Day 2 Norway: Woke up at Olden. Olden is at eastern end of the Nordfjorden fjord.
Breakfast on Lido deck: This morning instead of porridge (oatmeal) I tried the congee (rice, kind of slurried, looks like Cream of Wheat) with the recommended raisins, green onions, and ended up adding some of my orange juice for more flavor. I wish now I had taken more food photos.
Swam at 8.
Lunch on board.
Our Excursion: Jostedal National Park Center and Videseter
Travelling north out of Olden through Loen, then Stryn, the bus traveled along a u-shaped valley carved by glaciers, with the Stryn river flowing through it; it was very picturesque. We followed alongside a large lake (Oppstrynsvatnet) with very beautiful views.
We stopped at the Jostedal National Park Center, in Oppstryn on the lake. Here we learned the history of the grass covered roofs, how homes were originally built this way, because it was available and natural to fighting the cold. Many if not most homes today continue the tradition.
At the end of the lake, the river continues upward into the mountains, a part of the Jostedalsbreen Glacier area, with more, little, freshwater lakes along the river.
According to our guide, Fjords are sea water, salt, while the lakes are from melt flow from the glaciers and snow, and are therefore, fresh water. We continued through the beauty.
The excursion endpoint, and another sampling of Norwegian pancakes served this time with strawberry preserve and cream, was hotel Videseter.
There we viewed the Videfossen falls, which we had been glimpsing views on our zig zaggy drive.
Found a troll inside the hotel lobby:
On way back
Last stop Yelle, small town of 100-150. On the lake, the water was very clear, see photo. I felt the water with my hands. It was cold, but not icy cold.
Back to the ship, straight to dinner to join the others who had taken an earlier excursion.
Sky Princess slowly moved back west out of the fjord. Simply lovely views; watch the video below.