Pulpit Rock in Stavanger and the Troll Church in Molde, Norway

Stavanger, Pulpit Rock

First of all, Norway is truly a land of wonder.  Throughout my adventures here I have been told about trolls, river spirits, and wood nymphs named Huldra.  For those who don’t know, because I certainly didn’t, “the huldra belongs to the underground people and is supposedly a beautiful young girl with long hair, walking around in the woods, trying to seduce young men and lure them to marry her and move underground with her. She is often seen herding cattle - cows which are exceptionally fat and full of milk, and the leader cow has a bucket with little silver bells on its horns. She is dressed in a national costume or a white blouse and a skirt, and her chest is decorated with silver and gold. But you recognise that she’s a huldra if she turns her back to you: She has a cow’s tail!”  WHAT?! 
 

 I know this sounds pretty fantastical but these are traditions found mostly in forest areas and agricultural districts which are mostly all the places we are seeing so… I have been keeping my eyes peeled while I have been hiking this last week.  

Stavanger, Pulpit Rock

Stavanger, Pulpit Rock

Stavanger, Pulpit Rock

Most of us that went on the hike- Stavanger, Pulpit Rock

Stavanger was such a perfect day.  We left the ship and it was a sunny 70 degrees outside and couldn’t help but soak up to sun.  I actually got a sunburn this day, which was brilliant, because I matched my pink pant suit I had to wear that night in the showJ  This day we hiked to Preikestolhytta, or Pulpit Rock in English, and this is a true “bucket-list” place.  The walk to Preikestolen is very steep in places. The path starts at the Preikestolhytta, at an elevation of approximately 886 feet above sea level, and climbs 1982 feet. The hike takes 1-3 hours depending on experience and fitness level and we HAD to do it within 2 so needless to say we were kicking our butts. Being that the hike it pretty short the total elevation gain and loss over the course of the hike is more than one might initially expect, or at least more than I expected, as the path climbs and descends various ridges where you are practically climbing.  It was well worth the trip though once we go to the top as only the pictures can attest to so feast your eyes on me sitting at the edge of the world. :)

Molde, Norway- Getting ready to hike!!

The mountain that we had to get to the top of

View from the hike up to Troll Chruch- Molde

View from the hike up to Troll Chruch- Molde

Entrance of the Troll Church

View from the entrance of the cave

The next place we went to was Trollkirke, or Troll Church, in Molde which was also a rather difficult hike because there was no trail at all.  The views on this equally gorgeous day were incredible.  I felt like I landed in the land of pastoral paradise.  The troll church, after we finally arrived above the snow line of the mountain, was a cave that had an underground waterfall  of ice cold snow runoff surrounded by walls of white quartz.  I felt like I seriously was in the Lord of the Rings movie. There couldn’t have been anything more appealing to the imagination than that.  

The next cruise is a chartered cruise, meaning the entire ship was bought out by one group.  Supposedly it is a spanish group where only 15% of the group can speak minimal English.  This ought to be interesting, but seeing as they have spent $14 million dollars to rent the ship for a full week and have brought on $6,000 of additional wine, I am thinking they are just going to want to have a good time:)

I'll let you know how it goes.