2013 May - Norway
The Kingdom of Norway in Bokmål is "Kongeriket Norge", whilst in Nynorsk it is "Kongeriket Noreg.
First day - 8th May: Manchester to Oslo - We left home at around 09:30 and did Manchester Airport's 'Meet & Greet' (not without difficulty!). Checked in OK but internet site for Norwegian Air needs sorting out - had seats but not Checked-In! Flew to Gardermoen (OSL) and got the Airport Express to Oslo S (Central), then a taxi in rush hour to the Clarion Collection Hotel Savoy, where we had a double room from that night until 10th May. Our deal included breakfast and a free light evening meal in the loft. (Spurs away match at Chelsea was 2:2!).
Day 2 - 9th: We walked to the City Hall and particularly the Tourist Office to find out what was open on this Ascension Thursday - all was - and we caught a City Panoramic tour bus. Took in Vigeland Sculpture Park - the largest sculpture park in the world made by one single artist.
In 1924 the City of Oslo invited Gustav Vigeland to take charge of the architectural layouts and design of the park as a setting for his life work, right in the centre of the larger Frogner Park. Although the first area of the Park – the Bridge – were opened up for the public in 1940.
Containing over 200 sculptures in Granit, Wrought Iron & Bronze made, the rest of the Vigeland Sculptural Arrangement, as it is also called, were not totally completed until 1949....
Then we went to a cloudy 'Holmenkollen', a large ski jumping hill that has been rebuilt 19 times; important upgrades include a stone take-off in 1910, an in-run superstructure in 1914, and a new superstructure in 1928. During the Second World War, the venue was used as a military installation, but upgraded in the late 1940s.
Further expansions were made ahead of the 1966 and 1982 World Championships, as well as in 1991. Between 2008 and 2010, the entire structure was demolished and rebuilt. As of 8 February 2011, the hill record is unofficially held by Anders Jacobsen at 142.5 meters and the official hill record was set at 5 March 2011 by Andreas Kofler at 141 meters.
We went back to the City Hall and toured around that ... quite impressive ... houses the city council, city administration, and art studios and galleries. The construction started in 1931, but was paused by the outbreak of World War II, before the official inauguration in 1950. Its characteristic architecture, artworks and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, held on 10 December, makes it one of Oslo's most famous buildings.
It was designed by Arnstein Arneberg and Magnus Poulsson. The roof of the eastern tower has a 49-bell carillon which plays every hour. It is situated in Pipervika in central downtown Oslo. The area was completely renovated and rebuilt to make room for the new city hall, back in the late 1920s. In June 2005 it was named Oslo's "Structure of the Century".
We then walked / caught the 31 bus to the Botanical Gardens .. had a drink and a cake in cafe and checked out the Palm House and Victorian House. Back via a tram (17) and got off too soon ... walked up to the National Gallery (or the Nasjonalgalleriet) to see the Pre-Renaissance and the Edvard Munch (Expressionist) Galleries. Saw one of the paintings of 'The Scream'.
Then back to the hotel and an earlyish dinner. Talked to some pleasant Swedes at the 'central table'.
Day 3 - 10th May: We flew Norwegian Air from Oslo to Kirkenes. Remember the sick woman on the plane! But we got the bus and picked up the M.S. Finmarken.
We got cabin 506 with an outside view (Deck 5) including Full Board. At dinner we met Robyn and Tim Russano for the first time. Robyn was a retired solicitor and 82 years old (missing Rosemary, his wife who had died about 7 years prior); and Tim, who presumably was retired but claimed to be editor of some airport journal - he was living in Edinburgh, (and missing his wife, Margaret, who had died two years or so ago).
Day 4 - 11th May: Breakfast at Nord Cape meant we had to get up early ... Margaret got me an Amazon birthday card and although I thought it 06:15 it was 6 o'clock apparently, so we got on the coach, at the dock in the town of Honningsvåg, with five minutes to spare. Harry was the driver and Frank the guide. We drove to Nordkapp - a cape on the northern coast of the island of Magerøya in Northern Norway.
The cape (although an adjoining one looked further out to me) was atop of a 1,000 feet high cliff with a large, flat plateau on top with views of the Barents Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean. We took photos of the place and walked around - got s photo taken of us at the globe. Then we retreated from the cold into the newish visitor centre (built in 1988) that gives panoramic views from the cafe, where we had breakfast and saw an Arctic hare. The construction had a post office and souvenir shop, in it. We briefly looked at the (tatty) souvenirs after we had watched a great movie in their cinema.
