Norway And Northern Lights, 12 Nights

Andalsnes is your starting point for a ride on the Trollstigvein (troll’s path), a zig-zag drive up mountains and over waterfalls
that’s out of this world! Trollstigven’s often cloud-shrouded summit is the ultimate challenge for mountain climbers.

You can thank Olav Kyrre.

He’s the Viking king who founded Bergen in 1070. During the Middle Ages, the city became Scandinavia’s primary port, and today, against all odds, you can still see buildings and other relics of this long period. There’s the medieval fortress of Bergenhus, as well as the summer home of composer Edvard Grieg. Bergen, Norway is also a jumping off point for excursions to some of Norway’s wonders, such as Sorfjord, Samnangerfjord, Tokagjel Gorge and Steindalsfjoss Waterfall. After you’ve visited all of these, there will be a short spelling quiz.

Hamburg, city (1989 est. pop. 1,603,000), coextensive with, and capital of, Hamburg state, N Germany, on the Elbe and Alster rivers. It is Germany’s largest and busiest port. Manufactures include copper, ships, and machinery. Founded in the 9th cent., it formed (13th cent.) an alliance with Lübeck that became the basis of the Hanseatic League. The city was largely destroyed by fire in 1842. Severely damaged during World War II, it has been rebuilt and is now a modern cultural center. Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms were born in Hamburg.

Southampton Parish, on Main Island, is one of the nine parishes each of 2.3055 (two point three zero five five) square miles. It was named after Henry Wriothesley, Third Earl of Southampton (1573-1624), an English aristocrat, one of the most colorful Elizabethans, the patron and friend of William Shakespeare.

The world’s northernmost university – only one institute of higher learning may boast of that distinction, and at the moment anyway, that institution is the University of Norway at Tromso. Situated about 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromso has continuous sunshine from late May to mid-July. Nearby is the city of Narvik, known for mysterious lightning that occurs every August.

Located 245 miles north of Oslo, Trondheim was originally called Nidaros. Venture to Nidaros Cathedral, considered one of the most beautiful Gothic buildings in Northern Europe. Visit Ringve Museum of Musical History for a lively experience, with a collection of over 2000 instuments.