Monday, September 30, 2013

Scandinavia Cruise July 2012, Oslo, Norway.

The final Scandinavian port was Oslo in Norway.
Approaching the port at Oslo.

The old and the new. This schooner was moored next to us with a modern yacht behind her.

A modern sculpture of a yacht in the harbour.

We passed here on the ship's shuttle service and thought it was a ski slope. It is Oslo's Opera House!

The Lion statue by the Parliament buildings.

Oslo City Hall

The Astronomical Clock. The Hall was built in 1950 to celebrate the city's 950th anniversary.

The water feature at the City Hall.

The Parliament buildings.

Murals inside Oslo City Hall

Swan fountain in front of City Hall.

A city park.

The Giant Pointing Finger Statue  in Oslo’s old town of Christiania Torv.

  After the big town fire in 1624, the Danish-Norwegian King Christian IV decided to rebuild the town in this area. He supposedly pointed to this spot and said: "The new town will lie here!"

Heading for home.
I hope you have enjoyed a few of the photos taken on our cruise to Scandinavia.
Coming soon, the Mediterranean and Adriatic.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Scandinavia Cruise July 2012 -Helsingborg Sweden.

Approaching Helsingborg.

A welcome from the locals in National costume.

Signpost on "Tropical Beach."

On the beach, but it didn't feel very tropical!

Karnan, (The Keep) Helsingborg Castle.

Fountain at the Karnan.


St. Maria church.

St. Maria church.

One of the many statues we saw in Sweden.

Statue of Count Magnus Gustafsson Stenbock, a Swedish military officer at the time of the Great Northern War.

The Town Hall.

Next will be Oslo, Norway which is our final port in Scandinavia.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Harvest Moon.

I have to say I am very pleased with my new point and shoot camera. Taken on night sky setting with 30X zoom.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Scandinavia Cruise July 2012 - Copenhagen.

Our approach to Copenhagen port took us past a wind farm.

We could also see in the distance the bridge which links Denmark and Sweden. The bridge would prevent larger ships from being able to pass, so it incorporates a tunnel which is accessed from the bridge and the ships sail over the top.

 Town Hall.

Statue of Admiral Niels Juel who guided the development of the Danish navy in the late 17th century.

Twisted spire of Our Savior's Church in the Christianshavn district.

Christiansborg Palace.

The Palace chapel.

In the courtyard.

The Gefion Fountain. According to Viking sagas, the Swedish king promised the Norse goddess Gefjun as much land as she could plough in one night. She turned her four sons into oxen and ploughed enough land to create the Danish island of Zealand.


Nyhavn, the 17th century waterfront district. In years gone by it was the red light district that the sailors would visit. Now it is one of the most popular areas for visitors with many bars and restaurants.

Of course no visit to Copenhagen would be complete without a visit to the Little Mermaid.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Scandinavia Cruise July 2012 - Brugges

I am so far behind with our cruise photos so need to start getting up to date. In July 2012 we went to the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Our first stop on the way there was Brugges in Belgium.
The Cyclists is one of a group of four statues and fountains near the Concert Hall at t'Zand in Brugges.

The Bathing Ladies is another group.

Brugges is a lovely old medieval town with canals running through it and is often known as the Venice of the North.



St Bonfacius Bridge.



The Beguinage where unmarried and widowed women went for a life of religious devotion without the vows of the nuns.


The Grote Markt (Market Square).

Brugges is also known for it's horse draw carriages and there are strict rules for the horses to be fed and watered regularly.
This drinking trough is in the Square where most of the rides start from.
They also have statues of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.
It is not very clear so here is a close up of one of them.
Some flowers before we leave Brugges and head for Copenhagen.