jamestravels

Out of Bergen (easily, we’d already done it twice previously) on to Luster via the snow road (see photos of the traffic jam) and a night at Dosen Gard. Then via Lom to Geiranger and another series of hairpin bends to Eidsdal, in a cabin perched on the side of a mountain! Finally to Hjelle via Stryn, more tunnels and ferries, to a magnificent old Swiss style hotel on the edge of a glacier-fed lake.

Adios to Copenhagen! Tak to Scandinavia for a great time, fantastic weather and so many highlights for our slide night!! Took the Metro from Forum (close to the apartment) straight to the airport. I wonder if Melbourne could arrange something similar? Hmmm...... the copenhagers were a little subdued after their Big Day yesterday, probably with good reason. There was a fair bit happening during the night, even in our quiet part of town, and the streets next morning were deserted at 9am. Our 12 hour flight turned into an 11-hour doddle- the captain announced on the runway that we had a tailwind and would be touching down early in Singapore - 6.40 am local time! Great, what were we going to do until checkin time at the M hotel at 2 pm? Well, as it turned out we could rest by the pool and grab some shut eye, followed by a proper sleep in a VERY comfortable bed for a couple of hours. Some Thai for dinner, a bit of a walk, and then back to bed again.... Next morning we were awoken by ...

4 days in Copenhagen, with lots of ideas mostly involving cycling around this amazing bike-friendly city. However the reality was daunting- tens of thousands of riders at all times of the day and night, weaving in and out on their bike lanes which seem to cover the whole city. So we went by foot to see the historic museum, Frederiksberg gardens, the Castellet and both little 🧜‍♀️ mermaids- the traditional one with queues of tourists taking the EXACT SAME PHOTO, and her genetically modified sister who had 3 visitors, of which we were two. We finished up with the Pride day March, the Danes’ version (much bigger than ours) of Mardi Gras with a touch of Moomba. All very touching, but I’m sick of getting touched by a bearded man dressed as a woman! And of course, the obligatory visit to the LEGO store!!

This was just the antidote to our big city blues- we’re over museums, galleries and churches! Give us some open country and a couple of bikes. Fbg is a little like Torquay mixed with Castlemaine- just what the doctor ordered, and thanks Paul and kikki, mats and marita for organising it all.

It was a lovely summers day in 1628, the crowds were out to see the launch of the pride of the fleet, King Gustav’s special project the Vasa. She sailed out of the harbour, a gentle breeze filled her sails, and - she heeled over and sank! Oops 333 years later and she was raised to the surface again, largely intact. Today she rests in a purpose built building, and has been visited by over 35million people, making her one of Sweden’s main tourist attractions. PS also visited some gardens and a couple of museums....

His name was Anders. He has a small boat 🚣‍♀️, in which we toured a little of Stockholm’s famous archipelago. More than 20000 islands of all shapes and sizes, some inhabited, others not. We stepped ashore on one small island which had one farming family on it, running sheep and fishing for a number of generations. Incredibly, this part of the world is slowly rising out of the sea, in response to millions of years of ice having covered it, up to 3 or 4 kilometres thick, subsequently melting and releasing the downwards pressure. A good response to rising sea levels 🌊?

Overnight rain has cooled the city down a little. After a sumptuous breakfast, part of the hotel tariff, we explored the Gamla Stan, the old city of Stockholm, much of which dates back 300-400 years. Highlights were the Palace Guard, the narrow ‘streets’ and some colourful streetscapes. But, to be honest, it was all a little underwhelming, and very touristy (we even got our first warnings on this trip from the police about pickpockets!) Next we went to look at SoFo, a ‘hip’area near our hotel. It was also a bit hohum. Maybe Oslo and Bergen have spoiled us? Then went to the Photographic museum, which happily was excellent! Brilliant, confrontational and good coffee! Finally a bus tour using the very good local system , exploring the western part of the city, a much more residential area. Dinner at the Wollmar restaurant over the road, a very noisy, friendly  local crowd , serving fish and chips 🍟 and hamburgers🍔, followed by a stroll featuring a Morris dancing exhibition in the...