This morning we are in Alesund, Norway. It is cool this morning and a little misty, but overall a nice day.
Our port adventure takes us to the small village community Stordal, renowned for its furniture, where you can visit the remarkable Rose Church from 1789.
With its unique Baroque and Renaissance adornments on both walls, ceiling and pillars it is a church like no other. Many of the lovely artifacts date back to the old stave church that was situated at the area in The Middle Ages, amongst other a font and a crucifix. The church is part of a charming village yard with four beautiful old buildings. Around the church you'll find an old vicarage from 1850, a house from 1750, used for storing food, and the farmhouse "Løsetstova" from the 1790s.
The detail inside the church
Pete and Faith in the upstairs level of the church
The old farmhouse outside the church.
The strawberries growing in the fields
Next stop is Trollstigen. Unfortunately it is rainy, misty and you cannot see down to the roadway where we will be descending on our bus. However, I do have time for a Norwegian waffle with strawberry jam and sour cream!
The drive along Trollstigen is undoubtedly more dramatic than most people are used to, but what is special about Norway is that people live just about everywhere. Even on the narrowest mountain ledge there will be a house. The eleven hairpin turns of Trollstigen are pretty nail biting, but breathtakingly beautiful. It is unfortunate that the clouds are so low today and you can't get the full effect of the valley below and the waterfalls.
We stop in the Valley of the Trolls and I actually get a picture with one! LOL. Also this is our lunch stop, food in Norway can be expensive. I paid about $20 for a hamburger and fries and for that price they should have tasted spectacular, but the hamburger was just a run of the mill hamburger....
We then head our way back into town for the long bus ride. This is a 7-8 hour tour today and while it is long, sitting on a bus, just getting in and out occasionally for pictures and to eat, it is totally worth it. The scenery is just incredible.
After we return to the ship it is time for sailaway. Today is the summer solstice in Norway so all the villages have bonfires to celebrate. As we sail along the fjord, you can see many bonfires, but they are hard to pick up on the camera from the ship. You can kinda see the smoke in some of the pictures.
Bon fire is right at the shoreline in about the middle of the picture
This really isn't a bonfire on the top of the mountain, but my tablemates and I have a bet on as to whether anyone can figure out this bonfire picture:
Smoke from the bonfire:
Tonight in the Walt Disney Theater, it is Walt Disney: The Dream Goes On. Absolutely love this show and that the history of Walt Disney is included in the cruise.
Next it is off to dinner. We get a huge basket of banana bread tonight and then for a special treat we get coconut shrimp with a fantastic dip. I have to save, I indulged more than anyone else at the table in the coconut shrimp.
Oh, and a strawberry shortcake sundae for dessert.
After dinner, head back to the stateroom to do a little computer work because Commodore Tom has told us that once we are in the Geiranger Fjord tomorrow, we will not have ship internet access (however there is free internet from the visitors center in Geiranger).
Goodnight from the Disney Magic! Will try to post from Geiranger tomorrow while in port.
Our port adventure takes us to the small village community Stordal, renowned for its furniture, where you can visit the remarkable Rose Church from 1789.
With its unique Baroque and Renaissance adornments on both walls, ceiling and pillars it is a church like no other. Many of the lovely artifacts date back to the old stave church that was situated at the area in The Middle Ages, amongst other a font and a crucifix. The church is part of a charming village yard with four beautiful old buildings. Around the church you'll find an old vicarage from 1850, a house from 1750, used for storing food, and the farmhouse "Løsetstova" from the 1790s.
I thought the grave markers made of metal were quite interesting.
The detail inside the church
Pete and Faith in the upstairs level of the church
The old farmhouse outside the church.
The strawberries growing in the fields
Next stop is the viewing point at Gudbrandsjuvet
gorge which is beautifully located in the Valldalen valley, the river and the gorge. Over time, the Valldøla River has cut large potholes and intricate
formations
into the rock. The viewing platform is shaped
like a garland in the terrain, leading down to to the very edge of the foaming
river. It is a great stop for unbelievable pictures.
Next stop is Trollstigen. Unfortunately it is rainy, misty and you cannot see down to the roadway where we will be descending on our bus. However, I do have time for a Norwegian waffle with strawberry jam and sour cream!
The drive along Trollstigen is undoubtedly more dramatic than most people are used to, but what is special about Norway is that people live just about everywhere. Even on the narrowest mountain ledge there will be a house. The eleven hairpin turns of Trollstigen are pretty nail biting, but breathtakingly beautiful. It is unfortunate that the clouds are so low today and you can't get the full effect of the valley below and the waterfalls.
We stop in the Valley of the Trolls and I actually get a picture with one! LOL. Also this is our lunch stop, food in Norway can be expensive. I paid about $20 for a hamburger and fries and for that price they should have tasted spectacular, but the hamburger was just a run of the mill hamburger....
We then head our way back into town for the long bus ride. This is a 7-8 hour tour today and while it is long, sitting on a bus, just getting in and out occasionally for pictures and to eat, it is totally worth it. The scenery is just incredible.
After we return to the ship it is time for sailaway. Today is the summer solstice in Norway so all the villages have bonfires to celebrate. As we sail along the fjord, you can see many bonfires, but they are hard to pick up on the camera from the ship. You can kinda see the smoke in some of the pictures.
Bon fire is right at the shoreline in about the middle of the picture
This really isn't a bonfire on the top of the mountain, but my tablemates and I have a bet on as to whether anyone can figure out this bonfire picture:
Smoke from the bonfire:
Tonight in the Walt Disney Theater, it is Walt Disney: The Dream Goes On. Absolutely love this show and that the history of Walt Disney is included in the cruise.
Next it is off to dinner. We get a huge basket of banana bread tonight and then for a special treat we get coconut shrimp with a fantastic dip. I have to save, I indulged more than anyone else at the table in the coconut shrimp.
Oh, and a strawberry shortcake sundae for dessert.
After dinner, head back to the stateroom to do a little computer work because Commodore Tom has told us that once we are in the Geiranger Fjord tomorrow, we will not have ship internet access (however there is free internet from the visitors center in Geiranger).
Goodnight from the Disney Magic! Will try to post from Geiranger tomorrow while in port.
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