Oslo and then to Sea, London, and Home-Day, 18, 19, 21, 22

After spending more time in Oslo in the morning for last minute shopping  we drove to Kristiansand to board our 'mini-cruise' across the North Sea to England.  The liner had bars, restaurants, and a nightclub.  All cabins had shower and private facilities.  It was very luxurious.  We had an inside cabin and it was small but nice.  We spent most of our time outside.

I am not sure why we didn't take pictures but we had one of the most lavish buffets I have ever had.  The food was marvelous.  We sat at long tables and I was tucked way in the end and so had to pass everyone at my table when I would get more food.  One of the men (not from our group) was at the end and slightly drunk.  When I came back from loading my plate the last time he said he would not let me by unless I kissed him so all eyes were on me to see what I would do.    I quickly kissed him on the cheek and he let me pass.  My party was very surprised.  I think he was, too.  But what would you do, start a scene???

Day 19 we spent at Sea and wandered the ship and viewed the scenery.  There was much you could buy, of course.  After we docked at New Castle, our coach brought us back to London, arriving in the late afternoon.

We stayed at the same hotel we had stayed when we arrived and we did some evening touring and I remember I had the Garlic smashed potatoes with the Salmon and cream sauce again.  I wish I could duplicate it.

 

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Our driver and Tour Director--this is truly a nice way to travel, but it is not cheap.

We took a final picture before leaving our Coach.  It was an interesting group, mostly older people, of course.  There were a few single young people, however.  The most interesting of the group was a lady with her black husband, he was most friendly and helpful and the couple from Australia.  They are the second man on the right with the blonde wife behind him.  He was very funny and they were lovely to talk to.   Made me want to see Australia.   There was also an older well traveled couple which gave us lots of advice.  We were the novices it seemed.

Day 20 we went to the airport, back to Houston and then finally on to San Diego.  The flight back was very tiring and we were so glad to get home.  It was a wonderful trip but it was getting very long and that trip across the ocean is very, very long.  It was Day 22 when I finally said farewell to Denice.  We had to settle our money later as she had borrowed a lot from me since she had such a problem with her ATM and never wanted to go into the exchange places.  I was very appreciative to her for letting me travel with her.  It was very pleasant.   Four years in the planning and then her daughter bailed out on her.  Many thanks to James and Camber for giving me the trip of a lifetime.

Oslo Sightseeing-Day 17

  We stayed at the Scandic Hotel in Oslo.  In the morning we had a guided sightseeing tour of an Old Cathedral and the Royal Palace and then we visited the Vigeland Sculpture Park.  We must have marveled at Vigeland's "Story of Life" through his naked body scultures.

 

 

 

We also visited the Vikingskipene Museum.


We learned that a Queen and her maid would be buried in a large ship with everything they would need for the next life, such as a sleigh, cooking utensils, a cart, money, textiles.

 

 

 

We also visited the Polar Vessel "Fram".  This veteran of polar exploration went the furthest north and the furthest south of any of the ships.

We also saw the Kon-Tiki   and other ships at the Kon-Tiki Museum.  The Kon-Tiki crossed the Pacific in 1947.

Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002) is one of history’s most famous scientists, adventurers and champions of the environment. The Kon-Tiki Museum houses original boats and exhibits from Thor Heyerdahl’s world famous expeditions.

 

And the Ram II which crossed the Atlantic in 1970.  The idea was to see where the ships would drift to.



Another thing I found out is that the early ancestors of my ancestors was probably the Vikings!!

 

Os-Bergen to Geilo and then to Oslo-Day 15 and 16

We spent the morning of Day 15 exploring Bergen but we must have been tiring of posing bccause we didn't take any pictures.  Then we drove via the Voringfoss waterfall and continued across the bleak Hardangervidda to the beautiful resort town of Geilo.

This was such a charming place, great place to come skiing.  We sat by the fire at night and listened to a Group from Bulgaria sing American songs from 40's to 60's.  What fun, you had to listen really well but they were sweet.

 

Geilo

Next morning we traveled through the narrow Hallingdal Valley to emerge among the trim farms of  Ringerike.  Then we pass by Honefass and through the town of Norderhov with its medieval church.  Later we enjoy the scenery as we travel between the Steinsfjord and Tyrifjordn en route to Norway's Capital of Oslo.

