posted on 20th August 2010 under Culture, History, OsloBG, Reiseblogg2010, Travel Norway
Oslo Blog Gathering’s grand opening was the Mayor’s reception at the City Hall. Blog friends from all over the world brought a small gift from their homeland, since it also happens to be the Mayors birthday. He said he had not received that many gifts since he’s 5th years celebration. Her you see some of the participants in front of the city hall:
After the Mayor’s welcome speech, it was my turn to return the favour with some words:
“Our Dear Mayor, Oslo Blog Gathering participants, and associates;
They say that Oslo is the city with a big heart, and you dear Mayor, participating in this reception is certainly proof of that. Even on your own 55th birthday you are here to welcome my guests from around the world with open arms. In the five years I have been blogging about Norway, our culture, traditions and habits, I have lots of regular readers who have become curious about our country, find us a bit exotic, and wanted to come and visit. I have also tried to explain about our open and transparent society. I have told the world about our accessible politicians who hear our individual voices, and you are now an excellent example of this.
I also wish to express my thanks to VisitOslo for their contribution as well as the gathering’s hub, First Hotel Millennium.
I’m proud of Oslo city and I know you are too. To me it is a dream comes true that I am able to give my blog friends, from all around the world, a taste of what we have to offer. Again, thank you dear Mayor for receiving us and letting us have a look at the heart of Oslo, our lovely city hall. I’m sure our participants will share some of their adventures from today and their expectations in the rest of the program with you.“
Then we had a great time enjoying the food, the drinks as well as a nice chat with the Mayor (click all pics to bigify and enjoy):
We also were lucky enough to get a guided tour in the city hall: Located by the waterfront, with Fritdjof Nansensplass on the inland side. It’s open to the public, with a spectacular main hall featuring huge murals with typical Nordic social democratic themes. Its characteristic architecture, artworks and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony makes it one of Oslo’s most famous buildings. There are also some displays of historical artefacts in the side rooms upstairs and we where in the Munch-room with a beautiful view of the harbour and Oslo Fjord:
The day however started in the morning at reception in OsloBG’s HUB; The First Millennium Hotel, where we all meet for a guided tour: Highlights of Oslo:
Let me just give you a short memo from the bus tour which started with a round trip in the city when the guide gave a short overview and description of the towns history:
Our capital and largest city in Norway was founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway and largely destroyed by a fire in 1624. The Danish-Norwegian king Christian IV rebuilt the city as Christiania. In 1925 the city reclaimed its original Norwegian name, Oslo. The diocese of Oslo is one of the five original dioceses in Norway, which originated around the year 1070.
Oslo is the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental centre of Norway. It’s also a hub of Norwegian trade, banking, industry and shipping as well as an important centre for maritime industries and maritime trade in Europe. The city is home to many companies within the maritime sector, some of them are amongst the world’s largest shipping companies, ship-brokers and maritime insurance brokers.
We also had some short stops to some sightseeing:
The Vigeland Sculpture park:
Some of us gathered by the Angry Boy; the most tourist photographed object in Norway. We had an excellent guide who gave a wonderful introduction to Vigeland’s beautiful work of his life (you may read more about it in my post: Olga the travelling bra clothing statues Vigeland Park:
The Holmenkollen ski jump:
20 minutes by tram, on the hill behind the central city, you’ll find Norway’s number one sports icon: The Ski Jump: is host to the world’s oldest notable ski jump competition still in existence.
Since then the capacity of the stands has been increased to over 50,000 people and the jump has been extended 18 times, last time in 1982. Today’s tower extends 60 meters above ground, and 417 metres above sea level. The current record of 139.5 meters was achieved by Andreas Kofler of Austria on 14 March 2010. I was there at that time and can recall you’re memory from my post: “Holmenkollen Ski Jump preparing for OSL2011
This time we went to the very top and here is the view (unfortunately in rainy weather):
Bygdøy Island & the Museums:
We ended up passing the Museums at Bygdøy (click the links to read my earlier posts:- Like the Kon-Tiki Museum, which shows all year long the legendary expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl. The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. Viking Ship Museum as well as Norwegian Maritime Museum and the ship Fram, used by Roald Amundsen.
OsloBG – The show will go on:
This was just a short report from the first day. The show will go on for two more days, so stay tuned!
Update: My wife DianeCA’s post from this first day: Blogger friends exploring Oslo at OsloBG!
