A day out of a picture book

This day has been unbelievable again. We got so many different impressions that we want to show you today lots of pictures in the blog again. Pictures will say than words today.

We started very early in the morning at 5:20 in front of the bird cliff in Runde before we reached Ålesund later in the morning.

Lisa Anderson

Lisa Anderson

Some guests made the decision to go by bus from Ålesund to Geiranger.

FriedaPhoto

Others enjoyed the "art nouveau town" Ålesund before they sailed with FRAM through the impressive fjord system to Geiranger. 

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

 

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

Others enjoyed the "art nouveau town" Ålesund before they sailed with FRAM through the impressive fjord system to Geiranger. 

Tomasz Zadrozny

Lisa Anderson

Lisa Anderson

In Geiranger the hikers got another chance to test their fitness.

Tomasz Zadrozny

Tomasz Zadrozny

Tomasz Zadrozny

All passengers had a more or less full packed day in this wonderful and amazing Norwegian fjord area. In the evening everybody was more than tired - but totally happy. What a day!

A day in Sognefjorden

Real explorers start the day early!  We reached Nærøyfjorden 05:30 in the morning. The fjord is regarded to be one of the most beautiful and dramatic in the world and is on the UNESCO world heritage list. Hikers were dropped at Bleiklindi in the inner part of Nærøyfjorden and left there to make their way to Flåm. They followed the old postal route to Styvi. It was a very pleasant experience, as  they walked in the midst of this stunning landscape. The hikers were off the ship before breakfast; however, nobody goes hungry on Fram as the Hotel Manager and Chef had prepared a full breakfast on the beach.

Tomasz Zadrozny

Tomasz Zadrozny

Tomasz Zadrozny

The Royal Postal route were built in the 1600`s to get mail between Bergen and Gudvangen. The post was transported at this time by foot some stretches or by boat if possible. When the fjord was frozen the post had to be transported overland and the mail carrier used the route Bleiklindi-Styvi and onwards by boat.

Tomasz Zadrozny

The hikers chose the same way this morning to catch up with the ship in Flåm. They walked the 6km to Styvi and there they were picked up by Polar Cirkle boats.

Tomasz Zadrozny

In the meantime another adventure had started from Flåm; a ride with the train from Flåm to Myrdal. The railway is 20 km long, but the train climbs 867m during these 20 km, crossing back and forth across rivers and through 20 tunnels. The railway is a masterpiece of engineering.

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

Next stop in Sognefjorden was Balestrand. Some enjoyed a cultural walk through this beautiful little town surrounded by high mountains and stunning scenery.

Lisa Anderson

To get a better view some even hiked all the way up the steep trail to the viewpoint at Orabenken. 

Tomasz Zadrozny

The evening ended with a fruit and ice carving show presented by our very talented crew out of the galley and the restaurant.

Lisa Anderson

A day of reflection on our experiences

Our last day at sea was again blessed by good weather and smooth seas. Sailing along the coasts of the Netherlands and Germany we saw a surprisingly large number of oil rigs, and many wind mill farms, and for long stretches we had low-lying land in sight. So civilization was never far away!

Tomasz Zadrozny

Tomasz Zadrozny

Even though there were many lectures today, this day also gave opportunity for quiet reflection on what we had seen around the British Islands and Ireland. For many it was also a day for making plans for meeting again in the future with new friends discovered aboard. Looking at the photos that the expedition photographer made available also was an entertaining activity.

Steffi Wiegand

Steffi Wiegand

The captain’s farewell cocktail was the final even of a day that had  passed just too quickly!

Steffi Wiegand

Portsmouth - Our last port of call before we will reach Hamburg

We reached Portsmouth in the early morning hours.  The sun was shining again out of a blue sky, and so it was not really necessary to wear our nice blue HURTGRUTEN jackets, it would have been to warm. As soon as the customers have given the ship free, passengers left to learn the city of Portsmouth.

Steffi Wiegand

Steffi Wiegand

Some guests went to the mysterious standing stones of Stonehenge, by-passing the city of Southampton and Salisbury with its impressive Cathedral.

Tomasz Zadrozny

Tomasz Zadrozny

The art historians went to the historic city of Winchester and took their time to study the famous and extraordinary Cathedral.

Steffi Wiegand

Steffi Wiegand

Steffi Wiegand

Steffi Wiegand

All passengers came back on board full of new impressions, but all a little bit sad, that Portsmouth should have been our last port of call before we will reach Hamburg on the 5^th of May. But at least we could say good bye to Great Britain in sunshine.

Steffi Wiegand

Wild Donegal under a mild sun

Around 8:00 we reached Killybegs, the largest and most important fishing port in Ireland. Killybegs is located next to Donegal town in the County Donegal. The weather was more than perfect again to start with our excursions to Killybegs and its surroundings.

FriedaPhoto

One excursion started directly after our arrival and was called “Wild Donegal and Glencolmcille”. It was an impressive bus drive along the coastal road and we have been impressed how our bus driver could manage this more than small and twisting road.

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

FriedaPhoto

We reached the open air museum “Glencolmcille Folk Village” after some spectacular photo stops next to the steep cliffs of the “wild” Donegal. The museum itself gave us a good impression of the live in Ireland in the 18^th and 19^th century. 

FriedaPhoto

After the historical part of our visit we could have a nice rest with scones and Irish tea and the typical Irish live music.

FriedaPhoto

Before we stepped in our bus again we went for shopping in the very small but extraordinary good museums shop. Nearly everything has been handmade from people and products out of the region nearby. Here we could get the typical souvenirs from the “Green Island”.

The other excursion stayed in the bay of Donegal. They explored the region by water bus and have been even able to watch some seals enjoying themselves on the sunny sandy beach.  

Tomasz Zadrozny

Tomasz Zadrozny

Killybegs is a very nice and small city. On our way from the pier to the city we had to pass the fish factories and the fishing fleet of this nice harbour town.

FriedaPhoto

During the afternoon we have been invited into the “Harbour Bar” where we were greeted with Irish Live Music and where we had the opportunity to taste the Irish Beer and Whiskeys.

FriedaPhoto

The day ended on board with a Scottish evening – even we have been in Ireland now – with our Scottish couple Bernie and Beasty. We had another whisky tasting, this time without the “e”, and Scottish folk songs which are very similar to the Irish ones.