Actually I think we were still on the "Norway in a Nutshell" tour and part was by train and ferry as well as bus.  Finally we arrived in Oslo, our destination and the end of that tour--though you could do a round trip back.

 

Sognefjord to Bergen to Os-Day 14

Today we ascended the Vikafjeil to Voss and then descend to Bergen, Norway's most cultural and naturally beautiful city.

Our trip across this area the last two days was called "Norway in a Nutshell" and included train, ferry and bus to catch all the views.  Norway is a beautiful, beautiful place.

 

We have a sightseeing tour which includes the home Edward Grieg and one of the Stave Churches originally built in 1150 but reconstructed after a fire in 1992.

A Stave church according to Wikipedia is a medieval wooden church with a post and posand beam construction related to timber framing. The wall frames are filled with vertical planks.

 
All of the surviving Stave churches except one are in Norway and we saw a few along our journey. 

Home of Edward Grieg

We finally arrived  at our hotel in Os for a wonderful supper and free time to explore.

 

Geiranger to Sognefjord-Day 13

Actually this was a picture from the day before but more views like it as this is a day of driving and looking at the views.  We saw a lot of falls which I didn't pictures of for some reason but very beautiful.

The striking contrasts between the fjord and alpine peaks and between fertile field and snow and ice are characteristic of the Tafjordfjella mountains.

 

We stopped to view the Boyabreen glacier and I bought a card to show that the glacier has been shrinking every year.  Somewhere along here the Tour Director had a snack and a taste of Skol for everyone!



We finally reach the beauty of the Sognefjord Hotel.  We visited the Leikanger Church here and I think this is the place Denice and I went down to listen to some music being played in the bar that evening.

 

Herdelssetra (Summer Farm)-Day 12

We visit the largest dairy farm cooperative for goats in Norway.  The modern day farming is based on and at one with 300 years of tradition.  This summer farm with its 400 goats, some cows, sheep and horses is reached by a private toll road of high standard.

The goats were very friendly.

 

This was a fun experience and the bus trip was interesting as well.

 

The lady in blue is the manager of the farm.

 

 Denice kept encouraging me to mingle with the goats.

Young girls are in this little huts stirring the brown cheese.

 

Hamar to Geiranger-Day 11

This is a Stave Church in Lom.  Before reaching it we traveled along the shores of Lake Adjosa and spend time at the Olympic town Lillehammer and see some of the ski slopes that are still in place.

 

Then we travel into the mountains and along the fjords --and what scenery that is.  All this before we reach our fjiord side hotel in the town of Geiranger.

 

The hotel is called "Hotel with a View"

Before we get there we travel on the last ferry of the year 2000 because winter will soon begin.  The scenery is more beautiful than we ever expecxted to see.

There were farms up in this precipitous mountains as recently as 1961. The farms were a testament to man's ability to survive. History tells us of children and animals being tethered so they didn't fall over precipices, of walking several miles to fetch the midwife or doctor. And of paths being blocked up when the tax man came!

Picture taken on the ferry. 

Walking in and around the hotel area.

 

 

More scenery from our ferry.

Stockholm to Hamar-Day 10

My ancestors did come from Stockholm.  They also came from Karlstad which is where the next two pictures are taken.  Notice I have my red and black on--just like the Stockholm ladies I thought. 
 

As we were going by in the bus I noticed the name of Karlskoga on this trailor, this was another city my relatives came from.

 

Our destination for the night was to be this Scandic Hotel in Hamar.  I loved the comforters and warm towels we found in all the hotels.  Denice like to sleep on her comforter but I liked it on top of me.

Another city we spent some time in was medieval Orebro and I had heard my aunt's speak about Orebro, yes we had relatives from there, too.  After Orebro and Lake Vanern we drove through Varmland which we had many relatives from. 

We drove along the Glomma River before finally reaching the Sweden/Norway border marked by this huge monument.   Denice's ancestors came from Norway and the reason she had been planning this trip for four years.  I was anxious to compare Norway and Sweden.  So far I no knew why I liked pine trees, red houses, and candy, plus wearing red and black.  All part of my dna I guess.

Finally we reached Hamar which became a trading center in the 11th century and an advanced city as far back as 1849.   Within walking distance from the hotel was a huge Cathedral, and also the oldest operating paddle steamer in the world plus the Viking Ship which is a new tourist attraction. 

This is Viking Hall of the Winter Games.