Tivoli Gardens

Copenhagen, Denmark

Kathleen and Joanna toured the summer palaces of the Danish royalty of the 1600-1800s and the rest of us toured the city palaces. Talk about opulence. We saw the Danish Crown Jewels as well. Then, of course, it was time for lunch at an open air cafe.

We are having our farewell dinner at the famous Tivoli Gardens which was the amusement park which influenced Walt Disney to create Disneyland. We are doing lots of walking in this diverse city. People watching is fun with lots of young people, music, and fashion statements.

After a morning flight to Copenhagen, we were joined by Hanna a local guide to understand the lay of the city and its history. Another perfect day--perhaps a little too hot! The palaces, the shopping, the canals, and the little mermaid.

Bergen, Norway

Bergen was the medieval capital of Norway. After the Vikings left, the German Hanseatic merchants took over the city, building these houses for the apprentices.

All of us rode the funicular during our free time. There was a wedding reception at the restaurant on the top with guests all in the national costumes. We were also serenaded by opera singers in the city for a festival.

Before arriving in Bergen, we followed a journey called Norway in a Nutshell which included a cruise along the Sognefjord and two mountain rail crossings, the gateway to Bergen. Here is our last group picture.

Norway in a Nutshell

We cruised the fjord, and took the Flan railway to see Norway in a Nutshell. We went cruising on the Sognefjord. Then on to the medieval seaside city of Bergen--a Hanseanitic City.

What exactly is Norway in a Nutshell? Check out this video from Rick Steves for more of the amazing views!

Stalheim Hotel, Norway

This hotel was occupied by the Nazis in WWII. A good strategic position during the occupation and an amazing view. You can learn more about the hotel here.

I know it is strange to take a photo out of my hotel window, but I could not resist.We slept with our windows open and listened to the cow and sheep bells along with mountains. What a view!!

Fjording

We have certainly had good weather mojo (thanks to Kathy Lundburg). After our fjord cruise, we took many switchbacks to the top of the mountains carved by glaciers and looked back at the harbor. Note all the cruiseships.

Norway, Part 1

These children were a part of a dance troupe who stopped at our hotel. The little boy had the biggest dimples. We danced with them and then enjoyed a bonfire together. Isn't he the cutest??

Richard was so gracious in showing us his farm. He basically harvests wood from his forests. Check out the view of the fjord from his farm!

Richard is a farmer who is the fourth generation on this farm which overlooks a fjord. There has been a farm on this site since the 1600s.
Look at the keys he used to open the buildings!

Stockholm, Sweden

We've been exploring Norway for the past few days, and will post the updates soon, but in the meantime, here are a few more pictures from our adventures in Sweden!

Stockholm Harbor

We saw various maypoles in the villages, but the finest was at the Stockholm island of Skansen. Skansen is the oldest living history site in the world.

As we watched the changing of the guard, Wava and Diane made friends with a mother who's son had the honor of serving in this platoon.She was so proud. The crowd was domestic and international!!

We are here at the height of the spring flowers. These lupin (although they pronounce it lu-pine) are my absolute favorite. The farms in the background are characteristic of all of the farms in the Haslingland province.

Linda and Sharon in Old Town Stockholm

The wildflowers and perennials are vibrant! (my prize poppy picture, enjoy!)

Last Days in Sweden

Thursday after our visits to seaside villages we had a night in the forest with a bearded carpenter by the name of Stu ( He decided to take Sharon Mosenfelder as his third wife by the end of the evening). We boarded a covered wagon pulled by hearty draft horses and joined by 5 local Swedes who will be touring Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois in September with our guide Gun-Marie. Regional stew, a bonfire, and local musicians with a spiritual touch made the evening memorable.

Departing Haslingland was bittersweet as we said farewell to the staff at the gasthaus and Gun-Marie. She surprised us with the local newspaper with a feature story about us. The headline was Svarten fick traffa riktiga amerikaner i Landhed. Color photo too!

Full day of visiting the port city of Gavle, and then to the medieval capital city of Uppsala. The Lutheran high church was beautiful and we were able to see the final resting places of many royalty.

Then to Skansen for the Midsommer festival. The sun shone brightly for us and we gathering round the Maypole. Women and children made garlands out of fresh flowers and many dressed in their regional costumes. What fun!

We returned to the hotel in Stockholm to meet the others in our Collette group. They were definitely quiet compared to us. We really are having so much fun together-almost laughing until we cry!

Saturday morning we met a local guide named Eva and toured the city and Old Town. Highlight was Vasa ship which sank in the harbor in 1628 and was rediscovered and restored in the mid- 20th century. Saw changing of the guard in front of the Royal Palace and then a harbor cruise.

Alfta Countryside

Our day in the Swedish countryside began, as many days do, with breakfast...

After a hardy breakfast of eggs, bacon, yogurt and lingonberries we headed out to an organic farm and to see the interior of farms built in the 1850s.

Gustaf and his daughter farm together and called the cows and sheep to meet us.
We did watch where we stepped...

left Gun-Marie our guide, Pete Madden, and Julie Rodell on the farm. Mia is the daughter of the farmer Gustaf and spoke very good English. Beautiful blond curly hair! Hand painting in a farmhouse living room. Hundreds of local farm houses built in the 1800s still have this--even Gun-Marie's house. The one pictured has applied for UNESCO status!

The locals have been so friendly. We visited a quilter and then met a man tending his family's grave plot in the local cemetery. His name was Lars.

Group in front of the Alfta museum which shares the story of immigration (10%of population in 1847) to Chicago and then walking to Bishop Hill. Beautiful sunny weather. Gun Marie has been wonderful.

Alfta, Sweden

Group Picture
Ceramic Fireplace
Our Guesthouse

Victorian Cafe

Beautiful Alfta Architecture

June 16/17, 2009 Update

Live from Alfta, Sweden:

SAS departed and arrived on time although every seat was full. We were met by our guide Gun-Marie and Nicholas our driver. We took the back roads north through forests of pines and birches. We stopped at the home village of the soon to be husband of the Crown Princess (who visited Alfta yesterday) and visited a lovely public garden for a long walk and to sample our first smorgasbord luncheon.

What's Happening in Sweden?

While it's easy to assume that whatever is the news headline here at home is the same elsewhere in the world, that's not usually true.

Right now on the Quad City Times website, the featured story is about Bettendorf sewer problems.

Right now on CNN.com, the featured story is about Iran.

And what's going on in Sweden? You can find out at www.thelocal.se a Swedish English language news page. (hint: it involves Swedish and American yachts)

Will our travel destinations be featured in the news? If they are, we'll let you know.

More soon, when we recover from our jet lag!

Swedish Saying: "There is no bad weather, just bad clothes." (let's hope we can avoid both on this trip)

Our Bags Are Packed....

For those of us doing the pre-trip in Alfta, Sweden, we're packing our bags and getting ready for the fun to begin. Where is Alfta, you ask? Click here to see it on google maps!

We are staying at the Alfta Gastgiveri Hotel from Tuesday the 16th to Friday the 19th when we start our tour in Stockholm (much easier to find on a map, I admit).

Leave room in your suitcase for all the things you're going to bring home and change your ring back tone on your phone to "Leaving on a jet plane" and you're good to go.

We look forward to sharing the highlights of our first days in Sweden with you next week.