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posted on 11th August 2010 under History, Reiseblogg2010, Summer, Travel Abroad
A boat trip with M/S Marianne from Sjötorp on Göta Canal to Mariestad, the pearl of Lake Vänern, was a breath taking experience. It was done while having a visit from the in-laws from USA and we took them for a four day trip to our vacation home in Sweden. Of course I will share some of the highlights with you – lets start with the dock where the boat was anchored:
The lower Port docks in Sjötorp on Gjöta Canal
Sjötorp and Gjöta Canal:
The village is the most frequently visited place in the rural district and the start of the Göta Canal with all that this implies; leisure-boats, passenger-ships, car-tourists, bicycle-tourists, fishing-trips etc. Here you’ll find shops, restaurants, sleeping accommodations, wharf, museum and tourist-office.
Göta Canal is one of the largest construction projects (1810-1832) ever undertaken in Sweden. The canal stretches from Sjötorp to Mem, 190 km long and has 58 locks. To learn more, read my post about it: “Summer at Göta Canal” (click pic to bigyfy & enjoy):
The last lock before the boats enters Lake Vänern.
M/S Marianne:
The Motor Ship was built in 1897 in Gothenburg for personal use of Captain Fredrik Pettersson and rebuilt as a passenger boat in 1926. The vessel is built of iron in the clinker. It’s a two masts beauty in 24 meters length and 4 meter wide – just take a look:
Below: Fine hard wood interior on and below deck
Lake Vänern:
Geologically, the lake was formed after the last ice age about 10,000 years ago; when the ice melted, the entire width of Sweden was covered in water, creating a strait between Kattegat and the Gulf of Bothnia. It’s northern Europe’s largest and covers an area of 5,655 km². It is located at 44 meter above sea level and is on average 27 m deep. The maximum depth of the lake is 106 meter. A Viking ship was found on the lake’s bottom on May 6, 2009.
On our way to Mariestad, in warm and sunny weather, we had some nice views of the shore line:
Fast pleasure boats – Family cottages
Campground at Torsö – Clean and safe recreational use
Torsö Bridge:
You reach the island of Torsö by a gently rounded bridge with a beautiful view overlooking Mariestad. It offers several beaches as well as a camp ground and private cabins for rent. Click to read my last post about this beautiful place: “Torsö Island at Mariestad”
Mariestad, the Pearl of Lake Vänern:
Our vacation home town of which I have posted from often is called “The Pearl of Lake Vänern” and for a lot of reasons (see related posts below). Knowing the area quite well, it was kind of special to approach this city from the water. It’s easy to spot the Cathedral; build in the 15th century by the city’s founder Duke Charles, who later became King Charles IX of Sweden. The city is named after his wife Marie of Pfalz:
The boat trip ended in the harbour, a place we frequently visit to have an ice-cream, a snack or even a nice meal now and then:
Talking about it; here is a pic I took with my new Nokia x6 when we had dinner at the harbour restaurant the other day – I just could not resist trying to capture the golden beauty of the sky:
Some related post from Mariestad:
-> Wandering through time in old Mariestad
-> MidSummer or Summer Solstice in Norway and Sweden
-> Red hot sky and icy cold Scandinavian beach beauty
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posted on 15th July 2010 under Culture, History, Reiseblogg2010, Summer
The Classic Car Rally followed by a show and Old Ox Memorial in Mariestad, Sweden, is an annual tradition that draws participants and spectators from near and far. 100′s of vintage vehicles, cars and motorcycles are driven through the town and parked to be admired at Karl’s Holme (the “People’s Park”). This year, in the fantastic weather, the park was very popular (click photo to bigify and enjoy):
People admiring the cars & enjoying a sunny day with fellow enthusiasts in the park.
It happens every first weekend in July, the start of the summer season when our charming vacation home town Mariestad attracts many tourists. It’s called The Pearl of Vänern (Northern Europe’s biggest lake) and a popular stop for boat travellers from all over Europe entering the lake through the Göta Canal. The park is close to the lake and the harbour (click for a closer look):
On the left photo – in the background: the harbour filled up with boats.
Of course there are locals and visitors from all over Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia for that matter – including our Norwegian “colony”. The interest for cars and motorcycles; old and new, large and small, fast and even faster are shared by everyone at this show. I have to admit, I am not at all an expert, but I sure can enjoy some of the beauty (which I tried to capture the best I could – again, click for a closer look):
Young & 0ld – Small & big
Mariestad’s Vehicle History Society:
The rally and show are arranged by this association (in Swedish; “Mariestads Fordonshistoriska Sällskap”) and their chairman gave an introduction and described some of the cars:
From their web page, I have translated some wise words (at least I think so):
The history of the total 1900s is in many respects been a century when technology captured our culture. Communications sector, i.e. road traffic and rail expansion and aviation became tangible evidence of an expansive development in an important part of a growing society. The car to drive, as well as motorcycle created an existence where the concepts of freedom thrived. The technology was developed. Vehicle models saw the light, disappeared, and were replaced by new more modern and more efficient designs. From different parts of the world cars and motorcycles reached us and would be preserved as cultural treasures.
