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Published: June 18th 2022
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Hello all
Excuse the delay. Have been too busy cruising to update
?
The generator problems have not caused any other of our stops/itinerary to change at all. Ins & outs to all three stops since starting - Skjolden, Olden, Trondheim - were all to published times of in at 8am, out at 4pm. We pushed off on time on all 3 so I'm guessing we had no latecomers holding up departure. And arrival, after yesterday's at sea day, into Honningsvåg is happening on time at this moment.
Breakfast arrived to our cabin on Tuesday as booked, around 6.45am, slap in the middle of the chosen slot. All was fine with it. It was worth getting up early to watch the fjord pass by whilst breakfasting on our balcony.
Monday nighy I left my phone on to charge without switching it off or setting to airplane mode/data roaming off. In the morning I noticed that I had had 3 messages from my mobile provider. The first told me that they had detected that I was accessing via a ship's WiFi link, and listing what various activities would cost. There were 2 other messages telling me I had incurred
costs of ~£5 and ~£9. Oh well, a learning point - remember to engage airplane mode/switch off overnight. We had clearly moved far enough off shore from phone signal!
Wednesday was Olden. Slightly bigger that Skjolden - 500 people - and with a small "shopping centre" for those so inclined.
We World Market breakfasted this morning, early, ~ 6.50. We still continue to be impressed by the available range. We seem to keep finding things we haven't noticed before eg grits (sorry, urgh) and "biscuits with gravy" which to us brits looks like scones with a white sauce ?. Each to their own.
Again, no trips away for us - we are only doing 2 "tours" on the cruise - to the Northern Cape, and the Lofoten Islands.
First walk around 2 miles through and beyond the village for a couple of miles to the "new church". Then after an ice cream stop another 2 miles northwards, half way towards Loen. Around 6 caches some during the walks.
On the way back to village centre we side tracked to the Singer home. American William Singer was an heir to the Singer fortune, and a painter.
He fell in love with Norway, particularly for the fishing - one for Will Millard there - and set up home in Olden. He was a generous benefactor in the area.
On our walk around we twice came across another couple from the boat. During conversation Pip became increasingly less impressed to find that he came from Kidderminster and had a passing knowledge of a certain Robert Plant but was quite dismissive of him. He - the boat man, not Robert - also did beagling (hunting with dogs) and had no time for "left wing wokes".
Hope we don't get to share a table with him.
On a better note Pip was fascinated to find that the lady in the couple, through links via her sister, was able to reel off a list of names from Pip's time at Kidderminster High School.
Weather looked a bit drizzly at first but we were soon dropping layers. The boat was berthed just north of town centre so in passing through after the church walk we dropped into our cabin to leave some clothing behind.
On the walk towards Loen we went around half way, until we could
sit and look across an arm of the fjord towards the Loen Skylift. Don't know what it is actually like at the top, and I think there are some nice walks and treks up there, BUT it's £50! And it doesn't go very high, probably no higher than the Heights of Abraham in Derbyshire.
And they want £50!!
When we had finished walking Wednesday we had done 8 miles, again. We had a soak, therefore, in one of the hot tubs above the Retreat Pool - we are on deck 17 just outside the Retreat Pool, with the level above having 2 hot tubs. A Medallion order for 2 glasses of Prosecco for delivery to us in the tub was delivered in a couple of minutes. The tub was very warm, almost too much so, but a dip in the Retreat Pool afterwards was refreshing. That pool temperature was very pleasant - more comfortable than the pools we had in holidays earlier this year in Lanzarote and Egypt - and refreshing after the heat of the hot tub.
We gave Alfredo's Pizzaria a try on Wednesday. Just turned up and were shown in. The pizzas we had
were very nice indeed. Tasty, nice crispy edging. There is an outside eating area but not in use at the moment given the weather. A shame about Alfredo's is the lack of window tables, not helped by having a couple of waiter tables occupying space next to the window.
Thursday was Trondheim, one of the few large places visited on this cruise. Off at around 8.30am after World Market breakfast. Did a lot of Geocaching, and put in another 9 miles. Went to the major city centre sights - cathedral, Archbishops Palace, (but didn't pay for entry), Old Town Bridge, Bike Lift (broken, not working), Bakklandet... and a little bit of shopping, real and window.
The Nidaros cathedral was built in 1300 over the burial site of King Olav II who became the country's patron Saint. It is the world's most northerly medieval cathedral. Historically it is the site of the coronations of the Kings of Norway.
The Archbishops Palace, where the archbishops lived in medieval times, is one of the best preserved in Europe. It houses the country's Crown Jewels, such as they are - only around 6 pieces in total.
Stuff is expensive here.
Coffee, hot chocolate, and a fresh from the oven hot cinnamon bun cost us ~£13 in a very nice bakers/cafe which had 1/2 baguettes on sale at £12 to £15.
And some specialised outdoor clothing shops - but trekking trousers at £250, lightweight t-shirt at £80, waterproof coat at £300 anyone?? But they are very nice, and some glorious NON-UK colours.
Our first on board Swirls ice cream when we got back on board hit a refreshing spot.
On Thursday night we went to the Tom Binns late night R rated show, where he played his alta ego Ivan Brackenbury, the (inappropriate) Hospital DJ. The act is a very clever mix of Tom/Ivan commenting and making dedications to patients with various ailments interspersed with musical outtakes. Well worth catching on YouTube. Talk about a laugh a minute.
Overnight on Thursday we crossed the Arctic Circle at about 4am - and we now have a certificate to prove it, delivered to our room yesterday.
We are now truly in the Land Of The Midnight Sun, which will not set for around 5 days. It was very strange last night seeing the sunlight streaming into our cabin
from a cloud free sky at midnight.
Friday was an at-sea day, with no port stop. We did a morning's Trivia Quiz getting 19 from 38, somewhere in the top 1/3 of teams. 5 more points were needlessly missed but that wouldn't have got us to the winning line of 31 points.
When that had finished next up in the location was bingo. Stay or go? Higher or lower?
We have some dignity..... and made our retreat.
In the afternoon we went to Afternoon Tea. It was very pleasant, but each of us only had a small bread/side plate onto which they put, by silver service, the 2 scones, sandwiches, cream and jam and cakes! (notice that I put the cream before the jam in that sentence) .
Friday was also the 2nd Formal Night. Time for the glad rags again.
We had a speciality restaurant booking, in the steak bar that evening.
After the cream tea and a full steak dinner we retired, sun still shining, somewhat stuffed.
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