Norway’s beauty is unparalleled. The Eclipse visited several Norwegian ports, some exploring city life such as Stavanger, Alesund and Bergen, and others like Geiranger and Flam bring you straight to nature’s doorstep. I took every opportunity I could to get lost in these amazing landscapes. (Okay not literally)
Geiranger has a quaint town center with a magnificent waterfall, just a short, accessible walk down the road. You don’t have to travel far to see this powerful body of water or feel its icy mist. However, stemming from this point are many trails through mossy green forests, working their way up to greater sights and expansive views. Just past the visitor center of this World Heritage site I found a trail map that set us on the right path with the time I had. I decided to set out for Storsaeterfossen, a waterfall that had a foot path built into the rock underneath it (this was unbeknownst to me at the time). The hike up was moderate but long, as most of it was on the road to reach the actual trailhead. When I reached the top no one was there. I had timed it just right to have the place to myself. Walking underneath this massive waterfall, you never knew you could feel so alive. It was stunning. Despite the cold, the dampness and the hour long down pour as I headed back down to sea level, the adventure well out-weighed the miserable typical Norwegian climate!
While the funky, vibrant city of Stavanger has a lot to offer in a day, my friends and I jumped at the chance to join a crew tour to the famous Preikestolen- also known as Pulpit Rock. Merely image search the web for this rock formation and you too will be lacing up your boots in no time. The day was again cloudy and wet. Dammit I hate the cold! The trail grueling, slippery and steep, mostly consisted of rock steps until we gained enough elevation to break out of the woods. Regardless of the fog, and the anticipated limited view from the top, I hauled ass to try and beat the time the guide said it is usually completed in. I’m not competitive or anything. As you can see it was of course worth every bit and there was a well deserved nap to follow when I finally got back to the ship. Trust me crew members were already asleep on the bus ride home.
The beauty of Norway can be seen from near, far and even the comforts of your own home (aka my ship!). Gorgeous sunsets really help to finish off a surreal day. The richness of color completely inspired the Hot Glass Team with our collaborative piece. This three part cane patterned incalmo mimics the gorgeous, jewel-toned colors. Michael and Brianna here are working on their individual patterned cups that we later joined together to create one uniform shape with an killer linear design. Michael is bringing the line pattern to a termination and Brianna is transferring her incalmo cup onto a solid punty rod to open and shape the mouth of the cup. And finally, the team at our charity auction with the finished piece, auctioning it off for the World Wildlife Fund. Mic drop.
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