Celebrity Silhouette, Norwegian Fjords Sept. 1 2019

[Bimmer09]

We were due to take a long excursion this morning. One I hadn't thought great back in Chicago for its length and the fact that it involved a bus then a boat then a bus then a ski lift gondola then an hour atop a mountain on a day with a rain forecast of 80% and then the route in reverse. I was keen on taking pictures from on high but it gets colder as you go up and the temperature on the way in was tolerable but not toasty. I also imagined clouds at my feet as I set up the tripod. 

 

This morning, upon waking at 5.30, when I questioned the efficacy of going on this tour to Standjafell Mountain, Carol had a rethink and thought better of it. It was a $199 per person tour and I was prepared to let the money go as refunds have to be claimed 24 hours prior. Carol went to the Tour Desk and using her charm and tenacity managed to get 2 tickets to the Atlantic Ocean Park for $89 each so not all was lost.

We lost the difference between 398 and 178 or $220.

It was still a 3 hour tour so when she told me "you don't have to come if you don't want to" I decided on my own tour of "Alesund on foot with a camera". Carol's notes say "Kristy helped me with the exchange but it was not volunteered". I am hoping that Carol will tell you about her tour as it was not what I had imagined-an indoor aquarium visit. It also included a city tour on the bus.

 

Now we could have breakfast

cool chandelier by our table

 

Carol's notes say she had a feta and smoked salmon omelet

My stomach said I had a French omelet, hash browns, corned beef hash,  grilled tomato

and English back bacon

 

Carol's tour left at noon but I left the ship sometime after 11

Fancy a walk?

[Bimmer09]

While Carol would visit the Atlantic Sea Park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Sea-Park

 

and would score a fish magnet

 

I set out on foot on a self-guided tour of

 

don't fence me in

 

Pacific Princess is a sister to all 3 Azamara ships and Oceania's Sirena to name but 4.

I have been on Azzes Journey which is a beauty and on Sirena when it belonged to Princess

where they spent about $500 spiffing it up with a Home Depot gift card as the Ocean Princess. Oceania spent $40 million

 

the ship docks right by the town so I was soon in traffic

 

once I crossed the trafficky street I was in a much quieter place

 

 

2800 people just came in on the Silhouette at 8 am and have dispersed

 

 

 

I was thinking-what a beautiful little town this is!

 

It wasn't raining and the light was soft and great for photography. It was quiet and not touristy.

The water was calm and so was I. I had to see more at a nice meandering pace.

 

a local lady remembered in metal

 

 

[Bimmer09]

school kids up ahead

 

 

a little tourist sightseeing train passes by

 

a shop window with reflection

 

my eyes keep being drawn up to the mountain viewpoint . Mt.Aksla is the name.

 

the  primarily wooden town was destroyed by fire in 1904 and rebuilt swiftly in brick and stone with the help of Kieser Wilhelm of Germany who took vacations in the area

 

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ålesund#Toponomy

[Bimmer09]

The quiet. What a pleasure to experience it. No wind. Still air at a perfect temperature for a man

in a leather jacket and a couple of layers. The kind of scene where a seagull cry can split the air like an explosion. I'm not trying to take photos from a moving vehicle on land or sea as I did in Bergen and would do in Flam and Stavanger. I'm on my feet and those are steady. I have time to look at what I am taking pictures of, move around to get the best angle, studying the readouts from the camera and savoring the hobby.  

 

I sat on a bench in this tranquil little space a few steps down from the main street

 

 

two ladies doing what I would have liked to have done-but a camera safety no-no

 

the town with 47,000 inhabitants is as pretty and well ordered as this rocky flowerbed

 

 

[CruiserRob]

school kids up ahead

 

 

a little tourist sightseeing train passes by

 

a shop window with reflection

 

my eyes keep being drawn up to the mountain viewpoint . Mt.Aksla is the name.

 

the  primarily wooden town was destroyed by fire in 1904 and rebuilt swiftly in brick and stone with the help of Kieser Wilhelm of Germany who took vacations in the area

 

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ålesund#Toponomy

Norris since you didn’t make it to the top here are some shots that I took las year



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[deladane]

On 9/23/2019 at 11:38 AM, Bimmer09 said:

This is Jose the Assistant waiter, who, after serving and setting the table for tomorrow's lunch service would take on the midnight to 5 a.m cleaning shift, vacuuming decks 3 and 4 and the Oceanview Cafe. His smile says he was ok with that-but he was always smiling! 

