Travel Pig

Just after I got out of the shower, dripping wet, it was announced that there was a Northern Lights sighting. I was in no hurry but threw in some clothes, didn’t bother with a camera and went outside.

Yes there was some lights, when I looked at peoples photos in their camera. I ran in to get my phone. It was spectacular!

So many more pictures. Hopefully more in the next two nights. The temperature is low 40’s but very windy.

I planned to work on my Instagram projects today but then decided, I really should do the Arctic Cape Expedition. Everything is an expedition. This would be taking a bus for 45 minutes and back and seeing the monument and the souvenir shop.

So I did it. The port is called Honningsvag. It is a beautiful town but can’t imagine 15 feet of snow on the sides of the road and having to walk like you are in a labyrinth.

Last night on the ship. Excited about tomorrow!

Tromso has about 80,000 inhabitants and is growing 2-3% a year probably people from other parts of Norway, not California.

Seems very industrial as most of these ports are. Many claims to fame, Northern most McDonalds, University, brewery etc.

Had a busy morning on the Internet still fighting and figuring out a new Instagram idea. I could never spend this much time while working. I think a lot of it is Internet issues. Thought of sleeping in but didn’t. Thought of skipping breakfast or lunch but didn’t.

Seems like most afternoons I get a glorious little jet lagged nap and I did so today. Then an excursion on a bus! Went to see the Northern most Arctic Church. It was kind of an A-frame. So windy but not terribly cold. Every once in a while a little spit of rain, but the drops are huge.

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I keep forgetting to mention that Uo until today, that I have been so sore from walking 20 miles the first two days. Glad I trained for Antarctica because I didn’t for this trip.

The sparkling wine was spectacular. It was made and then stored under the sea for two years! Lots of sparkle

I enjoyed the museum today. I had read about the race to the North Pole. Thank you Jeni Popp for the great Adventure book. Our guide tried to push people away from the part of the museum that explains hunting. Not sure why, probably too many complaints for people in the past, but it’s history. Luckily the world decided killing baby seals was not nice and people stopped wearing oilskins ie fur. It was kinda brutal how they killed polar bears. A rifle was rigged and baited with seal fat and when triggered, the bear was thought to kill itself, not buying that. They also over killed walruses, using their tusks for art. I would like to to see walruses in the wild. Apparently Svalbard is the place

Glad to hear that the Brewers put the Dodgers in their place!!

Enjoying a leisurely dinner and talking to you all. Cheese and a liquor made by woman called Feddie Fatlagret Dill-Aquavit! It reminds me of grappa!

I had to laugh at the seafood night. The staff were all excited about it. Tiny head on shrimp with way too many roe. The crab was taken out of the shells, mixed with bread cut and stuffed back into the shells! Were the shells reused too? You can see how left over food is changed into a new dish!

The hours on a boat go by slowly but at the same time quickly. I feel so busy then realize, I spent hours trying to connect a Facebook page to a new IG account. Ugg. The views from the boat cannot be appreciated by photos as you will see.

The person that guessed the actual crossing over the Arctic Circle was just a couple seconds off. She won a flag and the privilege of being the first to be baptized with Arctic water. People actually let a ladle full of freezing cold water be dumped on their head! No thank you. The day was lazy, doing internet stuff and reading books. Finished the book about The All Blacks team in New Zealand and another book on Excellence. Didn’t read quite every word but got the gist of the books. More fiction.

I did wait for dinner and ate at my proper table. I have been spoiled by Berto. I’ll be back at the private dining tomorrow

We had a late port stop so I walked around a bit, not much happening.

This was where one of the soccer games was played!

Around 11 the loud speaker said the Northern Lights were barely in view, I traipsed outside and saw some misty air, nit impressed! Lol. It was along shot that we would see them but we have two more nights.

During the night, it was a bit noisy at the stops, making it hard to sleep.

I wish I had more to say and show but I don’t. I have a little adventure today and made my plans for the rest of the trip, so I am just enjoying my time away.

I signed up for a 5 course meal ahead of time so last night was perfect. As we boarded the boat we were given table numbers that we were to sit as on some dinners, not sure why that makes me cringe, but it does.

I don’t think I am a cruiser, at least not yet. When my kids and I went to the Galapagos, I remember we had to sit with another family. They seemed so perfect. A perfectly blended divorced family with perfect kids and everyone got along. And then there is us, divorced mom with two kids. Later, the perfect family fell apart, with the oldest child having a fit and the parents pissed off. Makes me laugh now and wonder why I cared. That was a 100 passenger boat

Another cruise I took was with my son on the Nile. Also a 100 passenger boat in summer with less than 50 people on it. We kept being sat with others until I explained to management that I was here with my son and only wanted to be with him. They obliged.

