Friday 5 August

This morning we docked at Norway's 3rd largest city, Trondheim. We were taken on a city tour by bus then went to visit Ringve Manor which now is a museum for a huge range of musical instruments. The manor is set in beautiful gardens as well. 

Next visit was to Nidaros Cathedral, parts of which go back to the year 1070. Once our tour there was finished we had a couple of hours free time before having to be back on board & so had a pleasant lunch in an old district of the city surrounded by 2 storey timber buildings painted in different colours. 

Not many timber buildings are left in the city now after a number of fires that ravaged Trondheim. 

The other interesting thing about this city is that it was captured by Germany early in WW11 & became a submarine base for their navy until 1944. The British flag was hanging in the Cathedral because they liberated Norway & alongside it was the flag from the ship that brought back the  Norwegian King from his safe haven in England, at the end of the war. 

Back on board we had some more lectures to attend which we are really enjoying although sometimes it's hard to stay awake - such as in an hour talk on sea anenomes, crabs & barnacles!! I think I preferred the lecture on Eider Ducks & Viking Chess pieces!