Scandinavia - Monday August 31, 2015

Deb & I slept in until 7:00 AM; Howie was up and exercising earlier.  Down to breakfast at 8:15 AM.  The spread this morning in the hotel was similar to yesterday's Oslo spread, but the food wasn't as good - still, we managed to fortify successfully for the coming day.

Out to conquer the shops of Bergen. We ventured into our first shop, Pell Designs, and after a quick reconnaissance, discovered there was a dilapidated alley next door which, lo and behold, began a warren of little shops, jewelers, crafts, art galleries and sundry other wares.  As this was waterfront property, these small buildings were apparently the living and working quarters of the fish merchants on the waterfront.  All were small with upper lofts that may have warehoused food, grain and other merchandise moving in and out of the port.  The whole area turns out to be the World Heritage Site of Bryggen, the original name of the town.  We did our best to support the community. As time wore on, the number of tourists increased dramatically.  We learned that at least two cruise ships had docked and released their prisoners for the day.

We then walked a few blocks to the entry for the Funicular Railway.  Long lines in a crowded and poorly organized entry.  Also a tour group form China arrived at the same time.  They were noisy and pushing all the time to swarm onto the funicular car. Not a pleasant wait - no where near Disneyland standards.

The view from the top was amazing and photos were had.  The wait for the return trip was another 20 minute line, but much more pleasant, owing to the fact that you could take in the view as the line moved along.

Upon descent, we split into pairs.  Howie & Lee headed for the Leprosy Museum, while Deb and I headed for the modern art museum.  Turns out neither of us made our destination - the Leprosy Museum closed 10 minute before they arrived, and we just made it through the gift shop at the art museum, not purchasing anything.  Deb and I stopped at a cafe for a few minutes and returned to the hotel at 5:00. We met Howie and Lee and then repaired to the dining area for afternoon waffles. 

Then on to an outside bar down the street for a beer/wine moment served by an enchanting Jennifer Connelly lookalike.

Back to the hotel for dinner  - the first fish of the trip.  An adequate meal that was no feast for a gourmand, but, considering we had already paid, quite a bargain.  After dinner we took a short stroll and then to the top of the tower in the hotel to admire the sunset.  We were in bed by 9:30. All in all a satisfying day in Bergen and one to recommend to any thinking of traveling to Scandinavia.

Scandinavia - Sunday, August 30, 2015

A traveling kind of day.  Up at 6:30 and down to breakfast at 7:30.  Two important things first in the morning:  1) Howie & Lee exercised the night before after yours truly and significant other were out like lights, and 2) the breakfast bar was amazing! Eggs, lamb sausages, Norwegian meatballs, breads, fruits juices, waffles and more. And great coffee.

Grabbed a taxi at the hotel and schlepped all our belongings to the railway station for the train to Myrdal and then a transfer to the Flam line.  As is usual in Europe, the trains were quiet, modern, clean and always on time. We started the climb upward from sea level in Oslo, and eventually to 1,222 M at Finse, 1,222 M. Then downward to Myrdal at 844 M.  At Myrdal we disembarked to switch to the Flam line - "One of the most beautiful train journeys in the world" in their words - probably accurate.

This old style set of coaches descended to 8 M above sea level in only 18 kilometers.  A steep slope filled with amazing scenery, rushing streams and rivers and hundreds of waterfalls cascading down the rock.  A very absorbing landscape.

We arrived in Flam at the base of the mountains and in a fjord.  Our "Express Boat" to Bergen departed at 3:30.  Not sure what the word express means in the Norwegian language, but I would translate into "milk run."  We stopped at at least seven small villages along the way, mostly to pick up passengers headed back into Bergen.  Some stunning views along the way and alternating sunshine, rain, mist etc. in the way of weather.  It was great entertainment to us to watch the people rush outside to the bow of the boat, take pictures (mostly selfies - I gained a new understanding of the term,) and then rush back in as a squall developed.  The entire voyage took 5 hours - which was longer than we anticipated.

We arrived at 8:45 and phoned hotel for directions.  We then walked our luggage around the end of the fjord, about 8 blocks, to our hotel, the Havenkontoret.  We were too late for the light evening meal included in our room cost, but we did drop bags and beat feet across to the Radisson Blu for  a quick bite and cocktails (in a rain.)

