Timely, too, because of the oil spill this year. Stavanger has been booming since the 1960s when oil was discovered off its coast. Today, it is the 3rd or 4th largest city in Norway, with a population of around 100,000. It’s hard to be precise because the information given out by the ship and that in my guidebook differ.
When Bob returned to the ship, I sleepily requested that he take my camera back out with him and get some pictures of Stavanger. He did a nice job! The city centre is small and intimate, with narrow streets and open spaces protected from car traffic. The open-air market is one of the few in Norway where you can buy produce directly from local farmers every working day throughout the year.
On our cruise in 2007 we sailed up the fjord that is most associated with Stavanger. I remember this as one of the most memorable days of that cruise three years ago. We didn’t see Lyesfjorden this time. Perhaps the most dramatic sight in Lyesfjorden is Prekestolen (Pulpit Rock), an overhanging platform above a drop of 1,959 feet to the fjord.
Meanwhile, I snoozed on until 4:30 or so. I got up, skipped the Team Trivia game, showered, and then we met new friends Rachel and Tim—both doctors from Sioux Falls, SD—for drinks and dinner. They are a delightful couple whom we met before boarding the ship and have shared other meals with them in the buffet restaurant; they, too, are on our Team Trivia team. (This time the team did a bit better and were NOT the low scorers, thankfully!) After dinner, we went back to our cabin. I was able to get some lovely sunset pictures from our veranda. We wouldn’t see many more sunsets as we headed north toward the lands of the midnight sun. As you'll see documented by the clock picture, sunset on this night was at 10:30. Below you can also see a picture of our ship.
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Bob, Alice, Tim, Rachel, Jo, and Ray--in the Horizons Lounge  |
Yum --- beautiful sunset, quiet atmosphere - lovely trip
ReplyDeleteMom you hadn't told me about the seasickness. Sounds like Mal.
ReplyDeleteAlice - I've just gone to your blog to keep up with what you've been doing this summer. You make me swoon! How do you get so much done??? I love it all - the postcards, journals, travels, grandkids, etc. What fun!
ReplyDeleteI can sympathize with your seasickness problem. I was seasick just crossing the Irish Sea. Wasn't fun. Love the wooden houses. Lovely sunset.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Susan since you have earned your sealegs. I was told eating a lot of food is helpful to avoid seasickness, so I always eat eat eat and it works. I forgot to mention that I am so curious about the Munch Museum itself, having just received Munch by Himself, with the zillion self-portraits Munch created. Guess Bob will report on the petroleum museum. I just love all the peaked roofs. Have a fondness for those.
ReplyDeleteWish we could have visited the Munch Museum, since I enjoyed the gallery at the Nat'l Museum of his works exclusively so much. One downside of cruises is that usually you're only one day or even less in any one port, and there are always so many other places you wish you could see in any place. Well, any place like Oslo! Some of the ports had little to offer other than charm and beautiful scenery, but then, that was enough! Fortunately, my seasickness was temporary and didn't bother me for the rest of the voyage!
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