Our sightseeing in Alta today, the City of the Northern Lights! They have built a Lutheran cathedral, the cathedral of the Northern lights, designed to be a monument to the lights as well as to God.  The concrete structure, spiraling up,  with long lights rising like the Aurora,  the bronze statute of Christ looking up to a sky (light), the 18,000 pipes and concrete cylinder all make your eyes rise up to God.  The outside is covered in titanium plates that reflect the weather outside, dull grey in the shade and  clouds,  gleaming in the sun.

We visited the Alta museum,  sheltering a few of the over 6000 rock carvings found in the area from prehistoric times.  Outside, in nature where they are found,  the carvings are allowed to remained covered by snow fall to protect them against harsh weather,  so in winter these inside are the only ones visible

The weather was sunny and bright for our drive and the city is beautifully situated among mountains and forest,  beside the beautiful Alta River and Fjord. 

We treated ourselves to a delightful evening off the ship in this lovely Swedish design cabin.  

We enjoyed a great dinner at the local Sami restaurant,  with local indigenous food specialities,  reindeer stew.  

We returned “home” to enjoy a soak in the hot tub before relaxing in a great adjustable bed… but the skies are still closed, so there no Northern lights tonight! 

This video says it all…..

The northernmost city in the world,  known for its great views of the Aurora…. but it’s snowing.   Pray for a break in the weather before we leave tomorrow night

This morning, March 14, we awake as the ship entered into the Norwegian archipelago,  the islands along the coast!  It is the Norwegian Inside Passage.   The sun was just rising, hitting the tops of the Coastal mountains.  The skies are gorgeous…. at the moment, sunny and beautiful.

Farther north,  more snow and cooler,  but Beautiful today, March 15, the ides of March, the 49th anniversary of the day we moved from Michigan to California

Our cruise is beginning today.   Yesterday we arrived in Bergen and joined the ship overnight here.   Today we were able to do a short tour of Bergen,  before we set sail.  Bergen Harbor,  one of the primary Hanseatic League cities of the 14th and 15th centuries,  still exhibits the wooden houses of that time along the harbor. 

Edvard Greig, one of the most prominent composers of Norway was born here and today we visited the concert hall,  shaped like a piano,  named for him.  

The fortress of Bergen was our last short visit as the weather is moving in,  colder and drizzly rain. 

The ship sails on moments from now.   Pray for calm seas and clearer skies for us,  please!

We have just 2 nights here in Oslo,  since the Lufthansa strike wiped out 2 of our travel days,  but we took advantage and saw a lot.

Emmett went out early to the Vigeland sculpture garden ( I was still a bit under the weather)  his photos are spectacular! 

After his return,  we walked around the city itself.  

Akershus castle Fortress,  built over almost 500 years!  1299 to 1773

The opera house and Munch museum on the harbor are beautiful!  And along the harbor are little saunas. With wood stacked to heat them

Life in Oslo!

Our upper deck 747-8 flight was a once in a lifetime experience!  They are aging out with very few new ones being built…. in fact I think the only ones are the 2 new Airforce one and spare that President Trump ordered,  reversing the expensive order of Obama for a foreign maker!  The upper deck on these were comfortable and roomy but not as private or luxurious as the newer models of Airbus, Of course…. making them, as one critic said. “the worst business class you MUST do! ”  Food was marginal, but the all around experience was amazing!  You can’t imagine how high you are off the ground until you are up there!    Too top it off,  as we were flying at 40 000″ I watched our the window and saw what I believe to be the Aurora !  My pictures are ok in total darkness but they don’t show on FB as you need full resolution to see the faint color.   I just feel blessed we have been able to experience this bucket list item!  God is good!

Great Tesla uber to LAX, where we Enjoyed the Star Alliance lounge.  Front door to lounge in about an hour!  Lovely business class seats on the upper deck of 847-8 on Luftansa  to Frankfurt! 

Out the door!  Bags aren’t even expanded!  … so we did pack efficiently!

Our scripture for packing

‭‭Galatians 6:5 KJV‬‬
[5] For every man shall bear his own burden.

We are a few days away from our next departure!  It was supposed to be Thursday!  But….The joys of travel!  Luftansa ground crews decided to strike March 7 and 8!  Exactly the dates we were traveling.   Our travel agent,  who helped us book our flights, was able to jump on the computer and grab the last 2 business class seats on the same flight on  March 9 !  One of the perks of using an agent for flights!  We had booked 4 extra nights in Oslo before our cruise.   We are down to 2 extra nights,  1 day of sightseeing,  but still arriving on Bergen on time!  I always book at least 2 extra nights!  Some little bird told me to come 4 days early this time! And I’m SO  Glad I did!  thank you,  Jesus! For seeing us thru this travel drama!   I think He was that little bird!

On the bright side, we saved 2 nights hotel bill in Oslo!

We fly to Bergen from our shortened stay in Oslo. To begin cruising the Norway fjords from Bergen up to Alta,  in search of the Northern lights!  At the next to last port of the cruise,  Amsterdam,  we are hopping off to fly to Lisbon to meet our cousins,  my cousin  Kathy and Emmett’s cousin Bert,  who are joining us for a 3 week road trip in Portugal and Northern Spain’s Galacia and Basque regions.  We will take a short detour up to Bordeaux, then back to Spain to visit Zaragoza,  Valencia ( for Bert’s interest)   ending in Barcelona to see the progress on the Sagrada Familia! 

In researching our return home,  Emmett found a repositioning cruise for less than the price of flights home!   So Kathy is joining us and we will cruise 2 weeks on the Atlantic,  visiting Malaga, the Grand  Canaria island, and Bermuda.  We booked a 5 day stay in Florida near Orlando after landing in Port Canaveral, where we can visit another cousin,  Jeff and his wife Tammy in New Smyrna Beach.   I hope we can connect with a couple cruise friends,  Kathy and Karen,  while we are in Orlando!  

We aren’t done yet!  Grandson Walker is graduating the next week,  so we will fly directly to Nebraska to celebrate with him, hopefully get to see grandson Tucker compete in the state track finals.  Then we fly to Austin for a few days for a Crawfish boil with Emmett’s daughter Rebecca and celebrate granddaughter-in -law, Kaila’s birthday! Whew!  Makes me tired must writing about it all! 

Stay tuned for progress on the trip!