Stavanger is known as the Oil Capital of Norway, but we didn't see too much evidence of that. The swans in the city park look pretty happy.
The first thing we did was take a cab to the Three Swords Monument. This marks the spot that a Viking king founded the Kingdom of Norway in the year 872.
In the afternoon, we went on a ship excursion to Lysefjord, the most southern of the major Norwegian fjords. Here we are taking off from our cruise ship.
We had to go under that bridge in the distance, hence the need to go on a smaller boat.
The scenery soon started to look interesting. The fjord was formed over 10,000 years ago during the last ice age.
We went by a cave that had an interesting story that I don't remember...
Then we saw some unique-looking goats that are obviously used to being fed, because they come right up to the boats.
But the thing I wanted to see the most was Pulpit Rock, way up where the arrow is. It's a very popular hike that I will never do, at least not in this lifetime... (The trail is up the back, not climbing up the rock face.)
A close-up of the Pulpit.
And what it looks like from the top, taken from their brochure.
We saw quite a few waterfalls -
Which were beautiful.
I even got to see a lighthouse!
On the way back, we stopped to have Norwegian waffles. Yum!
They had quite a few animals at the waffle place, including these adorable bunnies.
After waffles, we got back on the boat and headed back to our ship.
We then walked around town a bit, stopping at Valberg Tower, an old observation tower.
We climbed up the tower, and I almost got conked on the head!
All too soon, it was time for our cruise ship to leave town. The seagulls gave us a great send-off!
I spent a couple of weeks in Stavanger during my college days, visiting a boyfriend whose dad worked for Phillips Petroleum. I don't remember a single thing, so it was nice to see your photos!
ReplyDeleteMy father was an avid traveler, and I asked him in his later years what country he would have liked to have visited but never made it to. His answer was Norway. One day we will make it there.
ReplyDeleteOur son stood on Pulpit Rock a couple of years ago. He says that if Ruth and I want to do that hike we had better do it soon... it's a tough one!
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