Meifjorden
The fjords of Norway are beautiful but they are seldom seen in their full splendour because the very thing that creates them, heavy precipitation, also obscures them. Such was not the case this morning as we sailed into the northern arm of Meifjorden and were treated to a ridiculously pretty view of sheer rock walls reaching up to a vibrant blue sky and capped by a generous dollop of glacier ice.
The air was still and warm and we all set off for our various activities. The hiking option was popular, although perhaps that is because no one knew how much bush-whacking would be involved. However, we did manage to push our way through the birch forest and over the boulders hiding in the moss while we enjoyed the many wildflowers of this seldom visited area.
The aquatically minded among us took to the sea in kayaks for a leisurely paddle around the head of the fjord. This sea-level view made the near-vertical cliffs seem even more impressive, although for many the highlight was the small group of harbour seals discovered in a small side inlet.
The result of all this activity was a hearty appetite and that was satiated by a fabulous spread of lunch buffet served outside on the back deck. With the comfort of the ship and the rugged scenery of the fjord, we had the best of both worlds.
The fjords of Norway are beautiful but they are seldom seen in their full splendour because the very thing that creates them, heavy precipitation, also obscures them. Such was not the case this morning as we sailed into the northern arm of Meifjorden and were treated to a ridiculously pretty view of sheer rock walls reaching up to a vibrant blue sky and capped by a generous dollop of glacier ice.
The air was still and warm and we all set off for our various activities. The hiking option was popular, although perhaps that is because no one knew how much bush-whacking would be involved. However, we did manage to push our way through the birch forest and over the boulders hiding in the moss while we enjoyed the many wildflowers of this seldom visited area.
The aquatically minded among us took to the sea in kayaks for a leisurely paddle around the head of the fjord. This sea-level view made the near-vertical cliffs seem even more impressive, although for many the highlight was the small group of harbour seals discovered in a small side inlet.
The result of all this activity was a hearty appetite and that was satiated by a fabulous spread of lunch buffet served outside on the back deck. With the comfort of the ship and the rugged scenery of the fjord, we had the best of both worlds.
