42 B Stavanger Photos

 

42 Stavanger ..... My favourite Port.

How pretty is this place.... As we sailed in here you could not help but noticed how densely populated it seemed around the harbour.   It looks like every house has water views.

This is the first port we have had to share with another ship. It was called Aida Sol with very interesting art work on the bow of the ship.  Docked in the centre of town made it easy to walk into and around the city.

First stop was the Valberg Tower, as from the deck you could see it right next to the ship.  We followed the cobbled walkways up to the tower where you could also get great views looking back to the ship.

The area below this tower is all pedestrian and a tourist’s delight as there is shop after shop after cafe after restaurant, especially if you were prepared to part with a lot of money for little return....  I did see a jumper (sweater) I really liked but with a price tag of over $700, I decided I didn’t quite need it after all....

As it was early we decided to head on over to the Domkirken (cathedral),  which unfortunately the front was under restoration and covered with scaffolding.  But the back of the church with its stain glass windows made for good pictures...  Next to the church is a park with a very large lake in the middle.  We walked around the lake to absorb the beautiful vistas from all sides.   On the other side of the church was a large square and several market stall holders were starting to set up.

Back down toward the waterfront, which reminded me a little of our Circular Quay, we walked around to the opposite side to where we were berthed and climbed the steps up to the old town , Gamle Stavanger.  The largest surviving wooden house settlement in northern Europe.  Unlike the houses in Kristiansand some of these little homes actually had little yards next to them...  It was evident that people had taken great care in adding to the beauty of the area, as they had landscaped and planted their gardens beautifully. Each one very inviting and you just wanted to go and sit on the garden chairs and take it all in.

Once again the white houses are just the back drop to the splash of colour of the doors and the flowers around them....  Something very cheery on days when the weather can be so drab.

I forgot to also mention that down around the waterfront the warehouses stand tall, now converted into restaurants and shops.  We found McDonalds... a place that we have frequented a lot whilst in Norway, if only to get a more reasonably priced Coffee ($ 4 each) and also to make use of their free wifi  regardless of how slow it is...  Oh and maybe I shouldn’t mentioned it, but we have also become “those people” who have smuggled food off the ship to sustain us till we reboard.

We wandered up and down each lane coming across the international corner with its Irish pub, Greek restaurant and Tapas bar, and then another street that reminded us of the Malay houses in Cape Town where each shop were painted bright way-out colours...  Here it was where we decided to treat ourselves to our $10 local coffee and we sat on the side walk and watched the people go by.

Back on board, and the sun was still shining so that made for a beautiful sail away...  We snuck out some bread from the Lido Buffet and just as we did in Bergen in 2011 we fed the Sea Gulls as we sailed out.

 

41 Kristainsand Photos

 

41 Kristiansand .......the sunniest spot in all of Norway

Another pretty sail-in to this town.  Kristiansand is where the Norwegians go for their beach holidays. But today was just a bit chilly to consider dipping my toe in the water.   Once again the outskirts are dotted with red and yellow cottages. 

We were being serenaded as we pulled up to the pier which is always a very nice touch.  A gentleman played the guitar and the young girl sang with a beautiful voice or played the flute.

Geared with our map and suggested walking route, we headed off the ship. We started by walking along the waterfront pass the Fiskebrygga, a colourful area where the old buildings have been painted up and turned into the fish market and restaurants.

We then visited the Christiansholm Fortress built in 1672 on an elevation with it’s cannons facing the sea to protect the town from invaders.

As you move further around you come across Aquarama, Kristiansand’s indoor swimming pool, a necessity in the this climate I would have to say ... though just out front there is a  beach area called Bystranda.  Here you can lie on the sand or swim in either the sea water pool or out on the beach... 

We continued to loop around the water front until we got to the old town Posebyen.   Here are a series of timber white houses synonymous with what you would expect in Norway.  These houses lined the cobbled walkways joined together, just as you would find a series of terrace houses back home... no verandas or front gardens here, you just step straight out onto the roadway.  Although all the houses are painted white the doors are what add the splash of colour in either navy or red.  For a little more interest there may be a very small patch of garden or potted bloom by the front door.

In the main centre of town there is the Domkirken, typically a cathedral in a square surrounded by gardens.  The gardens are just starting to come into their own as the masses of colourful tulips are starting to bloom.

Also what we have found in many of these Norwegian towns is a wide pedestrian street that will run through the centre of town from one end to the other.  These are usually lined with many shops and cafes decorated to invite you in but too expensive to buy anything.

Just as we were starting to head back to the ship the temperature dropped and the clouds started coming in.  As the rain started we decided to splurge at one of the restaurants by the fish markets with a $10 cup of coffee....  Yes just a few hundred meters further along we could have all the coffee and cake we wanted on the ship, but we decided we wanted to experience a little of culture... cheaply.

Once back on board I decided on a nana nap especially as the weather looked pretty set in and did not indicated a good sail away.... but while I slept Garry said the clouds parted and the Ryndam sailed out under blue skies and for the first time the decks were packed.

 

40 Oslo.... "There is no such thing as bad weather .... Just bad clothing"... as the Norwegians' say

It was a cold start to the day as we found our way out and about the decks for the sail into Oslo.  The Ryndam is one of those ships that you can get right out to the pointy bits.  As we sailed in through the fjord you knew you were back in Norway.  Just like our sail into Bergen three years ago you pass these mountains dotted with gorgeous little timber houses all making the most of their spectacular views..  Yellow and Red seem to be the colour of choice and once again every view was postcard picture perfect.

