2024 Viking Homelands - Day #13 - Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen by Foot

Landmarks and History of Denmark’s Capital City

Explore the landmarks of Copenhagen and learn about the city’s history during a walking excursion.

With a local guide, you will stop to see the Little Mermaid statue sitting serenely in the harbor at Langelinie and visit the courtyard at the 18th-century Amalienborg Palace. Continue to Copenhagen’s largest monument, the Gefion Fountain, followed by Amalienborg Palace, the winter residence of the Queen of Denmark, the sovereign of one of the world’s oldest monarchies. Here, admire the royal rococo buildings and square, plus the stunning Marble Church, New Opera House and flourishing Amaliehaven (Amalie Garden) with its geometrical layout, colorful plants and centerpiece fountain. En route back to your ship, walk through the 17th-century Citadel—one of Europe’s best-preserved fortresses surrounded by eight moats, tall ramparts and cannon bastions.

Copenhagen Canal Cruise

View the Magnificent Skyline from the Waters

Embark on a leisurely cruise across the extensive harbor and the Christianshavn and Frederiksholm Canals.

After boarding your boat, settle in for a narrated overview of the city, an intriguing blend of pioneering modern architecture, historic landmarks and recreational quays. Pass the Christiansborg Palace, home of the Danish Parliament, and admire the distinctive spire of entwined dragon tails atop the old Stock Exchange. Pass the colorful Nyhavn Canal, lined with 500-year-old gabled houses; this neighborhood was once home to Hans Christian Andersen. You will also see Amalienborg Palace, the royal winter residence, and the 17th-century fortress of Kastellet. After pausing at the famous Little Mermaid statue, continue to the old naval base of Holmen. You will also see the Royal Library, nicknamed the “Black Diamond,” the Copenhagen Opera House and the Royal Danish Playhouse.

The ship docked in Copenhagen at 7:00 am.

Setting an alarm for 6:00 am, we had breakfast in Mamsen’s. We both had oatmeal.

In a smart move, Sharon switched our morning excursion from 10:00 am to 8:30 am. It paid dividends later in the day; it essentially bought us an extra hour and a half in the middle of short day.

The excursion for the morning was a walking tour. We wandered from the ship to the Amalienborg Palace and back. We covered three and a half miles in just under three hours. Sites along the way included: the Little Mermaid, the Amalienborg Palace, the Marble Church and the Kastellet. When we reached the middle of the walk near the downtown, a number of people dropped from tour. By the time we got back to the ship, the guide had lost almost half of the group.

After the walking tour, we ran back to the room and then caught the shuttle into downtown. After some teeth gnashing looking for somewhere to eat, we found a very nice restaurant for lunch. The Maven was located in the side of an old church. We ordered a few small plate from the SMØRREBRØD menu. We split FISH CAKES (Potato salad, radishes, pickles & chives); CHICKEN SALAD (Roasted oyster mushrooms, celery, mustard & bacon ventrèche); BUTTER-FRIED FISH FILET (Lingonberries, lemon & remoulade), and; HOME-SMOKED FAROESE SALMON (Egg yolk cream, red currants, hand-peeled Danish peas & lemon mayo). I rarely rave about meals, but this was a very good Nordic lunch.

After lunch, we explored the Chrisitianborg Chapel and Palace.

Catching the shuttle bus back to the ship, we did an afternoon canal cruise. I was surprised by the small canals lined with a variety of boats and the low bridges. It reminded me a little of Amsterdam. We got a chance to see a couple of neighborhoods that we hadn't seen.

Getting cleaned up, we went to an early dinner at The Restaurant. We were seated at a common table, but when no one showed up for 10 or 15 minutes, we switched to a table by ourselves.

I had the DESTINATION MENU including: Gin Cured Salmon (pickled cucumber, granny smith apple, avocado mousse; dill mayonnaise); Herb Crusted Roasted Pork Loin (apple purée, braised onions, peppercorn sauce), and; Koldskäl med Kammerjunker (cold buttermilk soup, vanilla, strawberries; lemon and cardamom biscuit). Sharon had a pumpkin salad, a New York steak and crepe suzette.

