Beating Back to Basics

I have just read the very touching post made by Denise Nesbitt of ABC-Wednesday. I haven't been around for a few months, but what can I do but take part again after all the nice words I have seen?

I will let the photo of this fisherman, Beating Back to Basics in his Boat, represent how we feel in Norway now: They may try to Beat us, but we will not Be Beaten. Love conquers all.

At the moment, the single most cited poem and song is "Til ungdommen (To the Youth)", by Nordahl Grieg. You will find lyrics (also in English) and a bit of background here. You will also find an excerpt of the memorial service in Oslo where this song was sung.

Today's post is an entry in round NINE of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt. For more, you can log on via The ABC site.

A rose for those who died

Norway is still in shock, but it is a shock that softens and hardens its people at the same time. Softens when it comes to feelings for the people that have been hit by this terrible massacres, and towards each other - hardens when it comes to the determination that the destructive will of the evil people behind these occurrences shall not prevail.

Currently 93 people are known to have been killed. Most of them were youngsters between the ages of 14 and 20, members of the Labour Party's Youth Organization. The party's symbol is the Red Rose. I offer this little rose as a small token of my support to all those who have been killed, wounded or have lost someone dear to them.

We will survive!

A young man, for reasons best know to himself, managed yesterday to blow up part of the central areas of Oslo and killing at least 7 people in the process. Soon after he managed to kill at least 84 youths at a political summer camp. This was an attack from a person belonging to the extreme right - an attack on the Norwegian democracy.

BUT WE WILL SURVIVE!

Solidarity in Norway is strong. It will continue to be so. Our thoughts now go to the the people killed, hurt and their families. My family and myself has not been been hit, but as Norwegians we have been.

I will thank those who have sent me personal condolences and all those who have sent their thoughts and condolences to Norway and all Norwegians. I ask for your understanding that this is not the time to post pretty pictures from Norway.

Into Geirangerfjorden

Norway has two fjords on UNESCO'a World Heritage list: Nærøyfjorden and Geirangerfjorden. If you travel with Hurtigruten in the summer season, a visit to Geirangerfjorden is part of the route.

The trip goes via many fjords, so here is just a little taste of what we saw on our way, as for instance this farm by the side of a fjord.

Or this one - more or less grabbing a hold on the side of the mountain. But still in use.

A ferry is showing the way between the steep mountains.

There are waterfalls "everywhere", and you get a free hair-wash on the deck of the ship.

These waterfalls are known as "The seven sisters" and are famous in all of Norway.

And at the end of the fjord is the little village of Geiranger.

Back Home from Norway

You might wonder a bit about the title of this post, especially considering the title of the blog. But it is true: We have been touring almost the whole length of Norway - twice. Regular readers might have seen our wish to go by Hurtigruten. Now we have done it. We sailed in the above ship, MS Nordlys, from Bergen to Kirkenes. A tour that takes 5 and a half days.The ship is pictured in Bodø, about half-way along the journey.

And then we drove back home. A tour of about 3500km and which took 11 days. Far too little if one wants to really look around.

The two previous posts were of course pre-posted ... :-)

We had nice weather for the whole journey, and were constantly reminded that we were in the Land of the Midnight Sun. The photo was shot at 23:42

As Norwegians we are proud of our fjords. This is a small one called Trollfjorden. It is one of the most mysterious ones, but also one of historic importance (and the photo was shot at 23:37 ...)

A lot of people comes to Norway to get just this view - Nordkapp (North Cape) at 71° North. For all practical purposes it is the northernmost point in Europe.

But there is also an easternmost point in Norway - Grense Jakobselv. It is located some 60 km from Kirkenes. If you look closely you can see some red and green border posts. That is the start of Russia. Due north is the Barents Sea. Your next stop may well be the North Pole. (And if you ask for the westernmost point in Norway, we slept through that ...)

The only sight we visited twice on our tour was this one - Nidarosdomen (Nidaros Cathedral) - in Trondheim. It is the most important historical and ecclesiastical building in Norway, and there is no other architectural structure, ancient or modern, to compare with it. Wikipedia describes it thus:

Nidaros Cathedral (Norwegian: Nidarosdomen / Nidaros Domkirke) is a church located in the city of Trondheim in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. It was the cathedral of the Norwegian archdiocese, from its establishment in 1152 until its abolition in 1537. Since the Reformation, it has been the cathedral of the Lutheran bishops of Trondheim (or Nidaros) in the Diocese of Nidaros. The architectural style of the cathedral is Romanesque and Gothic. Historically it was an important destination for pilgrims coming from all of Northern Europe.

On our way home we also drove on a unique road along the Norwegian Sea called Atlanterhavsveien (The Atlantic Road). Part of it is literally in the ocean. Here we see cars passing the bridge Storseisundbrua.

But when all is said and done it is always nice to return to the familiar view of Bergen ...

A quick snack

Even sheep can enjoy salty fast-food.

Nærøyfjorden

Nærøyfjorden is one of the most famous fjords in Norway. At least, it is on UNESCO's World Heritage list. It is located in the county "Sogn- og Fjordane" and is easily reached from Bergen.