Norway

The tourist blurb talks about the Opera House as an ‘illusion of glistening ice’ being built from white marble and granite.  Its one of the ‘must do’ destinations – to walk up the incline and see the views from the roof – bit tricky with the ice and snow but worth it.  We researched our ‘spot’ to take its photograph on a beautiful, wintry evening alongside others with iPhone to big heavy/expensive gear.  As people drifted away, one chirped . . . “have you tried alongside the bank by the saunas”.  Bearing in mind, we had the full thermal Michelin gear, there were these . . . people . . . coming out of little wooden huts bobbing around on the water  . . . in swimming gear!  Apparently, it is a thing in Scandinavia!

Long story short – we ended back in Oslo three days later.

The travel itinerary had changed and so we took the opportunity for a guided tour up to the district of  Holmenkollen – home to the famous ski jump. From this viewpoint (very, very high – seeing is believing what these athletics jump from), we noticed the church on the other side. Rather than spend the short time in the museum we wandered over to the cross-country ski run and tried to get some shots of the stunning scenery.    

We call this the ‘San Fransico effect’ –  cold and warm air colliding to form fog.  Our photography mentor, Ion Paciu, is always telling us . . . this is good.  As we walked through elegant pedestrian bridges spanning canals in Tjuvholmen, we spied little boats though the mist.  The slipway was treacherous but it was worth it.

Bergen

Our walking tour started early before sunrise.  The sun started to rise highlighting the Bryggen Wharf with its row of timbered Hanseatic warehouses – a UNESCO world heritage site.  Trying to keep upright (the melted ice had frozen overnight), we saw this view.   

Trondheim

Trondheim is one of Norway’s most important ports found at the mouth of the Nidelva River.  Founded in 997 AD by King Olaf I Tryggvason, this picturesque neighbourhood was full of cobblestoned streets and colourful houses.  The dramatic weather highlighted the houses on the shore on one side of the ship and the breakwater on the other.

Kristiansand

The guide books talk about ‘small-world’ charm with rich traditions embodied in old wooden houses of the old town.  We could not see much that day . . . heavy rain.  This picture looks like it has been taken towards the end of the day not mid morning from the shelter of a bridge.  The other wooden houses had full scale road works – diggers, metal fences, heaps of dirt – not very picturesque. It will all be finished by spring when the visitors arrive.

Flamsbana Railway

From the Norweign Sea, the waters of Hardangerfjord lead to the hamlet of Eidfjord. From here, we travelled by coach to Sognefjord through scenic mountains driving through man made tunnels (with the odd roundabout in the middle) and numerous bridges. From Voss via Myrdal to Flam, we went by rail (Flamsbana railway).

There are always opportunities – sometimes we just want the memory of the moment and, sometimes, with the DLSR camera, we get images like these (despite bobbing around in the sea).   

Delft

Delft – strangely familiar (Scarlett Johansson striding the streets in Peter Webber’s Girl with a Pearl Earring) with the famous Royal Delft Blue (1653), this medieval city is full of elegance and history.  

The London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury Essex

Tilbury is found 25 miles east of London on the River Thames and has served cruise liners from 1916. The excitement for us was coming home having lived just up the road for about 25 years.  We have walked along the embankment here (Coalhouse Fort) many a time, have been in the Cruise Terminal for various functions and to finally experience this from the water . . . priceless.  The sun even came out.