TRAVEL – NORWAY-A Sampling

I left home on September 2, and since then I have been on a whirlwind of memories, joy, and new places and adventures. First a lovely sibling reunion with my 2 sisters and brother, starting in North Carolina at Rosalie’s, then the next day driving to Viara and Leslie’s. Viara is my “baby” sister, 10 years younger, and joined by my brothetr and sister-in-law, brielfy, but long enough to enjoy  an outing on Viara’s relaxing boat on their “pond.” In Colorado it would be a lake.

After a few days there, I had an exquisite road trip planned by my sister, Rosalie, in Virginia on the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway, staying in a cabin at an old restored Mill house along the way, then the elegant Hotel Roanoke, before driving up to Appomatox Court House, about which I will definitely write more at some time. It was amzing to be standing in the room where Lee and Grant began the end of the Civil War, see the actual desks they were sitting at, and read the document they signed. The Park Rangers there are superb at bringing the times, the people, and the event to life. Along the parkways, were places where Sam, my first husband, and our kids hiked and camped extensively. In fact, our daughter, Daya, asked after watching old home movies, now digitized, if we did anything else besides go camping! I actually got to take a short  hike on the Appalachian trail i an area where we often went so was probably a  trail I had walked on some 58 years ago. At the time, we belonged to the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, and helped maintain some of those trails.

We arrived back in Durham, NC in time to celebrate her birthday with a few of her close friends. Then I tried repacking for my Norway trip. I was traveling the major part of the trip with Overseas Adventure Travel, with just a day prior in Oslo, then time after in Stockholm to track down part of our family history. Right now, I’m on the Havila Polaris, a ship that is 2/3 tourist cruise ship and 1/3 ‘small town along the Norweigian west coast from Bergen to Kierknes’ supply ship, in the Hjorundfjord. There is much to say about Norway, but i will take time for me to absorb and consider it. It’s socio-economic policies are absolutely worth discussing, including family leave involving the father, too,  and prison, which is about rehabilitation, not punishment.

I wasn’t sure that I could ever go on a “cruise ship,” but this, at least, doesn’t fall into that major overpowering, environmental and local cultural degrading experience category. In fact, their environmntalism is outstanding. Yet, when I first saw it at the dock in Bergen, where we boarded, I was taken aback. After spending so much time on our own boat, sailing so many places for so many years, I was doubtful I could deal with a ship. But long-time cruising friends, who sailed even many more years than we did, assured me it was doable, and they, in fact, had done it. Once we were underway and moving through the water with an ever so slight rocking motion, I quickly enjoyed it; at last to be on the ocean again! The following photos are from today in the fjord, including one of the ship, from when a few of us went ashore to the tiny village of Urke. We definitely did not  overrun it with tourists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much more later. My problem is I rarely have free time as there is so much to do and learn, not to mention, to eat!

A rare view of the Northern Lights this far south (relatively speaking) from early this morning about 12:30 a.m.