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May 22, 2025
Ålesund, Norway


Ålesund, Norway

In January of this year, we were aboard the Viking Vela for its maiden voyages. We were heading up the west coast of Norway “In Search of the Northern Lights.” We ran into a storm with hurricane-force winds and waves. We were forced to take refuge for three days in a port that wasn’t even on our itinerary. That port was Ålesund. Needless to say, we got to know that port very well.


Ålesund is overlooked by Mount Aksla. When we were here in January, Russell walked to the top.

Flash forward to today. The destination on our original itinerary was Geiranger, but we were unable to visit that port. Instead, we returned to Ålesund. Fortunately, the weather was much nicer. Even better, Russell was able to visit the Ålesund museum, which was closed for the season during our previous stay.

Ålesund is famous for two things. First, it is the hometown of Joachim Rønneberg. Rønneberg was the leader of a famous covert mission in WWII, where a group of Norwegian commandos destroyed Nazi German’s ability to make heavy water. As a result, the Allies were able to develop the atomic bomb before the Axis. Needless to say, this changed the course of history. Today, Rønneberg is a national hero of Norway… and a personal hero of Russell.


A statue of Joachim Rønneberg is near the cruise terminal. Ålesund Museum is in Rønneberg’s uncle’s old house.


The cellar of the museum has an exhibit commemorating Joachim Rønneberg’s WWII resistance work

Second, Ålesund is the hometown of “Uræd,” the world’s first covered lifeboat. (“Uræd” is Norwegian for “fearless.”) In 1904, four Norwegians sailed across the Atlantic ocean in an 18-foot-long egg. The idea never caught on until after the Titanic sank in 1912. Today, every cruise ship in the world has covered lifeboats.


There is a replica of the Uræd in the museum. You can even crawl around inside.


The actual Uræd is sitting in the yard outside the museum

Meanwhile, Gail was assigned to escort a Viking excursion, “The Islands of Giske & Godøy.” Most of Norway’s islands are connected, either by a bridge or underground tunnel. So Gail’s group was able to visit two islands by bus.

Giske Island is the alleged birthplace of the Viking Chieftain Rollo. As featured in the television series “The Vikings,” Rollo invaded France and established the region of Normandy. Gail’s tour visited an historic stone church dating to 1150.

On Godøy Island, Gail’s tour visited the small fishing village of Alnes. They went to an old lighthouse and enjoyed a snack before returning to Ålesund and the ship.


Most of Norway’s islands are connected by bridges or underground tunnels


Giske Island and its 12th-century church


The pulpit and altar were newly constructed in 1756 by a young man who is only known today as “Altar Piece Jacob.” In the 1860s, the church ordered everything painted white. The original colors were not restored until 1930.


In the 1400s, the church became a pilgrimmage site. Pilgrims who journeyed here to kiss these crosses were granted 100 days of sin forgiveness.


The church graveyard (Gail the genealogist is fascinated by graveyards)


On Godøy Island, the small fishing village of Alnes and its 1852 lighthouse


Back aboard ship, the World Café had an “Asian Corner” tonight. Gail thought one of the carved coconuts looked like Russell. So Russell said the female one looked like Gail.

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