Awake early as the ship docks at 0730. Didn’t bother with breakfast. Way too early. Woke to rain and lots of bumpy waves. Took forever to dock as the winds were blowing that hard that the Captain had to work really hard to get alongside. Watching the guys on the dock waiting to catch the mooring ropes you could see their eyes each time they got close only to be blown away again. Finally secured and waiting for the gangway to be connected before we head off. Out into the dirty weather and into a cab. Driver didn’t have a clue where to go until I showed him the address. Google maps to the rescue. Got to the car rental place. Had our reservation but then there was a problem. Something about vouchers. Asked if we ... read more

Bergen beckons. Another slow morning while we can before we hit the roads again in Denmark and Sweden. Wandered off through streets we hadn’t seen before. Noticed yesterday that there were a lot of black t shirted people around. We have a heavy metal pub near our hotel and it was buzzing last night with some very old hard rockers. Again this arvo it had quite a few sitting outside while the music pumped inside. Found out soon there was a heavy metal festival on in Bergen from 2/8 to 5/8 (today). Explains all the black t shirts I guess - and long hair and tatts…… Our wanderings took us up some very steep streets and eventually to a cathedral. There was a festival on (kids this time - no black t shirts here). Then down ... read more

On the train today heading firstly to Myrdal (on the line to Bergen) where we change trains to Flam. The Flam train is a very popular scenic train trip into the township of Flam where we stay overnight before continuing by ferry, bus and train into Bergen on Friday. Some of the scenery along this first part of the trip has been stunning. Lots of lakes and rivers following the train line - or is that the other way. Train following the rivers etc. Very busy train with comfy seats and lots of room around you to stretch out. Quite a few stops along the way but it has moved pretty well. At one stage it was showing the temp was 29 C. Has now fallen to 17 C. Geilo was a small stop before Myrdal, ... read more

Nothing planned for today so a late breakfast. Chris decided on having a lazy day so I went out solo after breakfast. Wandered up the main shopping street opposite our room. Ended up at the Royal Palace. An impressive building at the top of a hill. They have soldiers guarding the entrances. Their hats have what looks like a black straw plume on one side of their hats. They stand there and turn their heads to either side with this plume dancing in the wind. Would be very annoying and a distraction if anything really active were to happen. Then they take off and march up and down their line. Very pompous but also impressive. Lots of gun saluting, resting and shouldering arms. Wandered around the back. Very pretty Queen’s garden there and at the very ... read more

To Tallinn. Our 4th country so far unless you include transit stops then 6th country. Tallinn is the capital of Estonia. It is just a stones throw from St Petersburg (in Russia). Again, close but not interested in crossing the border. We got to the ferry terminal to see masses of people leaving the ship. They turn them around very quickly. Tickets done and into the waiting area with lots and lots of others. Suitcases, dogs, kids etc. Our turn and on we get. Where to go. No idea. End up at the pointy end 1 level down from the bridge. Can see the skipper getting ready to go and right on time we slip away from the dock. Giant u turn then head out through the many little islands towards Tallinn. Breeze picks up - ... read more