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Published: October 29th 2009
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Originally named Nidaros because it lay at the mouth of the Nid River,Trondheim is the 3rd largest city in Norway, established by the Viking King Olav in 997. He brought Christianity to Norway in 1024.. Apparently he was buried and on being exhumed after a certain number of years his body showed no signs of deterioration. He was canonized in 1164.
The Nidaros Cathedral, built on his grave, was begun in 1070 and finished in 1150. It has suffered numerous fires and only a small part of the original building remain. The massive front facade depicting revered personages and saints is no longer used as the main entrance. Coming in from the side three alters can be seen. Organ concerts are held in the cathedral on Saturdays. There are many,many chairs. I asked one of the men who was putting away the concert chairs if the seats before the main alter are filled.
"Yes," he said, "and during special holidays, the whole church is full". It is a massive place and the Bishops seat of Norway I think...have to check that.
My independent wander of Trondheim was a success because I had an extra hour to walk about and
the company of two pleasant ladies from the ship who kindly waited for me while I stopped ... a lot ... to take pictures.
While the ship sailed south there was another three hour stop at Tondheim.This time I found my way to the post office. It was situated in a grocery store and that grocery store was part of a 'mall' which was housed in the hundred year old dock yard buildings. And very cleverly put together is the whole complex. Canopies of steel framed windows connect the more than six brick buildings.
This place was quite a discovery. The "Janitor" ... his name for himself ... told me that the ships had come right up the canal to deliver goods in the late 1800. Now it looks a dirty ditch. The bridge going to it, past a huge Rica Hotel is apparently covered on both sides with flowers. Once again because it is "off" season the flowers are gone and only people rushing to work clomped over the steel expanse.
Sent home the knitting patterns I bought in Bergen and the stitchery kit bought in Sandnessjoen, a stop on the tenth day of the journey.
The short cut back to the ship led thru a parking place for long distance haulers attached to trailers holding containers. On particularly hansome Scania had to be pictured.
Enjoyed the old brick of the warehouses and the incorporation of glass overhangs and rooves to bring it all together into one huge shopping plaza...mall...centre. Had to keep looking at my watch so as not to miss the ship.
On the way back I bumped into Lief Erikson. The Americans of Norwegian Ancestry donated a replica of the statue, originally seen at the Seattle Worlds Fair, to commemorate the 1000 year founding of Trondheim and the fact that Lief sailed from here to Vinland (New England Coast), not wine growing area but fields and meadows for grasses and hay.
By the end of this journey sitting at table has become a chore ... am looking forward to a can of sardines and a bun ... clothes stilll fit ... thank goodness!
Reached the ship in good time and it continued on towards Bergen and the end of "The Worlds Most Beautiful Journey".
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