25 Mar 24 - Getting to Alta

Sunday 24th Quite uneventful really. We watched a load of fulmars at the back of the ship (I'm always trying to identify birds), and despite excellent indications from our Aurora apps, no lights in the sky Sunday night - too cloudy I think.

Monday 25th We managed to see a couple of whale blows whilst eating breakfast, and later on, I was watching a group of birds through the binoculars and aw an Orca come out of the water behind them. I think it was an Orca, it was so quick, but I can't think of anything black and white like that, and it had a big fin. I was really chuffed.

It's another Sea Day, with us due to arrive at Alta at 5pm. We had to dip into one the fjords to collect the pilot from Tromso. The scenery was spectacular.

And approaching Alta.........

We arrived at our most Northerly port stop in good time. It's cold! I think it was around -12C overnight. Peter and I went on the "Search for the Northern Lights" tour. We had so on many layers we looked like Michelin men and could hardly move. About an hour's bus ride out to a location where the local expert thought we would be most likely to see the lights. It would be difficult to beat what we saw on the ship two nights ago, and on this particular occasion it was almost a complete bust, despite a really good forecast. There were a few glimmers, which the tour guides pointed out to us excitedly, but they didn't know what we'd seen a couple of nights ago.

The sky was clear, the moon was soooo bright and there were nearby snow-covered hills. Sami type lavvu, (tents similar to tepees), had been set up for us, with log burning fires inside to warm up with. Hot chocolate and loo facilities laid on. It wasn't a bad place to spend an hour. We quite enjoyed it just for the experience.

Pics from Peter's phone........

We got back to our cabins about 1pm. The ship is in Alta for a couple of days, so we'll be checking out the town tomorrow.

23 March 24 - Northern Lights..... Wow Oh Wow!

We left Bergen early this morning, and as soon as we left the shelter of the coastal islands along our route, we felt the force of the bad weather. This was right in the middle of Peter's morning class, and he lost several of the class members as one by one they succumbed to nausea. I've been all right amazingly. Must be all that practice crossing the Bay of Biscay on little ships.

A normal day all in all. We went to dinner, keeping an eye on the aurora apps on our phones which were telling us that a sighting was possible....

And about 9 o'clock, it all started to happen. The captain made an announcement, we grabbed coats and were out on the back deck within minutes. We worked out the top decks might give us a better view and ended up stood in freezing wind watching the sky in awe.

The first two pictures were taken by Peter on his phone, and the next three from my camera. I was trying to get the settings right on the cameras, but a moving ship, strong winds and freezing fingers don't help when it comes to holding a camera still.

The display went on for ages, it came and went, and we finally we stopped watching after 11ish.

Another sea tomorrow, and I've been told the aurora forecast for tomorrow is even better than today........ Watch this space!

22 Mar 24 - Bergen, Norway

 So, the day before yesterday the captain announced that the itinerary would need to change.

Yesterday was our second sea day, and we woke at 7.30 to a reasonably flat sea. We breakfasted, and then got on with the morning class. At noon, the captain gave us an update. The ship was going to get to Bergen at about 7-8pm, and we would actually spend two nights there, hiding out from the bad weather out in the Norwegian Sea. Throughout the day, the swell increased, the waves got bigger, and the ship began to rock about. (Actually, Saga's new ships are very comfortable and it wasn't really that bad. No seasickness for me!)

As we turned into Bergen fjord, there was short period of much rockier rockiness (expected), and then everything was smooth again as we sailed along the calm waterway and docked about 10pm.

That was last night, but no-one could go ashore because the short notice and lateness of our arrival meant that security could not be arranged to clear the ship and passengers. So everyone dressed up for formal night and Max Fulham gave his second show in the Playhouse. Not quite as good as the first one, but still very funny and thoroughly enjoyed.

Today is Peter's Birthday. He got a pair of photography glove/mittens, a new shirt, and a lie in. The ship marked the occasion too, and delivered a little Happy Birthday note and a small box of chocolates to the cabin. How thoughtful.

After breakfast we grabbed our things and went ashore. The temperature wasn't too bad, so no need for extra thermals or thick coats. We've been here before, so have an idea of what to expect. Bergen has a lovely city center, quite open with loads of quaint and interesting houses and streets.

We love the Bryggen (a row of very old and colourful wooden warehouse come shop buildings on the waterfront).

And we also love to use the Fløibanen funicular tram that takes you up to the top of Mount Fløyen. You can see where it climbs the hill in the next photograph.

Up there you can spend time enjoying views, eating in the restaurant (when it's open), and spending money in the shop.

We have learnt that beyond the main tourist area are loads of paths leading through the woods to a small lake, viewpoints, woods, peaks and much more. During our last visit, when there was snow on the ground, we made it to the lake. Today we ventured a little further and we love it.

We spotted a set of steps going up the next little hill, but time was getting on, so we're keeping them for another day.

So we went back to take the funicular back downhill. We timed it perfectly, as the sky opened and pelted the cars with rain and sleet just after we'd got in.

All in all, a lovely day. One point to note about Bergen, or Norway as a whole, is that it's really expensive! We've been before and I expected it to be, so didn't balk at the price of the £20 Christmas bauble I bought, but we won't be buying a lot this trip.

The ship will sail at about 7am tomorrow morning. I assume that means the weather will be much calmer. It's a sea day and Peter will be running classes. We're settling into a routine.

And a final note. Apparently, if we had been able to see the sky last night, we would have had a chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis. But overcast and drizzly meant no go, and it's just as bad tonight. But we are travelling North, and our chances will improve as we go. Fingers crossed.