Day 17 - Kristiansand, Norway & Day 18 - At Sea

Well, that's almost it for this trip. Thanks for sharing the journey with me! Today, we're at sea and there's a lot of traffic (oil, passenger and cargo ships) and oil rigs. We've been in the North Sea and are just entering the English Channel. I'll disembark tomorrow morning, spend a day in London and then fly home. I thought I'd include a pic of the "get-out-of-my-way" buffet, of which I may have over-indulged. Yesterday, we were in Kristiansand on the south coast of Norway, which is the Florida of Norway (lots of retired people). It doesn't seem like beach weather to me, but people are swimming in the ocean here. And, there a strikingly large number of people pushing their kids around in prams (just like the last port in Norway). There's a very noticable mix of older people in motorized wheelchairs and babies in prams. (a family-friendly country, I guess).

Day 16 - Bergen, Norway

OMG -- It was warm and sunny today. This place is full of trees and hills. We road the funicular up to a wooded area and walked back down. The people walk a lot here and there were lots of kids around because there was no school due to it being Election Day. It's gorgeous here -- no pollution, lots of trees. Check out the buildings that are collapsing -- they were built a long time ago and somehow are sinking. We're sailing south down the West Coast of Norway tonight.

Day 15 - Shetland Islands, Scotland

Guess what they have in the Shetland Islands? That's right, Shetland Ponies. They're soooo cute !! (34 - 42 inches high, shaggy and big stomaches). They like to groom each other in the hard-to-reach places. In the 1700s they were used to pull the coal mining carts, after it was outlawed for children to do it. Also wandered around in the Scalloway Castle, built in 1600 by Patrick Steward, 2nd Earl of Orkney, who was later executed for his brutality toward the people. It has a dungeon where 17th century witches, comdemned to die on nearb Gallows Hills, awaited their fate. Check out the steps! Today was windy and drizzly, but there were people on the Golf courses. We're sailing across the North Sea over to Norway tonight.

Day 13 - Akureyri, Iceland

Akureyri, Iceland -- what an amazing place! WOW -- It's so pristine. We saw a rare site today, trees! They say if you get lost in the woods in Iceland, just raise your arms and you'll be found. There used to be some trees, but they were all used to be build houses. Now, they're starting to plant new trees. The thrill today was going to the hotsprings amidst lava rocks, snow-capped mountains, lakes & waterfalls. That's my head popping out of the water. It's hard to describe how beautiful it is here (so pics will do). Also, added a pic of the troll marshmallows to Day 11's post). We sailed across the Arctic Circle at 9:00 tonight (didn't notice anything momumental happening).

Day 12 - Isafjordur, Iceland

More info about Iceland. They don't have a military. Crime is low (~1 murder every 3 years, most involving intoxication). There's one prison that holds 85 people and a small jail for white collar criminals. Prison sentences are relatively short. They don't believe that long-term incarceration helps to make a better person. 85% of the houses are heated with geothermal energy. No need to shovel snow as they pipe the hot water underneath their driveways. We walked around the town today, saw another beautiful rainbow (it's in the pics). Also, went to a Maritime Museum. It is a wooden building, with incredibly steep, short steps which went up to 4 stories (definitely wouldn't be up to code in SJ!) It was like a story book place with little lookout windows (the top floor being only a few feet wide, which you can see at the top of the pic). On the 2nd floor, were all sorts of accordians from the 1800's and 1900's throughout Europe -- not sure what they had to do with Maritime, but they were really cool. There's a pic of a local bakery and a 1924 Ford bakery truck that the owner brought over from England (it's parked in front of the bakery).

Day 11 - Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland

Iceland - The first thing I noticed here is that the houses do not have the brilliant, vibrant colors as they do in Greenland. Iceland has 319,000 people. The income tax is 36%, sales tax is 24%, and food tax is 14%. The tour today took us around the seaside on the peninsula. If you double click on the pic with the text, you'll be able to read it. The pic below it is a piece of iron from the shipwreck (there's still a bunch of it scattered on the beach). There are amazing rock formations, a glacier in the middle of the peninsula, and abundant waterfalls flowing down from the glacier. There were some really furry sheep, and a spattering of horses and cows. The flatlands are mostly lava formations and grass and a beautiful rainbow appeared (you can see if in the pic). We stopped for lunch and I had the BEST baked cod ever (Cod is king here). Some farm dogs came to greet us by the bus on one of our hiking stops. There are many stories of trolls and fairies in Iceland. There are big white things in the fields which are used to protect bails of hay, but out tour guide said they are actually marshmallows for the the half trolls. The half trolls can come out in the daytime and eat the marshmallows, while the other trolls can't because they'll turn into rocks. I got a pic of a gravesite where the people have placed trolls by it.