Beautiful Stavanger, Norway

Stavanger is the 4^th largest city in Norway with a population of 121,610. It is a beautiful port city and we hit it on a beautiful sunny day. We’re so thankful to be able to enjoy this nice weather! We start out with a light jacket or vest and before long we’re shedding it for just a t-shirt and jeans.

 

a portion of Stavanger Cathedral - 1125

 

Not having booked an excursion, we decided to hang around with Jeff and Joy Goldberg, a couple from New York that we met on our world cruise. They travel extensively but never buy the ship excursions. The only place they've not been is Pakistan and the other "stans" but that's only because Joy refuses to go there. While I'm on the subject, Jeff has written a book called "Take the  High Road" (second edition) and it can be found on Amazon for $6 (Kindle version). Jeff is a walking encyclopedia on "anything travel" and they have some interesting stories to share.

So we met them around 10 a.m. and were able to walk directly from the ship into the town.We walked around the beautiful harbor where vendors had set up tents selling lots of different items. We passed a Burger King where a Whopper sells for the US equivalent of $17. We also went inside a local grocery store and browsed a bit with Jeff explaining to us what was what. He even talked me into trying (a tiny bite) of gralox at lunch! Norway’s oldest stone church, Stavanger Cathedral (above) was undergoing renovations and we couldn’t go inside.

Norwegian flag on boat in harbor

beautiful port of Stavanger, Norway

Alexander Kielland, 19th century writer

Joy, Jeff & Ronnie talking to another cruise passenger

brown goat cheese - an acquired taste

phone booths house books to borrow

        

 

At the beginning of the 20th century, Stavanger’s industry was mainly related to fisheries and shipping but since the discovery of oil in the 60’s it has become an oil town. It's also home to several nice museums, the most visited being the Norwegian Petroleum Museum but we didn’t make it there.

cobbled streets and white wood houses of Old Town

idyllic looking neighborhood

colorful flowers bloom in pots and yards

unsure of original use of stone building

 

The shopping street Øvre Holmegate is known for its colorful houses. It is also home to the largest number of wooden houses in northern Europe, citing around 8,000 timber buildings in the city.

Ovre Strandgate - busy and colorful pedestrian street

colorful outdoor cafes

need a cut?

massage parlor

no cars allowed

surprised to see this mural in Norway!

 

Stavanger was one of the most important bases for the Vikings. Not only is it a very clean city, it is also considered very safe. Some shops stay open at night and I read that it’s not unusual to see women out walking alone. We feel safe in College Station but I surely wouldn’t do that. Norway might not be a bad place to live!