The ship left port at 8 pm. After dinner, we wandered up to the Explorer’s Lounge to watch the ship sail out of Copenhagen. We sailed past the the Øresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden. It's actually a combined bridge and tunnel route, rather than just one structure.

We didn’t have enough time in Copenhagen to do it justice. Like Istanbul last year, we could have spent several days exploring the city. I doubt that we will ever be back…

With a very early start planned for. Saturday, we crashed about 9:30 pm.

A footnote. I wrote the first draft of this blog entry on the train to Berlin. I finished and published it on the train back to the ship from Berlin.

2024 Viking Homelands - Day #12 - Alborg, Denmark

Ålborg Walking Tour

Utzon Center, Old Town and Ålborghus Castle

Enjoy a taste of beautiful Ålborg, strolling its old town, savoring local delicacies and seeing Ålborghus Castle.

Leaving your ship’s berth in the city center, walk along the renovated waterfront district, home to the Utzon Center. Pass through Utzon Park and visit Vor Frue Kirke (Church of Our Lady), which to this day still houses one of the original church bells dating back to the 12th century. Visit the charming old town, see the Gothic 14th-century Budolfi Church and the lovely baroque-style City Hall. Take a stroll by one of Ålborg’s real treasures, Jens Bang’s stone house. Bang was famously snubbed by the town’s government, and his statuesque renaissance home was never approved by the local gentry. The highlight of the tour is the chance to experience our very own Viking market, where you can sample some of the local delicacies while exploring the grounds of Ålborghus Castle.

Danish Beer & Walking Tour

Go Off the Beaten Path to Sample Denmark's Finest Brews

Sample some of the best-loved Danish beers on this walking tour of the Jomfru Ane Gade district.

Explore the backdrop of Denmark’s brewing heritage and immerse yourself in its beer culture as your guide accompanies you to our carefully selected watering holes. With your very own “Ålborg Tasting Glass,” you will enjoy six different brews and visit three of Ålborg’s inviting traditional pubs. With more than 5,000 years of brewing history, Denmark regularly enters the Top 10 list of European brewing nations. This tour is perfect to sample a selection of Denmark’s finest and discover your favorite Danish brew while learning more about the history of this picturesque town along the way. At the end of the tour, you can return to the ship with your guide or further explore the area independently.

We were up and moving about 6 am. Sharon did a Yoga class at 7:00 am, while I did a twenty minute arms and shoulders Peloton Strength workout and then ran thirty plus minutes on the treadmill. I have worked out more so far on the trip than I thought that I would.

We had a late breakfast in the World Cafe. When the trip is over, I am going to write a longer post about the boat. I want to compare this Viking Ocean Cruise with our Seabourn Greece and Turkey cruise. The one negative thing about this trip is that the World Cafe has been overrun with people on the last couple of mornings; it was a zoo.

The boat docked in Aalborg at 10:00 am.

We did an 11:00 am walking tour of the old city. I enjoyed the tour, but it was Sharon's least favorite excursion and guide of the trip so far. Interestingly, Aalborg claims to host the largest 4th of July Celebration outside of the United States.

Back at the boat, we had a quick bite to eat at the Pool Grill. We split a burger.

After lunch, we did a Danish Beer walking tour. I really enjoyed the pub crawl. They served us a herring sandwich at the second stop. Along with the beer, they served us several shots of schnaps.

It rained on off and on during the two excursions. The rain was hard a couple of times, but stopped fairly quickly.

The ship departed at 6:00 pm. We went to the Explorers' Lounge to watch it sail away from the dock and down the sound. Afterwards, we went to a presentation on Viking Expedition Cruises in the Torshavn Bar.

Originally, Sharon had moved some reservations around with the thought that we would have the 4th of July food in the World Cafe. As we were getting ready for dinner, she changed her mind. We went to The Restaurant and sat by yourselves. I had the DESTINATION MENU that included: Honsekodssuppe (danish chicken soup with flour dumplings, meatballs & vegetables); Cod & Seafood Pie (cod, creamy shrimp & mussel sauce; mashed potatoes), and; Little Baked Alaska (ice cream, honey meringue, cookie base).

