Norwegians believe that they master the English language almost to perfection. Indeed, some of us feel that we do it so well that we can get away with molesting it too. This is a common belief in the adversing and shopping businesses. XHIBITION is a shopping centre in the heart of Bergen. It used to be the main post office, but when the authorities decided that we didn't need mail any more, it was converted into the above.
If you should ever come to Bergen, I'm happy to say that we have some normally named shops too. They are also more interesting to visit. Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
X is for Xhibition in ABC Wednesday
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Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Bench of the Week (14)
For this week's Bench of the Week I have found some more examples from the centre of Bergen. Back to back with a parked bicycle as companion.
From the other side we can see that it is a small square, called Tårnplass.
Once it was used for parking cars, but not anymore. Now you can park people.
My own interest in benches stems from the site published by PERBS and Kerri and the site published by Malyss. Also, others have shown an interest in the subject, so I have started to take photos of benches when I "stumble" across one. I have not made this into a meme, but if anyone else would like to join me in publishing benches on Fridays, they are of course welcome to do so. Give me a hint and I'll come visiting.
PS For "reasons of summer" I have not been able to visit all those who commented my last bench-post. I'll try to make amends later on :-)
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Friday, June 19, 2009
Bench of the Week (13)
Today I'm back again in the middle of the City of Bergen, at Shetlands-Larsens Brygge. This was formerly known as Torgutstikkeren and is at the end of the old harbour in Bergen, Vågen. There are several of these red (I think granite) benches here. A recommended place to start sightseeing and you can do a lot just sitting on this bench. In fact, you can start with the background,
If we look further north we can (once again) see the sail ship "Statsraad Lehmkuhl" moored at her usual quay. To the right of her is Rosenkrantztårnet (The Rosenkrantz Tower) which dates back to about 1270 and is part of the Fortress of Bergenhus.
If we turn further towards the west, we can see why this wharf is named after Shetlands-Larsen. The statue depicts Leif Larsen (1906 -1990) at the wheel of a fishing boat entering Norwegian waters during WW2. A short excerpt from Wikipedia:
He dramatically escaped Norway in February 1941 in the fishing boat MOTIG 1, a voyage he recounted in an autobiographic book. He then joined the Norwegian Naval Independent Unit, an unwieldy cover title far better known as the Shetland Bus. The unit for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and, despite its name, was initially independent of the regular Royal Norwegian Navy. He trained with the Linge Company, and was elected the first skipper operating the Shetland route.All together he made 52 trips, many of them in small fishing boats. The best known trip was an attempt to sink the Nazi battleship "Tirpitz" by using mini-submarines.
He was Norway's most famous and most highly regarded war hero.
With eleven distinctions he became the most highly decorated naval officer of the Second World War — no other man, British or foreign, received the same British military honours. In addition to the unique array of British decorations, he was awarded Norway's highest decoration for military gallantry, the Krigskorset med Sverd or War Cross with sword. He was awarded this decoration twice, in 1942 and 1943: the War Cross with two swords.In addition, I have read somewhere that the only reason why he did not receive The Victoria Cross was that he was not a British Citizen.

We are now approaching what might be called summer, and the accompanying Summer Holidays. Like most other people I'll be a bit here, there and everywhere, and the blogging will therefore be a bit more erratic than usual. However, I'll try to post my Benches on Fridays and something else from time to time too. So just drop by if you have the time.
HAVE A NICE SUMMER!!
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009
V is for View of Various Vessels from the Veranda
Since we live by a fjord (actually several), we have a View of the Various Vessels that pass beneath our Veranda. It may be large cruise ships like the "Queen Victoria", or...
... it may be small pleasure crafts and fishing boats.
We can see the ketch "Loyal" from the 19th century...
... and the barque "Statsraad Lehmkuhl" from 1914, the pride of the city of Bergen .
Sometimes we get several very worthy ships: Here comes first Hurigrutens (The Coastal Express) "Trollfjord", followed by the immense "Queen Mary 2".
There is never a dull moment when one can watch the sea. Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.
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Sunday, June 14, 2009
True Veterans in Monochrome Maniacs
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Friday, June 12, 2009
Bench of the Week (12)
This week I'm still at Tjorehagen. It is a garden full of small surprises. The benches come in all varieties. Here it is nature's own stone that has been used.
And once again - stone.
In fact - they are together along a peaceful path - ideal for lingering and looking around.
What you may see? You might find yourself overlooking a small pond (yes, there really is one) with colourful bushes and trees mirroring in the water.
And of course a rhododendron...
I have not made this into a meme, but if anyone else would like to join me in publishing benches on Fridays, they are of course welcome to do so. Give me a hint and I'll come visiting.
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Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
U is for Ullswater in ABC Wednesday
During the summer of 2006 the Visual Norwegians visited the Lake District in England, a beautiful area of small lakes and larger mountains. Of course we had to stop by the first lake we met, which was this one: Ullswater. According to Wikipedia:
Ullswater is the second largest lake in the English Lake District, being approximately nine miles (14.5 kilometres) long and 0.75 miles (1,200 m) wide with a maximum depth of slightly more than 60 metres (197 ft).As we can see we met both some local dwellers and a number of other tourists that enjoyed the scenery.



