From our ship's deck

We went on a local tour. It should be noted that it rained and was windy most of the tour. We ended up going inside a mall to shelter us from the weather. Our first really bad weather on an excursion.

Monument: The "Shetland Bus" was the nickname of a clandestine special operations group which made a permanent Allied link between Shetland, Scotland and Norway from 1941 to the end of World War II. From 1942 on, the official name of the group was "Norwegian Naval Independent Unit" (NNIU). In October 1943 it became an official part of the Royal Norwegian Navy and was renamed the "Royal Norwegian Naval Special Unit" (RNNSU). This memorial commemorates the Norwegians who died using the Shetland Bus. 3300 Norwegians managed to use the route and could fight along with the Allies.

I did get a nice picture of their lighthouse which I found out has become room 47 at Brosundet Hotell. The lighthouse was built in 1858. There is still light in the tower, but the rest of the building has been given a completely different use, namely as hotel rooms. Brosundet Hotell, five minutes' walk away, rents the lighthouse from the Coastal Administration and uses it as a special hotel room. Creative architects and builders have created an elegant and full bathroom on the first floor of the tower which measures only three meters in diameter. On the second floor, they have installed a specially built bed that takes up half the space. If they wish, guests can have breakfast delivered to their door in the morning. For newlyweds and other guests alike, a stay in room 47 at Brosundet Hotell has become very popular. For the residents of Ålesund, the red-painted lighthouse on the breakwater is also highly valued, and it has been declared the municipality's millennium site. The lighthouse is locally called Molja. Molje is the Scandinavian word for breakwater.

On my way back I thought I could get a better picture of a hill with, what seemed like an observatory. In Ålesund you can visit the Town Mountain and viewpoint Aksla. From this location there is a panoramic view of the archipelago, the beautiful town centre, and the amazing Sunnmøre Alps. Walk the 418 steps up from the Town Park. With all the rain and wind, I choose not to attempt it. Do I regret it....of course!!!

I told Sharon to go ahead and I will take a picture of her on the ship-I waited in the rain!

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