On the Road Again!

Everyone had to be back onboard no later than 4.30pm. By 4.45pm we had slipped our mooring and were heading off down the fjord towards the open sea.  Our next destination is Olden.

At sea.  Lunch was quite unremarkable.  Met some interesting people however at the table again.  Went for a walk round the promenade and by this time the weather was changing.  There were a few white horses appearing on the sea and the sun was quite hazy. We decided to try the afternoon tea today and once again it was Ok.  Met some more nice people who livened up the conversation again! Tonight was the dressing up for dinner event.  We had our invitation to the captain's drinks. Disappointingly we spent the whole hour waiting to have our photos taken ...not sure if we will want copies!  Once more in the queue we got chatting to another couple.  Exchanging views on various cruises is both interesting and helpful. As we wanted to see the "Take That" sort of tribute band performing at 8.45 we had to rush off to dinner.  The restaurants are always busy and we had a lovely table by a window.  Another interesting set of dinner companions! A co...

Stavanger. Arrived about 7am. Looked out to a murky damp day. Went back to bed. Breakfast was quite leisurely and then we got ready. Lashing down as we left. Neighbours towed in Azura's arse end.... Headed for Starbucks to use wi-fi. Onboard normal telecoms very poor sub 3G.  Now off to sightsee as it has eased off. In the end I had forgotten a cap and so ended up buying one from one of the market stalls. McBog? One of the natives...?

Arrived in Stavanger just as we were getting up. We should have thought about it and set the alarm for a bit earlier. However, the first pix are from the cabin window!! Sadly not good quality but from my phone.... Between our arrival and coming out from breakfast the Cunard Liner "Queen Elizabeth" had arrived across the port from us. More apartment block than ship!! Our excursion today is to Flor & Fjære garden. To be honest I have never been a fan of the coach party. For many years I have had photos and trips ruined by the coach hordes, from Morocco to Austria!! I'll post more pictures when the wifi becomes available. The gardens are stunning. A long cold winter had held back planting but to think that tropical and desert plants can exist in Norway is amazing. From an area of barren rock that no one valued in 1965 the owners have worked to make a tropical paradise. Most of the trips are for the restaurant and gardens for lunch and dinner. And the cruise ship trips on...

The confirmation of the excursions came today. We leave Dover on the Wednesday and cruise up the North Sea until on the Friday we arrive in Stavanger early morning and we have a half day visit to the Flor & Fjaere Gardens. The gardens are on an island so it will mean a boat trip. http://florogfjare.no/english On Saturday we are in Jondal. Here the trip is up the Folgefonna Glacier. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folgefonna Both trips are in the morning leaving us to see the towns and surroundings in the afternoon before the boat sails again. The rest of the visits will be to Olden and Bergen where we can get into town for a look around and relax a bit. As it will be June, it looks as though the sun won't be setting that far north.  Let's hope the windows have decent curtains!