 

 

No Way!!  Jose was our assistant waiter on the Eclipse in March 2108!!  That was a 14 night cruise, and we were seated in his section nearly every night... he was wonderful!  So glad to see he is doing well and still working for Celebrity 🙂  I'm a little behind in reading your review because I was out of town for a week, but I'm getting caught up now.  As always, you're doing a fabulous job and I'm loving your review!

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

I met a family of Trolls outside a shop. As the woman had a young baby (which could have been a Troll doll as all the shops have those) and I was touched and inclined to help them. I gave the lady 5 Krone and did I get one word of thanks or the Norwegian for "God bless ya Guv'nor, you've got a lucky face" (which is certainly not the case)? Of course not! Ungrateful.

 

 

when you walk down a  street and say "oh! Cruise ship!"

 

 

I looked up at the winding path on Mt Aksla. 418 steps up and then 418 down.

The words to "Climb Every Mountain" ran through my head and soon I found myself singing it at the top of my lungs in a loud baritone as I have a deep voice. " 'Till-You-Find-Your -Dreeeeeeeeeam!" I was down on one knee with my arms outstretched and my eyes closed.

When I opened them there was a small gathering of music lovers one of whom threw 5 Krone into my open camera bag. Excellent! Account balanced once more.

 

I began my walk to the base of the Mountain with 16 pounds of cameras over my shoulder.

 

Along the way but too soon after breakfast

 

"You would not think to look at him

But he was famous long ago

For playing the electric violin on...."

 

 

 

[PurpleTraveller]

Hi Norris, 

 

I know I'm late to the party but I've been gallivanting in China. I've caught up now and have thoroughly enjoyed your review so far and love your always excellent photos. I loved Norway and it looks like you also enjoyed it. 

 

Please tell me you read my advice and didn't walk up the steps to the Aksla lookout but went up the much easier winding path through the parkland! 😊

 

Looking forward to reading the rest of your review and seeing more fabulous photos! 

 

Allison

[perfect match]

I’m loving the tour of Norway through your camera lens. The pictures are beautiful! 

 

Carol, I hope you will decide to chime in with some more info on the aquarium. I’d love to hear more about it!  🐠🦈🦞🐟🐬🦀🐋🐳🦑

[Redrobo]

Dont fence me in ------   Roy Rogers, 

 

 

You would not think--- Bob Dylan  Desolation Row,  my son is a great fan of his.

[scubacruiserx2]

It was raining when we were in Alesund in June so we went to Geirangerfjord

 

 

 

Check out the guy on the right

 

 

Waiting for the ferry to unload

 

 

 

 

 

 

A picnic lunch

 

 

The view from Askla

 

 

The Zuiderdam

 

[Bimmer09]

11 hours ago, PurpleTraveller said:

Hi Norris, 

 

I know I'm late to the party but I've been gallivanting in China. I've caught up now and have thoroughly enjoyed your review so far and love your always excellent photos. I loved Norway and it looks like you also enjoyed it. 

 

Please tell me you read my advice and didn't walk up the steps to the Aksla lookout but went up the much easier winding path through the parkland! 😊

 

Looking forward to reading the rest of your review and seeing more fabulous photos! 

 

Allison

 

Allison, when I saw that zigzag path up the steps I had to do it as it was an opportunity to take photos from many different levels.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I walked up some steep streets to the base of Mt Aksla and there found a hilly little park with benches.

 

The last building before the park was a kindergarten school and the kids were out playing.

I perched on a bench on a hill and below was a group of 30 teenagers being drilled in running exercises-short sprints, running in place etc. They did this quietly along the many paths in the park

Norwegian Wood

 

 

My plan was to take those 418 steps up to the top, stopping to take photos on different levels Along the way I would rest on benches

 

The walk is a mix of smooth pathways and steps and I am soon above the park trees

 

There's an 11,000 foot long tunnel to this island in the distance

 

Home

 

steep steps

 

 

getting a better angle on Pacific Princess

 

[Bimmer09]

2 photos stitched together

 

I didn't time how long it took to get to the top as I often stopped and sat on a bench where I could change lenses and let others pass. At times people posing were impediments to taking a shot at a certain level but I knew I would be coming down again later and was in no rush to take a hurried shot. Just sitting on a bench looking over the scene was very calming. 

