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Disney’s Magic in Norway – Hiking to Pulpit Rock

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Stavanger-Title-PicThe evening before reaching the port of Stavanger, Norway, we received a note in our stateroom:

 “Dear Guests, 

Thank you for booking the SV05 Hike to Pulpit Rock in Stavanger.  As you are aware, this is an ACTIVE Hiking tour and we want to remind you to keep hydrated and please ensure you have all the appropriate outerwear and shoes to participate in this port adventure.  Thanks so much and have a great Hike! 

Kind Regards, Port Adventures Team / Disney Magic”

Interesting!  Our first warning from Disney Cruise Line that we’d booked an ACTIVE tour!  We thought it was funny…until…

Disney’s Magic in Norway – Hiking to Pulpit RockStavanger-Port-Norway

Remember, I tried to book interesting, action-packed port adventures.  After being criticized by my offspring for some “boring” excursions on the 2011 Wonder-in-Alaska cruise, I was NOT booking anything remotely mild.  To kick things off, I booked a full day’s activity – an 8-hour tour that started with a motor coach ride to a ferry, ferry ride to more motor coach action, and finally, a 4-5 hour hike up to the world famous Pulpit Rock (and back down again).  This hike was not for wimps!  The stateroom warning card was proof!!!  It was not a cheap undertaking, this port adventure, but if I booked through Disney Cruise Line, I knew I was paying for peace of mind – if we returned later than the all-aboard time, the ship would not leave without us!Stavanger-Norway

If I remember correctly, we were to meet sometime around 8:15 am in Fathoms.  We got up early, bundled in layers and hiking shoes, and hit the Cabana’s Buffet for breakfast.  We were really excited and ready to go on time.  Once the ship had been cleared for all-ashore, we headed out with the other members of our tour group to meet our guide, Paul.  Paul was kind, easy going, and very welcoming as he ushered us along the pier to our very comfortable motor coach.  We’d packed the new backpack we’d received as a Castaway Club gift with trail mix, nuts, granola bars, and water.  We’d actually brought the snacks with us from home, having read that we’d have a long day ahead of us and would want the extra food.Pulpit-Rock-Guide-Paul

By 10:00 am, we’d reached the starting point for our hike.  In the parking lot, Paul distributed our box lunches (included with the excursion and he took this responsibility very seriously) – these were large-ish Styrofoam containers holding an unwrapped sandwich, apple, candy bar, and bottle of water.  There was absolutely no way we could carry these with us, so we left them in our seats on the bus – hoping they’d keep until we returned.  At around 10:15, we started the hike to Pulpit Rock – it was around 52-degrees out and overcast.

Paul was very clear with his pre-adventure warning – it would take us the same amount of time to reach Pulpit Rock as it would to hike back down.  The goal was to reach the plateau by noon (or so) and begin the trip back down by 12:40 pm at the latest.  No pressure!  Personally, I was feeling ultra confident at this point – my family is in excellent shape!  We would have absolutely no problem making the hike in the allotted time period – Paul would need to worry about those other families, not mine!  THEN we started the hike – walking up a wide, gravel path…and it felt like we were walking straight up! (See elevation map a the top of the page.)Pulpit-Rock-Slope

I was out of breath immediately.  Surely this was due to the fact that I was carrying the full backpack, right?  Or maybe it was the altitude in Norway (Louisiana is extremely flat and mostly at sea level).  Raymond took a turn carrying the snacks.  Megan and I were walking together and, for a short time, we could see Raymond and Joseph ahead of us.  They were getting farther and farther away, then we lost them completely.

After the gravel path ended, the real work began.  We were on an extremely rocky, sometimes very narrow upward path.  The rocks were of an amazing variety of shapes, sizes and texture.  Some were slippery where water ran in streams between the stones.  It was like climbing up an endless flight of stairs – where each individual stair was of a different height and angle.  The only way to take in our surroundings was to stop completely for a look around – otherwise, all we did was watch our feet to make sure we stepped carefully!  Every time we stopped, the view took our breath away…or maybe it was the climb.  No matter, we were working hard and had amazing things to see.Pulpit-Rock-Hike-Selfie

