sferguso

Thanks for this report Cambe - seeing the Northern Lights is on my "life list" but I was just thinking of going to northern Minnesota to see them. Norway sounds much better. It's now officially on my travel list, thanks again!

lanejohann

thanks Helen for a great report
we are leaving for scandinavia and russia in a few weeks

i wish we had time to go as far north as you did but since we decided to include russia into our itinerary we are only going as far as alesund

it is lovely to read all your detailed reflections
really whets the appetite

so glad you enjoyed it - good on you for going it alone!

cambe

Leanna, I think it is very wise to wait until you are on board the ship as there were additional options available plus lots of information and pictures of the various destinations. I really do not recommend the walking tours of the towns as I did them on my own and having spoken to others who had taken the excurions, I saw as much as they did all be it with a guide book (which the ship gives you)rather than a guide.

Thank you all for your lovely comments.

Lanejohann - I always travel alone, no one to fight with! and I always meet such interesting people.

Helen

oliverandharry

Since you enjoyed Troldhaugen, Grieg's home, if you return in summer, it is possible to book an evening excursion on the weekends to have a concert of Grieg's music in the Troldsalen concert hall. We booked through the tourist office, and were taken by bus to the bus stop for the house and walked up the road. The concert was by a local artist, in this technically perfect hall which holds only 200. It was a magical evening and one of the best things we did in Bergen.

Also the Norsk Folkmuseum in Oslo is much better in summer - costumed guides, everything open - we particularly liked the stave church there, and the wonderful Sami museum.

billbarr

Thank you cambe. This is a wonderful trip report. I too saw Joanna Lumley's documentary and was, like you, hooked. She had wonderful adventure and the scenes of the Northern Lights were mystical. BBC1 are showing it again on Sun 5 Apr 2009 at 6pm.

If anyone wants to see the moment the lights began for her you can see it here. Prepare to be amazed. There's a few clips available but this is, I think, the best one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCqX_aIHQ0I

Bill

jillp

Helen,
Your trip report was fantastic. I was ready to cancel my trip on Sept. 1-18 to Norway/St. Petersburg until I read your account. I, too, will be traveling as a single retiree.I've wanted to see Norway/Lapland and St. Petersburg since I was a teenager. I booked my tour with Grand Circle (I'll be the youngest there, but that's okay)! My question for you---were you seasick? My concern is rough seas. Are you really close to shore the entire trip? I'll be sailing from the north to Bergen. Your report also made me feel that I'll be 'okay' traveling alone. Thanks for any info you can share! Jill

queenbubbe

Helen,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for such an extensive, exciting report. We are taking the 12-day trip in December, and I can hardly sit still because I am so excited about it. Your suggestions are helpful and your report so interesting, I printed it out to take with.

Jean

Thanks for the great report which proved that the advice provided here (no matter how well intended) is sometimes not the best advice for a person with a plan.

Luisah

I just saw this today. What a great report!I'm glad the trip turned out so well for you. Like others, I've moved this trip up on my list.

Thanks so much for taking the time to post an well-written, organized report. Where are you going next?

Jill, I'm interested in the trip that you will be taking. I hope you'll post something about it when you return.

Have you traveled with GCT before? I've made five trips as a single and found a range of ages from 18 to close to 80. The eighteen-year-old was a grandson of a participant and on other trips there have been 30-something daughters traveling with their mothers. I hope you enjoy your trip.

gruezi

Dear Helen,

Not sure if you still check in to Fodor's but wanted to thank you for a very good and helpful trip report. I hope to be going to Norway at the end of May (also solo) and found your report to be just the kind of thing I was looking for in terms of planning my itinerary.

Thanks very much!

gruezi

cambe

Thank you gruezi, enjoy Norway it is truly a lovely country my only complaint - it is sooooo expensive but I wouldn't have missed it and plan to return.

I am off to Scandinavia myself in June but this time Sweden, Finland and St Petersburg. I hope they are as beautiful as Norway.

Carotta

Cambe - I found your trip report via another recent post re the best trip reports of 2011 and I have to thank you for having posted such a wonderful trip report. I've been thinking about doing this trip for about two years now but was a bit concerned about what it would "really" be like - you have truly inspired me! Thank you so very much ...and btw - I think you write beautifully!