Javon in Europe

29^th April - 16^th May 2023

Itinerary: Milton Keynes - Stavanger - Olden - Ålesund - Haugesund

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30 April. Ware, Herts. We drove to Ware to see Marlon, Karla and their son Cassius. Javon had bought Cassius a couple of Spiderman toys, which he loved. A good time was had by all.

01 May. Milton Keynes. We just visited the windmill at Bradwell, then went shopping.

03 May. Milton Keynes. A walk in Linford Wood to see the bluebells with the WECC Wednesday Walkers.

04 May. Milton Keynes. WESAK day (Google it!) so Javon wanted to go to the Peace Pagoda and the Buddhist temple, Nipponzan Myohoji, at Willen Lake.

05 May. Stonehenge, Wiltshire. We drove to Southampton via Stonehenge. We took the bus to the stones and walked back. We got very wet going back! After an Indian meal we went to a pub for a drink and saw a drag act. Javon danced with a woman whose husband doesn't dance, so decided she'd dance with him instead!

08 May. Stavanger, Norway. Today's trip was Stavanger highlights and Viking Voyagers. First stop was the three swords sculpture at Hafrsfjord. Then a stop at the telecommunications tower for views of Stavanger and the surrounding area before a brief tour of the town. Next was the archaeological museum before a short guided walk round the Gamla Stan (old town). After lunch on board we walked back into the town for some independent exploration.

09 May. Olden. Norway. Today we took a tour to the see the Briksdal Glacier. Although it's in retreat, there seemed to be more of it visible than there was last time I was here, a few years ago. In the evening we went to the Limelight Club and saw La Voix. Very funny.

10 May. Ålesund, Norway. An early start today. We woke up to snow covered mountains and those strange lines of cloud you sometimes get. We drove to Stranda, including crossing a fjord by ferry. Then we took a gondola to Strandafjell. There was snow everywhere. Javon was in seventh heaven! After spending some very cold time at the top, we had coffee and a waffle before returning. We were supposed to come back a different way, but the ferry was out of commission, so we retraced our steps to Ålesund, where we had a visit to the Aksla viewpoint, before a brief city tour and back to the ship. After lunch we wandered around town for a bit.

11 May. Haugesund, Norway. A trip to the island of Karmøy, for a visit to the Avaldsnes History Centre, which was quite interesting. Then we walked to the Viking Farm. A reconstructed Viking farm! After that we went to Avaldasnes church for a look around. At the back of the church is a tall stone (supposedly Virgin Mary's sewing needle) which leans towards the church. It's about 9 cm away from touching the building. Apparently, when it does, we're all doomed. There's also an excavation of the old St. Olaf's church by the side.