La Colombe in Constantia 29th October 2022

We had been to the Silvermist estate in 2014 for my birthday celebration. A windy road that takes you to the top of a mountain with gorgeous views. We had stayed in the main house and I remember it as very beautiful but nothing like it is today. There were fewer accommodation units and La Colombe was in the process of being built.

Zoe and Darren had booked for lunch but had to postpone to the 29th of October and cound not join us as they are in Bali.

Terrance, Carolyn, Andrew, Amy, Michael and I had a circular table. The table settings were immaculate and tastefully decorated. We started with the pallet cleanser that you see in this centerpiece. All of plates that follow were so beautiful and a gastronomic delight. The combination of tastes explode in your mouth. 

The starter.

The Dessert

Turns into

We finished around 17:00 after a lot of wine and 11 courses. What a fantastic occasion. Thanks Zoe and Darren for arranging and Michael for funding the occasion.

Scary amount.

We then continues to Kean, Jay and Richard for Halloween 🎃

Stellenbosch 28 October 2022

Had the greatest time driving down from SFB to CT. Stopped in De Rust for breakfast. Very good omelet and Karoo full breakfast for Michael. Carried on to Stellenbosch and the Purple windmill. It lives in a working farm with good accomodation and whole entertainment area with a market, restaurant, dam, golf, kids climbing and games area with a working plant nursery as well. Huge effort and lots of work.

We carried on to dinner at De Warenmarkt. Had booked but had not needed. We walked around central Stellies, so many bars and restaurants. Interesting place, after our 10000 steps we went in for dinner. Nothing in that restaurant seemed normal. The waiter was a wine poficionado in a fun way. Explained everything about the local wines. There was a biltong and beer section. A coffee shop section with cakes, an ice-cream section, a bar,  a butcher and tables all around. Food was great we shared a salt and pepper squid. Oysters were sold out 😅 so I had a naked burger. Mike had the sirloin.

So yummy. A really good night - after half a bottle of wine, slept like a baby. Now ready for a run!!

Leaving Bergan for Oslo airport in a Tesla - 05 October 2022

Our first time in a Tesla. So awesome, our taxi was a Tesla and the driver was very proud of his machine. He is buying another one in January next year, a Tesla SUV. His current one cost R775000. 11kw an hour to charge and a 75kw battery. He does around 350km a day so possibly does not drive batteries down to empty.

I repeat myself but I love airports. The kids stuff at Oslo and Bergen were great. A climbing rig at Oslo in the shape of an airplane.

and a kid can fly an airplane in Bergen by getting the light to shine on the airplanes solar panel.

There was a boarding sign up almost 1.5 hrs before take off for Doha. Really long.

Afternoon in Bergen - Pouring rain and a running race. 05 October 2022

Pouring rain in Bergen. We cannot stay in the hotel and start walking toward the town centre. Found a shopping centre and walked around it. A tech shop, shops ready for Halloween 

and adventure shops as well as food shops. I buy a Bluetooth mouse and we carry on in the rain to thousands of people in the Bergen square. 38000 to be exact. A race to expose the need for early breast cancer detection. 3,800 were registered for this year’s Pink Bow race here in Bergen, and with that the entire race was sold out, all dressed in pink, a beautiful sight of people running either 3 or 6 Kms.

We carried on and walked to our favourite restaurant where I ate fish soup and Michael had a burger. We returned to the hotel. An interesting aside about Norway hotels, is that the bathrooms are heated, so all our jackets etc were all dry this morning. After a great breakfast we are getting ready for our trip to the airport. On our way home.

Last day on Hurtigruten, 04 October 2022

After the usual great breakfast and with the boat also providing a served lunch, makes this last day very different from a Princess last day, where we usually got a continental breakfast and bags had to be out the night before. With Hurtigruten, we must be out of the cabins by 10:00 and the bags put next to lifts after which we can wait in one of the lounges until 12:00 at which time lunch will be served.  I have aquired a taste for black coffee. In my opinion, the coffee in Norway tastes better black. I hope I can find similar coffee in South Africa. The water is also drinkable out of the tap in the cabin and it tastes very nice.

All packed and bubbly jacket is in the case as it is raining in Bergen 😅 so back to the old faithful rain jacket I have used since I used to fly.

Miserable day outside, strong winds and rain.

Not a day for a jacuzzi 😅😂

A very enjoyable Bergen Seafood soup and fish with mash potatoes and carrots. Baked apple tart and ice cream for dessert.

A San Francisco and an IPA beer.- 03 October 2022

Last night on the boat, so pre-dinner drinks are am IPA for Michael and the drink of the cruise which is a San Francisco vodka, bols, cranberry, orange and lime juice. Very nice indeed.

Kristiansund - Bacalou Capital - 03 October 2022

We dock at Kristiansund’s harbour in the late afternoon. The town is spread over three islands and Is known for being Norway’s “Bacalao Capital” for the salted cod that’s dried on the surrounding cliffs, called klippfisk in Norwegian.

Many statues to the fisherwomen and children. Bought some bacalhau and walked around town

Raining which drenched is but not enough to stop is going out.

Completely electric earth moving machine.

Captains dinner - 02 October 2022

We left Bronnoysund passing the mountain with the hole in the middle Torghatte mountain with its stunning panoramic views.

and then got ready for the Special Captains dinner.

Very enjoyable and served by very efficient staff as always. All staff have 22 days on and 22 days off work.

Trondheim - our last night onboard - 03 October 2022

Had breakfast and walked out the boat to explore Trondheim in 1hr and 15minutes. So headed straight for the Nidaros Cathedral.

People pilgrimage here from Oslo, there are 3000 km of paths. It is said that as a pilgrim, one should approach slowly when one arrives at the pilgrimage destination of Nidaros. Historical rituals of pilgrimage state that one must walk around the cathedral three times before entering the cathedral and the octagon where a copy of St. Olav’s shrine stands and where it is believed St.Olav is buried. It is only then that the pilgrimage to Nidaros is completed. Olaf II Haraldsson (c. 995 – 29 July 1030), later known as Saint Olaf (and traditionally as St. Olave), was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. Olav was made a saint after once his coffin was unearthed one year after his death in the battle of Stikelsta. A  spring bubbled up in its place. An Holy well has been built there to mark the spring and continues to provide water.His remains were enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral.

St Olav statue on the plaza

Monk Island where a fortress was built and taken over in WW2

Various places along our walk, beautiful buildings.