Blogs from Ålesund, Western Norway, Norway, Europe

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Europe » Norway » Western Norway » Ålesund July 21st 2023

Relatively good nights sleep considering we were rocked to sleep by the ships motion while in the open sea. Shower was fun - got wet when the shower head rolled with the waves. Was hot and strong so no real issues. We got out of the open waters and into some protected areas which was much nicer. Lots of people sleeping in lounges or on deck in protected spaces to avoid sea sickness. I didn’t think it was that bad. Even Stephanie survived. I did an early breakfast just after they opened at 0700. Not many people around. When Stephanie surfaced I went back to keep her company. Much busier now with people climbing over others to get to food. No fun there. Quiet day of sailing today. The only excursion today was 7.5 hours in ... read more
Lighthouse that guards this fjord
Interesting architecture
Part of the huge fishing fleet

Europe » Norway » Western Norway » Ålesund February 28th 2023

So we set off from Bergen at 8pm and during the night we stopped at Floro and Maloy which if I had not been told I would never have guessed as it was so smooth. I did not have a bad night’s sleep in Cell Block H on the day bed as our room only has one single bed and as Mike is getting on haha I thought the better of things and let him sleep in the bed (one in the bank for me then). Anyway, I was told that I should get up early as we will be stopping at a little place called Torvik and it is beautiful - dutifully I did this and if I am honest and truthful I could have had a bit more sleep as it might be beautiful ... read more

Europe » Norway » Western Norway » Ålesund July 27th 2022

Still rainy today, but it came and went in spurts and was mostly just a light mist so that’s ok. I started off by going down to the water in Sjoholt (finally no low cloud/fog cover). Not too far into town there’s also this quirky forest statue park (Elvastien) that I’m really glad I found - their facial expressions are top notch. Also saw a bunch of people (successfully) fishing along the river in the forest - they were walking away with some real big ones! I drove back to the Moa mall (free parking!) and took the bus into the city and am so glad I did lol - it’s San Fran-esque in terms of very hilly and steep roads all over… but also narrow of course. I’m glad I didn’t have to manoeuvre today ... read more
Sjoholt
Overlooking Alesund
So many cool statues and art nouveau /deco things

Europe » Norway » Western Norway » Ålesund July 26th 2022

It rained all day today and it was a proper steady/heavy rain so decided to mostly just have a lazy mall day today. I did however drive up to Alnes to drive a bit along the coast and to see the lighthouse. Lol driving in the rain, high winds, next level mist - I was soaked through and through lol but it was a cool eerie feeling to see the clouds so low. I grabbed some cake at the cafe in Alnes and headed back towards Moa for the mall. Like I said, just kind of wandered around - people watching, seeing what their stores are like, etc. They had a Vinmonopolet which is like our LCBO - oof the prices here lol - just like everything else I guess. I did get one craft beer ... read more
Misty mountains
Love how the water is still vibrant in the haze
Alnes lighthouse

Europe » Norway » Western Norway » Ålesund February 23rd 2020

Our ship left Bergen last night at 9.30pm and we sailed through the night, stopping at several small ports along the way including Floro, Maloy and Torvik (these were just 10minute stops to drop off/pick up supplies).Waking up this morning, there was a fair bit of motion and we didn't rush getting out of bed. We hadn't been on a ship since our cruise of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in 2018, so I'd forgotten the feeling and needed to get my sea legs. Our package included all meals in the Torget Norway Coastal Kitchen, and there was so much to choose from at the buffet. I'm not ashamed to say I had three breakfasts (and will probably eat as much for lunch and dinner too if the breakfast selection is anything to go by). Feel free ... read more
Trying to get that perfect photo
What a view - Mount Aksla
Feeling on top of the world - Mount Aksla

Europe » Norway » Western Norway » Ålesund July 18th 2019

Getting close to the Arctic Circle in the summer can only mean one thing (for me) - getting up at 3.15am for the sunrise! Hooray! I peered out of the porthole above my pillow and could see a sliver of pink between the mid blue of the sea and sky. It had been a bit dim last night, but not properly dark. Glyn wasn’t so keen at leaving a warm bed to stand on a windy deck, but as always, I knew better. We climbed up the many stairs of the silent ship, passing occasional staff cleaning pictures and other important jobs that can’t wait for a decent hour to be done. Like the majority of the ship, the front of Deck 10 was empty except for the sun loungers we’d dragged across yesterday. We were ... read more
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Europe » Norway » Western Norway » Ålesund August 2nd 2018

We needed to set an alarm to ensure that we’re able to make it to the Showroom by 7:20AM for our tour assembly. We slept all that we could before making it to the Lido. There it was all too apparent that we are still in a “Code Red” situation. This is no way to start a cruise, especially a longer cruise. We’d heard that the crew would be doing another complete scrub down today, just as they had done our first day in Reykjavik. There were crewmen at each sanitation station and at the handwashing machine to make sure that people used them. I was a bit surprised going out to the pool deck to see that the place settings were once again on those tables, all wrapped in the orange cloth napkins. There were ... read more
View of Church along the fjord from the bus
View from bus along fjord
View from bus along fjord

Europe » Norway » Western Norway » Ålesund July 29th 2018

More fjords! And after weeks of cold weather, I managed to end up in Bergen on their hottest day - ever. Was a great scenic drive back up to my last stop in Norway, Alesund, a cute city well known for its architecture (it was rebuilt after a fire in 1904, so most of the main city is in the same Art Nouveau style). I'm reallllllly going to miss this beautiful country.... read more
Hardangerfjord
Cute little town called Odda
Odda

Europe » Norway » Western Norway » Ålesund July 4th 2018

We made it to Runde Island, home of Puffins. The trip required two buses and a high speed ferry. BTW, have you ever been on a boat with seat belts. Neither have we, until today. Yes, there were actual seat belts on the boat. No, we didn't use them. The entire trip took a shade under two hours before we boarded the Good Ship Kunde. The captain soon inquired, "does anyone want life jackets?" What? And two people accepted! Bird, recalling the Pulpit Rock, eyed HP, "you did it again". The trip out not so bad as we had a following sea-the return, well that's another story. One couple became entirely soaked (yet remained in place with the sea flowing upon them), and everyone acquired varying amounts of salt water. Yet, it could have been worse, ... read more
The Sea Voyage Begins
First Stop
Not a MARTA Bridge

Europe » Norway » Western Norway » Ålesund July 4th 2018

Today we are in Alesund along ith the Queen Elizbeth, The Crystal Serenity, Mein Schiff, and the Aida. Needless to say theport was like Ellis Island in the 1890's. We arranged a private tour through the ship. I have reached a stage in life where I just can't stand a bus tour. So Our guide Susan and our drive Leyla met us at the gate to the dock. Its the women in charge to day. We had a lovely new Mercedes to ride in, Dennis's seat was even heated. We decided today we would take the Troll Road and go to the Troll "Wall". It is a long trip. We didn't believe that it would take 8 hours but it did. But the scenery on the way there was beautiful. You go through soaring peaks surrounding ... read more
OLE BULL'S HOUSE (OUTSIDE OF BERGEN)




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