Monday, June 18, 2012

May 29 to 30 --- Kristiansund to Trondheim

Kristiansund to Trondheim with a stop in Hell, Norway to visit Gro Karin Gifstad and her daughter Maya.

May 27 thru 29 --- Ålesund to Kristiansund via Atlantic Hwy

Ålesund to Kristiansund via Atlantic Hwy.  Lots of rain and fog.

May 25 thru 27 --- Ålesund and Runde Island

Document Ålesund and Runde Island (chasing non-existent Puffins).

May 24 thru 25 --- Travel to Geiranger

Document part of the trip.

May 21 thru May 24 --- Exploring Bergen

Exploring Bergen was fun, but also a little difficult.  I was hurting in enough places to be really tired and cranky, but we had a great visit there.  Bryggen is an area of early history in Bergen.  The beautiful buildings were a major attraction.  From the Internet, Bryggen --- UNESCO World Heritage Site.  "Bryggen, the old wharf of Bergen, is a reminder of the town’s importance as part of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire from the 14th to the mid-16th century. Many fires, the last in 1955, have ravaged the characteristic wooden houses of Bryggen. Its rebuilding has traditionally followed old patterns and methods, thus leaving its main structure preserved, which is a relic of an ancient wooden urban structure once common in Northern Europe. Today, some 62 buildings remain of this former townscape."

Bryggen is an amazing group of buildings, some of them still leaning from the explosion of an ammunition boat in the harbor.  Beautiful colors and an amazing place to explore.

A highlight of our visit to Bergen was meeting Silme's half-brother Kjell Arne Vardøy and his wife Anne Maria.  They live in Glesvær, a small fishing village on the west coast of Sotra.  Kjell Arne and Anne Maria Vardøy met us at the Glesvaer Kafe where we had Rasteballer, traditional meal of potato balls, sausage, lamb chop and root veggies; also called Klaud in Trysil.

Kjell Arne and Anne Maria gave us an evening boat tour (with an amazing sunset (11 pm) over the North Sea) of the Vilhelm Paul Vardøy family sea houses.  They could not have been nicer and when we parted, it was only because it was so late.  Kjell Arne wanted to take us to see more of his property and we wanted to hear more of his stories.  Hopefully there will be a next time.

May 20 thru 21 --- Oslo to Flåm to Bergen

This will be the story of Norway in a Nutshell from Oslo to Bergen via Flåm.

May 15 thru May 20 --- Oslo with Lisbeth and Family

This will document our time with Lisbeth and family in Oslo.