Today our ship - the Queen Mary 2 - took us to the town of Olden - Norway. We sailed up a fiord until we hit the head of navigation - as far as the ship could go. Since the town of Olden is so small - we had to use our own shore ferry boats - taking about 100 people at a time into town. Once in town we chose a bus tour to take us to near the front edge of the Birkstal Glacier. It started to rain so the bus driver had to slide the convertible top closed.
The water coming off the glacier is super clean. As the glacier scrapes along - it scratches off small pieces of granite - called silt. This forms a layer of mud on the bottom of the fiord about 60 feet deep. It gives the water a light turquoise hew.
We got out in the rain to take a few pictures. Since it was foggy and overcast above - we chose not to go to the top of the fiord in a cable car.
Later we returned to town to shop and tour. Olden had only about 700 residents. It is also a destination of campers - hikers - kayakers.
Norway is 75% Luthern Protestant - so we visited a church from the 1700s.
Norway has their own currency - the Kroner or Crown. They are worth about a dime. So to figure out prices - you just divide the price tag by 10. So far in our trip - we have not used cash - we have not used an ATM machine. We use our Visa card or our iPhone on the scanner. It is simple and fast - there are no extra fees. the money comes straight out of your bank account. It was great on buses - subways - taxis - in London. Even at the theatre - they just scan my card. It immediately puts a receipt on my iPhone.
As I am typing at 11pm local time - it is very light outside. It is easy to take pictures with no flash. Even though it is very cloudy - it is bright enough.
This is the third night on the trip. We have been sleeping very well
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| From ou balcony |
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| Double decker bus with rollmop |
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| Cemetery at Olden Church |
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| 10 pm - cruising down fiord to Atlantic |
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| Even when raining - colors were vivid |
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| Mercedes 4WD camper |
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| Money shot of Birkstal Glacier |
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| Olden School and grounds downtown |
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| Campers are allow to park anywhere |
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Local clothing brand
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| We had a swim and hot tub. Air 57 Tub 99 |
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| Camper made of VW van |
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| The sides of the fiord |
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| Rapids next to hydro electric plant |
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| Our ship anchored offshore |
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| Old Olden Church |
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