Then on the Antarctic trip with my brother, again it was a smaller boat and we always had to sit with others.

Usually I enjoy meeting people. I have made friends all around the world but, as I have met many people on this trip already but it’s just awkward for me.

So last nights dinner. There is a little private dining area before the main dining room. There were several tables, so I chose one a little to the side. My handsome server told me it was going to be a slow night. As it turns out there was just one other table served besides me.

It was to be a 5 course meal with an additional cost of $33. It was well worth not eating at a buffet.

Amuse Bouche, oysters and some flavorful sauces

Two choices of starters

It was a delicious meal and delightful with a very attentive server.

I’ll try to be braver and have dinner in the main dining room tonight.

Today we crossed the Arctic Circle. There was a contest to predict the exact time to the second. I was about 5 minutes off.

The landscape is getting more bleak as expected. It’s 47 but 34 with wind chill and winds up to 26 knots. When I woke up it was 29. The boat is pretty smooth. Later today we will pass through some open sea that is supposed to be a little like the Drake crossing in Antarctica but it is only a couple hours not 48 hours.

Life on the boat is getting to be old hat, lots of eating. Up and down the stairs all day. Last night after dinner we had thinly sliced lamb and something like Grappa. The lamb was like Iberico from Italy. The Grappa I had to let go. There is a viewing deck that has a bar and very comfortable seats looking out to sea.

I slept better last night until my Mother called at 2:15 am. She was having fun with her friends. I ended up staying awake reading and finishing another book, by Colleen Hoover. Also reading a business book about the All Black Team of New Zealand and other work stuff.

I was struggling with deciding on the kayak trip this morning or not. It was so cold and rain was predicted. So I didn’t. At our longer stop in Trondheim, I decided to walk to the famous cathedral that was built on top of the grave of former Viking, founder of Catholic religion in Norway and King of Norway.

On the way…

The Old Town Bridge (Gamle Bybro) in Trondheim is one of the city’s most picturesque landmarks. It’s often called the Bridge of Happiness (Lykkens Portal) because of its distinctive red wooden gateways. I felt happy not freezing on the water!

I stopped at a cute shop. I wanted all the clothing and after I had a glass of wine at a cute place, I went back and bought just one thing!

I called for an uber and he took forever, I was worried that I would be late, but I wasn’t.

Ya so I don’t like being denied, but I was. No Tapas for me. I ended up eating at a pizza place.

I went back to my hotel, flirted a bit with my new friend, bartender/bellboy/receptionist and the ubered to the boat.

The boarding was a bit confusing. They wanted my luggage but they never said that it will go to my room etc. Waited because you have to watch the Safety film first, then move to another room and wait then go to the dinner buffet.

I bought the beverage package and by tonight, Monday, I thinking done with the buffet.

Actually some of the food is pretty good. I am trying a bit of most things. They are a bit potato and bean heavy which I don’t eat. So another briefing and a little time in the bar before getting to my berth. It’s tiny and I have a room for two with a window! One bed is ready the other is made into a couch. The bathroom is small compared to my brother and I’s bathroom on our Antarctica boat.

Everyone is invited on the back deck to toast a goodbye to Bergen. I enjoyed the Norwegian music

Pretty much uneventful night. I liked the boat rocking a little. I woke up early but the sunrise is about 8:15am. Breakfast and then cruising

I didn’t book excursions on every day but we were able to get off the boat when excursions happened. Today’s was via a tender boat. We went to the town of Urke. Population 38! Cute little town, really didn’t see any residents. Cool house with grass on it

The town owns the store. The worker inside travels an hour to work here. This store keeps the town alive.

Back on the boat for a little lunch, then briefing and a nap. Before dinner was a quick stop to Alesund, a beautiful city that also had so many fires but in the early 1900’s the King of Germany financed a rebuild in the Art Nouveau style. I stopped off at a Irish pub called Nasty Nellys for a quick Guinness

Just ate dinner and we are cruising North.

It was an easy flight and the Bergen airport customs and immigration was efficient. I ordered a uber to my Hotel, Home Hotel Havnekontoret. I chose it because it was right on the water, convenient to the sites and it had a beautiful lobby. It was sunny out so I dropped my things in my room and walked to the Funicular to the top of a mountain nearby.

