Trondheim

Wednesday 6 August

The weather closed in a little as we arrived in Trondheim, Norway's third largest city (population around 160,000 - growing to near 200,000 after university holidays) and, in the Viking age (until 1217) its capital. We docked with our cabin opposite Munkholmen, "The Monks Island",  Trondheim's execution ground in ancient times. No Hop On Hop Off bus or tourist train so it is all walking and we are about 1km to the edge of city centre before we start.

Walked up to anglican cathedral and on to Nidaros Cathedral (Norway's largest, and its national shrine) - built  in 1070 on the tomb of St Olav, and the most important landmark in Trondheim. Almost $14pp to get in - very impressive,  but $14 and no sermon!!!!

The grounds of the adjacent Archbishop's Palace housed a very good Army Museum (free entry) with excellent displays, including on WW1, Norway's wars with Sweden, and particularly Norway's invasion by the Nazis and its eventual retaking from them. This period of history was extremely divisive for the country with some 350,000 of the population supporting, or actively aligning with the Nazis, and much of the retaliation against the Nazis being initiated out of Sweden and the UK by fleeing Norwegian patriots supported by allied forces. The impact of this diviseness ultimately lead to Norway's neutral status subsequent to the Nazi occupation.

Walk around the Nidelva (river) - Trondheim's centre is a peninsular (almost an island), through some very impressive streets and then took a break in a modern shopping centre due to some rain.  As the rain continued, on to the library (very modern, 3 storey with great facilities, including a coffee shop) for email catch up and some conversation with two very pleasant young Norwegian mums doing the school holiday thing, before walk around the beautiful buildings along the waterfront and the pedestrianised CBD (including a mandatory supermarket inspection - blueberries were very cheap! !!!).  Much of Trondheim was also destroyed by fire, but unlike Alesund,  the rebuild was in wood.

Around 6km of walking, much on cobble stone streets and in drizzle, saw us back on board.

Excellent show tonight - English violin player (Claire Gobin -classically trained) playing all varieties of music from Vivaldi to the Beatles.