Monthly Archives: July 2014
July 29: Arrival in the Netherlands
When we arrived in Amsterdam, we found we were two of only about 280 people stopping the tour after 17 days. That means (if the cruise was fully booked) that about 1000 passengers are continuing for the full 35-day round trip … Continue reading
July 28: Last Day at Sea
Today we are getting ready for a total mind reset. Seventeen days at sea is a long time. An out of time experience with its own daily schedule of activities, pampering, ports of call…. By now, we have explored most … Continue reading
July 27: Stavanger, Norway & Lysefjord
Next morning we awoke to another sunny day, already moored in Stavanger, Norway. We took a beautiful cruise up one of the nearby fjords, the Lysefjord, to view a rock formation called “Pulpit Rock”. The steep fjord walls in one … Continue reading
July 26: Disappointing Edvard Grieg Excursion
In Bergen, I was really looking forward to the excursion to Troldhaugen, Edvard Grieg’s house by a lake. After all, Grieg is one of Norway’s most famous composers and we were promised a concert of his music on location. On … Continue reading
July 26: Bergen, Norway & Tall Ships
Be careful what you wish for, you might get it! When we sailed into Bergen, Norway, one of the rainiest and coolest cities in Europe, the weather was sunny and warm. Besides, they were having a Tall Ships event, many … Continue reading
July 25: At Sea Sailing towards Norway
Today is another day at sea. This morning there was fog, with the steady drone of the ship’s foghorn. Now the fog has lifted to low clouds and it is quiet. The sea is calm. In the morning we went … Continue reading
July 24: Faroe Islands: Where are We?
Early in the morning I got great view of the spectacular north coasts of the Faroe Islands. I also saw we were heading for a fog bank further south. As we dove into the fog and the ship sounded its … Continue reading
July 24: The Beautiful Faroe Islands
Today was my best day yet. The Faroe Islands are one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Although Tórshavn, the capital, remained enshrouded in fog the entire day, luckily, my chosen excursion to the Vestmanna Seacliffs took … Continue reading
July 23: Seyðisfjörður, East Iceland
It was crystal clear and sunny when we entered the harbor of Seyðisfjörður, in East Iceland, this morning. I had signed up for a tour described as a 75-minute bus ride with a hike to a waterfall at the end. … Continue reading
July 22: Akureyri, North Central Iceland
Our port of call, and starting point of our bus tour, was Akureyri, Iceland’s second biggest city of about 18,000. In spite of being on the north coast close to the Arctic Circle, it has a fairly mild climate. Today … Continue reading