Bench of the week (19)

Some may say that this week's bench is not a bench, but a seat - indeed a row of seats. But is not that the definition of a bench? However that may be - this is what I have chosen to present today. It may at the first glance look like an ordinary row of seats at some kind of ordinary sports arena. Nothing could be farther from the truth, as will become clear as you scroll down.

It is in fact from an outdoor theatre: Agder Teater-Fjæreheia.

This theatre is situated outside the town of Grimstad, Norway. One unique feature is that it is built in a closed quarry, where a characteristic red granite was mined. Before WW2 there where several small quarries here, but Albert Speer, Hitler's infamous "Minister of Armaments and War Production", dedeceided after the Nazi invasion of Norway to use this granite to build a new gigantic stadium in Nuremberg. Thus a new quarry was opened and much stone was mined, but none of it reached Germany before the war was over. Instead it was used in various local constructions after the war.

Agder Theatre bought the quarry in 1995, and in the summer of 1999 built a new amphitheatre with 1000 seats. Since the opening in 1999 there have been many different types of arrangement at Fjæreheia. There has been everything from musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar to film presentations and readings of the poem "Terje Vigen" and rock concerts. (Wikipedia) .

If you look closely at the photos you will see actors and dancers practising on ledges and ladders before a performance. You really have to look before you leap in this theatre.

And that the granite is red is obvious from these steps.

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 and post them on Fridays. It is not a "proper" 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 - summer permitting :-)

The Northern Summer Sky 2 - Looking South

Alversund. The outskirts of Bergen in the distance. The Northern Summer Sky 1 is here

PS Please visit Sky Watch Friday's own site for more.

B is for Boat and Buoy

Shot at the Break of dawn

Today's post is an entry in the FIFTH round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.

For more, you can log on via the MckLinky enabled site

Fast ticket in Odd Shot Monday

Fast tickets (whatever that may be since we were in Norway) were sold by slow guys to nobody at the Hove Rock Festival outside Arendal in the Southern part of Norway a month ago. Otherwise, the festival was a great success.

Please visit Katney's Kaboodle for more about Odd Shots!

Bumblebee blues

Hard at work on the evening-shift.

PS The Today's flowers meme was founded by LUIZ SANTILLI JR. . Please visit and enjoy.

"Le Quai des brumes"

"Port of Shadows" (Oslo, Norway, March 2009)

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Maniacs

Bench of the week (18) - and a bit more...

This week we are back in Byparken (The City Park) in Bergen and with a type of bench I have shown you before. However, this time there is a difference - in fact several.

You are never alone in this park. You might meet some of the local gulls...

However, they might leave as fast as they come. But they might be supplanted by...

...fellow blogger Imac and wife Julie! They were in town today with some friends, so of course we had to meet for some sightseeing, talk and lunch. It is amazing how one gets to know people through the net. No problem finding topics of common interest - it was like meeting old friends (as they in many ways are).

Thank you Julie and Stewart for a very pleasant meeting and day!


I have not made this "bench-thing" into a meme, but if anyone else would like to join me in publishing benches on Fridays (as many of you have done - just look at the comments section on the former benchpost) , they are of course welcome to do so. Give me a hint and I'll come visiting - summer permitting :-)

An Evening Rose Watches the Sky

Like most flowers, the rose is at its most beautiful in the summer evening

PS Please visit Sky Watch Friday's own site for more.

An Anchor in ABC Wednesday

Round 5 of ABC Wedneday starts tonight. To me and many others it represents an Anchor in the weekly blogging. So what better subject could I choose for my first contribution to the new round than: anchor?

The basic definition is according to Wikipedia fairly simple:

An anchor is an object, often made out of metal, that is used to attach a ship to the bottom of a body of water at a specific point.

I should of course have shown you a ship at anchor, but I didn't have a suitable photo, so you'll have to settle for just anchors on board ships. The one above is from an old local vessel called "Eitrheim".

This one is from a sailing vessel that took part in last year's Tall Ships' Race. I'm sorry, but I don't have the name.

