JAUNTICLES

Hello again, Blogonauts! Our time ricocheting around the fjords has come to a close. I'm on a long layover in Frankfurt, the last of our foursome to fly from Bergen. So let's take a moment to tighten up some loose threads. More than some of our sojourns, this one focused on the scenic landscape. And Norway served up spectacular mountains, seemingly endless fjords, and oodles of waterfalls gushing from those mountains into those fjords. Previous entries into this blog are replete with photographic proof. Readers seem to hunger also for glimpses of the gastronomy we shoveled into our gobs, so for those so inclined, here's a sample: Pasta Scampi (with shrimp) A Duck Salad A Norwegian version of Chicken Caesar Salad There were also a few surprises. The Norwegians we encountered seemed to enjoy gabbing. One was an aspiring actor who shared his audition for doing voice work for video games. Another was a Ukrainian hoping to immigrate to emigrate to the USA, and seeking advice abo...

Hello again, Blogonauts! Once again, today is about exquisite visions of unsurpassable beauty. (I know that sometimes I lean ever so slightly toward hyperbole, but this time I'm supremely sincere. 😜 ) In summary, Norway is a firm contender in the Global Landscape Championship. Photographers would be challenged to take a bad picture. Just point, shoot, and let the accolades roll in. Our chariot today took us along Nordfjord , before carrying us on a route up to see the Jostedal Glacier , then looping around over a mountain pass to reach one finger of the Hjørundfjord . The weather was variably cloudy and occasionally sprinkly, but the cotton-candy clouds added to the drama of the outdoor decor. So for today, I'll simply supply you with photos of our journey. Join us for a moment of nature's own eye candy. (And if you're reading this on your PC, clicking on one of the photos will enlarge it, and you can then scroll through the enlarged pictures from there.)   One edge of...

Hello again, Blogonauts! A lot of water has passed out of the sky, under the bridge, and over the damn, err, dam, since my last Norway post. As a result, there's backlog of verbiage and visuals to unleash, so grab a handhold and let's get started! After our Saturday soaking, Sunday lived up to its name: The city of Bergen handed us some well-deserved sunlight. Like in Oslo, the late summer flowers were colorful and well-tended. We wandered again into the primary port area, this time to see the medieval Bergenhus Fortress . A nearby explosion during World War 2 of an ammunition ship literally blew the roof off of the fortress, but the ancient Håkon Hall and Rosenkrantz Tower have been lovingly restored. The ceiling of Håkon Hall now resembles an upturned ship resting on the gothic stone walls. The Rosenkrantz Tower Håkon's Hall While Shawn & Bob joined a full ferry for a 3-hour fjord tour (no, the first mate was not named Gilligan), Toby & I opted for a briefer slow ...

Hello again, Blogonauts! Thus far, Bergen has given us one damp thing after another. Our first day we dodged raindrops as we explored the harbor area. Dotted along the way are several theaters, statues, and other hallmarks of a city celebrating life. The National Stage art nouveau theater, fronted by gardens. Sailors' Monument Statue of Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241), Icelandic Poet who documented Norse Mythology First we met several sealife critters, destined for a plate, in the seafood market. Don't they look yummy!   There are many old alleyways extending away from the harbor, lined with wooden buildings. Many have ladders outside, and often a hook extends out from the gable, for hoisting goods to upper floors. Waterfront buildings, with entries into the alleyways   Alley's with shops and offices. (One of our drippy moments.)     The open area where they alleyways led. After grabbing a coffee, we took to the Fløibanen funicular to reach a steep hilltop, in hopes of ...