Norway, 2nd port Trondheim 5/21/24

This is quite north, sunrise was 3:58 am, sunset was 10:15 pm.  We are getting close to The Land of the Midnight Sun, Norway above the Arctic Circle.  Once we go above the Arctic Circle we will be known as blue noses.  Temperature was high 50s/low 60s.

Trondheim is the 3rd largest city in Norway.  The amazing Nidaros Cathedral is here.  Coronations are held here. 

This was also a Catholic Church that became Lutheran.  St Olav was buried here, and pilgrims would come to visit his remains.  It fell into disuse and part of it was left open to the elements.  It has since been renovated extensively and they don't know what happened to St. Olav!?!

Inside the church are two very meaningful flags.  The white one is the British Battle flag from the ship that arrived to liberate the city after WW II.  The red flag is the royal flag which also came back to the city once the King and family returned.  For more info on the King and what happened at the beginning of WWII, watch the movie "The King's Choice."  (subtitled)

Flickr pictures https://www.flickr.com/gp/8663407@N07/z9Hy2p8hL5

Norway, 1st port Alesund 5/20/24

Whit Monday, also known as Monday of the Holy Spirit, is the Monday after Pentecost.  It is a big holiday, so many stores were closed.   

A small town but busy when the cruise ships come to town!  The most notable thing to do is walk up 418 stairs to a Fjellstua viewpoint.  It was a decent viewpoint but lots of people.  I felt like I was in the Klondike Gold Run line up the side of the mountain (you've seen the picture).  

We continued our walk along the backside of the hill, so we did not have to get in line to descend the hill.  We then just walked through the town back to the ship.

Flickr pictures  https://www.flickr.com/gp/8663407@N07/xUBn6sh0K2

Copenhagen 5/14-18/24

We've been here before, but there's still more to see.

We did a 2-hour walking tour. King Christian IV, also known as The Builder King, had a lot of influence in the fancy building including royal residences (there are four together in the city)

We took a Castle's tour outside of the city.  A common theme here in Denmark seems to be they built it, it burns down, repeat a few more times.

Kronberg Castle built by King Frederick II built in 1540.  Shakespeare describes this castle in Hamlet, even though he never visited it.  It mostly burned down except the chapel & ballroom.

Frederikborg Castle King Christian IV (builder king) was born here.  It burned down in 1859 but rebuilt.  This was built on the channel out to the Baltic when Denmark was a larger country, now Sweden is on the other side of the channel.  If a ship tried to pass without paying, cannons at the castle would sink them.  Now aren't they sorry they didn't pay?  We also passed this on the cruise ship on our way out of Copenhagen.

Roskilde Cathedral built 1100'ish. Was Catholic originally but now Protestant Lutheran (all church were converted during the reformation in 1500's).  There are over 1,000 people, mostly royal or rich, interred here, in the floor, walls, columns...

Viking Museum where five scuttled Viking ships were recovered, preserved and reproduced.

May 17th was the last day of school for all the 9th graders in the country, so there were celebrations and lots of kid shenanigans.  

Flickr pictures https://www.flickr.com/gp/8663407@N07/63C5L470Pr