Back in the room, we watched the port talk for Copenhagen. We crashed early.

2024 Viking Homelands - Day #11 - Oslo, Norway

Behind Closed Doors at the Munch Museum

Works and Restoration of Norway’s Masterpieces

Enjoy Privileged Access to Oslo’s Munch Museum on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour.

Connect with the brilliance of Edvard Munch, Norway’s beloved expressionist artist, and get a sneak peek at the inner workings of the museum. Meet your expert art historian and enjoy a guided tour of the exhibition, stopping to marvel at Munch’s work. Discover more about this captivating artist and his long and successful career, which began at the age of 17. Step behind the scenes and see the museum’s private collection of printing plates that showcase Munch’s innovative and surprising techniques. Next, gain exclusive insight into the work of the conservation department and meet the museum’s team of skilled craftsmen, who painstakingly restore precious works and prepare masterpieces for viewing. After your tour, enjoy coffee and cake before returning to your awaiting ship.

The ship was in port in Oslo overnight. Before breakfast, Sharon and I went to the Fitness Center. Sharon did a 10 minute Peloton Core workout with me. Afterwards, I ran on the treadmill for thirty plus minutes, while Sharon did a weights workout.

We had a late breakfast in the restaurant. I had an egg and pancake, while Sharon had salmon benedict. We ended up sitting next to a couple that we met on the Stavanger tasting walk (Sue and Wiston).

We didn't end up using the morning as well as we might have. I had hoped to walk to City Hall and the Opera House. Instead, we had a lazy morning. I did some laundry; I washed my workout clothes. Sharon did some shopping on the pier, including buying a rain poncho. We also explored the ship, including the sports deck and the sun deck. We putted for a little while on the putting green on the sports deck.

Our excursion for the day was a small group guided tour of the Munch Museum. The group only included ten people.

We got an overview of the Munch and his work with some coffee and cake. Kvæfjordkake, also known as "Verdens beste" (Norwegian for "The World's Best"), is a Norwegian dessert cake consisting of three layers: a base of sponge cake, a layer of vanilla custard, and a meringue topping. It is often garnished with almonds and whipped cream.

The guide took us through the main three exhibition floors. She did a very nice job. After the guided tour, we had a presentation by someone working on restoring and maintaining the painting, e.g. behind the scenes; this presentation was mediocre at best. We had a few minutes to go back on our own, but could have spent a much longer time wandering the museum.

After the excursion, we had a snack in the Pool Grill. From there, we went to the Explorers' Lounge, watched the ship sail away from Oslo and finally said goodbye to Norway. Norway is a beautiful country!

We joined a common table in The Restaurant for dinner. It included a couple from Australia and a couple from Minnesota. I had the destination menu, including Halibut. Sharon had a caesar salad and lamb chops.

After dinner, We went to the Torshavn bar to listen to live music. Although we had intended to crash early, it was almost 11 pm by the time we went to bed.

2024 Viking Homelands - Day #10 - Oslo, Norway

Vikings & Norwegian Explorers

Viking Ships, Kon-Tiki and Norway’s Polar Explorers

Get an in-depth look at the history of the Vikings and Norway’s most notable explorers.

Norwegians have a long history of exploration, from the time of the Vikings to the present day. Learn about the epic voyages of world-renowned explorer Thor Heyerdahl at the Kon-Tiki Museum. Browse the numerous texts, maps and more than 8,000 books on display; the highlight is an exhibit of the original Kon-Tiki balsa-wood raft Heyerdahl used to sail from Peru to Polynesia in 1947. Tour the Fram Museum, which chronicles the polar expeditions of Norwegian explorers, including Roald Amundsen—the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. Conclude your tour with a guided visit to the Norwegian Maritime Museum to learn about Norway’s seafaring history and see its maritime paintings, by famous artists such as Christian Krohg, Hans Gude and Axel Revold.

