Russian around the Baltic with some spice to finish off!

[love_the_life]

Believe me, have misplaced many a hotel in my 'early' days :shock:

As long as that was all that was misplaced
And not like an ex PM who seemed to have misplaced his trousers (though not as a result of the chocolate brownie)

 

[Pushka]

Well today (currently 3.40 pm) turned out very pleasantly. Being a Sunday and chilled out with no plan for Oslo we enjoyed chatting in the buffet as it segued from breakfast to lunch and watching people depart under heavy rain. Then suddenly it cleared so off we went.

Surprisingly the tourist shops sell excellent items for a great price. Think excellent quality long woollen socks, caps, scarves all using the theme 'Scandinavian Explorer' and the flags of all the countries we'd been to. And I love trolls. Norway is the land of the troll. Bought a Christmas trinket for SIL and an engraved silver thimble for her and her daughter - they are quilters. A cap and socks for me and the kidlets. A t shirt for MrP. All great quality and not expensive.

Then we set off just for a walk around the Harbour. Really pretty and a little like Hobart.




Clever street art


Cute but very expensive restaurant

 

[Pushka]

Fancy fish and chips at a stall for $20 a pop?


This guy is walking on a low tightrope. He fell off just after this photo.


Nobel Peace Museum


We then bumped into an Irish couple we'd met on the boat. They'd been walking for hours in the rain. They suggested we go visit the Town Hall which is free to the public and is where the Nobel Peace Medals are presented. It was a great idea as it turned out and seems like not many know about it as it was lovely and quiet.

The gardens on the way

 

[Pushka]

The entrance


Indeed it was beautiful inside with magnificent tapestries depicting life events and the history of Norway. It's still a functioning Civic Centre.

Stunning mosaics filling the walls

 

[Pushka]

Displays of beautiful gifts from other countries.



I think these are Nobel Medals? Not much in English here.




The functional Council Chamber


With glorious tapestry

 

[Pushka]

More public rooms. You can see how wonderfully clear it was of tourists.


After all the glitz of SPB I really enjoyed the cleaner lines of Scandinavian decor.

 

[Pushka]

Media room and more public rooms




Pipes from the organ

 

[Pushka]

Then it was outside. We decided not to eat along the shore as the Irish couple told us it would cost around $25 each.

Mmmm?

Drama presentation. Nice venue

 

[Pushka]

View of the ski jump with zoom


And in the distance





The Town Hall in the distance - two towers


We now have a 3 hour transit through the Fjord starting at 5pm.

Lunch onboard

 

[Pushka]

The sailaway was indeed idyllic. We headed to the aft and pulled away just before 5pm. Sun shining brightly and it was warm.



Crystal Symphony


Where we had been berthed




Just brave

 

[Pushka]

Why fly when you can have a rest and still get fed.

 

[Pushka]

Clearly no wake restrictions here


Random Titanic makers



By now we had slowed right down again.

Locals perched everywhere to wave goodbye

 

[Pushka]

Gorgeous stuff. Now on our balcony





The Captain was looking aft and waved to us on the balcony then moved away.


I know. It's blurred.

 

[Pushka]

There's a swell that built up once we entered the North Sea. We were at dinner last night and saw the pilot boat come to retrieve the pilot at 8pm - 3 hours after we'd left. This was taken through a window but shows the swell and chop in the sea.





Surprisingly the retrieval only took a few minutes and then they were speeding off. I guess they are used to the seas.


Full moon party last night. Full moon was in SPB.

True colour.

Must have a word with SIL who wants to do the west side cruise of Norway and Iceland. She gets seasick and imagine she'd be a little poorly today - the west side would be much worse than this.

 

[Pushka]

Company today.
Cunard Queen Elizabeth.

 

[RooFlyer]

Phooey - I missed the inside of the Oslo Town hall. Was unimpressed with the exterior, so I always walked on by ...

But I see FDR has had his nose job ... its been broken off for quite a while, including when I visited in mid April.

 

[Pushka]

Phooey - I missed the inside of the Oslo Town hall. Was unimpressed with the exterior, so I always walked on by ...

But I see FDR has had his nose job ... its been broken off for quite a while, including when I visited in mid April.

Indeed. If it wasn't for our Irish friends we would not have gone inside. Clearly most don't as the tourist numbers were delightfully low. It was really interesting and honestly preferred the style to some of the museums in SPB.

Why is there a statue of FDR? We couldn't see an explanation.

 

[OZDUCK]

Indeed. If it wasn't for our Irish friends we would not have gone inside. Clearly most don't as the tourist numbers were delightfully low. It was really interesting and honestly preferred the style to some of the museums in SPB.

Why is there a statue of FDR? We couldn't see an explanation.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Look_to_Norway & https://no.usembassy.gov/new-nose-franklin-d-roosevelt/

Keep enjoying your trip

 

[Pushka]

We had a fabulous dinner last night with our four Canadian friends. So many funny stories that left me in tears. We were second last to leave the dining room and did so when they turned the lights on full. Time is so hard to tell when it's still bright outside.

This morning we arrived in Amsterdam to a bright sunny day which apparently is very rare here. We have extended our stay onboard until 3pm and there's about 20 of us doing the same. We have access to the pools and buffet once the new guests start boarding which is at 10.30 am - now. Until now it has been blissfully free of people except the crew who are cleaning everything to within an inch of its life.

I took some photos of the ship whilst bereft of people.
Main pool. The pools are roped off until 10.30am




These alcoves cost around $260 a day and give you butler access and food for the day. Never saw anyone use them.


And yes, that is real grass lawn.

These huge adirondack chairs are only a photo opp.

 

[Pushka]

This aft bar is usually our predinner favourite spot on Med cruises but this trip was much cooler so we only used it a couple of days.



The wonderfully empty buffet. It will be a dogs breakfast in 3 hours time.


Highly treasured seats. Blissfully quiet.


The coffee and tea area.


No sign of Noro this cruise.