Traveling Tolins 2

Ancient Civilizations of the Shetlands We are indeed fortunate that two stops were planned in our cruise; we are missing the second stop due to a storm moving from south to north.  We crossed behind the storm as it tracked north due to the fact that we departed Bergen five hours past the planned time.  However, Diane reports that at 2 AM and 4 AM the seas were quite high with plenty of swell action along with strong winds. Fortunately Larry got a good nights sleep but slow get-up around 10 AM to give additional time to calm down a little extra; he was fine all day as a consequence.   We will arrive 8 in the morning (Tuesday, September 17) at Torshavn, Faroe Islands.  

A Taste of Norwegian Farm Life Unfortunately we were once again rained out.  Bergen has been one big outdoor shower.  Along with the showers have been strong, continuous winds.  We don't know if this is remnants of Dorian, but it's been very strong and wet. We were informed that instead of leaving at 6:30 this evening for Shetland Islands for a second stop, we will be leaving around 11 PM to head directly to Torshavn, sailing at a reduced speed to reduced the effects of strong winds and 8-10 foot swells. Hopefully we can get a good nights sleep without being tossed from our beds!  We have a dozen guest lecturers on board that are generally very interesting and informative.  We plan to attend several of those. More tomorrow.

We had planned to go by Hop-on/Hop/off bus on a more extensive tour of the harbor area but we were rained out.  So we substituted rain for catching up on laundry and chilling.  Was nice having a "sea day" while docked in Bergen. Hopefully we will not get rained out tomorrow for our visit to a Norwegian family farm.

Bergen, Norway Bergen is home to the Hanseatic League's only kontor  (trading enclave) still in existence:  Bryggen wharf.  In this historic district, narrow wooden walkways are flanked by parallel rows of small, vibrantly painted buildings, once the homes and warehouses of merchants.  Totaling more than 60, with the earliest dating to the 18th century, these distinct structures are all that remain after the numerous fires that have ravaged Bergen.  They were largely reconstructed within their original property lines with their restoration and continual preservation staying true to medieval Norwegian building techniques, materials, and tools.  Consequently, Bryggen has come to serve as an important window into both Norway's maritime legacy and architectural traditions. Nestled between gargantuan snow-capped mountains, magnificent fjords, and one of Europe's largest glaciers, picturesque Bergen is an ancient city with deep Viking roots.  Found...

Shetland Islands The Shetland Islands may be remote, but history did not overlook them.  At the excavation site of Jarlshof, brochs (tall roundhouses of stone made without mortar) date to the Iron Age and an ancient Norse longhouse tells of a Viking community.  History that is more recent echoes through the streets of Lerwick, the islands' sleepy capital founded by Dutch anglers.  The main island, Mainland, gets much of its beauty from its diversity.  Farmland and dreamy meadows unfold toward seal-dotted beaches.  Columnar sea stacks and rocky cliffs take a beating from the surf in the north.  Medieval castles overlook valleys and lakes in the west.  The Shetlands are, for many visitors, several destinations rolled into one splendid locale. Shetland Panorama & Ponies. We stopped at a coastal castle, saw and learned about Shetland ponies and took in picturesque landscapes.  We enjoyed a photo stop from above the castle, overl...