Alesund is a lovely city on Norway’s west coast known for its beautiful architecture and stunning views. 

We started out driving to the Aksla viewpoint. It did not disappoint! We followed a very narrow road to the top and were surprised to see several people already there. We parked near what looked like a deserted building and realized we were the only car up there. Many people climb to the top, but we both commented that we would never have made the trek. No matter which direction we turned, there was a different view of the mountains beyond or the shipyards below, with a huge cruise ship sitting in the dock. More and more people continued to arrive by the busload. Some were from the hop-on, hop-off busses, and some were on tours, presumably from the cruise ships. 

Jason was standing by the railing when he spotted a seagull soaring in the updrafts. He captured a fantastic bit of footage and posted it on Facebook. On the way down, we were met by a car with flashing lights and a fellow waving at us.  We stopped, and he told us to wait there as a couple of buses were coming up the hill, and we would have to back up if we didn’t stay put. It isn’t even high tourist season yet, and we can’t imagine the chaos when it is.  Glad we are seeing some things now.

We spent some time in the old downtown core along the waterfront. Very few stores were open, and people sauntered around, stopping to take pictures, visit and have a cup of coffee at a few cafes. Crowds aren’t our thing, so we walked away from them and enjoyed the same types of buildings in a quieter setting. Passing a Real Estate office, I stopped to view the listings in the window and picked one that I thought would be lovely for me to live in when I decide to move here! Coffee time was calling, so we chose a charming little cafe, and Jason bought us lattes and a pastry to share. The lattes here are served in glasses and are too hot to pick up for my delicate fingers, so I wrapped mine in serviettes. The cinnamon roll was fresh and warm, and no crumb remained on the plate.

We drove around the city and stopped at the Atlantic Sea Park and Aquarium. It’s pretty small but very nicely laid out inside. We arrived just in time to watch a diver enter the water in the giant aquarium. Hundreds of fish–some small but many as large as the diver–crowded around him to get their share of various fish and seafood handouts. It looked like quite a buffet. They bumped him, and some tried to snatch the bag of fish he carried, but he gently pushed them away as if to teach them better dinner manners. A commentator told us about the aquarium and the different fish species. He spoke in both Norwegian and English, and we learned a lot.

Outside, under the warm sun, we found the living quarters of the seals and penguins. We spent a delightful time observing their playful antics and listening to the penguins’ lively squawks. One penguin, in particular, seemed to take a liking to Jason. It waddled right up to the corner of the enclosure, almost within touching distance. Jason, ever the photographer, captured the moment perfectly. The close interaction was a unique experience, one that we rarely get at our animal parks in Canada. 

The expansive seal area housed many large and small harbour seals, and they were as curious about us as we were about them. About half a dozen swam around, popping their heads up at us to see what we were doing.

Finally, we spent more time walking around inside and playing with some interactive displays before deciding to go.

Tunnels are a vast part of the highway system here in Norway. So much of the west shore comprises endless islands linked by underground tunnels or ones that go through mountainsides. We went through one today that scared the heck out of me. It was a two-way tunnel with room for one-way traffic! We entered hesitantly as there were no clear rules on what to do if you met someone. We were fully inside when we saw headlights coming ahead, and Jason swerved into a turnout in time to let the other car pass.  We soon realized the oncoming traffic had the right of way, and our side was filled with these turnouts. It was a game of waiting until a car passed and judging if you had enough time to get to the next turnout before you met the next vehicle. I just wanted to get out of there, and we got out safely, but the thing was, we knew we had to do it again in the opposite way to get home. Sheesh!!

A quick lunch stop on a sandy beach gave us time to unwind.  I waded out into the Atlantic Ocean but didn’t stay long.  I’ve been in the Arctic Ocean and thought this was colder than that. My ankles actually went numb.

Our final stop of the day was the Alnes Lighthouse. Another drive through a neighbourhood of narrow roads brought us to the lighthouse. It wasn’t open, so we sat outside, on the picnic table and enjoyed the scenery. A FaceTime call to LJ and the girls (which Jason does daily) was an excellent addition to the afternoon. They were happy to hear from him, and the girls ate breakfast while we chatted. They always have questions, and we update them on our day. I had picked two tiny daisies on the lawn for them and showed them but told them I couldn’t bring them home. They asked if we could take a picture of the two flowers and put their names on them so they could keep them that way. Jason did that immediately so they would get the images when they got home from school.

We went back to our hotel at about 5 p.m. for some downtime. I had a quick nap and then ate supper in our hotel. Hamburgers and fries were on the menu tonight, and they were so good with a lovely salad, something we don’t get here often. My guide, Jason, plans another day for tomorrow, with a surprise for the following day that he won’t tell me about.