Ålesund

General Impressions of Norway:

The fjords are very, very beautiful.
The cost of living is quite high, said to be the highest in Europe.
North Sea oil and gas exploration and production finances much of the county’s economy.
Norway has a population of about 5 million people, making the entire country somewhat less populated than the greater Chicago area. Most of the people live in the southern part of Norway.
Troll dolls are the biggest selling souvenir. (I did not buy any.)
Norwegians like to build tunnels.

The Out Islands near Ålesund

We got to this remote location via several tunnels under the fjord, including one that was, for a while, the longest tunnel (3,481 meters) in the world.

Ålesund

The northern most part of our entire northern European trip was the fishing town of Ålesund, located near the North Sea adjacent to the Hjørund and Geiranger fjords. Because of its charm, good harbor, and location near the Geiranger fjord, Ålesund is also a tourist stop. The best that I can tell, Ålesund is pronounced Olson - more or less.

Our ship, the m/s Eurodam, is near the middle of this image.

Ålesund, Norway

June 8, 2012

The Out Islands near Ålesund

Ålesund