Occasionally, we’d get a break in a valley with a wooden walkway or on a flat plateau, but ever mindful of the time constraint, we pushed onward and upward.  We couldn’t help but notice when the path became extremely narrow along the edge of a cliff – one wrong step and…View-Hike-to-Pulpit-Rock

After an hour and a half, we were nearing Pulpit Rock – Megan and I were feeling a great sense of accomplishment.  Coming so close to the edge of disaster over and over completely desensitized us…when we reached the incredible Pulpit Rock, we were able to walk right up to the edge and have a seat!  Pulpit-Rock Pulpit-Rock-Hike-View Fjord-View-Pulpit-RockUnfazed by the danger of falling, we were euphoric!  We’d made it and the final destination was worth every bit of the effort it had taken to get there!

Sure, we were happy, but also really thirsty and starving!  It was time to find Raymond and Joseph and, more importantly, the backpack.  We had about 50 minutes to relax and enjoy the views before we had to head back down.Raymond-and-Lisa-Pulpit-Rock

Now, logic would dictate that going up would be harder than going down – not so in Norway!  The trip back down to the bus was, to me, more difficult than the climb.  Rocky-Slope-Down-From-Pulpit-RockThe rocks were slippery and I fell onto my bottom more than once.  I counted myself lucky – I was well-padded and didn’t suffer anything worse than a little hurt pride.  By the time I reached the busses, the rest of my family had been waiting a little while.  All of us were happy with our first day in Norway.  (Some of us might have been a bit sore the next day.)

We made the reverse trip to the port – back on the bus, the ferry, and the bus again before bidding Paul goodbye.  The next day would bring a new and completely different adventure – Sea Kayaking in Alesund, Norway.

Thanks for following along!  Watch this adventure’s YouTube video here.

Links to the other parts of this trip report:

 

 

Disney’s Magic – Sailing Away to Norway

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Copenhagen-Shopping-DistrictFinally, the day had arrived!  Two years of anticipation, endless research, packing angst, jet lag, the exploration of Copenhagen – which (incredibly) went precisely as planned – WE WERE READY!  We’d agreed before turning in the night before that we had enough time in the morning (before our bus to the port left) to get ready, enjoy the Tivoli Hotel’s breakfast buffet (very impressive, by the way) and walk to Copenhagen’s pedestrian shopping district.  We really wanted to check out the local Disney Store!

Outside-Disney-Store-CopenhagenThe weather was great and we walked briskly, timing how long it took to arrive at our destination – we did NOT want to miss our ride back at the hotel.  We had enough time, once we reached the shopping district (after a brief pause to listen to…wait for it…the Salvation Army Band play) to not only browse the tiny Disney Store but also check out some Danish versions of familiar stores like H&M (Megan picked up a pair of Sunglasses).  Disney-Store-CopenhagenWhen time was up, we reversed our route and hurried back so we could…

WAIT!  UGH!  Luggage at our side, we waited (and waited) outside the hotel’s lobby for the busses to the port to arrive – poised for action, we did manage to be among the first guests to board the, again, impressively plush and well appointed motor coach.  Off we went!  Before long, we could see her from the window – the Disney Magic!!!  Disney-Magic-in-CopenhagenOff the bus and right into the line, it seemed to take no time at all and we were walking onto the ship.  We boarded on a lower deck, rather than into the main atrium, and without fanfare, but we didn’t mind a bit.  We were finally back aboard one of our most favorite vacation vessels.  That’s the beauty of Disney Cruise Line for us – we love the ships, which allow us to travel in the Disney bubble while we’re seeing the world.Disney-Captain-Mickey-Statue

Lunch first, in Carioca’s, while waiting for our stateroom to be ready…check!  Stateroom located, carryon luggage stored, door magnets in place…check!Disney-Magic-Stateroom-Detail Disney-Magic-Stateroom-Sitting-AreaDisney-Norway-Cruise-Stateroom-Door-MagnetsIt was time for the Facebook group meet-up (we could only stay briefly, but made new friends), then the mandatory lifeboat drill – which we have found we actually enjoy.  Disney-Magic-Lifeboat-Drill-CM

Lifeboat Drill Lineup

Lifeboat Drill Lineup

I mean it IS mandatory, so we might as well stir up some fun while we’re at it, right?  And, finally, the sail away party.  I don’t know what was more fun – watching the party on deck or the people on shore who came to wave us bon voyage.Disney-Magic-Sailaway-Party

