This trip was taken between May 22, 2014 to June 10, 2014.

This morning we dock in Alesund, Norway a municipality founded in 1838 consisting of a population of 45,033 surronded by fjords and the high peaks of the Sunnmor Alps. Alesund is the most important fishing harbor in Norway and was destroyed by fire in 1904, luckily only 1 person was killed but 10,000 were left homeless. The buildings of the town center were rebuilt in the Art Nouveau Style between 1904 and 1908. We plan to use the 10 stop Hop-on-Hop-Off bus that circles the town which gives us 24-hour transport with commentary and Wi-Fi on board the buses. The Wi-Fi is welcome as we have been off the grid since leaving Oslo as the WiFi on board the ship is very expensive and we hear quite slow at times, and actually it has been refreshing. We leave the ship and get on the bus knowing we are going to the second stop, the hilltop vantage point of Fjellstua. Quickly we scan our emails and turn the phones back to airplane mode to enjoy the street view. As our older phones are not capable of being used on the European network we have been transported back into the Dark Ages (HA HA) without the disruption of the wireless monkey.

Upon reaching Fjellstua we get off the bus and appraise the menu of the restaurant that serves basic local dishes. Still full from breakfast we skip buying anything and just enjoy the view. Jodi decides she wants to tackle the steep 418 steps back down to the town ending in Parken Kolturhus.

Reaching sea level again we jump back on the bus at the Rica Parken Hotel and get off at the Art Nouveau City Center to walk around town and visit the Alesund Kirke (Church). The church was closed but it was a magnificent marble clad building, I can only imagine how nice it was inside.

Back on the bus at the church stop we finish the loop that goes all the way out to the Aquarium and head back to the ship for lunch. After lunch it’s back to the City Center to investigate areas we missed in the morning.

After walking most of the afternoon we find a grocery store near the Cruise Terminal, buy some more snacks and head back to our room to rest and get ready for Dinner. The ship is leaving Alesund in the late afternoon so we will get a lot of scenic vistas as we wind our way through the numerous fjords on our way to tomorrows stop at the small town of Geiranger, Norway.