Norway (long overdue)

Last year we went to Italy with my Waldorf teacher training program, and this year I traveled to Norway (in June--the very next week after Amrum..and yes, I realize it is now Sept...). F had class, so sadly he couldn't come with me.

But I hope you enjoy the photos!

We started off driving through Denmark to get to the ferry. On the way, we stopped at the beach.

We took the ferry from F's harbor :) (and even spelled right!)

We hiked down to Lom.

We drove through amazing 'fjell' (or 'fell' in English) landscapes--captivating.

We visited several stave churches--called stave churches, because the pillars they used were made from trees that had been debarked and then left for many years. The resin then seeped out and created a protection for the wood--against insects and rot.

Flowers!

We took a ferry ride along the Sonja (Sogne) Fjørd--look at all the waterfalls!! By the end we were pretty 'waterfall'ed out..they didn't seem all that spectacular any more..I guess that's what happens when everything looks amazing. :) But we didn't stop looking!

We got to hike across a glacier and to the top of Galdhøpiggen, the tallest peak in Norway, and they said, all of northern Europe. Here's from the ascent: (and don't forget to reapply sunscreen!)

I built a cairn on the peak.

Such a view! (and it looks like there's no one here! Just us, the mountains and the sky)

On the way down we rode the snow and tried to take a less strenuous way--in the snow instead of over rocks :) Our shadows had switched sides and grown long..we were ready to go home.

At the end of the trip, we visited Oslo. We were in the Palace Park

--and I loved their sign! (and was happy to oblige!)

Then we walked by the opera house.

A and I found a lovely church, bought ice cream and found the best fries in Oslo (arguable the only fries other than McDonalds..unlike Germany, they were hard to find! But these were legitimately delicious! Yummy garlic powder and spices!)

We also went to the Botanical Garden. It was lovely! 

Before we went to Norway, I had honestly thought it would be my one--and only--time in Norway. I had never felt particularly drawn, except to perhaps see the Northern Lights (which in summer isn't really possible..)
(And here are some faces we found..)

Now that I have been, I'm not so sure...it was amazing. At the hostel we stayed at (usually for school groups), we did yoga every morning..it was a wonderful start to the day. And the landscape up there--so magical! On the last night up in Soleggen we went on a night hike/stroll...and because it was high summer, it stayed light the whole time! Although we didn't get back until 1:30am or so. All of the little nooks and crannies in the underbrush..you could just imagine little gnomes crawling out onto the moss..
And in honor of the yoga that bound me to Norway and my tendency to do yoga in picturesque places, here are some yoga collages.
(Yes, it was quite windy on this mountaintop..)

Ready, set....yoga!! (Dancer's pose..it really is my favorite :) )

On Galdhøpiggen and other peaks.

I also collected a lot of rocks...we would get out of the car and look around saying "Wow, isn't it beautiful here?" And then we'd look down and say "Wow, aren't these rocks lovely?" And then we'd pick some up..or even more than some....I had to sort out quite a few, so that I wasn't bringing my weight back in rocks.

And we saw seven moose!!

And here's a general 'Hooray for Norway!' (yes, that is a Norwegian fjord horse, and a troll, and an underground  'mystery' trash bin.)