We docked up next to the Akershus Castle and Fortress.  A Medieval Castle that dates back to 1299. This also gave us great views back onto the ship.  Geared with our walking map we then headed into the city, making our way to Karls Johans Gate a wide pedestrian street that leads to the Royal palace up one way and to the Railway station at the other.

Deciding to take a bit of a break we called into McDonalds for a spot of affordable coffee and free wifi...  Norway is notoriously expensive..  Coffee at a cafe will set you back about $8 each hence why we are now getting excited when we see those golden arches.

After catching up on the news we headed to the Oslo Old Cathedral.  Ornate and beautiful inside I took the opportunity to light a candle for my dad. Just outside there was a lovely flower market with many types of flowers in all colours.  The tulips around the city were all starting to bloom giving a beautiful show.

As we walked back up the street we passed many of Oslo’s beautiful buildings as were getting closer to the Palace.  Apparently the Israeli President was visiting and whilst standing out the front, security was in full force as the President, King and his entourage left the palace.  Men in Black everywhere and the convoy consisted of police, vans with blacked out windows and the little yellow ambulance followed in last spot.

We headed back down to the water front as the rain started so we decided to look for the ferry that would take us over to Dronningen where we visited the Viking Ship Museum.  Here they have on display well preserved Viking ships dating back to the 9^th Century. 

Once back in town we headed back to the ship, it was now around 4.30 and we were ready for a spot of lunch...  yes we waited till we were back on the ship as we would have had to take out  a bank loan if we wanted lunch on shore.

 

39 A Sea Day on the Ryndam

With only 2 sea days on this sector of the cruise it seems that they tried to fit a lot of stuff in..  Garry went to a couple of computer classes in the purposely decked out computer room.  Rows of computers set up ready for the classes to start.

I spent my day running to the Culinary Arts Theatre  as they had a couple of cooking demonstrations and the best part of these demo’s is that you get to try samples!!

We also attended a port lecture and a talk future cruise talk... well we have to get our monies worth..

Tonight was also a formal night and captain’s welcome party.  Our captain Werner Timmers reminds me of Gru from “Despicable Me” so I can’t help but smile every time I see him, but I would have to say he spoke very well as he introduced his team and seems like a very nice gentleman.

We also watched the first of the production shows on board... On Holland America there are 4 Singers and other 6 dancers in their troupe.  The show was very good with a more modern feel to it.

 

38 Ryndam - Embarkation Day

Having slept right through the night we woke up raring to get started on our next adventure... But first we had our silver service breakfast ... ok the tea and coffee pots were white but it felt like it anyway.

Our taxi came to collect us at 10 am.  Thinking that there would be a shuttle to take us back into town we happily went down to the port to drop our bags.... Well no shuttle here and the weather was now starting to turn for the worse, so we decided to stay put and wait for check in.  Although the boarding passes say 1 pm we did not have to wait long to be checked in, and by 11.30 they called the first group for embarkation.... yay that was us...

This is the first time that we are cruising with Holland America so we were not sure what to expect...  Our staterooms were ready, and if we thought that we have had large staterooms on the Ocean Princess , these did not disappoint.  A king size bed with room on each side... a 2 seater lounge, miles of hanging space and a bathroom we can both stand in at the same time ..... and I am talking side by side.

Although the Ryndam had its maiden voyage in 1994, it had a refurbishment in 2004 and it now looks like the most modern ship we have been on.  

We took this time to explore the ship, with many small bars, a culinary/movie theatre, digital workshop room, internet and library, 2 storey dining room, 5 different shops, a mid ship pool area which can be covered with its retractable roof and an aft Pool which you will be able to use as an ice skating rink if this cold keeps up.  Two speciality restaurants, and of course, the Lido buffet restaurant.  One thing I think it is missing is a proper theatre.  There is only one show room.  At least there is a stage (there wasn’t on the Ocean) and there are tables on the dance floor when it is not in use.  The rest of the seating is just bench style.

We are on anytime dining which we have decided we don’t like.  We have determined we prefer knowing that our table is waiting for us at a special time and we like the rapport that you build with your permanent waiters.   One thing that they do differently is that you seem to have only one waiter per table. If you want wine or a drink from the bar you have to wait till they send the wine waiter over to you.  He seems to manage all the tables within the section... which is fine except sometimes you could well into your appetiser before you get a sip of wine.

We ate lunch up at the Lido and for the first 2 days they are going to serve the food to prevent any sickness on board...This is fine except that it really does slow things up, plus it means that there are less waiters to clear tables and get you drinks...  Once again you can’t just order a drink from any waiter in the Lido Buffet; it has to be a specified drinks waiter.

Looking at making some new friends we went to evening trivia that is held in the Mix Bar ... you can see this will be an issue once more and more people start coming as the area is small.  We met a lovely couple, originally from the UK, but now live in America. Now as the days have passed we have starting having dinner with them each night.  They are also on for the full 21 days. 

As this is really a 7 day cruise the demographics are quite different to what we are used to.  The are a lot of young people  and as this is a sailing out of the UK, the majority are British.