Aleshund Norway...So Pretty

Thank goodness for the panorama option of my camera, otherwise sharing my first experience of Norway in Åleshund would be pictorially impossible. Like the grand canyon, African Bushveld, Peruvian Andes, and so many other places a picture just cannot capture the beauty when it engulfs you in so many ways as it does here in Norway.

Åleshund is at the top of Norway’s fjord country and has the stunning backdrop of the Sunmøre Alps that traditionally is a fishing town. The town itself is a picture book Art Nouveau town with colorful architecture romantic facades and beautiful Nordic implements to top it all off. After getting off the ship and walking one block you are immediately struck with an, “Oh Goodness, this is so cute!” jaw drop. After stopping for some time to pick my jaw up and get it back into position I immediately had to begin pounding the pavement to start seeing the town. Walking through the streets I had to keep an active eye because of sheer quantity of beauty. Each house, each building, and each corner was worth a picture. As I crested a hill a view beyond compare was revealed of artic waters with an incredible blue color and mountain peaks shooting immediately up from the crisp waters. Thankfully a bench had been placed perfectly there for people to sit and enjoy the sights.

From town I could see Mt. Aksla and it beckoned me saying, “climb me, climb me” and so I did. 418 stairs ascend the mountain to Kniven (knife). As I climbed each resting point begged a picture. When finally arriving at the peak every extra heartbeat was worth it because the view in 360 degree was simply breathtaking. Fjords, Alps, a cute town, birds flying, and boat activity all contributed to a view that literally took my breath away. Many people were around me speaking numerous languages and while their words were not know to me I knew exactly what they said. We all agreed that this was truly a fantastic view and what an awesome opportunity to see it.

I ended my day in Åleshund sitting at a fresco dining place on the harbor drinking a fine Norwegian beer, Kaska in the company of French Canadians. We etched out every minute we could of our shore leave before returning to the ship. After getting back to the ship a fair bit loquacious from the beer I headed to the ship’s fitness center where I could workout looking out onto the view from the 11th deck, as we sailed away.