Tuesday July 10, 2007
We sailed into Norway’s capital this morning, while we were still waking up and eating breakfast out on deck. Set at the head of the magnificent Oslofjord, Oslo (pronounced ‘Oos-low’) was founded way back in the 11th century by the cheerful-sounding Harald the Severe.
Once ashore, we were bussed through the city centre, past a charming collection of old and even older buildings – then (while some of us snoozed) out into the countryside, through lush farmland and conifer forests, to the Hadeland Glassworks. Here we sampled some divine cake-&-pastry in a cosy old barn-cum-restaurant before watching artists blow and shape their gorgeous glass.
Then it was back into town for a quick visit to Oslo’s famous Viking Ship Museum (displaying three excavated longboats from the 9th and 10th centuries – that’s REALLY old!)) before returning to the Marco Polo.
This evening, we kissed goodbye to Norway and the stunning, unforgettable scenery we’ve enjoyed over the past week. The Norwegian Fjords were winners, everyone agrees – an absolute TREAT!
PEOPLE NEWS: Another mad award was dished out today:
* The ‘Mucking Up The System Award’ to Patty T – for kindly picking up all the little bits of paper the housekeeping staff use to tell them if we’ve left our rooms. (Each morning they poke these tiny, almost invisible, scraps in the door jamb; when we leave our cabins the tiny scraps fall to the floor, signalling to the ever-watchful staff that we’re up-&-about. Not knowing this, tidy Patty has been confusing her cabin-boy.)
TOMORROW: We drop anchor in Skagen (Denmark) with its lighthouses, squat yellow dwellings, and migrating sand-dune. So stay tuned …
Yours bloggedly – JOHN
P.S. Don’t forget – if you want to leave a message for anyone in our group, just click on ‘COMMENTS’ under the title for today’s blog, and type away!
Hi darlings … so luv the look of the capital … really quaint aye – can see this is yet another place I’d like to go. I nearly wet myself imagining the poor cabin boy .. they are so clever aren’t they – never impose on your privacy. What a hoot. Oh to have the bed made and turned back with choc’s again. Bliss. Don’t worry though – you two just continue swanning around the world while us mere mortals continue to work their tails off. I don’t quite get it though … my behind doesn’t seem to be deminishing in size 🙁
Luv you heaps … big hug to Noel & Joc too xxxxx