I went to Norway aboard the Queen Mary 2 (QM2) at the time, the largest cruise ship afloat. The cruise left from Southampton and our first stop was in Bergen. En route, whilst at sea, there was a murder aboard the ship, when according to the crew I spoke with, a Philippino carpenter smashed his cousin, a Phillipino electrician around the head several times in the crew mess, before they were separated. The victim was airlifted to the Netherlands, although he apparently died as we was being boarded on to the helicopter. The assailant was kept confined to quarters until we docked back in Southampton where the Hampshire constabulary took him into custody. There was no need for the Belgian with the funny moustache who I saw moping around in his three piece suit. The murder mystery night was cancelled as there was no mystery except why this ship not even two years old yet seems to be so beset with disasters. Many of the crew confided to me that they believed it to be a cursed ship and couldn't wait to get off as soon as possible.
Anyway after that dramatic beginning, we got to Bergen, Norway's second city, through the picturesque fjords. We went for a wander and found the botanical gardens which were pretty. Then we went up a funicular railway to get nice views of the surrounding area from the top of a mountain. From there we walked down, with a bit of cross-country involved. We finally reached the bottom and had slightly achy joints from so much downhill, though it was well worth the walk as we found various pretty and interesting things to see on the way down. Amongst these was a traditionally turf-roofed house. I don't think the folk out to greet us looked like the stereotypical Nordic types, but in actuality, not many of the locals did.
We came across a tree that was reminiscent of a Dali painting. Although not as clear in the photo as in reality, there appeared a monsters face and mouth (which has the beam stuck in it). Much clearer is what looks like a naked woman in the roots, curled up with her back to a larger man. You need to use your imagination slightly.
There is a very old part to Bergen, which is made up of wooden buildings, which are now used to try and separate the tourist from his money.
On our way back to the ship, we came across a parade of the navy, both active and retired in the main square, they were commemorating the anniversary of their founding or similar. Judging by the look of them, they start young. Also discipline isn't what it could be.
In Flam we took a train in to the Fjords, it gave us good views of the mountains up close and we stopped briefly at a picturesque waterfall.
We changed trains partway up, which gave us a chance to look at the mountains a bit and Natasha fell over in the snow.
We made our return by tour bus, going along snaking roads, one of which had a number of hairpin bends.
We spent a little while at the Twinde falls, then we left Flam and set off back through the Fjords, accompanied for the first part by a couple of local boats, particularly one speedboat that did laps round the ship, whilst people aboard seemed to be taking photos.
In Aalesund we went for a wander, climbed up the nearby mountain for the views, then got a bus to the nearby islands. It then transpired that the next bus would be too late for us to get to the ship in time, however the bus driver was very helpful and actually drove us in his break to meet another bus, he had contacted by radio, which got us back with lots of time to spare. Nice people.
As we left Aalesund, there were bands playing from the shore, then as we got further out, there was music being played loudly from a nearby ship for our benefit, including our national anthem. A fireboat sprayed a salute and some people lit a big pyre, which helped to remind one this was the land of vikings.
Throughout the fjords, the skies would change temperament and hue and were dramatic themselves, as well as framing the impressive scenery well. At times we would pass small villages perched on the side of the fjords or just isolated houses and shacks.
