Drifting in and out of Norway

I woke this morning to find a beautiful moon over the fjord as we cruised up to Bergen. It was so simple and wonderful all at once. Bergen on the previous visit was wet and cold and windy. Today has been glorious, sunny and quite warm. We left the ship early, and decided to try the funicular railway. We were the first on board, at 9.am, after working our way through automatic ticket machines in Norwegian.(Why cant Melbourne check out some of these systems. They are so easy to use) The ride to the top and back was amazing. Bergen is laid out before you and you can see for miles.

Norway has been lovely. Like Demark, it is a very clean, uncluttered, very well off though I guess there are poorer areas. We chose to wander on our own in the cities, and we have found pretty little side streets and views appear in unexpected places. Stavanger was so pretty. It was Saturday – people playing sports in the city square, eating out, a mini marathon was going on past the ship, and families were coming down to look at the sight. For most of these ports, it is the first time this ship has come in. We had a fire boat with water fountain in front of us coming into Stavenger.

The sunset as we left Stavenger was stunning. The photos hopefully will give a little indication.

Life on ship takes on a dreamlike quality after you get over the life boat drill and find your way around. Drifting in and out of ports takes on a surreal quality. Days blend in to each other, and time gets muddled. I guess that is part of the experience that is a holiday.

More soon

The Danes - their play and power

After the rain of yesterday, the sun shone perfectly today. We have walked the length and bredth of this city, and it is so lovely. Melbourne has Luna Park, and Copenhagen has the Tivoli Gardens, over 100 years old. There are the most amazing rides, scary ones for adults, and miniature parallel ones for the children. All this set amidst pretty trees and gardens, and a lake. It is set right in the middle of the city, and seems to attract locals and visitors in droves. No, I did not venture on the rides, looking at them was excitment enough, just watching faces as they were being dragged to the top of a pole , only to plummet down again.

The wind is picking up, and it is interesting to see how the power generating windmills that generate power from their situation in the harbour, are spinning well. They are an accepted part of the cityscape here, you wonder if they will have to become more widely accepted as a power source.

The wind could well be a factor in our first days at sea. Predictions for very strong winds all through Northern Europe and Scandinavia.
I have enjoyed Copenhagen. The Danes have a clean fresh design and if you see their homes, it is reflected there, but equally they create a cosy feel which would be big factor for the long cold dark winters. But it is time to move on.

More soon.

We leave and arrive to leave

It seemed surreal as we drove to the airport on Monday - it takes a while to realise you are actually going , after all the months of planning. But off we went, and the first evening over the red centre of Australia saw the most glorious sunset - stripes of dark blue and purple blending to crimson and red and pink and gold, as if repeating the colours of ochre and gold and red of the sand and desert beneath. It was a magnificent display. The flight itself was quite rough, with the crew having to cease service every so often.

Australians grow up knowing we have to travel a long way just to leave the shores to the north, and the time never gets shorter.Bangkok came and went in a fog of lack of sleep and that weird disorientation that comes with a long period of travel. We left the lounge for the Copenhagen flight with half an hour to spare - the terminal is so long : though we left with the flight listed as 'open', by the time we made the gate 25 minutes later, it was on 'final call', and we don't walk slowly.

Some sleep was had and we had terrific seats and staff, so Copenhagen appeared below us. It has rained all day, but we managed to negotiate the train system to get to the hotel on our own , and also a 20 minute train trip across the huge bridge to Malmo in Sweden. Copenhagen is looking rather tried in places but perhaps the weather doesnt help. Cyclists rule the roads it seems, the city is quite flat so it makes sense.

We walked past (and undernearth) the Royal Library/ The road literally passes under one of the reading areas and some of the walokways between the two buildings. It is very modern design and overlooks the main canal.


So the first day has been had, and we are about to meet our new home for the next two weeks. The ship will be in on Thursday, so we move from the air to track, to water, and hope for fair weather.


More soon.

In retrospect

The time has come to pack. It seems so long since we flew out , but we have seen so much, and had so many experiences. Spending time in the Arctic circle to experience the midnight sun, gliding down fjords in the misty light of morning, a train ride in Flamm through the most wonderful country, managing to stay reasonably tidy in a force nine gale in the North Sea, wandering through little Norwegian towns, being quite overcome at the beauty of Coventry Cathedral, and the perennial excitement that is London. The highlights of the trip would be the fjords, they changed their unique beauty every minute, as the light and clouds changed. You wondered at who had their tiny cottage perched on the edge of these fjords, and when and how they came to be there. You imagined how they watched the enemy in the war hide their ships. Here we were, sailing down those same fjords in a huge cruise ship, towering over the harbor, and all we surveyed. I think they might have smiled quietly with relief when we departed, and left them with their silent , stunning beauty.
Hearing the bells of Big Ben as you lay in bed has been very special, as has been travelling through the gorgeous English countryside. It is so very green after a wet, and for so many, a very sad summer. As we leave, the foot and mouth outbreak seems to be on the wane, but still a worry.
But now it is time to pack the bags and come home. Hopefully the luggage will come with us; Heathrow is another story altogether. And even after all we have seen, you still realise how special Australia is. We have the droughts and floods and fires, but it is wonderful place to call home. See you soon.

the subject is planes and trains and frustrations

We were waiting in Brussells Eurostar area, for our train back to London. Asked if we could go on an ealier train, we agreed. Apparently there was a problem and our sceduled on was very late. That was the start of a long trip back. There was an electrical problem in the tunnel. some car shuttles were stuck for hours. Fortunately, we were able to use another line, but it was one way only, so it took from 4.00 to 8.00 to make the trip. We were lucky compared to others. It is incredible to see whatever transport you are using , how many people are travelling at any one point of time. Since we left, we have been on 2 planes, approximately 15-20 trains, cars, including the wonderful London cab, 1 ship, and it's tenders,and shuttle buses: every one seems to be full. We are already dreading the trip home, Heathrow is the very worst of airports, straining at every seam. If your luggage arrives on the same flight as you do, you count yourself one of the lucky few. Travel is wonderful and enriching, but the mechanics of it seem to be getting worse by the month. So. when packing for the next trip, do not forget a large packet of patience, humour, and a good book or two. You will need those for check in alone. And check your clothes - easy to get off shoes, no belts(men and women), and no metal trims.

More later

Cologne and back

Just back from a train trip to Cologne or Koln. It is a beautiful city, with the history of the war in your mind, it is interesting and arresting to see areas which were leveled in the war. The cathedral is huge, I was not prepared for the enormity of this gothic construction dating from the 12th C. It was packed when we got there, so revisited it the next morning, and it is beautiful with stunning stained glass. We found a lookout 28 floors up, which gave amazing views of the city. The weather was not brilliant, but it nevertheless showed the stretch of the city along the Rhine. The street scene is the city pedestrian mall. Huge crowds - summer in Europe

We then came back to Brussells for a couple of hours. (Midde photo)Very difficult to navigate yourself around on foot, the signage is dreadful. Eventually found the Grand Market, featuring the historical town hall, and other buildings, the total of which forms a square, and is on the world heritage register. Brussells seems to survive due to the EU, it is not a city on the 'must return to' list.

Nordkapp (North Cape) the very top of Norway and of Europe.

This is a wild wind swept plce - freezing even in summer, and very popular with tourists - the place to be photographed - top of the world - next stop, North Pole.

Here are some photos of Nordkapp for you to enjoy.