September 13: Oslo

 Day 16:  Oslo City Tour - End of the adventure, but......

After spending the night in our four-star hotel and enjoying a complimentary buffet breakfast, we joined Claudia & Gary for the final outing of our British Isles Explorer adventure - a city tour of Oslo.  All the Viking guests enjoying the post-extension met in the lobbby at 9:45 and we divided ourselves into four groups for the four busses.  Our guide. Teresa, was great.  We had about a 40 minute drive through the city as she pointed out various buildings of significance and then we arrived at the Maritime Museum.  Just enough time to wander around on our own before we met in the "Boat Building" room.  Here a Norwegian craftsman was recreating, by hand - using the same ancient tools - a Viking ship.  It is as nearly exact copy of one discovered in the largest archeological find of a Viking boat many years before.  We then were back on the bus to visit the "Statute Park."  Here a sculptor had agreed in 1920 to create statutes of humans representing the circle of life in a large park....and also agreed that the park would be become part of the city of Oslo when he passed away.  So for the next nearly-30 years he created these statutes.  Very interesting.  We ended our final day's outing after asking our guide for a restaurant recommendation and she provided us with the name of the oldest restaurant in Oslo.  Kim "Googled" the directions and led us right there without ever having to ask and be told "Oh you are so close, it's right up here.....you can't miss it!"  Well done honey xxoo.  And again, the weather - so amazing.  It was a crisp 47 degrees when we began the tour and MAYBE it hit 60, maybe.....all under bright blue skies.  We've had a superb time, especially because we enjoyed it with four of our most favorite friends we've ever met.  But we are ready to head home.  Don't be sad for our adventure ending because - you won't believe this - we are headed out on a French River cruise in two weeks!  We'll see you then!  Thanks for joining us virtually :)

The old fortress - once the palace of the king

The Opera House - on the waterfront

The view of the harbor

Welcome to the Maritime Museum

Group photo op - make no mistake, I am the captain :)

The boat builder - replication of an original Viking axe used for building boats

THE original Viking boat - inset: photo when discovered

The "Stature Park"

The central monument - as you circle around the statutes represent humans from young children to elderly adults

The "Circle of Life" Fountain - like the monument, as you circle around the statutes represent various stages of life

The most popular / most photographed statue - "The Angry Boy"

The lunch café

The daily photo op - proof we WERE here!

Essence of Burgundy & Provence River Cruise-Tour

We'll be back traveling soon!

September 12: Bergen to Oslo

 September 12:  Scenic Train Ride - 7 hours!

We were up early, meeting in the ship's living room at 5am for a 5:15am departure to the train station.  A short bus ride brought us to the station and we boarded shortly in the first car behind the engine of the all electric train.  The first hour or two was scenic but it was barely dawn and it was mostly hills & valleys.  Though to be fair, there were numerous waterfalls, but so close to the window they flew past.  The middle two-to-three hours saw us approach the top plateau - at 1500 feet in elevation - and cross the plateau which was covered with snow-topped mountains and at the very top it was actually snowing.  The scenery was every thing it was billed to be!  As we began the gradual descent it was surprising that about ten-to-fifteen minutes past the snow flurries the sun was shining and there was green grass and flowers.  It was a L-O-N-G ride to be sure, but we got our money's worth in scenery.  And from the way we understood it, we also got a bit of a financial break thanks to the Viking staff.  We were apparently supposed to have a train with a café where you purchase food.  But there was an "issue" and we go the "other" train which only had vending machines.  So our Viking staff first, purchased hot drinks for everyone on board and then about eleven-thirty at one of the stops they had ordered ahead box lunches, free of charge.  Not the most delicious of meals but more than enough to tide everyone over.

Reached Oslo a little after 1pm and our guide led us out the station, across a pedestrian bridge to the Radison Hotel that towered into the air.  Our rooms were ready as we walked in where we were greeted by four Viking hospitality hosts at the Viking reception area in the lobby.  Kim and I joined Gary & Claudia shortly there after for a quick bite to eat at a local bar/restaurant then we walked the pedestrian shopping street that was packed with people.  

Enjoy the photos from the day!

September 11: Bergen, Norway

 Day 13-14:  At Sea / Final Cruise Stop - A Snapshot of Bergen
                 - BUT.....not the end of the adventure!

Late Monday we were informed that our stop in the Shetland Islands would be bypassed as a huge storm was on it's way, so we left the Highlands of Scotland and headed directly across the North Sea for our final port, Bergen Norway.  We enjoyed the laid-back "at sea" day despite the high winds and rocky seas.  By 3pm we'd arrived in the first of the fjords of Norway and the weather calmed significantly.  Docked and spent the night.

Today was the final day of the cruise and our excursion into Bergen wasn't until after lunch.  So we had a leisurely first part of the day which included packing our bags for our disembarkation early tomorrow morning - we depart the ship at 5:15am.  BUT......we packed our bags considering we would be spending the next two days in Oslo, Norway before heading home.  And clearly the highlight of this post-extension will be the nearly 7-hour scenic train ride tomorrow through Norway which has been called "The Most Scenic Train Ride In The World!"  Anxious for the photo ops tomorrow.  But first, today's adventure.  Those that had early excursions this morning got absolutely soaked with the rain.  Not unusual here as it rains over 270 days out of the year.  OH MY.  But by 1:30pm when we left we had a few light showers during the four hours, but nothing that disrupted the day.  And for us Florida kids, we were loving the 47 degree weather (knowing it was a feels-like 108 at home!).  We had a short bus ride to the Brygen area, a UNESCO Heritage protected area as this area goes back to the early 1500's where the major industry - run by German merchants - was cod fish.  These multi-color buildings are what you'll see if you Google "Bergen."  What's unique about them is that EACH opens into a "longhouse" of shops and buildings that housed nearly 100 merchants - IN EACH of them.  And everything was made of wood.  All of Bergen - ALL of it has burned down at one point or another since nearly everything was built with wood.  Today fire is still a problem, and the leading cause of fires today - you'll never guess......frozen pizzas!  College kids go drinking, come back and are hungry - put a frozen pizza in the oven and fall asleep :)  After touring this area we got on the bus for about 40 minutes to the outskirts of town, took a short hike into the woods and visited one of the very few original "Stave Churches" left in the world.  All wood - very unique.  Back on the bus to the city center where we boarded a funicular that took us up 1500 feet to the top of the mountain.  The views were spectacular.  Hat a cup of hot chocolate - that was outstanding - and took the funicular back down to the bus and back to the ship.  Had about 15 minutes to change for our farewell dinner.  Hated to say good-bye to our favorite waitress, Manuka, and most especially to our great friends Bob & Pam who head for home tomorrow.  But Gary & Claudia are joining us on the post to Oslo!

Rainy start to our tour

The Brygen waterfront area

Exploring the "longhouse" of one of the Brygen buildings

Hiking the woods to the church

The very unique, all wooden "Stave Church"

The exterior of the church - note the path....this was for worshipers who had leprosy AND pregnant women!  BOTH thought to be "unpure" WOW

Looking thru the door into the "Stave Church"

Gorgeous wood work of the "Stave Church" interior ceiling

The funicular entrance - up the mountain - views from the ride

View from the top of the mountain

Great trip with great friends

Chilly, wet day calls for piping hot chocolate!

The farewell dinner aboard the Viking Neptune