Page 221 - WDT MAGAZINE PORTUGAL

coincided with a depression in Norway so costs for sharing the history of Alesund as Norway’s -- and the
labor and materials were low,” she said. Norway’s world’s -- major exporter of salt cod.
finest architects and master craftsmen of the day We walked from our comfortable hotel, Quality
came for the work and recreated the town in that Hotel Waterfront, to Sjøbua, a cozily atmospheric
era’s new style of Art Nouveau, which celebrated restaurant in an old wharf-side warehouse where we
curves and arches with simple adornments fashioned enjoyed excellent fresh seafood with fine wines.
after organic elements in nature, especially trees and Chef/owner Ove Fjortfoft restored this old fish
flowers. warehouse in 1987 into a charming, wooden-beamed
We simply wandered all over Alesund, a town of fish-centric restaurant lighted by candles that has
55,000, from the town park of Aksla (the shoulder), a justly becomes a locals’ favorite. His baked lobster
418-step hike uphill for a panoramic birds-eye view of soup is beloved.
the entire coastal village, to Alesund Church from We strolled along Kongens Gate (Kings Road), a
1909 with its peaceful graveyard, to the Art Nouveau cobblestoned street that is mostly closed to vehicle
Center in the historic Swan Pharmacy, to The traffic where those lovely Art Nouveau buildings are
Fisheries Museum on the harbor, one of the few home to shops and restaurants that spill outside in
buildings that escaped the fire, dating from 1861 and

220 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2019