Stockholm and the Vasa Museum

If you thought the Titanic had a bad first voyage, then the Vasa might top it.

Built from 1626-1628 to be one of the largest and most powerful ship in the world at the time.

The Vasa launched on August 10 1628 from Stockholm harbour and then sank less then a mile from the dock, still in the main part of the city, and in full view of the citizens who were out to see its maiden voyage.

The Vasa was lost until the 1950's and was raised from the bottom of the harbour where it had rested for 333 years.  Partly due to the area it sank the ship was extremely well preserved.  95% of what you can see to day is all original.

The Stern. With finely detailed carving. Which were brightly painted at the time.

The Vasa had 64 Cannons of various types 

The bow with a lion decorating the very front

The reason for the Vasa's sinking was due to its poor design.  There was not enough ballast, and to many cannons to low to the water.
When a gust of wind caught the sails the ship tipped and the lower gun ports allowed water to rush in.

The ship was designed to be a troop carrier and would normally have 300 troops along with its crew of 150 sailors.
But on the maiden voyage the ship was filled with family of the sailors who were going to be changed with the troops after the ship left the city limits.
Due to this many people died when they couldn't swim to shore.

I had wanted to see the Vasa for a long time, and I was very impressed with the ship.

Royal Palace of the King of Stockholm

Stockholm City hall.  Where the Nobel Prizes are awarded

Long tour in Berlin, Germany

Berlin is about 3 hours from the port of Warnemunde where we docked.  So this made for one of the longest tours I have ever done.  Possibly only the tour to the dead sea being longer.

Our train into the city was really nice, big seats, and room to move around.  A big improvement over getting stuffed into an airplane.

Once we arrived in Berlin we started a tour of the city.  Taking us past major sights like the Berlin wall, east side gallery, Checkpoint Charlie in the morning.

Berlin TV Tower

East Side Gallery

Original section of the wall

Checkpoint Charlie

At Checkpoint Charlie, I got various old stamps for my passport including Russian, East German, USA, French, and England all of who had troops in the city after the war.

Hotel where we had lunch

Our lunch was server in a former East Germany hotel that was built to impress, and has hosted many famous people over the years.


After lunch we went to the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the Allied Museum, as well as passing so many other landmarks that I cant remember them all.

Berlin had a lot more impressive architecture then I expected.

Brandenburg Gate

Reichstag

Victory Column
For victory over Napoleon

A short day in Amsterdam

A city that when I first went 10 years ago our tour guide called The "Dam"age

There is a lot to see and do in Amsterdam.  

Unfortunately it was a busy day, my replacement was coming on board, so all I had time for was a bit of basic sightseeing.

 Amsterdam Train Station

 Standard Canal

On our sail away the ship goes through a long canal called the North Sea Canal with ends in a lock similar to the panama canal.  

Rising up to the North Sea

Oslo, the Final Norway Port

After a series of tiny towns, we arrive in the capital, Oslo.

And another big change was the weather. Which was sunny, and quite hot.

I did a walk around the town.

Stopping at the Royal Palace, City Hall, Parliament, and passing through the old fortress on my way back to the ship.

Royal Palace

Hard Rock Cafe.

Norway's City Hall.  Also were you go to pickup your Nobel Peace Prize 

Norway's Parliament building

Sailaway from Oslo.

A modern Viking Ship

North Sea at Midnight

 It was a nice relaxing day, and I managed to have just enough Norwegian money left for a souvenir magnet and nothing else.

Norway is a beautiful country, to see.  Just don't come hungry, or you will leave poor.

The Path of the Trolls

The Path of the Trolls, is a section of road near the town of Alesund, Norway.  And it also connects to the Eagle Road I was on yesterday.

View of the town

Looking down to the valley from the lookout point

A view of the winding turns down to the valley floor

Our bus in a hairpin turn

At the bottom of the valley

Where we stopped for lunch

Our last stop.  That cliff face is the largest shear cliff in Europe, at over 100m.

Fjord Panorama. Geianger, Norway

I went on my first tour in Norway. Up to the top of a mountain.

Geirenger is a very small town in Norway.  Only 200 or so permanent residents.  But that grows to thousands in the summer as this small port can have up to 4 ships arriving each day.

Today we were lucky to be the only ship in port.

There is no dock in town, so all ships must tender in to shore.

Our first stop was half way up Eagle road, which is the newer road into town, and also offers great views of the seven sisters waterfall.

After our photo shop we went back down towards the town, and then back up the old road, that leads to the top of the mountain in the middle of the above picture.

At the top of the mountain.  The valley below is only 1/2 way to the sea level.

You can see some of the hairpin turns on the road to the top.

This was an tour full of amazing scenery,  that just demanded use of my cameras new panorama mode.

The unexpected trip to the Baltic.

After an early morning phone call, a quickly booked flight, and a mad scramble to get to the airport all in 5 hours, I found myself in Norway.

I agreed to do a short fill in contract on the Constellation, just a scant 2 cruises.  Almost like being a regular guest.

Here are a few pictures of Stavenger, Norway. The port I joined my ship in.

Small lake in the town

Their "Chinatown" consists of one restaurant.

One of Norways many navy hovercraft.

Old town Stavenger

Below are a few pictures of Olden, Norway

And finally Molde, Norway

The scenery in Norway has been amazing. And the next few ports I am going on tours,  so more to come.