Norway

Saturday June 30 Found a coffee place where we paid for internet. Tram back to ship. Boarded without any problems this time and set off after lifeboat drill. 5 p.m. Mass Fr Dennis who trained at St Christopher’s Hospice and comes from Lexington very efficient and we are to have different readers and mass intentions – he produced leaflet with hymns etc. So at last a relief from Dale’s boring voice and hymns pitched wrongly. Ate at Canaletto and had far too much. Rested in room and watched Wimbledon so missed show and quartet!

Sunday July 1 8 a.m. Mass Priest late as alarm did not go off! I read. Aqua aerobics under a clear blue sky and a glorious sunny day. Dance classes in waltz and cha cha. Afternoon tea. Have now made movies of all photos up to Stockholm!  3 p.m. Royal Dutch tea. Tai chi. Captain’s welcome toast and Unforgettable show excellent. Formal evening and we danced a waltz and cha cha in the ocean bar.

Monday July 2  8 a.m. arrival in Bergen. Walked to information centre along the harbour and fish market and collected Bergen cards and booked on tour. Not sure the cards were such good value but we did use them and got a discount on the tour. Walked to cathedral which only opened at 10 a.m. The tour was excellent and we sat upstairs and in the front of the coach. Right round the town and then to Grieg’s house at Troldhaugen (one of the reasons for the trip and what a highlight!) Tour of the house – he was a tiny man with a lung problem so in photos he tried to hide that. Beautiful views and we went down to his composing cabin. Heard pianist rehearsing in the lovely concerthall for the 1 p.m. recital. He had lots of pictures of other composers. In his cabin he sat on a book of Beethoven to play the piano! Nice museum of his life.  Then back on the coach after an hour there to visit the stave church which was rebuilt after a fire. We went up on the funicular to see the fanstastic views. Then walked through Bryggens district of wooden houses and visited the Bryggens Museum which had a good film and displays. Bus back to the ship. Mass at 5 and I read. Ate at Lido and an excellent show by Ronald Moray magician. String quartet and Crow’s Nest with Elise and the Halcats band who are excellent.