When we met Cub at sillyoclock on Saturday morning , we had no idea where we were cruising to as there had been news of a Norwegian pilot boat strike. Zeebrugge, Rotterdam, Copenhagen and Gothenburg were all possible destinations and while none of these places particularly appealed to us, we went ahead with the holiday in the hope that the strike could be called off at any time.
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| I bore a good un.....He carried my case from Euston to Waterloo. |
It was midday when we got the news that Azura would be heading to the Norwegian fjords after all, YIPPEE!!!! (there were some interesting stories of the chaos this caused the people who had cancelled their holiday and then rebooked. It made good conversation at dinner.)
Azura is a beautiful ship...
with a dishy captain, Robert Camby - he was only 37.
...and after a calm sailing up the North Sea (not like on the way home folks aaarrrggghhhh) our first stop was Stavanger.
Azura docked right next to the pretty Old Town.. . with 173 200 year old white wooden houses...
....with arty door knockers...
cobbled streets ....old fashioned lampposts...and electric cars.
(How long would it take to charge up a car?)
We climbed to the top of the Valberg Tower, a lookout post for the night watchmen who looked out for fires spreading through the wooden buildings in the Old Town
..and had a great view over the Old Town. And Azura. Oh em gee she is MASSIVE!!! Look at her!
After a quick look round Stavanger we then took a train to Sandnes, purely to see the views as the train track ran all the way up the fjord. It was the quietest train we've ever been on, it was almost silent, and we passed the Stadium where Viking Stavanger F.C. play (??)
We got back to Stavanger with an hour to spare and although most people would just get back on the boat and chill, we weren't finished!!!
In our typical "Let's do TIGHT SCHEDULE!" fashion we risked missing the boat (haha) for a bus ride to see the famous THREE SWORDS monument and it was well worth the dash! (plenty of time!)
This monument was unveiled by King Olav in 1983 and commemorates the Battle of Hafrsfjord in 872, after which King Harald Fair Hair united the three districts of Norway into one kingdom.The crowns on the swords represent the different districts which took part in the battle.
Then it was back to Azura for dinner.......
Goose and chips!!! Except that I'd eaten the chips before I took this!
(The food on Azura was excellent! Just saying. For future reference!)
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