Almost live Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes, July 28th 2023

[SJD117]

12 minutes ago, duquephart said:

 

Isn't it a naval forces thing? Sounds like Viking getting a little hokey. I suppose a free nip of aquavit made it worthwhile. Is the certificate "suitable for framing?"

Relax — it was an enjoyable experience.

[duquephart]

4 minutes ago, SJD117 said:

Relax — it was an enjoyable experience.

 

Did not suggest otherwise. Just seems a bit contrived.

[duquephart]

2 hours ago, LindaS272 said:

Yes, we know what the Blue Nose ceremony is. But others of us who have been on a similar itinerary from Iceland to Faroes & vice versa did not experience it.

 

Maybe they were out of aquavit, or blue paste, or ice water, on your sailing 🙂.

[WanderingBrit]

30 minutes ago, duquephart said:

 

Isn't it a naval forces thing? Sounds like Viking getting a little hokey. I suppose a free nip of aquavit made it worthwhile. Is the certificate "suitable for framing?"

We’re going to frame ours 😎

[WanderingBrit]

The afternoon included excursion was actually quite good. Bus drive to 4 different vantage points, about 2 hours, no rest room facilities. When docked at a pier we like to walk around on our own in the morning, and then have the latest excursion possible in the afternoon.

 

For a place that gets 300 days of rain each year, we really lucked out!

 

 

[WanderingBrit]

Sun shines on our sail away from Torshavn, and we decided to crack open the included bubbly!

 

 

[coachma]

1 hour ago, WanderingBrit said:

The afternoon included excursion was actually quite good. Bus drive to 4 different vantage points, about 2 hours, no rest room facilities. When docked at a pier we like to walk around on our own in the morning, and then have the latest excursion possible in the afternoon.

 

For a place that gets 300 days of rain each year, we really lucked out!

Stunning photos!!

[WanderingBrit]

It’s a sea day, so not much to report. Here’s a nice wake sunset though 

[Azulann]

3 hours ago, WanderingBrit said:

It’s a sea day, so not much to report. Here’s a nice wake sunset though 

I never get tired of looking at the wake ! Beautiful, serene , and mesmerizing 💕

[WanderingBrit]

Oh hey Geiranger

 

[WanderingBrit]

AIDA Perla docked after us, and disgorged her 4,350 passengers swamping this tiny tourist village.

 

 There’s very little to see in the “town” itself beyond souvenir shops; mainly this is an excursion hub.

 

We chose an afternoon excursion to a dairy goat farm, and it was excellent. An absolutely charming couple welcomed us into their farm home, and walked us through the history and current practice of dairy goats, with delicious samples!

Tender ride ashore

Perla got the floating dock

 

Photo stop to look both ways along the Fjord

 

Our hosts

 

Explaining Brown Cheese

 

 

Photo stop on the way back

 

There was a WC at the farm, and another at the lake photo stop on the way back.

Edited August 5, 2023 by WanderingBrit

[janetcbl]

There is the Norse Fjordsenter, which is an information center with interactive stations, exhibitions. It is up the hill from the center of town.

[duquephart]

Gjetost.

[photopro2]

15 hours ago, duquephart said:

Gjetost.

Bless you! 😄

[WanderingBrit]

On reflection I would not pick our 7 hour excursion to Mt Stranda and Troll Brewery again. Alesund looks like a cute twin, and the Architecture tour by foot might have been a better choice.

 

We got to ride two ferries, but the cable car to the top of Mt Stranda was nothing but fog. The brewery and tasting was fine, but nothing really destination specific about it. So much time in a bus …

 

[WanderingBrit]

Out of sequence post: sail away from Geiranger last night was special. We made barely 3 or 4 knots so we had plenty of time to soak in the views. A live video feed played on the pool deck big screen so you could continue admiring the views if you were too cold. Then a dance party under the stars, on the pool deck!

 

[WanderingBrit]

Our Train and Mountain Bike excursion in Flåm was something we’d been looking forward to, and it’s raining . Let’s see how this goes!

Cloudy as we sail in

 

But raining by the time we tender ashore. There’s a dedicated boarding line for Viking passengers.

 

Our excursion group has a reserved carriage - nicely done 😎

 

[WanderingBrit]

We simply hadn’t packed for a 90 minute downhill bike ride in the rain. Unlike many in our group we had no rain pants, and it was a chilly 45F so we rode the train back down to Flåm again. Oh well, such is life.

Grabbed a few shots through the train window

 

The photo stop for waterfall 

As I’m typing this, every device in the room erupts with an emergency broadcast.

 

[WanderingBrit]

Sailing out of Flåm was crazy picturesque, and wet. Dining to the side of the Aquavit bar was a scenic location, and allowed for fun banter with the wait staff.
 

I’d mentioned to Executive Chef Alistair, a fellow Brit, that I loved Rum & Raisin ice cream but seldom found it in the U.S. He stopped by to let me know that they’d made a batch and it was available on request at the Gelato station; it is divine. I was delighted to see others on board having a chance to enjoy it too!

 

Can’t take a bad picture here. Nieuw Statendam leaves first, allowing us to set a more leisurely pace.

 

From our dinner table

 

Views leaving Flåm

 

[WanderingBrit]

Bergen builds on the rains of Flåm and adds 30mph+ winds. We’re choosing to forfeit our eBike tour today, we don’t come on holiday to be cold, wet, and miserable!

 

 

Shore power hookup

[WanderingBrit]

Bergen looks to be a charming town, but nowhere is especially nice in high wind and rain. We walked around a bit until thoroughly cold and wet, then headed back to Jupiter.

 

We then had to wait for an hour in the terminal area because of something to do with the gangway. Soaked and cold, it was not the high point of the trip.

Charming cottages

 

Very old wooden buildings 

 

Many old buildings are decidedly wonky - it’s a technical term

 

A group learning about bandstands, or just trying to take shelter.

 

Some other random areas that would be nicer in dry conditions 

[duquephart]

In Bergen it's always either:

--- raining

--- just done raining

--- about to rain

[May B]

Not the highlight of your trip … what a nice and gentle way to say it. 😍

[KBs mum]

4 hours ago, WanderingBrit said:

Bergen looks to be a charming town, but nowhere is especially nice in high wind and rain. We walked around a bit until thoroughly cold and wet

 

 

Some other random areas that would be nicer in dry conditions

The one thing you can rely on in Bergen is that it will rain or snow. Something to do with warm Atlantic air/water hitting cold continent and causing mist and cloud. 

A nice place with good seafood but decidedly soggy 

[WanderingBrit]

After warming up we popped a squat in The Explorers’ Lounge to read, while looking at weather we were glad not to be out in.

 

 

I’d never tried a Pap’s Brandy Special before, man did that hit the spot on an afternoon like this! Just a great, simple, comforting sip.

 

 

We love the decor in this area, and have mimicked some aspects of it in our flat in Scotland. We glued some fancy wallpaper to the inside back-board of IKEA cases to get something vaguely similar.

Last night onboard, and we're largely packed. We paid for a Viking airport transfer as we’d arranged our own flights, and I didn’t know what to expect getting to BGO from the harbour. We have a fairly civilized departure to catch a 13:35 flight to Copenhagen, then another to Reykjavik, and then a final flight home. It’ll be a miracle if that all goes to plan!

 

There seem to be quite a few non passenger guests onboard this evening, wearing red lanyards and name tags - no clue who they are. Some new crew joined in Geiranger, and several end their current contract tomorrow.

 

Our onboard account still reads $0

Edited August 8, 2023 by WanderingBrit
Autocorrect spelling