After a late evening, Sharon and I both slept late. I got up about 7 am and went to the Explorers' Lounge. Sharon slept to 8:30 am!

We had late breakfast at the World Cafe. I was shocked at the number of people. It is the first time on the boat where I felt overrun with FOPs.

We had a lazy morning. I did a 20 minute Peloton upper body strength workout.

We went back to the World Cafe for a quick bite. Again, it was overrun with people. I think that the number of people was primarily due to the fact that the ship was at sea for the morning.

The boat docked at 12:00 pm. We met The Viking and Norwegian Explorers excursion at 12:15 pm in the Star Theater. The excursion included visits to three museums.

The first stop was Kon-Tiki Museum. It is dedicated to the life and explorations of Thor Heyerdahl, a legendary Norwegian adventurer. Heyerdahl is most famous for his Kon-Tiki expedition in 1947, where he sailed a balsa wood raft across the Pacific Ocean from Peru to Polynesia, aiming to prove that pre-Columbian contact between South America and Polynesia was possible. The museum contains the actual Kon-Tiki and Ra vessels.

The second stop was the Norwegian Maritime Museum. With the Viking Ship Museum closed, it contains one of the oldest Viking ships. We actually visited this musuem on the pre-tour in Olso last week.

The third stop was Fram Museum. It celebrates the rich history of Norwegian polar exploration. The museum's centerpiece is the Fram, considered the strongest wooden polar ship ever built.

After the excursion, we went to the Aquavit Bar and did some planning for the next few days. Sharon is using her super powers to try to find a restaurant in Copenhagen.

We took an Uber into the city for dinner at Lorry. Sharon was looking for a traditional Norwegian restaurant. Lorry is one of Oslo’s oldest restaurants, with a history dating back to the 1870’s. The place has been run by the same family for over 60 years through three generations. We both had LORRY’S HOMEMADE FISH SOUP and REINDEER PATTIES [Lingonberries, mixed vegetables and potatoes with a creamy game sauce].

After dinner, we walked back to the ship through the Palace Park. This beautiful park, one of the oldest and largest in Oslo, was designed in the mid-1800s and features sprawling lawns, majestic trees, ponds, and statues. It surrounds the Royal Palace on all sides. It was a beautiful evening.

We crashed at 10:00 pm.

2024 Viking Homelands - Day #9 - Stavanger, Norway

Stavanger Walking Tour & Oil Museum

Enjoy a Tour of Old Town Stavanger

Get well acquainted with Stavanger and its beautifully preserved old town on this included tour.

From our berth right in the heart of town, you can walk with ease to Gamle Stavanger, or Old Stavanger. In this attractive pedestrian district, stroll cobblestone streets among close to 250 buildings protected by a conservancy. They range in date from the 18th to the early 20th centuries and are considered the best kept wooden houses in Northern Europe. Destined for demolition during the 1950s, they were saved largely by the city’s architect, Einar Hedén. You will also visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum. Browse its fascinating exhibits about geology, technology and harnessing the power of oil. You will learn about life on board oilrigs and the drama of everyday life at sea. After, linger in Stavanger at your leisure and return the short distance to your ship on your own.

A Taste of Stavanger

Walk Through the Old Town and Savor Culinary Delights

Indulge in 200 years of Norwegian food culture with tastings throughout Stavanger’s bustling old town.

From our berth right in the heart of the town, meet your guide and walk with ease to vibrant Gamle Stavanger, or Old Stavanger. In this attractive pedestrian district, stroll the cobblestone streets winding along the many well-preserved 18th- to early 20th-century buildings as your guide mixes tales of the city’s rich history with explanations of how Norwegians’ eating habits have evolved over the centuries. You will make stops along the way to savor the aromas and taste several different food items that have played a significant role in the development of Stavanger, from its days of canning smoked sardines and herring to the present day. Many of the city’s resident chefs are ranked among the best in Europe, and Stavanger is considered a premier culinary destination.

With an early excursion, we were up at 6 am and moving. We had a light breakfast at Mamsen's. I had oatmeal and some fruit, while Sharon had a roll.

