We woke up early to catch the sunrise (4:30am) and took one look outside at the dense clouds and fog and went back to sleep.
We reset our alarm and woke up again at 6:30am and peeked out our porthole as the ship glided into Ålesund port.
(say "Oo-le-sun-dt")
We hurried upstairs to the early morning breakfast buffet and were off the ship by 7:30.
We purchased a Hop on Hop off bus ticket and decided to wander about town until 9 when the rides started. Ålesund being 62 degrees north is somewhat typically cold wet and windy.
But we don't care! We are finally setting foot in Norway!
Finally on the bus we headed out to the first lookout point giving us panoramic views of the islands that make up the town and the multicoloured houses.
Ålesund town burned down in a fire in 1904 and more or less the entire tiwn waa rebuilt. There is a lot of very beautiful buildings to see. My favourite are the ones with spires! (architecture we don't see much back home)
We visited the Art Nouveau centre and made deep thoughts over the modern art on exhibition. Then we visited the church - a stunning building of pink and white rock.
By the time we reached the church, the rain was pretty set in so we skipped the final look out point and the aquarium. Instead we elected to take the bus route all over again, back into town and find some lunch. Unfortunately the Dirty Nelly Irish Pub only opens at 3 so we elected to wander our way back to the ship and try the lunch buffet.
We relaxed until the ship eased out of the port and onwards through the islands towards Geiranger.
The snow capped fjord islands look like they belong on postcards and chocolate boxes.
We caved and got dressed up and went ro the fanciest dining room for dinner. (It was too cold and windy outside for much photography)
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