I sum up this post with a couple more picks:
Next week my father in law will be joining us from New York. This show reminds me of him as he has a classic car and loves attending the big shows. This is a good example of how modern technologies, in this case vehicle, intertwine our cultures and cause the world to grow in the same direction. People from different parts of the world have a shared cultural existence because of technology, just as we share existence through blogging and social media; it’s a win – win situation, don’t you think?
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posted on 3rd July 2010 under History, Reiseblogg2010, Summer, Travel Abroad
Vaholm covered bridge from the 17th century, is Sweden’s only covered and leads over river Tidan – a suspension bridge in two spans. Bridges of this kind are otherwise very common in the US, but in Europe they are just a few examples in Germany and Switzerland. In Scandinavia there is only similar bridge in Norway; The Hammer Bridge in mid Norway – looking almost the same as this Vaholm:
Vaholm bridge was renovated in 1992 after having been close to collapse.
Located in the courtyard Vaholm it has been discussed as a possible location of the former royal farm, which gave its name to the local area. The farm’s current main building is from the start of the 1800s. Last weekend, when in Sweden, my wife and I took a little road trip looking for this well known covered bridge and we gladly take you with (click pic to bigify & enjoy):
The suspension wooden bridge is a two-span, totalling 34 feet of the main girders of round logs. The land attachment, like bridge piers in the center, built of hewn stone brick and is held together by tension straps of iron. On the main studs are longitudinal spans of wood with wrought iron hangers carrying the bridge deck:
The bridge house itself is independent and built in the traditional manner with a single pole design works. The house is covered with a Falu red paint panels, and the bottom decorated with a carved scallop design. Neither the bridge nor the house is particularly remarkable on its own – but the combination makes a unique facility.
People who have crossed over the bridge late at night report feeling strong feelings of discomfort and the feeling of evil or death present.
Others have reported seeing crying child faces on the wall while others said they felt like someone wanted to kill them while standing there. Some have even said that they felt someone tried to strangle them when standing in the bridge house after dark, and it is rumoured that something very terrible may have happened here.
Tidan is a locality situated in Skövde Municipality, Västra Götaland County in Sweden which has about 1000 inhabitants and only 20 minutes from our vacation home in Mariestad. In spite of the ghost stories I didn’t notice anything about the bridge except how lovely it looked in the nice summer weather. I didn’t feel anything while crossing it, although Diane was a bit sceptical to driving the car over:
Whatever its history this fine bridge over Tidan river didn’t seem to mean us any harm. How about you – do you know or have heard of any of these kind of bridges?
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posted on 19th June 2010 under Culture, History, Reiseblogg2010, Tradition
The historical, cultural and Royal event when Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden will marry Daniel Westling in Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan), is of course to be mentioned since my blog is about Norway and the Nordic countries. I mean after all; Norway is Sweden’s closest neighbour and friend and so are our Royal families too.
A non Royal husband or wife?
When Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Mette-Marit became engaged there was much discussion; was it appropriate for an heir to the throne to marry a person who was not royalty. Now you have the same debate in Sweden and some wonder if Daniel Westling is appropriate for Victoria. To me it actually seams like it strengthens the Royal’s position and the fact that we both have a Kingdom in our countries.
When The Norwegian government invited to dinner before Crown Prince Haakon’s wedding in 2001, the Crown Prince held a direct and humble speech:
“Few things in life happens by chance, at least not that Mette-Marit came into my life. The more I got to know her, the more I realised that and therefore we wanted to live a life together. I do know that our choices have not been as easy for everyone else. A fact I just have to respect”, he said, and also was thankful for all the support they’d got.
Bridesmaid Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway:
Ten young bridesmaids and page boys are taking part and three of them are the Crown Princess’ godchildren.
Further more, as future monarchs themselves; Norway’s Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, both 6 years old, are to be bridesmaids, while Danish Prince Christian, age 4 1/2, will be a page boy. So, there will be a lot of young children playing a part in this wedding. It certainly should be a sight to see!
This is Princess Ingrid Alexandra (see photo to the left – borrowed from ScanPix) biggest public appearance so far in life and a special reason for Norwegians to closely follow the ceremony of course 
The biggest Royal event?
500 million TV viewers across Europe are expected to watch the 2 million € spectacle in Stockholm’s specially renovated cathedral. Stockholm’s airport has been renamed for the occasion, as Official Love Airport 2010. The wedding comes after a lengthy struggle by Princess Victoria to persuade the royal family to recognise her relationship with a commoner.
You should also read about this from a local’s point of view; My friend, the one and only; Mrs. Lifecruiser: Swedish Crown Princess Wedding Pre-Report!
How about you; Did you see any of this Royal Wedding? – and what do you think?
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