To Allesunde, back to Oslo

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

Another day of amazing fjord views. We got off the boat in a town calle Allesunde and caught a plane back to Oslo for overnight, then back to Copenhagen for the "big" cruise. Didn't see much of Allesunde, but as we taxied for takeoff, I'm pretty sure I saw a V-1 sitting off to the side of the runway! Didn't get a picture, had no idea I'd see something like that, so I wasn't prepared. Yes, I've seen one at the Air & Space Museum in Washington, but somehow this was even cooler, seeing a "field specimen" as it were. I didn't realize the Germans were launching them from Norway, but I suppose it rather makes sense. They apparently didn't pull out of Norway until rather late, and it probably was the best locale after they were pushed out of Normandy. I will look this up when I get home...

Hurtigruten

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

From Bergen, we took the first leg of the Hurtigruten, a famous cruise up the Norwegian coast.

Ryan as Monk

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

This is actually a festival hall in Bergen, rather than a church, but the architecture did have that feel. Ryan is never one to pass up the opportunity to strike a dramatic pose, and his rain poncho did deliver a robe-like affect.

Isaac contemplates the poop...

Isaac contemplates the poop...
Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

A display on how to identify the droppings of various arctic and sub-arctic animals was bound to appeal to Isaac.

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

Bergen is one of those stunning cities. Harbor town, with the mountains descending to the sea. A bit of San Francisco or Pacific Northwest. We've had it a bit chilly and rainy, but it was beautiful all the same.

Fjording

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

Fjord cruising to Bergen. I'm inevitably going to let myself (at least) down, because I can't (for now) come up with some phrasing that doesn't sound hackneyed or cliched, but the Fjords of Norway are clearly legendary for good reason. As Tasha put it, you can't look in a bad direction. Left, right, ahead, behind, each is a stunning view. For those who can't make up their minds if they are mountain people or sea people, this is an efficient solution.

Descent to Flam

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

Train ride up into the mountains to a little whistle stop called Myrdal, then a scenic ride down to Flam, an interior Fjord town.

On the descent to Flam, there were many spectacular vistas. A stop for a dramatic waterfall featured a "lady of the falls" or some such nonsense. They played some music of ethereal singing and a couple of women in costume emerged from a small ruin (or disused building) to wave eerily at us. Classicly tourist-oriented cheesy (Worthy of back home! It reminded me of some of the Stone Mountain hokum or the light and music show at Ruby Falls), but not unpleasantly so.

Naughty Ralph

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

At the Vigeland sculpture garden, Ralph gets fresh with one of the ladies on an iron gate. Tasha put him up to it. I myself was coerced into pinching the bottom of the one on the right. Since I'm doing the posting, I get to pick who is displayed in all their crass American glory.

In the Dungeon

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

Our first real medieval castle, a fortress for defending the Oslo harbor. The boys contemplated the dungeon.

Oslo, Day 2

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

Bygdoy, a former island (now a peninsula) has a living history museum, with regular museum stuff as well. Isaac found some of the folk dancing puzzling.

National Gallery, Oslo

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

Later, a stop at the National Gallery of Art, which has a nice collection, particularly of Edvard Munch of "The Scream" fame. Tasha enjoyed it a great deal; she had not realized how much she liked Munch. No photos allowed of the artwork, but I did get a shot of a couple of tired Gainey children.

Ibsen Loves His Draught

Ibsen Loves His Draught
Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

We're staying in a hotel right down by the harbor and next to the train station. We walked up through the center of town, to the royal palace. Along the way, we passed the National Theater and its statue of Ibsen. Thoughtful residents have apparently provided the heavy-drinking Ibsen with his own beer...

Oslo Approach

Oslo Approach
Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

The arrival into Oslo was another scenic boat ride, the Oslo fjord has a number of islands, very picturesque.

Minor cultural note: I know I recall reading somewhere that Americans, contrary to a sometimes boorish international reputation, actually spontaneously form queues and take turns more so than people from many other cultures. Although we inadvertently barged into a line for a taxi in Copenhagen, I'd have to say that the queueing observation matches my impression from a couple of buffet-style meals on the ferry. Several times, I found myself "waiting in line" for access to a foodstuff, and people just walked right in front of me, even though I felt I was "obviously" in line. No big deal, just a little different.

Wind Turbines, Copenhagen

Wind Turbines, Copenhagen
Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

Parrot Head

Parrot Head
Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

Copenhagen Canal Tour

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Originally uploaded by ronald_gainey.

Don't recall this building's name. (I'm posting photos separately that I wanted to go with the first post about Copenhagen. Technical squirreliness, and it's late...)

We're Off...!!

An exhausting couple of days, which subjectively seemed just like one loooooong day. Departed Atlanta around 6PM, Friday, June 16; arrived in Copenhagen around 9AM local time (felt like 3AM to our bodies...) then we spent the day doing a miniature sight-seeing tour. First a bus leg, and finished with a boat tour of the city's canals. The canal tour was the consensus hgh-point of the day for all of the Gaineys, although Isaac says that "arriving at the Copenhagen airport" was nearly equally exciting for him.

Around 4PM Saturday, we boarded the ferry for Oslo. Isaac had his head bitten by some sort of Pirate Parrot creature...

We had a beautiful, scenic departure from Copenhagen, I shot some video and not many stills, but a shot of some wind-power turbines (and possibly an obervatory on some unspecified island) seemed to turn out well.

It's almost 10:30 as I write (won't be able to post until internet access in Oslo) and the rest of our party is sacked out. Time for me to follow suit.

Hi Everybody!

This is the weblog of the Gainey family of Decatur, GA.  As we make this inaugural post, we are finalizing preparations for the big Scandinavia trip!  We're all very excited and filled with anticipation.  It is my hope that we can produce something of a travelogue with the blog, and then continue to apprise friends and family with our happenings on into the summer, and beyond...

See you soon!

Ronald, Natasha, Ryan, and Isaac Gainey