We met the guide (Bent) for the Stavanger Walking Tour & Oil Museum excursion at 7:15 am. It was raining very lightly. It stopped before the excursion started and we didn't get rained on for the rest of the day.

We toured the city and ended up at the Oil Museum. The Oil Museum was interesting. The guide had a day job as an electrician on the rigs and had a passion for the subject.

After a quick stop at the room, we did A Taste of Stavanger excursion. Wandering back into the old city, we did a sardine testing in a house connected to the Norwegian Canning Museum. The four different sardines were each prepared in a different way. Afterwards, we had a guided tour of the museum focusing on the canning process.

From there, we walked to No. 18 Kulturkafe. We had a taste of waffles with different topping.

The last stop was at Chili Chocolate. After a presentation by the owner, we had a hot chocolate and sampled some different chocolates.

We got back to the boat as they were packing up and preparing to pull away the gangway. The ship departed just after 1 pm.

I really enjoyed walking around the city. We would have liked to have had some free time to wander around on our own. Two other cruise ships docked after we arrived in the early morning. Over the course of the day, there were more and more people wandering around.

Back on the boat, we had a light lunch at Mamsen's (open face shrimp sandwich). After lunch, Sharon did some shopping, while I went to the fitness center and did a 15 minute core workout and 22 minutes walking and running on the treadmill.

Over the course of the rest of the afternoon, we went to a future travel presentation focusing on Oceans cruises and then the Port Talk for Oslo. We are back in Oslo on Tuesday.

Getting cleaned up for dinner, we went to the Explorers' Lounge for a cocktail. We had dinner in The Restaurant.

We decided to do a common table. We ended up sitting with an Austrailian couple (Conrad and Margo) and a New Zealand couple (Ralph and Loraine). The New Zealand couple were retired diary farmers from North of Auckland. It was a very nice evening. We ended up sitting and talking for a couple of hours. We were the last people to leave the restaurant! Sharon had squid stuffed with shrimp and crab, while I had veal schnitzel.

Sharon and I had gone to dinner early with the plan to go to bed early, but we ended up going to bed at 11 pm.

2024 Viking Homelands - Day #8 - Eidfjord, Norway

The Scenic Flåm Railway

Through Fjords and Over Mountains by Road and Rail

Marvel at Norway’s stunning beauty during a full-day excursion to Flåm, one of its most scenic coastal villages.

You will find the countryside as breathtaking as your destination while riding by motor coach from the shores of Hardangerfjord to Sognefjord, crossing scenic mountain passes and driving through manmade tunnels en route. Travel through picturesque woodland to the Tvinde Waterfall cascading down the steep cliffside. After a short stroll close to the waterfall, continue to Flåm. Then, board the Flåm Railway for a thrilling ride as you climb nearly 3,000 feet through 20 tunnels and over numerous bridges. Change trains at Myrdal and continue through more spectacular vistas, alighting in Voss, settled among snowcapped mountains, forests, lakes and rivers. Stop for a delicious lunch at its famous hotel before returning to your ship, seeing more beautiful scenery via motor coach.

Sleeping a little later, the ship was docking at Eidfjord as we were getting up. We had breakfast in the World Cafe.

Our excursion to Flåm Railway was scheduled for 9:30 am. It was planned to last seven and a half hours. We did the excursion in the reverse of the description in the sidebar.

The day included:

• a bus ride from Eidfjord to Voss;
• a train ride from Voss to Myrdal, we covered this section on Wednesday when we traveled by train from Oslo to Bergen;
• at the high mountain Myrdal station, we transferred to the Flåm Railway;
• the railway drops 3,000 feet in just over twelve miles, it is considered one of Norway's top tourist attractions and was an amazing ride;
• the train made a short stop at a waterfall for pictures and a musical performance;
  
• the end of the ride was Flåm, a small village nestled innermost in the Aurlandsfjord, which is an arm of the mighty Sognefjord;
• from Flåm, we took a bus to the Stilheim Hotel for lunch, the view from the hotel/restaurant was spectacular;

• after lunch, we reboarded the bus heading back to Eidfjord;
• bus stopped at the Tvindefossen Waterfall for pictures;

• the bus slowed for pictures at a second waterfall in the middle of a series of hairpin turns on the old road.

