The Midnatsol pulled into the port in Alesund, Norway early morning for an 8 hour stop. We disembark onto a rainy dock and navigate toward the city center. To get out of the cold rain, we walk to the Alesund museum. After walking up the steep hill in the wind and rain…. Closed….. it was not what we expected. Now we need a plan b.

We walk down the hill and to the next best stop. Closed. The rain stops, so I decide to climb the large hill in the park to take in the view. I leave my husband in the park and begin to climb the many switchbacks. About halfway up the cliff. A staircase of 428 steps to the top begins. The wind and rain periodically lash my face. The higher I climb, the fiercer the wind blows. At a glass floor observation platform, I feel like I will be blown off the mountain. I hold my hat with one hand and camera with the other. I lean into the wind and stumble when the gust abates.

I climb with a new friend a I meet on the trail, who said we were on a pilgrimage and that the Virgin Mary had better be on top to greet us. I laugh with her and tell her that after the climb I may need to be resurrected. The birds in the tree tops chatter their agreement. Or else they are mocking us.

Despite the cold and wind, the views are spectacular. Small glass walkways suspend out over the cliff and allow for photo stops. I need these diversions to catch my breath. The mountains are surrounded in clouds and the light rain continues to pelt my face in the high wind. With one hand still on my hat, I keep heading upward.

Once at the top, the art nouvea city stretches before me. The entire city burned to the ground in the early 1900s . It was rebuilt in the same architectural style of the time. Today the symmetrical buildings in bright colors are stunning from the top of the mountain. It feels worth the climb as the sun tries to peak out of the clouds.

The light shifts again and again as the clouds roll in. As the wind picks up, I make a hasty descent to meet my husband. We head across town to the architectural museum. Guess what….Closed. Oh well, it St. Patrick’s day. We decide to visit the Irish pub. Seriously….closed.

We do a long walk around the town. Closed. Closed. Closed. Heading back to the dock, we find an open gift shop. It feels like success, so I buy a few trinkets. We find a small cafe where we have a good meal. As we are relaxing and warming, our neighbor texted that we may have some water issues at home on our property. Relaxation over, my husband works the phone to resolve the issue. It seems when the electricity goes out for 24 hours, the pumps don’t work and when it comes back on they work overtime. When that happens the water runs into the neighbors yard. But all is well, the professionals tell us everything is working properly and will resolve itself. I wander a small mall while he works out the details and informs the people who need to know what is happening.

Eventually, we head back to the ship. Along the way, we find a grocery to provide cheese and chips for an evening snack. With our bag of goodies in hand, we climb the gangway to find no one to welcome us onboard. Unsure what to do, we wait until someone appears to tell us we needed to scan ourselves in. Huh…that is a new experience.

At this point, my husband decides a little tv time would be his afternoon strategy. I opt for the outdoor arctic hot tub and sauna combo. I think I made the better choice. Warm water and cold air are relaxing, And thankfully the facility is open.

As I soak, I think about our day. Nothing we set out to do happened. We spent almost an hour trying to verify if we had a major water leak at our home. And yet, I am relaxing in a beautiful location. I had a great walk and saw a beautiful town. I met new people and experienced new things (including some form of fried seafood that was completely black). It was a good day.

I run through the cold, across the upper deck and enter the hot sauna. Heaven. I just get settled where I can recline and look out the glass observation window when I get company. A little disappointing, but not my private sauna. I don’t have to give up my spot as the sauna is good sized. The woman announce that she is naked and wants to know if it bothers me. I said, “you do you”. I am in her country, it is normal here, and if I just look out the window I will never know the difference. Ålesund was closed, but the sauna is open. This day is about making the most of what is available despite the obstacles.