Tour Itinerary

Here is the itinerary for the RRHS Music Trip to Norway of May 12-19.

5/12 Bus to MPLS; 7:55 Flight from MPLS to Reykjavik, Iceland. Flight from Iceland to Oslo.

5/13 Arrive at Gardermoen Airport 12:20. Bus to Hemsedal, NW of Oslo 4 hours. Overnight in Hemsedal with evening open for walking around.

5/14 Monday. Camera day! Bus to Borgund and see the Borgund Stave Church which dates to 1180. We hope the choir will be able to sing in the church. On to Lærdal and then through a 15 mile tunnel and on to Aurland. Next is a boat cruise through the Aurland and Næroy fjords from Aurland to Gudvangen. Bus ride from Gudvangen up to the Stallheim Hotel on the top of the mountain. This will be the most stunning scenery of the entire tour. On to Voss. Board the train at Voss and travel to Myrdal. At Myrdal we get on the Flåm Railway and take the most fantastic train ride in Europe. A one hour train ride down into the Flåm Valley. Check into the Fretheim Hotel and eat dinner at 6:00. Buses to Aurland for an 8:00 choir concert shared with 3 groups from Aurland.

5/15 Tuesday. A travel day, but first - some shopping. The shops in Flam will open at 8:00 AM for us. At 9:15 we will take a group picture with themountains in the background. The buses then leave at staggered times: 9:30, 9:45, and 10:00 to avoid swamping some small spot when we stop to eat. We spend the day traveling to Sarpsborg through the beautiful Aurland and Hallingdal Valleys. Evening arrival in Sarpsborg, greeting by the Sarpsbord contingent and possibly a local band. Check into the Quality Hotel and Resort.

5/16 Wednesday. Morning practice session at the hotel. After the rehearsal the Sarpsborg group will take us on a tour of the Sarpsborg area including a stop for lunch. We have a late afternoon concert in the City Center for the Band and the Choir. In the evening is a jazz concert for our Jazz Band and a group from Sarpsborg.

5/17 Thursday. The big day! Syttende Mai, the national constitution day. A full day of marching, playing, and singing. The band marches in the Speilerparade (Boy Scout Parade) at 7:00 AM and the Barnetoget (Children's Parade) at 9:30 AM. We will then have breakfast with the Sarpsborg Jente og Gutte Korps (Girls and Boys Band) The choir sings at a church service at 12:30 while the band marches off to another performance. Later, the choir sings on the steps of the Festiviteten, an old Civic Center type building in the middle of town. The band, jazz band, and choir then do a concert at a school late afternoon. The day ends with a hjemmeferie bål (a farewell bonfire) and picnic by the sea. A wonderful day!

5/18 Friday. 8:30 departure for Oslo. Upon arrival, the choir will go to the American Lutheran Church to record and the band will go to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump. After the recording session the choir will join the band to tour Vigeland Park and the Viking Ship Museum. The afternoon (2:00 - 6:00) will be chaperone guided side trips to Karl Johans Gate, the Munch Museum, the Nobel Peace Center, Aker Brygge, Kon Tiki and Fram Museums, or Akershus Festning. (Fortress and Castle) Check into the hotel at 6:00, farewell dinner at 7:00.

5/19 Saturday. After breakfast (frokost) time for one last stroll down Karl Johans Gate. Depart at 11:00 for Gardermoen Airport. Departure at 2:45. Land in MPLS at 5:55. Bus ride to GF.

Watch for updates and photos.

Har det bra!