Olden, Norway

Goodness!  What a wild ride we had last night!  50 mph wind gusts with steady winds at 30 mph with 12 to 18 foot seas made for a bumpy trip with loads of sea spray whooshing past our windows (we are on deck 8!), and lots of juddering and banging and upping and downing. 

This morning we sailed serenely down to the end of a gorgeous fjord to the lovely little town of Olden (population: 1,500), which was well and truly dwarfed by an enormous P&O cruise ship (Iona) carrying over 5,000 passengers (see extra).

We took a trip to the Stryn area, where we marveled at the incredible scenery -- steep mountain sides, hundreds of plummeting waterfalls, snow, pouring rain, unbelievably green fields (thanks to all that rain, no doubt!), blue-green pristine waters, glaciers, switchbacks, tunnels, beautiful farms, charming grass-roofed buildings, and overall breathtaking beauty. 

The whole day I had the soundtrack of Grieg's "In The Hall of the Mountain King" echoing in my head!