GEIRANGER FJORD; PEARL OF THE WEST COUNTRY FJORDS

Readers:  Another post in our activity.  
To read the adventure in the order of the Day by Day Trip Report click HERE. To see all the photos for the day click HERE.

GEIRANGER FJORD

Sunday afternoon, July 6, 2014 

On a dark and dreary day, we entered the Geiranger Fjord early and had the chance to see the fog part on the calm water as we slowly traversed the fjord. The further in we went, the higher the waterfalls and the closer the hills. Finally snow on the mountain tops with explosions of quiet beauty.

The little villages are built on the lower edge of the fjord.

Some little farms are built far above on the mountain side. One little story was about the tax collector who had difficulties delivering his demands as the pathways were so steep that ladders had to be installed. When the farmers heard the tax collector was on his way, the ladders would suddenly disappear “for repairs” and the collector would not be able to visit the farmer.

As we head back to Alesund we are reminded that thanks to the Gulf Stream, 4.5 million people live in Norway. The fjords do not freeze in winter but continue to have the marine fog, cold, dank air year round as the temperature fluctuates with the seasons. The photos speak more than our words could possibly describe.

Tomorrow is Day 3 of the M/S Finnmarken cruise.  We have been told the day is Monday but we really have lost track of things like that.

Tomorrow is special because we will see Vikki, Inger and Birger in Trondheim.  The Jacobsens have lived in Trondheim and you know there's no better way to see a city that thru the eyes of one of its citizens.  Cannot wait.  

ANCHORS AWEIGH........

Readers:  Another post in our activity.  
To read the adventure in the order of the Day by Day Trip Report click HERE. To see all the photos for the day click HERE.

Heading North

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Processing through boarding can be oppressive. Lines and "pushy" peoples.

We processed quickly through both, staring down those who felt the need to "push" and praised the ferry staff who were efficient.

The ferry looks and acts like an organized cruise ship..."Norwegian style". It is still raining and the ferry feels SOLID holding its own. 

Our room is small yes, but plenty of space for tucking and storing. Dinner buffet is at 6:00pm the first night to get us organized and introduced to the system. We purchased a "coffee anytime card" and a "bottled water 2x's a day card" ($100.00 for both). 

We have assigned seating at dinner. The B's are at table of four in the best view area (#78). We have already made arrangements for Vikki and Inger (VI) to sit with us once they board at Bodo later in the week.

A tour of the ferry has provided us with one of the potential "MNA Camps", Level Eight deck with comfortable chairs facing forward looking out toward the direction we are heading. We took our coffee and found our best spot so far. We watched the departure from lovely Bergen and into the Norwegian Sea, the route of the Vikings.

 And then enjoyed seeing all the islands with quaint homes as we headed out of the harbor to the Norwegian sea. 

FACTOID: As we start we are as far west as Amsterdam and Marseilles 

however, in 5 days we will be at Vardø which is the same eastern longitude as St Petersburg and Istanbul.

A 9:00pm briefing in English gave us more information and by then our "tent poles" were sagging. We returned to our room, a very brief beginning for unpacking and popped into our beds. 

 Tomorrow, she be another day!

Sunday, July 6, 2014

MS Finnmarken

Our first port of call Florø will be at 2:00am, which we will sleep through we hope. (we didn't). We did sleep through Måløy and awakened at Torvik. 

By the end of breakfast we were in Ålesund, with the rain slacking. We are here for only 30 minutes so will stay on board. Lovely town! This is the home of Inger and Birger who are on travel with Vikki driving to meet us in Trondheim.

FACTOID: Ålesund has approximately 260,000 inhabitants with newspaper circulation of 130,000.

The path narrows as we head toward the UNESCO site Geiranger Fjord. 

Tomorrow Friends tomorrow.