Iceland and the Fjords Cruise

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Our last port of call on the Iceland, Faroes and Fjords cruise

Recital by one of the university teachers from the University of Bergen

Have had a lovely day in Bergen plus a visit to Grieg's house in Troldhaugen. Tonight is our last formal night then a sea day back to Southampton.

Some men that Elizabeth bumped into ....

The men on our table

The women on our table

So here's to Bergen

Real grass growing on a ship!

Thursday - had a fantastic day in Flam. Rail journey and hike were out of this world and we still have aches and pains to remind us! Today is Bergen, our last stop.

In the train on the way up the valley

One of the waterfalls on the way up

Snack after getting off the train

Gorgeous scenery

Elizabeth makes a friend on the way down

The walk down was unbelievable

Waiting for the train to take us back down into Flam

'Norway in a Nutshell' - now that rings a bell. Would it be included in the price or would it be extra?

Celebrity Eclipse moored up in Flam

Flam was such a beautiful place

Weds - Today we are in Flam and it is all stunning! Have climbed up Flam valley by train and now about to walk 6 miles back down - scenery is unbelievable.

Tuesday, 17 July 2012

Beautiful sail out from Molde, past classy Crystal ship and building shaped like a sail. Enjoying a drink in the warm sun at the back of the ship.

Crystal 'Symphony'

Looks like a pale imitation of the Burj-el Arab hotel in Dubai

Tuesday - We are in Molde and it's raining! One side is docks - all lorries, containers, silos and pallets and the other is beautiful Norwegian island and mountains. Our cabin is on the docks' side! We are in the indoor solarium and empty pool and hot tubs. We may go shopping later if it dries up.

Monday, 16 July 2012

We have just had our coach tour and it is truly beautiful of Alpine proportions. Now time for some shopping and waterfall viewing before getting our tender back.

Monday - We have arrived in Geiranger, one of the jewels in Norway's fjord crown. Last night our waiter said the forcast was rain, but no sign of that as it's cloudy brught. Off on a tour shortly.

Sat - Interesting day on the Faroes. Tall cliffs, no trees and very reliant in fishing. Took the free shuttle into Klaksvig (2nd biggest town population 5000). Quiet place, very low crime rate - 1st murder last year for 23 years and only 2 bank robberies ever!

Then did panoramic Faroes - bus tour with great scenery and lovely views. Temps - lowest ever was -11C and highest ever was 23C.

Friday - Went to Captain's CLub linch in the beautiful Sky Lounge, forward Deck 14. Drinks were flowing - E managed to get 4 glasses of bubbly without even asking! Food was endless canapes then sushi and crepes suzette! Best loyalty reception ever! Senior officers' reception on Tuesday - woop, woop!

Sun - Lazy day today, brunch in the dining room, then swim (in a very warm pool) and hot tub then late lunch and now sunbathing on the balcony. Tonight is second formal night and tomorrow is the top highlight of the cruise - Geiranger Fjord.

Sun - Lots of nice surprises on this cruise - as we got on board, not from Bolsover Cruise Club to say they were giving us $25 on board credit, then Celebrity gave us $200 for booking early. They've also let me use the dollars left over from Easter to pay part of our on board bill!

Best of all, our biggest disappointment is now our biggest joy - we've finally got on to the Flam railway excursion, one of the great rail journeys of the world!

Friday, 13 July 2012

and here we both are outside the President's House - taken by a kind fellow tourist!

Last one for now - fingers crossed for more free wifi at some point later!

Where Gorbachev met Ronald Reagan at the Reykjavik summit in 1986 - it signalled the end of the Soviet Union and the thawing of relations between east and west.

Look carefully at the photo - it shows them sitting in the room

Outside the house of the President of Iceland near Reykjavik (Wednesday)

I'm in the Thingvellir National Park near Reykjavik. To the right is the North Atlantic Ridge fault where the American and Eurasian plates meet - although they are moving apart at 25mm per year!

I'm on the US side of the divide!