7-DAY VIKING SAGAS

Amsterdam: A good time! That’s what you’ll have in this beautiful capital of the Netherlands, which feels at once like a 17-century city and a bustling modern metropolis. Famous for its canals and extraordinary museums, Amsterdam is also an intimate city with strangely alluring streets and squares.

You can thank Olav Kyrre.

He’s the Viking king who founded Bergen in 1070. During the Middle Ages, the city became Scandinavia’s primary port, and today, against all odds, you can still see buildings and other relics of this long period. There’s the medieval fortress of Bergenhus, as well as the summer home of composer Edvard Grieg. Bergen, Norway is also a jumping off point for
excursions to some of Norway’s wonders, such as Sorfjord, Samnangerfjord, Tokagjel Gorge and Steindalsfjoss Waterfall. After you’ve visited all of these, there will be a short spelling quiz.

Elegant is the word that will come to mind.

As you take in the Danish capital’s rich history and traditions. With castles and crown jewels, galleries and museums, cathedrals and canals, the sightseeing ranks among the best in Europe.

The Strøget is a series of pedestrian-only streets which make strolling and shopping a pleasure. And be sure to visit Tivoli, a unique combination of picture-perfect flower gardens, lakes, theaters and restaurants with more than 100,000 colored lights.

Little Flam is the terminus of what must be one of the most exciting railway journeys in the world. Climbing almost 900 meters in the space of only 20 km, this is the only railroad track that is actually 4 levels deep in some places. As the little train switches back and forth ever higher into the stratosphere, one breathtaking view after the next is revealed. The giant Rjoande Waterfall, tumbles into the waiting waters of the fjord, while on the cliff face, you may see mountain climbers testing their skills (and their nerve!).

The largest and most important port in southeast Norway. A popular shopping area. Kristiansand, city and seaport in southern Norway, on the Skagerrak Strait. It is the seat of Vest-Agder County. Fish products, paper, pulp, and timber are shipped from here, and tourism is important. Kristiansand was founded in 1641 by Christian IV, king of Denmark and Norway. The city became an Episcopal see in 1682. Population (1993 estimate) 67,113.

Situated at the head of a 60-mile fjord, Oslo, Norway, one of the oldest of the Scandinavian capitals, is beautifully framed by a vast expanse of woods, moors and lakeland. A blend of 19th- and 20th-century architectural styles, Norway’s capital is known for the wood carvings and colorful frescoes that decorate its buildings and public spaces.

The World’s busiest sea port, it was founded in 1340. After suffering extensive damage in WWII, it was rebuilt. It is now the second largest city in the Netherlands. It lies on a branch of the Rhine River, just before it enters the English Channel. It is south of Amsterdam.

Located in Western Norway, the Sognefjord or Sognefjorden stretches almost 130 miles from the ocean to a small village called Skjolden, making it the largest fjord in Norway and the second longest in the world. Many smaller fjords branch off the Sognefjord, and all exhibit the exceptional natural beauty that draws so many travelers each year.

The fourth largest and one of the oldest towns in Norway, Stavanger rests along the Byfjord, an arm of the Stavangerfjord. The city prospers from its canning and oil industries, as is evident by the factories in the city and the oil rigs out at sea. The monuments and mansions of the city reflect the great wealth of the residents of Stavanger throughout its history. Spend some time walking through the cobbled streets of the Old Town, past the shops and small, colorful houses with red roofs and lovely gardens. See the medieval Stavanger Cathedral, the second-largest church in Norway and undoubtedly one of northern Europe’s most magnificent monuments.