Stavanger, Norway

We woke up in Stavanger, which is Norway's fourth largest city, to dark skies and pouring rain -- not quite the welcome we had hoped for. Our plan for the day was to visit an Iron Age Viking reenactment farm followed by a walking tour of Stavanger. The tour went rain or shine, so we hesitantly got on the bus. Our first stop was the Iron Age Farm, and by this point in time the rain had turned into a monsoon like downpour. Yet, we all unloaded for the tour. 

Seeing that we were all cold and quickly becoming drenched, our guide ushered us into one of the houses. There, we learned that the Vikings had made their houses within the ground to protect themselves from the elements. For more heat, the animals would also live with them at the other end of the house. I cannot even begin to imagine the stench.

After our guide had told us everything she could to keep us inside, she asked if anyone wanted to brave the elements to see more of the property. I think nobody really wanted to go, but we all felt compelled to go. 

We didn't last long as the winds and the rain picked up, which made in unbearable to be outside. Not one of us lasted more than two minutes before we turned around and headed back to the bus. 

The only one that managed to stay dry was Belle, thanks to her plastic bubble rain cover. 

Back on the bus, we were all cold, soaking wet, and in no mood to tour. We stayed on the bus long enough to be driven around the city to see the ports, 

and then most of us (including the Graber/Wepsic families) skipped the walking tour and headed back to the boat for warmth and dry clothes. 

The only pictures we got of Stavanger were what we could see from our boat. I was disappointed that we didn't get to explore the city as it seemed like the picture-perfect Norwegian city. 

Norway promises peril and adventure.....and I think we witnessed that today!