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Postcards from the Transition

Postcards from the Transition.

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  • Cruises
    • Iceland, Greenland & Scotland 2017

Category: Norway

Cruises, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords Explorer2 Comments

Fjord Thoughts

June 1, 2019June 1, 2019 Rich McClear

“It looks familiar and strange at the same time.”  All through the cruise people ask me if Norway is like Alaska, how are they different?  How are the same?  In a way sailing through Norwegian Fjords is a disorienting experience.  … Continue reading Fjord Thoughts

Cruises, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords ExplorerLeave a comment

Oil Town — Stavanger

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 Rich McClear

When we got off Prinsendam in Stavanger, I noticed some buses and trucks idling.  A sign proclaimed Stavanger the sister of Houston.  This is oil country.  Stavanger is the city in Western Norway closest to the North Sea oil fields.  … Continue reading Oil Town — Stavanger

Cruises, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords ExplorerLeave a comment

Bergen Sailout

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 Rich McClear

The weather turned for the better as we left Bergen giving us a beautiful sail out. One of the picture is of a place where they train oil rig crews how to get into one of those lifeboats that eject … Continue reading Bergen Sailout

Cruises, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords ExplorerLeave a comment

It’s a Nice Place to Live…

May 31, 2019May 31, 2019 Rich McClear

…but you wouldn’t want to visit here… …is a line Sitkans sometime use when referring to people coming off cruise ships.  It rains a lot and your odds of getting Sitka on a rainy day are pretty high, but when … Continue reading It’s a Nice Place to Live…

Cruises, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords Explorer1 Comment

Geiranger’s Dilemma

May 29, 2019May 29, 2019 Rich McClear

When we got on the tender in Geiranger it was 30 degrees (minus 1 Celsius) and there were a few snow flurries, although no accumulation.  There was snow not too far up the mountains and a local told us that … Continue reading Geiranger’s Dilemma

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Art Nouveau Phoenix — Ålesund

May 29, 2019May 29, 2019 Rich McClear

In 1904 the fishing city of Ålesund burned to the ground.  There was only one fatality but the whole city was homeless.  Around Europe people responded.  In Paris there were benefit concerts, in Germany Keiser Wilhelm personally got involved in … Continue reading Art Nouveau Phoenix — Ålesund

Architecture, Cruises, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords Explorer, ReligiousLeave a comment

Trondheim — St. Olaf and Rock and Roll.

May 28, 2019May 28, 2019 Rich McClear

Trondheim is a place of pilgrimage, for two types of pilgrim, religious and rock ‘n rollers.  First St. Olaf (in the Norwegian brochures it is St Olav, in English, St. Olaf.  St. Olaf is pretty engrained in my brain so … Continue reading Trondheim — St. Olaf and Rock and Roll.

Cruises, Ferries, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords Explorer, Trains, Transportation1 Comment

Flåm Valley

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019 Rich McClear

These are more pictures, companions to the post Flåm Railway. The final picture is the electric ferry, “Future of the Fjords” it can travel 40 KM on a charge and takes 25 minutes to recharge. I will be talking about … Continue reading Flåm Valley

Cruises, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords Explorer, Trains, TransportationLeave a comment

Flåm Railway

May 27, 2019May 27, 2019 Rich McClear

This is not the first time we have ridden the Flåm Railway.  One of my most vivid memories of traveling with the kids was standing on the platform at a station on the line, after having gotten off at a … Continue reading Flåm Railway

Cruises, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords ExplorerLeave a comment

Small Town Jack of All Trades — Eidsfjord.

May 26, 2019May 26, 2019 Rich McClear

Eidsfjord has to rethink itself.  It is at the very end of the fjord after which it is named which is, in turn, at the end of the Hardanger Fjord, which is one of the longest in Norway.  It has … Continue reading Small Town Jack of All Trades — Eidsfjord.

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Um Ya Ya (Arendal)

May 25, 2019May 25, 2019 Rich McClear

Outside our stateroom window fair haired young people in Norwegian sweaters and jeans were lining up along a path right next to Prinsendam.  It looked like the 1965 St. Olaf ski club including one, and only one, black kid.  When … Continue reading Um Ya Ya (Arendal)

Cruises, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords Explorer1 Comment

Memories of Gustav Vigeland

May 24, 2019May 24, 2019 Rich McClear

This is a second photo page for the last post “Feeling So 20th Century in Oslo.” Frogner Park in Oslo, Norway has a huge sculpture garden dedicated to the work of Gustav Vigeland. It is a special place for Suzi … Continue reading Memories of Gustav Vigeland

Architecture, Cruises, Norway, Prinsendam Norwegian Fjords Explorer, ReligiousLeave a comment

Feeling So 20th Century in Oslo

May 24, 2019May 24, 2019 Rich McClear

The lecturer on the ship told us that in Oslo we would be tie up at Askershaus, a fortress fairly close to much of what I wanted to see in Oslo.  He told us there would be a money exchange, … Continue reading Feeling So 20th Century in Oslo

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