But I do have a ship with both an anchor and a name - and it is not any old ship either...




Today's post is an entry in the fifth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.

For more, you can log on via the MckLinky enabled site

(Mr. Linky has been thrown out for sleeping on the job)

Phone among stone

Quiet afternoon in Bergen.

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Maniacs

Bench of the week (17)

This week's bench can be be viewed in various contexts - a mixture of public and personal aspects. As you can see it is marked ULEFOS. This means that it comes from Ulefos Jernværk (iron works). This was founded in 1657 and is one of the oldest industrial works still operating in Europe. They are perhaps most famous for there ovens, but as you can see they also make benches.

However, this is a fairly common park bench in Norway, and I have probably shown one of these before. What is special with this one is the place I found it: In a small churchyard.

This is Askvik kapell (Askvik "chapel"), a small chapel with its own cemetery. The cemetery is from 1896, but a chapel was initially built in 1918 and consecrated in 1926. A new church with a new cemetery was built elsewhere in the '90s. The old chapel was allowed to deteriorate by the authorities, but a local committee raised the funding for the necessary repairs in time for the 80 years jubilee in August 2006.

And the personal aspect? Many members of my family lies buried here.


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 - summer permitting :-)

Summer Evening Sky

Summer evening atmosphere in Western Norway.

PS Please visit Sky Watch Friday's own site for more.

Z is for Zachariasbryggen in ABC Wednesday

Zachariasbryggen (The Warf of Zacharias) is today one of the largest collections of restaurants, cafes, pubs and other entertainment sites in Bergen. It is a rebuilt complex located at Shetlands-Larsens Brygge. This was formerly known as Torgutstikkeren and is at the end of the old harbour in Bergen, Vågen.

In previous times Zachariasbryggen had various functions connected with the harbour and Fish market etc, but it was torn down a number of years ago to make way for a broadening of the street.

The picture above is from around 1900 (Picture courtesy of The University Library at The University of Bergen) and shows what it looked like then. However, it was rebuilt some years ago.

Today it also contains other shops and businesses. Here we see it from the west (Strandkaien)

In Bergen you can of course see it slightly from above.

Or even more from above.



Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.

For more, you can log on via this Mr Linky enabled site

A wooden fence

From the back-garden of a restaurant in Bergen, Norway.

This Monochrome concept came from Aileni at The Monochrome Maniacs

White clovers in the shadow

Trifolium repens

PS The Today's flowers meme was founded by LUIZ SANTILLI JR. . Please visit and enjoy.

Bench of the week (16)

Summer holidays in Norway often means boating among the many small islands and fjords that cover the coast. And it also means picnicking. What is the better then to enter a small island and find that the authorities have made the preparations?

What may look like a piece of wood is in fact a bench.

And one more bench...

And with a small area where you can make a fire and have a grill.


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 - summer permitting :-)

Sky Watch - an ocean perspective

Ferry leaving Kristiansand, Norway, for Denmark. The lighthouse Grønningen to the left.

PS Please visit Sky Watch Friday's own site for more.

Y is for Yacht Parade in Grimstad

According to Wikipedia,

A yacht is a recreational boat. It designates two rather different classes of watercraft, sailing and power yachts. Yachts are differentiated from working ships mainly by their leisure purpose.

Each year on the Norwegian Midsummer Night Eve ("St. Hans" - June 23), the local Red Cross in the small Norwegian town Grimstad (on the southern-most part of the Norwegian coast), arranges a parade of local yachts. The parade includes many competitions, for instance best decorated boat, most original boat, smallest boat, best wooden boat etc etc. This year I was lucky enough to be present. Here is a small sample of what my camera found:

Above, three veterans are preparing for the parade.

The yachts came in all sizes and shapes, from the fairly lage schooners...

... to the rather small rubber dingy.

Obviously the most original participant...

The smallest participant was towed into action.

Nothing beats wood in elegance.

My favourite in decoration.

And some of finest old, wooden motor yawls didn't even compete.

Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.

For more, you can log on via this Mr Linky enabled site