Alesund

When planning this trip, maps and online photos had led me to think that Ålesund might be a nice complement to larger, more touristy, Bergen. Eventually, I learned that's what everyone else was thinking, too. It turns out we were all correct.

Ålesund is built on a skinny peninsula - actually a string of skinny islands. It looks to me like the canal that cuts through the middle of town may be the urbanized remnant of the original channel between islands. And from the maps, it looks like this canal consists of the Ålesundet and the Brosundet -- sund means sound or strait.

Much of the city's central area was rebuilt following a disastrous fire in 1904, and as a result, the architecture all dates to the years immediately following. The Art Nouveau construction is colorful, particularly when the sun is shining, but is remarkably uniform and seemed a bit out of place after seeing the architecture of other waterfront cities like Copenhagen and Bergen. You wonder what this place would look like if the fire had been in 1880? Or in 1920?

We made full use of our one full day in Ålesund, which was beautiful once the early morning overcast burned off. Early morning coffee at Raccoon. Breakfast smorgasbord at the Hotel Brosundet. A steep walk up the steps to Fjellstua. A short hike up Sukkertoppen. Back into town for ice cream. A 30-minute drive under the ocean to get to Godøya and the Alnes Lighthouse. And then finally back for dinner.