Post sail-away bash, we had time to unpack (luggage arrived earlier than expected), meet our stateroom host, Kenneth, unwind, and get ready to meet our dining room servers (April and Andres) at Animator’s Palate (the first restaurant in our dining rotation).  April We would spend this cruise with six other table-mates each evening:  A retired couple from California enjoying (I think they said) their 36th Disney Cruise, and another family – mom, dad, and young adult son and daughter.  We enjoyed visiting with our co-diners every evening to find out what adventures everyone had been on each day.  Meg&Joe-Animator's-PalateOur precious angels were so well behaved at the dinner table!

Disney Cruise Line shows are the best & we caught two that night (don’t ask me how we stayed awake, I have no idea) – Let the Magic Begin followed by the Irish trio, Runa, in O’Gill’s Pub.Let-the-Magic-BeginFinally, we called it a night and it felt good knowing we could sleep in the next day if we wanted to since it would be a day at sea.  After that, things were going to get a lot busier!Towel-Snake

Coming up – A day at sea followed by one of the most challenging adventures we’ve ever had!

Thanks for following along…Lisa

Links to other posts from this trip:

 

Disney’s Magic in Norway – Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen

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RM-Tivoli-Gardens-ArchI’d be completely remiss if I didn’t tell you  how we spent the one pre-cruise evening we had in Copenhagen (after our Segway tour).  We spent several wonderful hours in Tivoli Gardens, but I’ll apologize right now for the lack of great pictures.  By the time we made it to the Gardens, we were indescribably tired, but very committed to experiencing this amazing, truly magical place to the fullest extent possible (under the circumstances).

Tivoli Gardens is famous for many reasons.  This popular Danish amusement park and beautiful gardens first opened in 1843 (2nd oldest in the world).  In the very heart of Copenhagen, Tivoli Gardens is a compact, excitement-filled novelty!  Restaurants, rides, entertainment (Elton John will be playing there this week!), attractions – even boasting its own aquarium – it’s no surprise to guests that this place was an inspiration to Walt Disney for Disneyland.  Both park’s are based on the premise that they’ll never be complete – always changing, yet maintaining the heart of the original design.  Tivoli-Small-World Tivoli-ChurrosSo much about Tivoli Gardens was unique, but many things were oddly familiar!

Our all-inclusive tickets (pre-purchased months earlier online) were a bargain at around 80 dollars US.  We’d get park admission, aquarium admission, all-ride access (rides are usually purchased a la carte), free ride photo of our choice, and a meal (limitations apply).  We arrived early evening and decided to get the lay of the land and knock off a few rides before getting something to eat and reassessing our ability to power on.  We received paper wrist bands for ride access and small, tear-apart paper tickets for our meal and photo.RM-Tivoli-Octopus-Ride

The rides varied wildly in age and thrill-level.  Some were quite old and others really new (and cutting edge) – all were outdoors and many resembled carnival rides.  Here’s where an open mind helped – the rides that looked tame were actually loads of fun!  The rides that looked super scary were actually thrilling yet smooth.  ALL were great fun!

“The Roller Coaster” built in 1914 and one of Tivoli Gardens most popular rides was incredibly fun.  “The Star Flyer” took all my bravery – it was basically two-seater baby swings hurling around and around on a single middle post – WAY up in the air!  Tivoli-SwingsLots more fun (and less sickening) than anticipated.  Also a testament to Denmark’s lack of crime – any and all possessions (empty pockets were mandatory) had to be left on the ground in unlocked “lockers” to be retrieved once the ride was over.  Our favorite ride by far was “The Demon” – imagine Rock’n’ Roller Coaster, but four seats across, outdoors and much, much smoother.  We were in awe!Demon-Tivoli-Ride-Photo Demon-Track-Design The-Demon-Tivoli-Gardens

Realizing how hungry we were, we decided on the Biergarten for supper.  It was the only option (as far as we could tell) for a meal that wasn’t a sandwich.  We’d each be getting a half a roast chicken, fries, pickles, and a beer.  Sounds great, right?  We presented our meal tickets at the counter and, after what we thought was a pretty substantial wait, our buzzer/flasher thing indicated that our food was ready.  Tivoli-BiergartenWhoa!  We did not go away hungry!  The chicken was of a generous size, the beer even more so, and the fries were without a doubt the best I’ve ever eaten.  I was alone in my love for the pickles, but thought they were fantastic!Tivoli-Biergarten-Beer