 

I'm at the top

 

He soon will be

 

 

I rest on a bench

 

the non-Iconic view

 

 

there's a view restaurant and bar. Restrooms for patrons only

 

After a relaxing sit with a cigarette I retrace my steps. First I must tell you that at the summit there was a coach and taxis were dropping off if you don't want to climb the steps or pathways from the park. Even the little tourist train comes up here.

[Bimmer09]

going down

some of the steps will be numbered to show how far you have come

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

 

 

and I am down to the park again

[Drysil]

My favorite part of the few days (mid-vacation) that I spent in north-central Italy a few years ago was exactly the thing you mention -- the quiet.  It was a great joy -- kind of an honor, in a strange sort of way -- to walk around the streets of a small town and simply be at peace, far from the tourist crowds, merely being for a little while.  It's made me seek out similar places in my subsequent travels.

[tcmagnum]

On ‎9‎/‎30‎/‎2019 at 11:24 AM, Bimmer09 said:

 

 

 

 

 

There is something bittersweet about watching the sun set on a town you visit on a port call as the ship pulls away...

[Walt fan]

You can feel the peace and tranquility through your lens Norris.  Beautiful town.  I think a walking tour or meandering as you did is the best way to feel and see and experience a city or town.

 

I think I almost lost some coffee seeing your remark about the Home Depot card.  That was a good one.  

[tcmagnum]

22 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

The quiet. What a pleasure to experience it. No wind. Still air at a perfect temperature for a man

in a leather jacket and a couple of layers. The kind of scene where a seagull cry can split the air like an explosion. I'm not trying to take photos from a moving vehicle on land or sea as I did in Bergen and would do in Flam and Stavanger. I'm on my feet and those are steady. I have time to look at what I am taking pictures of, move around to get the best angle, studying the readouts from the camera and savoring the hobby.  

 

 

I love how you put your thoughts into words...I can almost imagine being here.  I felt like this in Venice...I got up early, before anyone else in our group.  Sat out side the hotel on the main canal and watch the city come to life.  So peaceful being able to take it all in on my own pace...

[go noles]

Norwegian Wood - The Beatles

 

Edited October 2, 2019 by go noles

[Bimmer09]

9 hours ago, tcmagnum said:

 

I love how you put your thoughts into words...I can almost imagine being here.  I felt like this in Venice...I got up early, before anyone else in our group.  Sat out side the hotel on the main canal and watch the city come to life.  So peaceful being able to take it all in on my own pace...

 

Thanks for the comments and for being able to put yourself in my shoes from experience.

Stopping to "smell the roses" is a big part of my love for travel and the early morning as a city sleeps and then slowly starts to come alive is the best part of the day for me.

In Venice (and Rome) I was on the streets at 5 a.m in the dark but in those places my antennae were up and it was not a relaxed experience like Alesund in broad daylight. But I wasn't accosted in Venice or Rome- I was just using the senses I would use in a violent city like Chicago, where I am often out on the street at 5 a.m in the dark but stay close to home and there are whole swaths of Chicago I wouldn't dream of stepping into at any time of day.

 

Quiet is a treasure, both to me and Carol. Canned music is all around even when you take an elevator ride in the USA, add the sirens from police fire and ambulance, honking car horns, people taking into their cell phones 24/7, car sound systems that rattle the bodywork and so on.

 

We had a hotel in Venice like you describe -Sant Angelo I think it was called, right by the Vaparetto stop of the same name and I sat out there 5 feet from the Grand Canal in the early morning with my espresso and late at night with my sambuca and reveled in each minute. Life was good. And it was good in Norway.

Much more to come!

Norris

 

[perfect match]

Norris, what a beautiful walk! 

[jdacombe]

Thank you for your great review and photos, we were on the cruise the week before you and the photos certainly bring back some lovely memories of a beautiful ship and fantastic locations.

 

Some of the locals of Bergen and Alesund:

[jdacombe]

And preparing for the sail away from Alesund!!