In Ålesund we go up to the mountain top Aksla, where we enjoy the view of the city and its surroundings. Susan tells us that she thinks this is Norway's most beautiful city, and many agree.

We visit the Art Nouveau Center and learn about Ålesund's history and we also get an introduction to the Art Nouveau style in which most of the town's houses were built after the city fire in 1904.

After some free time we drive to Atlanterhavsparken where we, learn about life in the sea in the area outside Ålesund. We are spectators to the feeding of the fish in Stortanken, the otters, penguins and seals while the animal / fish keepers tell about the animals in a lively, fun and entertaining way.  

The next stop is Runde miljøsenter. Here we stay in superb apartments before we get a guided tour inside the center. We hear about the Round Treasure and see the film "The Silver of the Sea" which deals with the ecosystem and how vulnerable the Puffins become if the fish does not arrive at the right time in relation to hatching. We also learn what different birds are called in Norwegian. We need that when we go up to Runde fuglefjell and get to see all the birds that are up there. We are impressed with how close they get.

Susan is impressed by the students who keep their spirits up despite the wind and rain on the way up and she is simply moved when the students say that this weather only makes them feel more alive. After this, Susan claims that she brings with her 14 vitamin pills in the form of the students on a trip !!!

Well at home we empty the boots for water and make dinner in the groups.

The next morning the trip continues to the Norwegian Bremuseum & Ulltveit-Moe center for climate science, in Fjærland. Here we meet Pål who welcomes us and gives a short introduction before we see a panoramic film about Jostedalsbreen glacier and national park. Furthermore, we get to learn more about glaciers in the interactive museum. We go through the exhibition "Climate in change - from past to future" - about natural and man-made climate change. This gives us a golden opportunity for a lot of reflection.

We end the visit by getting to know the mammoths that are outside the museum. Fy søren so much fun we have!

We have to continue to catch the train from Flåm that will take us up to Vatnahalsen hotel where we will spend the night. Flåmsbanen is one of Norway's most visited tourist attractions and runs from Flåm up to Myrdal where it meets the Bergen line which runs from Oslo to Bergen. On the way up we hear about the train's history in English, German and Norwegian.

The train takes a five minute stop at Kjosfossen where we go out on the platform and take a group photo.

We have a great time at the venerable old hotel that we read about before the trip. Well down in Flåm the next day we drive to Gudvangen Vikingelandsby- Njardarheimr. Here we meet people who live and work in the village. A blacksmith shows us how he makes tools and other useful things, we get to see how daily life behaved in the Viking Age. We get to try ax throwing, shooting with a bow and arrow, learn a ball game, see how they felted and spun yarn and made clothes and much much more - a super interesting experience.

"The Viking village of Njardarheimr will be a place for good experiences, lessons and activities through participation and meetings with people who today live out this era"

The penultimate stop is Bergen. On the way up to Fløybanen we meet Marianne Børhaug, a cozy, cheerful and kind lady who works at the bakery "Good bread Fløyen". She is standing on the sidewalk with a tray of the most delicious organic raisin bowls she is handing out. All students received their own bowls. Talk about rubbing salt in my wounds - d'oh!

We take the Fløybanen up to the top and get a great view of the city at the same time as we get to experience the sunset. Following "orders" from Susan, the students go to Bryggene in Bergen, which is a must, they are given the task of reading about this historic place and themselves to investigate and find out other places they want to see.  

After an overnight stay and some free time in Bergen, we drive to Troldhaugen where we get to know one of our greatest composers, Edvard Grieg. We get to enter his home where much of the original interior still exists. We visit the graveyard of him and his wife Nina, and we get to look into the composer's cabin.

Now it's time to turn our noses home to our dear Elverum Folkehøyskole. We stop at Gjøvik where we eat Chinese at Peking Palace. Well at home and after an eventful trip, it should taste good with its own bed again. Thanks for the ride!