight Sun.

Our first stop was Eidfjord, a tiny village at the end of the Hardangerfjord. We took a sightseeing tour to the beautiful Vøringfoss waterfall. We also made stops at a dam and a cultural center.

One of the many waterfalls spilling down the massive granite fjords.

Eidfjord is mainly a small farming village which now depends on tourism and sports activities.

Driving up to Vøringsfossen through picturesque farms and rivers.

Quite the view from up here

Looking down the valley from the waterfall

Vøringsfossen 

Summer cabins grow turf on their roofs for insulation.  They are a traditional roof which is high maintenance so it's a practice that is disappearing.

Glaciers are everywhere.

The road up to Vøringsfossen is a winding narrow roadway

We stopped at a Cultural Center on the way back

Traditional costumes of Norway

Departing Eidfjord

Once we reached the North Sea, we headed north during the night to our next Port of Call, the beautiful town of Ålesund.  This town was completely destroyed by a fire in 1904 and was rebuilt with the help of the German Kaiser Wilhelm II who send emergency food and supplies.  The town was then built in the German Art Nouveau style which makes it so distinctive today.

The food in the restaurants where we had lunch and dinner was delicious and fresh.

A lovely sushi restaurant by the wharf.

I toured the Art Nouveau Center while Ron stayed on the ship.

Beautiful staircase

in the design center

A stove

A doorway in the Art Nouveau style

We departed Alesund about 8PM.  Sitting on our balcony, we watched the boats and kayakers and the quiet lights and buildings of this beautiful Norwegian coast drift by. It is summer and the weather is quite pleasant.  I wondered how it would be here in the deep winter season.  Sipping a glass of wine, I felt total peace.

Our fourth port of call in Norway was Geiranger, a small town at the very end of the Geirangerfjord.

Geirangerfjord is considered to be the most beautiful fjord in the world. It didn't disappoint.  I got up before 6AM just in time to see us sailing up the fjord with its many waterfalls including the famous Seven Sisters waterfall.

Our huge ship moved through the narrow fjord quietly as I enjoyed the immense beauty of the fjord.  I always get up early in the morning on cruises and out on deck as soon as there is light.  I don't want to miss anything.

The Suitor Waterfall across from the Seven Sisters

Passing the Eagle Road before arriving at our port

We had to come to the port aboard tenders (the life boats).

A Troll greeted us in Geiranger

We had tickets for a bus excursion to Mt. Dalsnibba and the Geiranger Skywalk, some 1500 meters above Geiranger, followed by a trip up the winding Eagle Road.  It was an amazing tour!

We stopped about halfway up at an observation area for the views.

Glaciers atop Mt. Dalsnibba

The road we came up

Our road back below

Leaving the Skywalk (glacial lakes below)

 

View from Eagle Road

We departed Geiranger and spent several hours cruising down Geirangerfjord past many farms, towns and harbors until we reached the thousands of coastal islands hugging the western coast of Norway in the North Sea.  We would sail through the night and arrive in Bergen early in the morning.

I got up as soon as the sun began to rise and went out onto the deck as we passed the many towns and islands headed into Bergen.

The inner harbor

The Fish Market was here with overpriced goods for the tourists  Of course I spent $24 for a fresh salmon lunch.

A Monk Fish which the fish monger kept yelling out: "See the Donald Trump fish!"

My lunch of salmon, cole slaw and potato salad (yummy!)

I wandered around the downtown to see the parks and public squares of Bergen.

Ron and I took a taxi tour of Bergen.  Our driver spoke excellent English and showed us some lovely areas of the town, then dropped us off at a Cafe for coffee and pastry..

We had a front row seat to a civil wedding as we sat in front of the court building.

We encountered many Norwegian men who loved their big old classic American cars that they fixed up.  This Desoto was the wedding couple's get-away carriage.

Leaving Bergen

We sailed away from Bergen on June 9th.  Heading for Amsterdam and the end of our cruise, we arrived early the next morning and flew home via Toronto June 10, 2018.  Hope I can return to Norway again one day.