Giant Beer in Tivoli GardensFortified, we headed back into the park for a few more attractions and a tour of the aquarium.  Tivoli-OctopusWhile not large, the displays were well-done and full of interesting fish.  For the final event of the evening, Megan and Joseph rode “Aquila” which was a spinner ride experienced mostly upside down.  (I have short videos of a couple of the rides and the octopus from the aquarium that I’ll post over on our Facebook page.)  On the way out, Megan and Joseph stopped for ice cream and we slowly made our way back to the Tivoli Hotel.  At 10:30 pm, the sun was setting on our incredible day in Copenhagen – and our vacation had jut begun!

Up next, embarkation day, the sail away party, meeting new friends, and our first day at sea on the way to the first port of call in Norway – Stavanger.

If you have any questions or want to know more about anything in particular, please let me know.  As always, thanks for reading.

 

Disney’s Magic in Norway – Copenhagen Segway Tour

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Segway-Tours-CopenhagenTo see Copenhagen and learn as much as possible (without taking a car or bus), we couldn’t think of a better way than by Segway tour.  The tour company’s business office was easy to find and, walking from the Tivoli Hotel, we even arrived early enough to find a table and relax for a few minutes at a nearby café.

Side note:  I don’t have a picture to show you of the “Copenhagen Downtown Hostel” next door to the tour office because it would have felt weird and ultra-tourist-ish to take pictures, but this very hip place had large mats of fake grass, giant lounge cushions, and outdoor heaters on the sidewalk/up against the building – it was packed with men…lounging, drinking beer, and napping.  We thought it looked like a very cool place.  Back to the story…

When it was time for the tour, we stepped into the small headquarters for Segway Tours Copenhagen and met our very nice guide (the only excuse I have for not making a note of his name is that I was suffering from jetlag).The-Fam-Segway-Tour-Copenhagen

I’m no great Segway expert, but all three of the tours I’ve taken on these fun little vehicles began the same:  Helmet-fitting and safety lesson first, followed by some Segway practice, and then the tour.  I was really happy to find that I could get a helmet with a GoPro camera mount on it and that the helmets were wired for sound – we would hear our guide talking through in-helmet speakers!  Our family was touring with another small group and we’d be zipping around Copenhagen mostly via the city’s extensive bicycle path system.  The number of bicycles in Copenhagen is staggering!  Luckily, we all managed to share the bike lanes safely.Copenhagen-Segway-Practice-Area

We had a tremendous amount of fun and adventure!  We sped (okay, a Segway can’t really “speed”, but you get the idea) around the city, stopping here and there for brief lessons on Copenhagen’s history, culture, economy, and monarchy.St-Alban's-Church-Copenhagen RM-Segway-Copenhagen Frederik's-Church-Copenhagen AmalienborgThere was an enormous amount of construction going on everywhere – Copenhagen is a very proud city and is constantly being improved.  The tour was fast-paced and we were amazed by how much we got to see!  Churches, castles, opera house, shopping areas, statues, gardens and so much more!

Have you seen Pitch Perfect 2?  At the end, when they’re competing in Copenhagen and the colorful waterfront buildings are shown – you know that part?  Nyhavn-Copenhagen RM-Segway-Tour-CopenhagenWe were THERE!  That area is called “Nyhavn” and it is absolutely gorgeous and incredibly crowded!

If you’ve never been on a Segway, I have to tell you – it’s a phenomenal way to sightsee and I highly recommend it!  Pros:  Easy to learn and maneuver, fun to ride, allows you to cover a lot of ground in a short time.  Cons:  It’s like standing in one place for two hours and can be hard on your feet and legs, you have to pay close attention to what’s going on around you and watch your wheels so they don’t run into anything – this is a hazard that can make you fall off!

I’ll continue our adventures next week with a recap of Tivoli Gardens and the first day of our cruise on the Disney Magic.  In the meantime, you can check out the YouTube video of random Segway tour scenes filmed on the helmet-cam here.

Link to Disney’s Magic in Norway – Copenhagen (Part 1).