Pupletts in Sweden: Norway - Part 3 - Stavanger to Bergen (24 June)

We got out early today in order to have a look around Stavanger. Wed booked a Fjord cruise to Pulpit Rock (see part 1 to find out what we only cruised under it instead of climbing it).

Our first stop was this quite interesting site - not sure if it was a playground, art work or skater park, but I'm leaning toward the latter.

The metal rings are chain links

We also got to watch the big cruise ships going into the harbour.

One thing we noticed in Stavanger was that there were a lot of souvenir shops around the harbour. The first one we went into had a tip jar with "Saving for our first trip to the USA" on it. I thought that was pretty cool, until we entered the next store and it had "Saving for trip to USA". The next had "Tips please so we can go to the USA."

When we saw the big cruise ship arrive from New York and vomit out hundreds of American tourists it became clear. Smart marketing ploy, of course Americans are most likely to tip and being proud of their homeland they would be inclined to be more generous. Very tricky those Norwegians.

One of the cruise ships containing the money that will fund the "first trip to New York"

Insignia on a building at Stavanger harbour

Church by the harbour

It's more impressive from the side

In Noway it is always worth carrying a Spare Bank in case you lose your main one

This statue ALWAYS had a bird on its head - a different one each time

Despite the rain, there was a market set up in the harbour (more planned USA holidays?) selling a wide range of souvenirs and of course fidget spinners.

Harbour and market

The stalls sold lots of different things - carved ornaments, trolls, badges and the slightly creepy "I love Norwegian Girls" shirt for the disturbing old man in everyone.

The market

A different bird when we returned

In case you're wondering, the statue is of Magnus Vigrestad (1887-1957) famous for wearing bird on his head to block out the sun's harmful rays. (In case you can't tell, that was a joke - sun in Norway! Ha! - Sorry Thomas, my Norwegian friend if you are reading this :) In my defense these shots were all taken at Midsummer.) Magnus is a famous sculptor.

Swans at the lake

Cam having flashbacks to living in Australia

Panning back, we can see how he got there...

Once we'd explored Stavanger it was time for our cruise on the aptly named FjordFart (and now on to me sorting the 392 photos we took on the cruise... sigh):

Tomas helped it live up to its name.

Using a GPS mount and a hairtie we managed to get my phone set up to create a time lapse of the cruise (see later)

Spot the engineer

Leaving Stavanger

Tomas was convinced this boat was called 'Sadness' so he spent the whole time passing it with a bottom-lip-out-pout

Stavanger Harbour

Heading out into open waters

Bridge

Goat on an island

Ådnøy - popular area for cabins along the coast

Impressive bridge over the Fjord

After we entered the Lysefjord proper, we moved through the district of Forsand. This municipality covers both sides of the fjord and is a rich area - due to taxes on its power stations. It is also home to many salmon farms. A few years ago an algae grew in the fjord entrance (only 13m deep) and the farms were moved further into the fresh water of the fjord to protect them.

A beautiful place to live - but this picture shows the risks of landslides

The next stop was a dead end area called Fantehola. There is a story that a group of vagabonds on the run from the sheriff (for not paying taxes) sailed into here and climbed the mountainside. They dropped rocks on the sheriff and he gave up. I think I would too, rather than climb the rockface here.