My room had heated floors and a heated towel rack, which I have had at my house recently with the extreme heat. It’s in the 40’s here.

These are long narrow structures that have. Been located here for 500 years. They have burnt down at least 10 times.

I decided to hike down. It rained a bit but it was so beautiful and peaceful

Stopped at the famous Fish market for lunch

My location was perfect so close to everything. There are so many restaurants, tourist shops and textiles shops. Not sure which is more famous the trolls or sweaters

This store is in one of the long buildings. They sag in some places and seem to drift in others

Back to the hotel for a quick nap but before that I go to the tower on my hotel for the view

After a jet lagged nap, I went out after dark to find a place to eat. Apparently my hotel provided dinner and breakfast. I looked at the buffet dinner and ick!!

I walked for a long time and finally came back to the fish market. Ordered scallop sashimi which was perfect and fish and chips, which was just ok.

Time to go back to the hotel. The hotel is very busy with most likely people I will see on the boat.

I woke up early, had a great sleep. Again, why can’t America have the wonderful sheets and pillows of Europe.

I packed up, went down for breakfast. Probably the best hotel breakfast ever, especially if you have German heritage as I do. Smoked salmon, picked herring, sardines, perfect scrambled eggs.

There was a church nearby, St Mary’s built in 1070, so I visited. It was warm inside. It had also burned a few times but mostly made of stone.

This is Salome receiving the severed head of John the Baptist, painted by Elias Fiigenschoug in 1643. It also serves as a memorial to the merchant Hans Bonhoff, whose portrait appears at the bottom. 

Next to the museum next door. Mostly about the Row houses and tapestry

Original floor from 1100’s

Here is the story from ChatGPT

These tapestries were woven by Norwegian textile artist Ragna Breivik (1891–1965), using designs by Gerhard Munthe. The ten-piece series took more than 25 years to complete. 

They tell the medieval Norwegian legend Åsmund Frægdagjeva: a brave hero journeys to the trolls’ stronghold to rescue Princess Ermelin. He confronts the fearsome troll woman Skomegyvri, defeats her, breaks the princess’s enchantment, and brings her home. 

Wandered a bit. Now at a cafe near the Opera house hoping to have a meal at a place that I saw last night. If not I have a Plan B and then I board the boat!

More tomorrow but a few quick thoughts before I go to sleep on Day 2…I keep being reminded of places here that I have been to somewhere else, like constant Deja vu. Valparaiso Chile, Marrakech Morocco, and others. I like to compare and contrast other trips with the one I am on now but it seems different.

Reading, “The Ferryman and his Wife.” A book set in the fjords of Norway about a man who owned a ferry boat or more of a taxi and now he is dying and remembering all the people he ferried. It’s beautiful and so perfect.

Funicular up and walk down today. Ten miles walking. I’ll post tomorrow

The first place I stopped to eat really wanted me to sit inside but watching the Friday crowds outside was more fun. So many younger business people drinking and smoking outside several bars only moving when a car came down the street. After a bit I decided to move, I still had time, so I stopped at a wine bar. Another great spot to people watch.

People were starting to head to the Piccadilly Theater to see Moulin Rouge. I had bought a ticket a few hours before. I ended up with a very good seat in the Stalls. I remembered that that area was basically the Orchestra section, they also call it the Band section. I sat next to a young man from Taiwan, visiting London for the first time and on his way to Paris. The other side was couple from Australia. All of us had bought tickets that day. That’s the thing with traveling solo, you talk to people.

The show was fantastic. The music was loud and fun. They warned us no signing until the end, like they did for Natalie when she saw Momma Mia recently.

I had some wine at the show. Everything is cash free. Unfortunately I made a mistake in getting cash at the airport. I didn’t notice that it was pounds not euros. Hard to spend $200 in pounds, so I bought some new sunglasses at the airport.

It took a few tries to get an uber but finally did. I can’t believe I thought I would be walking back to my hotel. It’s was far. During the day, I was fine, but not at night.

I arrived back to my hotel but decided to walk around a bit. It seemed like a Turkish neighborhood. Too much hookah, so I went back to my tiny room to sleep.

I woke up early, walked to the Victoria Station and spent a few minutes figuring out out where my train platform was. The regular Express train was not running today, which I knew when I bought it on line, so I just asked someone who might have been a janitor and found the train. Easy ride to the airport. Found a breakfast spot

I like the Gatwick does their airport experience. All the food and shopping is in one area. When it’s time to board, the gate is displayed on a board and it’s time to go. More efficient.

On my way to Norway on a 45 minute flight and finishing my first book!