Lok Man in Germany

We managed to fly from Rome to Oslo with no problems, but at that point we found that due to an airport strike, our plane to Bergen has been canceled. We then booked a flight to Stavinger, a city 180 km or so south of Bergen, a distance that we would then cover by bus. There was a quicker ferry option, but as it was late in the day, the last one had already left by the time we arrived. At the information counter at the airport, the lady told us "hurry and get the taxi to the city, you might be able to catch the last bus". From that point we found the Norwegians to be very helpful people. The taxi driver took us to the bus depot and helped us with the luggage and bus selection. As it turned out, the bus ride was to take some 4 hours (or perhaps even more). The roads were wonderfully picturesque, but at the same time they were windy one-laned highways connecting little islands, which meant that the speed was restricted. There were also 2 ferry crossings on the way, and it becam...

In May 2008 I went on a 2 week holiday with my family. It was split into two distinct parts. The first was a short cruise in a luxury vessel, while the second part was a visit to Norway. The cruise was a 6 day long affair on the Crystal Serenity, starting in Lisbon and ending in Civitavecchia, a port near Rome. Being on a cruise ship was a new sensation for me. Unlike ferries or hydro-foils or other commuter vessels that I have been on, the ship is very stable. At the port it barely moves, and even when moving the movements can barely be felt. However, there is always a sensation that I am not quite still - and when I disembark the ship I have the funny feeling that the ground is floating. Perhaps for the other seasoned travelers on the ship, this was not a problem. Having a sea view out the window and the sound of crashing waves on demand is actually very soothing, as was the a buffet breakfast at the bow. As Dad paid for the trip, we were treated to top-notch luxury and service. Cavi...