The North Cape is reached by the European route E69 highway through the North Cape Tunnel, an undersea tunnel connecting the island of Magerøya to the mainland. The EuroVelo bicycle route EV1 runs from North Cape to Sagres, Portugal — a 5,093 mile distance by land and sea. The North Cape got its name courtesy of an Englishman Captain Steven Borough, of the Edward Bonaventure, which sailed past in 1553 in search of the Northeast Passage. In 1943, the Battle of North Cape was fought in the Arctic Ocean off this cape, where the 'Scharnhorst' was eventually sunk by gunfire from the 'Duke of York' and torpedoes from Norwegian Navy destroyer HNoMS 'Stord', and other ships of the British Navy.
On the way back we stopped off to see Neil - a Sami complete with National Dress and a Reindeer.
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Not to mention his wife in similar garb in the souvenir shop! Then we had a longish journey past rebounding slate fields, reindeer herds and broken by a coffee in a local hostelry. We then past a sea eagle languidly flying overhead. We rejoined the ship at Hammerfest.
We had lunch and let the afternoon slip away gently as we sunbathed (well wrapped up!) on deck. We met Robyn and Tim for dinner at 7pm but the table numbering threw us .... 507 we thought was mis-labelled (we were 506), but it turned out that was the Rossano's cabin, and the number '214' was the one that was wrong!
Day 4:- Through the Lofoten Islands ... Just north of the Trollfjord I transferred to a RIB while the vessel was still underway! The M/S Finnmarken only entered Trollfjord and turned around and motored out!
Only metres to spare each side - pretty impressive though a Search & Rescue boat stood by!
The stars were the beautiful, rare birds of prey – the Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) - circle the boat a few times, and then drop down for the fish into the sea - thought the gulls were pretty impressive!
Day 5: - Up at 08:30 for breakfast and then Deck 8 for the Observation Room during the morning. Certainly until lunch although I had some time on deck outside as we glided carefully through the Straits of Risøysundet - a strait between the islands of Andøya and Hinnøya in the Vesterålen archipelago - located in the municipality of Andøy (in Nordland county) this 15 mile-long strait has only one road crossing - the Andøy Bridge - and the strait flows between the Gavlfjorden / Sortlandssundet (Southwest) and the Andfjorden (Northeast).
In 1922 a 2.8 mile long channel was dredged to allow the Hurtigruten ships to pass. We had a lazy late part of the morning on bow sunbathing until it was time to have cod liver oil to celebrate the passing of the Arctic Circle on our way south.
Luckily we got to keep the spoon! Coffee needed after that though, to take away the taste. We had lunch then we sunbathed all afternoon, then had dinner.
Day 6: - Another lazy day ... breakfast, sunbathe, lunch, sunbathe then dinner ... Gosh, it's a hard life!
Day 7: - Like Day 6 although Margaret told me that it got rough at about 3am!
Day 8:- 15th May - Up, packed - left bags near the lift and had breakfast. Deck 8 for Observation and I walked the deck. Had lunch and disembarked. We stayed in the Augustin Hotel, Bergen in a double room including a breakfast.
We walked (in the rain) and caught the Fløibanen - a funicular in Bergen, which runs up the mountain of Fløyen.
The cars and machinery were last totally renewed in September–November 2002. Each car is named and individually painted - Blåmann is blue, whilst Rødhette, (equivalent to Little Red Riding Hood in English), is red.
For the evening meal we went to the Enhjørningen Restaurant (at the Sign of the Unicorn) on Bryggen, Bergen`s traditional wharf.
Dating from the early Middle Ages, the whole building has been reverently restored to its condition in the 18th century, when it was occupied by a Hanseatic merchant who used this deep, narrow building as both business and living quarters, and for storage - a Norwegian fish restaurant of unique character.
We had halibut and I started with their mussels. Margaret had a superb crème brûlée dessert. We had walked there and back, past the fish market which seemed staggering for choice and freshness.
Day 9 - 16th May. We travel from Bergen to Oslo today. Up and walked up to the train station - though it seemed to be a long way it was the way I took us! Then we did it for real with the suitcases and it was easy. Had a coffee in the station waiting for the train and then caught it to Oslo - from 11:58 to 19:05 (Komfort Class) - a long, but stunning journey - climbing up to pass snow covered skiing areas and descending near river torrents.
Got in the Clarion Savoy hotel to enjoy a meal in the loft and then turn in for the night, in our double room luxury suite! (5th Floor!).
17th May Oslo - We spent most of the day watching the Constitution Day parade and walked miles.
Then went to look around the Opera House.
On the way back, Margaret giving me stick for taking us way out of our way at the finish but we had plenty of time to Manchester - set off at 19:00 and landed at 20:10 - got home about 10:30 pm - all well.