After the course of the day, the scenery was incredible!

We were back at the ship right at 5 pm. After getting cleaned up, we went to the Explorers' Lounge to watch the ship sail away from Eidfjord through the Hardangerfjord.

We finshed night with dinner at the Chef's Table. It was a fixed menu that included: Sweet Potato Chip [apple, rosemary, crème fraîch], Crab Cake [avocado, orange, fennel, shallot, dill & blood orange]; Moscow Mule [vodka, ginger beer & lime juice]; Seared Halibut [California olive, herb vinaigrette, crumbled roasted cauliflower, buttered panko], and; Ojai Mandarin Parfait [candied ginger].

We crashed about 9:45 pm

2024 Viking Homelands - Day #7 - Bergen, Norway

Panoramic Bergen
2 Hours

Explore Norwegian City by Motor Coach and On Foot

Discover the main sights of Bergen during a panoramic drive and a leisurely walk.

Founded in 1070 AD, Bergen features many historic sites, including the medieval King Haakon’s Hall, the Rosenkrantz Tower, the bustling fish market and the Nordnes Peninsula, with its 19th-century white painted wooden houses. During a scenic drive, see these and more, pausing to take a photo stop at Nordnes to admire the views over Bergen Harbor. At the National Stage, disembark your motor coach and walk downhill to Festplassen, passing the statue of Ole Bull before arriving in Bryggen. Hear interesting stories from your guide about Bergen’s colorful past as you admire the picturesque wooden buildings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Afterward, you may return to your ship via motor coach, or explore the district and return independently on your own.

Grieg’s House & Recital & Fantoft Stave Church

The Old Ways

Travel south of Bergen to view a remarkable wooden church and visit the home of Norway’s famed composer.

Join your local guide on a drive through suburban Bergen to Fana, where the Fantoft Stave Church stands tall, proud and elegant. Built entirely of wood in 1150 in the tradition of Norwegian stave churches, it was moved to its present site in 1883 to save it from demolition and preserve it as part of the nation’s heritage. From spiritual faith to musical brilliance, you will also visit Troldhaugen, where famed Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg and his wife lived for 22 years. Norway’s most celebrated son, he was inspired by Norwegian folk music and sought to raise its profile in his composing and performances. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor and Peer Gynt. Enjoy an exclusive recital of his music before returning to your ship.

I have am having trouble sleeping very late. I was awake at 4 am and never really went back asleep. Eventually, we both got up at about 5:30 am.

We had a pretty aggressive day. After a quick breakfast in the World Cafe, we met our 8 am excursion at 7:55 am. We took the Panoramic Bergen Excursion. It was a driving and walking tour. Although I initially regretted not doing a pure walking tour, this tour that gave us a chance to see some of the city that we wouldn't have seen otherwise. We were back at the boat at 10 am.

After a quick stop at the room on the ship, we headed out on the Grieg’s House & Recital & Fantoft Stave Church excursion at 11 am. This was not an excursion that we had initially booked. Reading the Rick Steves guide book, Sharon felt like we needed to do this tour and switched a number of things around when we were driving to Glendale.

The excursion included a stop at a Stave Church built in the 1100s. Stave churches are built using a post and lintel construction method, with massive corner posts supporting a framework of timbers. The walls are made of vertical planks. This technique is very strong and durable, which is why some stave churches have survived for centuries. Out of the roughly 2,000 stave churches built before the Reformation in 1537, only 28 remain standing today.

From the church, we went to the Edvard Grieg Museum. We heard a concert of his music. The pieces performed included: Lyriske stykker V / Lyric pieces V, Op. 54; Gjetergutt / Shepherd's boy; Gangar; Trolltog / March of the Trolls; Notturno; Scherzo; Klokkeklang / Bell Ringing, and; Til Varen / To Spring, Op. 43, No. 6. The pianist was ELISABETH HOLMEGAARD NIELSEN. Afterwards, we did a guided tour of the house where Grieg lived.

