Mountain hut
People planted flowers everywhere.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Balestrand lakefront
View from our hotel of the town center. Note Saint Olaf's community church (right center) which was built in the 1800's in the old stave-style of Norwegian churches from the 16th Century. The slopes beyond are where we went hiking.
End of track at Flam
After the 21 Km train trip from high in the mountains down to sea level we unloaded at tiny Flam, a village almost overshadowed by this huge cruise ship. From here we boarded a jet-cat for the quick trip down the Aurlandsfjord and across the Sognefjord to Balestrand.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Myrdal station
We disembarked from the Oslo-Bergen express here to take the train down to Flam on a gradient of 1 in 18, requiring the locomotives to have five braking systems. This line travels through no less than 20 tunnels, with one spiraling over itself two times inside the mountain.
Finse station
We stopped long enough to take on some passengers who had hiked through the snow. Finse is so remote that there are no roads here.
Above the tree line
Taugevann, the highest point on this trip at 1303 metres, as we approached Finse, location of year-round skiing
Oslo to Myrdal
After a short night we boarded this express train to take us west half-way across Norway to the mountain town of Myrdal. To our surprise, instead of our going out on the track ahead, the train went forward under the station and through a 7-mile tunnel to the outskirts of the city.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Our plane to Oslo
Michael planned a four-day tour of the fjords of Norway, which began with a fast hop over western Sweden to Oslo. Note the Norwegian flag paint job. Details at Norway in a Nutshell.
Here are Michael's Norway pictures.
Ready to eat
They are good friends now. We enjoiyed the opportunity to be with Lotta and her parents. We really like his Haganas pottery.
Kurt & Lena came for dinner
We fixed beef in garlic cream sauce, potatoes and baby peas for the group.
Cudling cuties
The cats wondered where we had spent the day. When they are not fighting they are best friends.
Feeding a fowl
After the concert we drove to Haga Parken, and Michael fed the birds on stale bread he brought along.
T & Mike after concert
We enjoyed spending time together. It is nice to have a great son like Michael.
Thousands enjoyed the music
Alaire checks the program for the words to a sing-along selection. Some of the songs were quite moving sung by so many people.
Concert crew
Kurt and Lena came up for a couple of days in the city. Lotta and they took us to a marvelous outdoor symphony concert. We sat on the lawn and had a fancy picnic on Texas Longhorn plates.
Texas Cookout Recipes
Before leaving the cookout gang at Michael's place we promised to post our recipes. Here they are:
ALAIRE'S POTATO SALAD
Cut peeled potatoes in 2" chunks, boil until tender to fork
Cool, add chopped celery, chopped onion, chopped hard boiled eggs and small pimento pieces
Moisten and stir potato mixture with mayonaise, add salt and pepper to taste, blend in Dijon mustard to taste
Mix and chill before serving
TOM'S FRIJOLES
Soak pinto beans ('cranberry' beans in Sweden) overnight, adding water to cover
Pour off water, add salt pork or bacon fat, re-cover with fresh water
Add 1 tsp cumin; and salt, red pepper (I like Habanero) and chili powder to taste
Cover pot, simmer slowly, adding water to cover for 4 - 6 hours (best if cooked the day before)
Serve warm
TOM'S HAMBURGERS
Place 3 lbs ground beef in large bowl (extra lean for health, regular for taste)
Mix in 1 Tbs lemon pepper, 1/2 cup melted butter, juice from 6 garlic cloves and salt to taste
Form in 1" thick patties and cook over hot grill (topped with sharp cheddar cheese slices if desired)
Serve on large buns (toasted on grill is best) with sliced onions, sliced tomatoes, leaf lettuce and dill pickle slices
Spread buns with mustard
Serve all the above with iced tea (with mint sprig) or cold beer (Shiner Bock is my favorite)
Stockholm Church
I was struck with the austere beauty of this church downtown. Anna Lindh's grave is just outside in a shady grove.
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