On August 23, 1969, we were married in a small church in northern Wisconsin. This year marks 50 years since that day. We've been celebrating now for well over a month; including a nostalgia tour of Colorado and an amazing party sponsored by our three children and their spouses. There were seventy-five friends and family gathered in (my brother) Rob and Diane's spacious, charming back yard.
Some months ago, as we anticipated the milestone coming right at us, we decided together that we would do something out of the box. We got online and purchased round-trip tickets to Norway - LAX to Bergen, the train/ferry called Norway in a Nutshell to Oslo and home from there.
I've been taking pictures since that year-long photography class I took in the seventh grade. After sorting out the throw-aways, I had 869 choice photos, all from a land inviting artists and photographers to capture the spectacular sights surrounding us at every turn. About half of that collection is here in slide shows - and then as images in the gallery.
Bergen A - our introduction to the picturesque, historic city, the gateway to Norway's beloved fjords. (4 minutes)
Bergen B - Old Bergen, Edvard Grieg House, the Palace at Bergen, a rainy drive to an active glacier and a memorable walk out in the countryside. (6 minutes)
Norway in a Nutshell - the iconic train/ferry ride through the Norwegian countryside and fjords from Bergen to Oslo. (5 minutes)
Oslo - Three days in the city, including a trip to Horten on the hunt for a Great-Grandfather born near Oslo in 1856. (11 minutes)
We've included a day to day journal that kept us straight. We planned this trip entirely on our own - booking Bed and Breakfasts, hotels, car rentals and itineraries.
In the four videos, you'll see about 350 of my nearly 900 photographs.
Don't miss Huldra the Mountain Spirit
This video includes our visit to Horten (south of Oslo, requiring train and ferry ride) on the hunt for Carolyn's Great Grandfather on her mother's side. He was born in Horton in 1856. We struck gold.