Today we were wakened a bit early by the sounds of the people from the bus tours moving out around 7AM and we didn't get to sleep in as much as we hoped. As the receptionist had suggested breakfast after 7:30AM would be peaceful. We were down at the large buffet around 8:30AM with one other couple and had to chuckle thinking about the receptionist yesterday. We had asked to change to a room with a view (for 200 extra Kroner of course! $30 to me and you) and she mumbled something about not having anything. I guess it was a large bus tour! In any case we did get the room with a view and the picture shows it.
The buffet was massive but didn't look like the freshest bunch of food. Ethan wasn't much into breakfast and waited impatiently by the door while Gwyneth, Nic, and I ate. Before leaving I filled up a mug with juice (and another with coffee!) and stuffed a few rolls in my pocket. (I thought about making sandwiches too but my conscience got the better of me - that will all change at the next hotel). Of course later, once we got in the car for the ferry Ethan was ready for breakfast and I was able to produce. We checked out around 10AM and drove the car over to the ferry (about a 1 minute drive). We were getting ready for the 11AM Geiranger to Hellesylt Tourist Ferry - it was supposed to be the crown jewel of the Norwegian Fjords and it did not disappoint. Before leaving, Gwyneth and I were able to poke in a few gift shops (scoring some cool Norwegian flag sunglasses) while Ethan and Nic stayed back at the car. Ethan decided that now was the appropriate time for breakfast.
The ferry did not disappoint here is Nic in a more peaceful moment. Ethan spent some amount of time circling ferry trying to be "by himself". By this point we had figured out that we could calm him with some ice cream and them some playing time on his Leapster. The ride lasted just over and hour and went by a spectacular waterfall (The seven sisters). You can see my sideways video on facebook - I can't seem to remember that I cannot turn the camera when taking a video! The water was perfectly calm as you can see in the photo and the weather was beautiful which added to the moment. Geiranger is a rather narrow fjord with very steep cliff walls. Occasionally you would see camps on the sides that you could only get to by boat (I presume). Not a bad place for a vacation home! The ferry was not crowded at all as the tourist season doesn't start until June. I could imagine that it wouldn't be as special if the boat was stuffed with people. The ferry arrived in Hellesylt and we were on our way by car again - next stop Alesund. 
The ride over Alesund (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%85lesund)involved one more ferry and the parents were appreciating the ability to stop for a potty break and provisions if needed. The ferries may not have been cheap (an ice cream may have been purchased on every one for example) but they were convenient and an experience of a lifetime. We were treated to more sheep and fun road signs. Also, fields and fields of dandelions - including houses with just a yard full of dandelions. Is it Norway's national flower? As we approached Alesund the rain started to fall and so we headed for the hotel. Today was a short driving day - maybe 3 hours - and we were at the hotel by 3PM.
Alesund is a coastal town that burned to the ground in 1904. It was rebuilt using the Art Nouveau style which made walking around and looking up quite interesting! After some confusion with parking and with our room we settled in. Parking wasn't free but we were able to park on the street at a meter that only needed to be feed between the hours of 9AM-4PM. We also had reserved a "superior" room which was advertised to come with a water view, but we learned that a superior family room does not. So we got to keep our superior family room (which just meant it was bigger) and pay the cheaper price. We were happy.
We did a "quick" turn and took the car for a drive up to Askla and the splendid view point of Alesund. This photo isn't great but you get the idea. There is a cafeteria and we had an early dinner\late lunch - it wasn't clear which it was. Ethan was happy with any of the selections but we ordered him french fries and he ate them anyway. I had a salmon dish with some little shrimp type thingies on top and it was excellent. Gywneth had chicken that tasted like it had been cooked in the fish fryer - she at it anyway - she is a good sport. Nic got some strange smoked salmon and egg sandwich, but he ate it all, so I guess it wasn't that bad. After dinner Ethan discovered the 418 steps that you could take down into town. (It was raining when we left so we didn't consider them on the way up.) We let him go down a few (100 to be exact) as Gwyneth counted on the way up and luckily we were able to get him to abort his mission of getting to the bottom since the car was at the top! We passed on the potty that was going to cost 10 Kroner to use and headed for the hotel.
The kids settled into some Norwegian Disney channel. They noticed that the Norwegian sounded different almost german-like and they/we weren't sure why. We have seen the Disney Channel enough now to know what all of the shows and the advertisements for the shows sound like. Nic and I tag teamed on walking around the town while the kids rested. Nic went first and he stumbled upon this lighthouse that was a stone's throw from our hotel. So when he came back we dragged the kids out for a little walk - and believe me it was dragging at this point. If they had their way they would have watched TV all night, but we didn't come this far just for Norwegian Disney Channel. So they humored us and came along. Ethan still was being a bit disagreeable and here is how he spent his time at the lighthouse:
After the lighthouse, the kids wanted home and Nic wanted coffee. So Nic got a coffee and the kids got chocolate muffins from the snack place in the hotel. I walked around Alesund some more and scoped out a few shopping stops. It was eerily quiet for 7PM at night. The shops were closed and there weren't many people about. I enjoyed working off dinner a bit and looking at the buildings. Once back in the hotel room I started a beading project that I had brought with me. (Today I discovered that I don't think I have enough beading thread with me so I may not get to finish it, but I will get close.) Ethan thought it was great fun to jump from bed to bed - which we quickly put a stop to. It was hard to get him down, but we finally managed by putting the lights out and off to bed we all went!
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