Bergen to Alesund......December 19th 2019....

Hello again blog watchers "I'm back" !!! This time sending a travel blog from Beautiful Norway and what we hope will be a cruise featuring not only the stunning scenery but also the elusive Aurora Borealis....
After a chaotic check-in at LGW yesterday we eventually got on board our Norwegian Air Shuttle plane to Bergen....if they are going to have a new self-service system they need to have staff there to help !!!!!! We eventually board our ship The Hurtigruten Kong Harald at 5pm with time to unpack before a delicious buffet dinner followed by coffee in the lounge and the Welcome Briefing...
We are now all set to sit back and relax and enjoy our cruise north along the Norwegian Coast...
Thursday 19th December.....
We'll arrive later this morning in Alesund.... 

9.30am: Brrr what a cold scene but a lovely blue hue at this time of day....our cabin is quite near the back of the ship so all we have to do is walk down the corridor and we are out onto one of the covered viewing platforms...

Alesund and our first port of call, as well as cruise ships the Hurtigruten Line are also a ferry service for this land of many islands and much water and have been the life line of the islanders since 1893 calling at 35 ports from Bergen to Kirkenes....the ship will make stops at all of them with time at the main towns and cities for excursions and tours....
Alesund is a very typical pretty small town and fishing village...these guys have been out this morning harvesting their lobsters...

Norway is well known for its colourful buildings maybe to cheer the inhabitants as at this time of year daylight here in the south is just 5 hours at the most and less when we get up into the Artic Circle later in the voyage....

This kiosk in the town says it has"probably the best fish and chips in the world" !!! We think "probably not" but did not follow up and test....The town was rebuilt in an art nouveau style after a fire destroyed the town in 1904...

In Alesund (as with most of the towns we call at) we dock very close to the town then an easy walk from the ship into the centre of the town...temps were about 1 degree C...

Welcome back on board.....
We set sail at 1.30 for Molde so time for a great buffet lunch  before bagging a couple of the very comfortable chairs with a great view and having a very relaxing afternoon watching the scenery and the twinkling lights from the islands....
It's raining on arrival at Molde at 4.30 so no pics but seems very attractive...our tour guide tells us that Molde has 400 days of rain per year !!!!!
The Norwegians love Christmas, pretty lights and decorations a plenty...
Stay tuned for more soon from the Happy Travellers....