Oslo

Photo Friday: Oslo Again

/ Lon Hetrick

Happy Friday!Norway in a Nutshell Route

This is the final gallery in our Norway series taken as we returned to Oslo by train. We had some terrific memories: watching the changing of the royal guard right after dignitaries arrived at the palace, and taking the girls to shop at Ikea (of all places, LOL).

Enjoy!

Previous Norway galleries:

⟩ Norsk Folkemuseum in Oslo reveals a bit of Norwegian cultural history

⟩ Oslo to Myrdal to Flåm began our cross-country Norway in a Nutshell tour

⟩ Best Walk Ever captures our stroll through the villages of Flåm and Lunden

⟩ Cruise on the Sognefjord with stunning views

⟩ Gudvangen and Voss completes our tour of the Sognefjord

⟩ Beautiful Bergen makes my list of places I’d love to live

Click any photo to view a full-size slide show

Traveling cross-country by train brought us from spring, to winter, to spring again
somewhere on the train from Bergen to Oslo
Many norwegian homes still have a traditional guest house
Oslo City Hall is a famous landmark in Norway
At the national theatre (notice the pigeon on the central figure’s head, which the statue boy seems to be watching)
Isn’t the brickwork in front the University amazing?
In front of Oslo’s University (norwegian sweater from Bergen)
Touring the royal palace park and garden
Here we are in front of the Royal Palace and the Statue of King Karl III John of Norway
No gates. No bars. Up close at the changing of the royal guard
Princesses at the palace watching the changing of the guard. So cute!
This was a highlight for Dawn taking in her ethnic roots
The view of downtown Oslo from the royal palace
I can’t pass up taking pictures of flowers
I wish these tulips were in better focus to contrast with the rushing trolley

Photo Friday: Oslo to Myrdal to Flåm

/ Lon Hetrick / 1 Comment

Norway in a Nutshell RouteIt’s Photo Friday Fourth of July!

May your Independence Day weekend be full of fun, food, fireworks, friends, and family.

Here’s a photo gallery from the first half of our Norway in a Nutshell tour in May, 2014. We left Oslo by train, changed trains at Myrdal Station, and arrived several hours later in the village of Flåm, at the head of the Sognefjord.

Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

Click any photo to view a full-size slide show

Viking Pride Lives On ;)
Looking West at Myrdal Station
Heidi at Myrdal Station
Ready to board the Flåmsbana Train
Mountain lake seen from the Flåmsbana train
Kjosfossen Waterfall has a 305 foot fall
The Village of Lunden seen from the Flåmsbana train
Waterfall seen from the Flåmsbana train
Valley village seen from the Flåmsbana train
Flåm Station
The Flåm Hostel where we stayed for 1 night
Lon in front of the Flåm Hostel
Lon, Haley, and Heidi in Flåm
Apple Blossoms at the Flåm Hostel
Firewood and flowers
Mountain Mist in Flåm
The view from the Flåm Hostel
The view from the Flåm Hostel

Photo Friday: Children Should Be Seen

/ Lon Hetrick

Happy Photo Friday (the 13th)!

While in Norway, I truly enjoyed seeing the constant troupes of small, day-care children being chaperoned all over the cities. No, they weren’t tucked away, fenced in, far from roads and strangers and other American-style dangers.

Kids in yellow vests

[Daycare in front of City Hall, Oslo, Norway. Nikon D40. May, 2014.]

The Norwegians have a different approach: Give these kids highly visible vests, get them outside, and let them see and interact with the world around them. We saw groups of kids like this one everywhere in downtown Oslo and Bergen, always under plenty of adult supervision. I was told that kids are encouraged to be outside even in deep winter. “It’s good for them,” I heard.

I can believe it.

I hope you enjoyed this photo, and I’m interested in what you think of this approach to day care.