Otherwise, the Lake District is highly recommended.

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Monday, June 08, 2009
What blogging can lead to
Why do I start this post by showing you a picture of Chris and Barry Jones from Carlsbad, California, USA, drinking tea in Bergen, Norway? Because I met them over a cup of tea for a long chat, and I took these pictures. And why did we do that? Because we "met" through our blogs and wanted to meet in person when the opportunity arose.
Much has been written about electronic communication replacing personal contact. Meetings as such are no longer necessary. TV conferences, net meetings, bloggs, E-mails and many other forms are replacing them. In many cases they are right. Much can be accomplished electronically, as any blogger can testify. But not everything. There still remains the value of the personal contact, of talking face-to-face - the good old chat. It is not easy to communicate body language through a blog.
So when Chis and Barry came to visit Norway, what was more natural than to team up for a couple of hours and get to know each other better? And I think we did. I had some highly enjoyable hours and I have a feeling they did too.
If more people from around the world did the same I think we would have a better world.PS If you wonder where this quaint place is, it is outside Bryggen Tracteursted at Bryggen, Bergen - on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
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Sunday, June 07, 2009
Friday, June 05, 2009
Bench of the week (11)
A post about a bench starting with a picture of a rhododendron? Wait a bit and I will tell you why.
Tjorehagen is a privately made and kept botanical garden north of Bergen. It was made by one person - Olav Tjore. Today it is maintained as a foundation and is continuously being extended. It contains about 2000 trees and bushes, of which about 400 are rare rhododendrons. There are small, lakes, bridges - and of course benches.So this rhododendron flower was placed in a small glass on the table between two benches.
A very rough hewn table.
But a perfect place to sit down.
Also if you want a seat for yourself
And since it was Sunday when these were shot, a bit of festivity was not out of place.
PS If you wonder why I show you this, I can tell you that my mother was born less than 2 km from here.
I have not made this into a meme, but if anyone else would like to join me in publishing benches on Fridays, they are of course welcome to do so. Give me a hint and I'll come visiting.
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Thursday, June 04, 2009
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
T is for making Tracks (for Trams) in ABC Wedneday
Bergen once had trams. However, as cars and buses became fashionable, the trams had to go. They blocked the way for "progress" (whatever that may be). On the last day of December 1965 it was all over.
But time moves on. Bergen has a small town centre, but a fairly large surrounding area. There is only room for so many cars in that centre and everyone can't be on those same roads at the same time. Bergen has tried to build itself out of such a crisis before. It did not work. It has finally dawned on the majority that a more modern form for public transport is necessary. Hence the new tram system that is now being built. Against the fierce opposition from the "progressives" (or more correctly, the extreme right-wing) with their SUVs, the building has started and the first stretch will open next year.
The picture above shows part of the first finished 500 meters.It is of course difficult work, but the Tracks may last for a 100 years.
Here the Tracks have not yet been laid down. BTW, the building to the left is Bergen Railway Station - more Tracks.
The some may say - "You already have both Tracks and Trams!" That is quite correct: Enthusiasts at Bergen Technical Museum are maintaining a small stretch with some old trams bought from Germany (they were used in the old East Berlin). They plan to open one of the old tram-lines some time in the future for use by tourists etc.
Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.
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