Greig was only 4' 10'' tall! From my limited perspective, his most recognizable piece is Hall of the Mountain King. I enjoyed the concert and this stop more than I expected... I am going to sample more of his music when we get home.

Back at the ship at 4 pm, we got cleaned up and went to the Port Talk for Eidfjord, tomorrow's stop. From there, we went to the Explorer Lounge to watch the sail away from port.

We finished the day with an early dinner at Manfredi's. We split Fritto Misto Amalfitano [crispy shrimp, calamari coated in flour & semolina, lemon zest, garlic aioli]. We both had Osso Buco [braised veal shank, saffron risotto & lemon gremolata] as an entree. The Osso Buco was good, but Sharon has made better.

With a long day planned for Sunday, we crashed hard about 9:45 pm.

2024 Viking Homelands - Day #6 - Bergen, Norway

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to your ship to begin your cruise.

Nordic Walking in Bergen

Historic District and Scenic Vistas

Lace up your walking shoes and head out for a Nordic walking experience as you take in some of Bergen’s sights.

Meet your instructor and grab your poles before heading out into the city to explore. Nordic walking is an all-encompassing version of walking, suitable for all fitness levels and a great way to work out. Your guide will demonstrate the correct way to use the poles, then you will head off to explore. See some of Bergen’s historic districts as you head through Sandviken and scale the hills to view the city’s most picturesque vistas, including sweeping scenes of the fjord below. Discover some of the hidden gems and learn about the fascinating past of the city, which was once the center of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire. After your invigorating Nordic walk, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Sleeping just a little later, we packed up the room and put the suitcases in the hall before 8 am. Afterwards, we went to the buffet breakfast in the hotel.

The plan for the morning was to shop in historic Bryggen. Bryggen, also known as the Bryggen Wharf, is a collection of colorful wooden houses that line the waterfront. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered one of the best-preserved medieval trading centers in the world. Sharon bought a sweater. I got a Christmas Ornament.

Heading back to the hotel, we caught a 11:45 am shuttle to the the boat. We are spending fourteen days on the Viking Venus. The boarding process was quick and painless. We had a light lunch in the World Cafe. We both had salads.

They announced that the rooms were ready just before 2 pm. We spent some time working to get unpacked and settled in the room.

We had a late afternoon excursion. With the forecast for rain, Sharon decided to the skip it and take a nap.

I did the Nordic Walking excursion. We covered about three miles in just under two hours. The guide did a nice job talking about the history of the city. The group totalled ten people with two couples from California-Davis and San Luis Obispo-and four people from Salt Lake City. Although it rained heavily about halfway through the walk, I enjoyed it.



We finished the night at the Restaurant. I had Rustic Tuscan White Bean Soup [cannellini beans, celery, carrot, guanciale, garlic & rosemary croutons] and Grilled Mediterranean Sea Bass [lemon butter sauce; roasted mixed vegetables]. Sharon Duck Confit Leg in Phyllo Dough [shredded duck leg, mushroom; foie gras & truffle sauce] and Chicken Kiev [breaded chicken breast stuffed with garlic butter, braised cabbage & bacon; sweet corn sauce].

We crashed in the room about 9:45 pm.

2024 Viking Homelands - Day #5 - Bergen, Norway

Contrast the Bergen of old with the elegant modern-day city on an enlightening tour, highlighted by insights from your local guide. Step behind the walls of the medieval Bergen Fortress and visit the well-preserved 13th-century Håkons Hall. Pass the Bryggen wharf, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the more modern section of the city, view two beloved musical theaters: the National Stage and Grieg Hall, named for the famed Norwegian composer. After your tour, enjoy the evening at your leisure.

Again, Sharon and I were both up very early. Sharon was excited to see that her big bag was now at the Bergen airport eight miles away. I was shocked that they got it moved there overnight.

