Harvesting Eider Down - 6/9

For over 1,500 years, Norwegians living on the Vega Archipelago have fished, hunted, and had a unique relationship to the eider ducks who came here to nest. Here are pictures of a village we visited and a roadside nest (not actually in use). Vega consists of over 6,000 islands/islets within a 1,000 sq. Kilometers area. On a small number of the islands, people come in the summer to build Eider nests, protect the ducks from predators, and collect and clean the eider down. The eider mothers are quite picky, and choose only the best nests. Feathers from the mothers' breast make the down soft and warm for the eggs. After the chicks hatch, the mothers and chicks leave for the sea. It takes down from 60 - 70 nests to produce a twin-bed quilt, which sells for about $6,000 - $8,000 U.S. Cleaning the down is done on what looks like a loom. Here are pictures of the eggs and down. Because we were in the breeding season, we could not actually go out and see the nesting ducks. Bummer - but understandable.

Haholmen - 6/8

We travelled 6/8 from Kristiansund to a small, remote fishing village of Haholmen on a replica of a viking ship. We saw typical Norwegian architecture, flowers, and scenery, as follows:

Nordfjord, Olden, Flowers, and the Briksdal Glacier - 6/6

A fjord is a giant glacier-caused tongue of sea extending deep into mountains of Norway. Sixty miles inland from the North Sea, we sailed the Nordfjord to the picturesque village of Olden. Here are pictures of Olden and the fjord: From the fjord we had a short ride and 45 minute walk to the Briksdal Glacier. The Norwegians in this area often roof their buildings with grass and/or flowers - here is a small shed on the way to the glacier and fields of flowers: Finally, we arrived at the glacier:

Geirangerfjord - 6/7

During the summer, 300,000 visoitors sail 70 miles down the Geirangerfjord. Why? Because the days are long and warm, and the fjord rivals Yosemite, CA. in the U.S. It is spectacular. The vistas of Geirangerfjord are edged with numerous waterfalls. Three of the most beautiful are the Seven Sisters, the Suitor, and Bridal Veil Falls. The Seven Sisters and Suitor are directly across from each other on the fjord, Legend is that the Suitor is imploring the Sisters to marry him, but is forever rejected. Depressed, he falls to the bottle. the Bridal Veil is a more delicate falls, misting over the sheer rocks. From kayaks, we had a unique perspective on the fjord: While from our ship, the Silver Explorer, we viewed both mountains and fjord.