The four of us parted ways in the lobby, Howie and Lee to scout out the gym location and Deb and I to bed down.  Retired at 11:30.  A long and well traveled day in trains, boats, escalators, elevators, taxis - but no planes.

Scandinavia - 08/29/15

Arrive in Oslo, Norway at 1:45 pm.  Passport control is a cake walk -  just show your passport, smile and they walk you through.  A beautiful airport that they are already enlarging- very Scandinavian in design.

Given our air flight travails of yesterday, I wasn't surprised when all luggage, except my checked bag, rolled off the carousel.  We were just about try to locate baggage claim when the errant bag rolled off the carousel - lucky for Norway.

To our surprise, our prepaid tour guide (Birgitte) and driver (Odd, yes that is his name) were waiting for us.  There was a moment of negotiation when they said they were going to charge us an extra hour of wait time due to the delay, but after a gentle suggestion that they take it up with United, they calmed down.

They took us around the city of Oslo, pointing out many interesting sites.  We went to the pier/bay area near the base of the original city, toured the City Hall (a true treasure where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded each December 10) stopped atop the hill where the international high ski jump is located, toured a true log lodge used for a restaurant, and then to the outdoor sculpture park, an amazing accomplishment with countless granite and bronze statuary, all the vision of one artist, Gustav Viegland, who died in 1943.  A true tour de force of naturalism and the human form.  Astounding beauty and setting, the grounds and gardens must have covered over 100 acres.

On to the Thon Hotel on Ronsekrntz.  A very comfortable and modern facility.  Our pleasant surprise here is that both dinner and breakfast were included in our already reasonable room rate.

After a tasty dinner of beef stew (titled beef bourginon, but far from the Julia Child original recipe I learned,) new potatoes, bread and salad, we topped with a nice bottle of organic Montepulciano. Very tasty.

Off for a short post prandial stroll and then back to the hotel to retire by 8:45.  All in all, a nice first day with a very rocky start, but wonderful "mouth feel and finish."

Scandinavia - 08/28/15

Up at 4:30 to pack and organize. Deb came to bed about 2:00 AM, par for the course on a night before a trip - at least she got some sleep.  Packing goes smoothly, Deb is already packed from the night before.  After our normal egg and sausage breakfast, I run some errands to post office, delivery and bank. 

Tim D. arrives promptly at 9:15 and off we go to Eppley.  We arrive and meet up with our co-adventurers, Howie and Laura Lee Needelman here after referred to as H&L or Howie and Lee.  We get checked in and proceed to the TSA checkpoint, all feeling good that we are TSA-Pre.  Now the adventure really begins.

TSA is unable to scan our boarding passes - the TSA agent claims that our printer must have been low on ink and the image is not dark enough.  Therefore Deb and I now have to get out of the TSA-Pre line and go over to the regular old line, as in take off your shoes, go through the pat down, etc. Oh well, it could be worse - we weren't denied boarding.

On time take off to Chicago, arriving in good time for our transfer to head to Newark.  As we taxi out to the runway, the pilot announces that a tray table is broken and they won't let us take off without a repair.  So back to the gate we go to get a mechanic.  I offer to save United a lot of money by selling them my belt to secure the table in an upright position for take off.  I would even let them keep the belt if the price was right (I was thinking $5,000 as a nice round offer.) No sale. After 45 minutes, the tray table was fixed and so off we went to Newark, arriving only 15 minutes behind our scheduled arrival and still in plenty of time for out next over the water flight to Oslo.

That flight was delayed by an hour due to mechanical problems, so we were able to have a leisurely meal at one of the restaurants. All iPad based ordering from the table, swipe the credit card and they bring the food.  Pretty slick!

Down to the assigned gate, only to learn that the plane was still under repair.  Finally, at 10:15 - two full hours after scheduled departure, we were allowed to board.  By 11:15 we were still sitting on the tarmac, waiting on a clearance from the mechanical guys.  The pilots are fairly irritated from the sounds of their reports to us.  Unfortunate, as this flight is pretty sparse and there are lots of open seats and legroom. 

Finally, at 12:15 AM, the rest of the passengers are let on and the plane fills up; they had stopped boarding shortly after the first group of us enplaned.  What we thought was going to be an empty flight turned out to be quite full.  So, on to Norway