The excursion for the morning included tours of Håkon's Hall and the Galme Museum. Built between 1247 and 1261 by King Håkon Håkonsson, Håkon's Hall was the largest building in Norway during the 13th century. It served as a royal residence and a venue for important events. It is part of the larger Bergenhus Fortress complex, which includes Rosenkrantz Tower, the King's Barracks, and the Koengen Fortress.

The Galme Museum is an open-air museum that showcases wooden houses relocated from central Bergen. These houses were built between the 18th and 20th centuries. The museum offers a glimpse into Bergen's architectural heritage and daily life from these periods.


When we got back to the room after the excursion, Sharon bag was in the room!

Casting around for somewhere to get lunch and a glass of wine, we ended up at Fish Me. We had first sat down at a table in the fishmarket, but they didn't serve wine. Fish Me was way too touristy. Sharon had a shrimp caesar salad, while I had an ahi tuna salad.

After lunch, we took the Fløibanen, a funicular railway, up Mount Fløyen. It has stunning panoramic views of Bergen, the surrounding harbor, and the nearby mountains. The Fløibanen has been operating since 1901, making it one of the oldest funicular railways in the world. We hiked two miles back down into the city center.


We had a late dinner at the Unicorn. I had the five course fixed menu, including: Carpaccio of Whale [Smoked whale from Loften]; Scallops with dill oil, trout roe and mussel sauce; Oven baked Monkfish with tomato salsa; Norwegian Cheese with compote, and; Cheesecake with rhubarb and strawberries. Sharon had Fresh Asparagus with shrimps and hollandaise and the Fish Duo [salmon and Halibut with two sauces]. She shared my second, fourth and fitth courses. I thought that the food was good. Sharon was dissapointed. We are already debating where it falls in the list of dinners on the trip.

We crashed back in the room about 10:30 pm. It is very light most of the night!

2024 Viking Homelands - Day #4 - To Bergen, Norway

Board the Bergen Railway for your journey to Bergen, often described as the most beautiful train ride in the world. Your ascension to over 4,000 feet above sea level as you cross the Hardangervidda plateau features breathtaking views and will be accompanied by an informative narration. Arrive in Bergen and transfer to your hotel, where you can enjoy your evening at leisure.

Having trouble sleeping both Sharon and I were up before 6 am. We had an early breakfast at the buffet in the hotel. Checking out of the room, we met the group in the lobby at 7:30 am.

We walked to the train station and boarded a train for Bergen. It was a seven and a half hour train ride. The Viking Pre-Tour group included 46 people. The group took up most of one train car. We had two guides with us on the trip that provided commentary throughout the day. Viking gave us sack lunches on the train that included a chicken caesar wrap and some chips.

It was an amazing ride; I really enjoyed it. Sharon and Janie did the GoldenPass scenic railway route in Switzerland that connects Lucerne or Interlaken in central Switzerland with Montreux on Lake Geneva. Sharon said that this trip was longer and more varied. Rick Steves said "the Oslo-Bergen route--called Bergenbanen by Norwegians--is simply the most spectacular train ride in Northern Europe."

Like I said about Petra last year, although I am posting these pictures, I feel like the photos don’t do justice to the scale. The picture at the top of this post has three glaciers.

I noted on Day #2 that I was surprised to find low, rolling hills as we drove into Oslo. I had expected more dramatic mountains. Traveling to Bergen, you get dramatic mountains.


Viking transferred the group to the hotel in a bus. We are spending two nights at Norge. Sharon and I were very disappointed in the room...

After getting settled, we went out to explore. There were a lot of tourists in the old part of town. Eventually, we found a quiet spot off the beaten path in historic Hanaeatic District for a glass of rose.

We finished the day with dinner at Bryggeriet, a restaurant and microbrewery. We both had a green salad and the fish special of day (Cod). The view of the harbour was great, but the food and service not so much.

We crashed about 9:30 pm.

Sharon still doesn't have her bag. After haranguing Viking on Tuesday night, Sharon's big bag started to move. Over the course of the day, we saw it in Munich. Unfortuantely, Lafthansa then sent it to Oslo Airport. Sharon spent some time talking to Viking on the phone on the train trying to get it routed to the hotel in Bergen.