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Thursday 1st June 2017
Weather: Overcast with outbreaks of sunshine … and snow!
Seas: Calm
Geiranger was one of Dad’s favourite ports and we were looking forward to our visit here. We were awake early for the sail-in and pleased our cabin was on the right (port!) side of the ship for the sail past the Seven Sisters waterfalls. Well worth the early morning wake up call!
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Mum was having a relaxing morning on board whilst Jon, Callum and I took the trip up Mount Dalsnibba. There was low-lying cloud so we weren’t hopeful of any view. We had to meet in the theatre at 8am to get the tenders ashore to pick up our tour.
We left Geiranger behind and headed up the hillside. The views were stunning. We stopped at a view point to look back at the end of the fjord and were treated to some wonderful views. These views continued further up … pretty much until we hit the final stretch of road up to Mount Dalsbibba.
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Here, there you could see the snow ploughs had cut a path through the snow … and it did start to snow on our journey to the top. At the top, it was total white out. You could hardly see your hand stretched out in front of you! Oh well, another trip/visit is in order to try and admire the view!
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We headed back down and arrived in Geiranger about noon – perfectly timed to meet up with Mum.
Mum and Dad did a Great Rail Journey around Norway back in 2015 and stayed in Geiranger. Mum walked us up the 305-step staircase along the Storfossen up to the Norsk Fjordsenter, close to where their hotel (Union Hotel) was. It’s not as hard work as it sounds as there are plenty of places to stop and take in the view on the way up.
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Refreshments were in order so whilst Callum had an ice cream, the adults shared a couple of waffles with cream and jam (Lygonberry?) and it was fab – and for Norway, very reasonably priced.
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On the trip up to Mt Dalsnibba, the guide was explaining how they built the grass roofs. In order to ensure these are waterproof, they strip the bark off birch trees and have 6 layers of bark before putting the grass roof on top.
We wandered back down the steps to go back onboard Azura. We’d booked on the Scenic Sailaway Experience at £25/head – and Dad always raved about how this was one of the best sailaways you can do.
We had to meet in the Glass House at 5pm for pre-sailaway cocktails and there were about 50 of us. We knew it was cold and breezy outside so had come with coats … but some people were perhaps a little hardier than we were!
From here. we were taken up to Deck 15(?) and out through the secret door at the front on to the area immediately on top of the bridge. Azura had already set sail and the wind was causing problems! The waiters were having difficulty in serving the drinks and the barman was struggling to make the cocktails on deck. Eventually, the temporary bar was taken inside and set up in the corridor … and whilst the cocktails kept flowing … the waiters duly obliged by bring hot Gluwein and coffee!!
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The Senior Officers on deck were wearing uniform … and wished that P&O had issued them with proper coats. It was freezing on deck! Waiters then did the rounds of bring blankets so anyone who was cold, could try and keep warm. (It was deemed very uncool for the officers to sport the same!).
Callum was overdosing on fruity mocktails … our hair was all over the place, but we had the most fantastic time. The views were awesome (even if the photos had our hair standing on end!).
We did stay out until the bitter end – we were the last few people out on deck. We headed back to the cabin to change for dinner, headed down to The Glass House for pre-dinner drinks and onto dinner. With the MDR lacking in San Pellegrino, then Callum had to order his own at the bar and sign for it!
After dinner, we did another quiz in Brodies before heading back to the cabin. Even at midnight, it was still light outside.
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