Nineth Trip: Oslo

While in Bodø Stinkypaw had contacted a few Norwegians through Postcrossing wanting to swap cards from their regions with her in Arctic Norway.  We got to see Norway that way... on postcards!

Among those who sent cards, one lady was very kind, and even suggested some places to visit if in Oslo. Since we were going to be in Oslo for a few days on our way home Stinkypas had contacted her and asked if she wanted to meet.  She  had sent so many postcards from Norway, showing us different areas of their beautiful country, with explanations,We just had to meet her.  And we did.  We even got to send a few cards with her, which was nice. 

The plan was a two hours meeting with her, and it lasted well over six.  We talked about so many things, such an interesting encounter and warm lady.  A great note to end our Norway adventure.
Oh and I made a new friend at the airport... Check him out.

Ain't he a cute little guy, since there were so many moose around Bodø it seemed appropriate to travel with one too.

From Oslo, we had a stop in England for a few hours, time for refreshments...

and off we were heading for home...

Eight Trip: Bodø

Our last Sunday in Bodø... Today I was introduced to fikka at the Bodø Bakeri.

After a bite to eat, which was deeeelicious, we walked to the Nordland Museum, on the way to the Post office,  The museum is actually one of the only house that survived the German raid during WWII, the rest of the town had burned down.

It wasn't a great museum, but one of the movie they showed of the history of Bodø was actually very interesting.  To think that the Germans took the town over riding on bicycles is so strange, and yet., history is proof... A nice way to close the loop on this Bodø adventure.

Seventh Trip: To a Glacier

We headed South (yep, the glacier is SOUTH of where we've been for the past thirteen weeks! crazy!). Part of the way we had been to, like Saltstraumen but then continued on in a direction we hadn't been towards yet.

Not long after Saltsraumen, we made a little stop, Stinkypaw wanted to feel the blue waters... it was way too cold for a dip or anything of the sort, just a little finger dip was enough...

Åselistraumen

The scenery along the way was breathtaking, to say the least... and the winding roads...

The scenery was beautiful, following the coast: fjords, the sea, forest and farms. We also saw many cyclists, a little buggy being pulled by a pony and a reindeer on our way back.

in Ørnes

Arctic Norway is beautiful, when it is sunny, that is!

Sixth Trip: To France!!

I thought of doing yet another recap of my hop from Norway to France, for a Postcrossing Meet Up, but since Stinkypaw did a nice post about it on her blog, I thought of simply posting a link for you to read it and mostly see the pictures: Grenoble 2015

I flew Scandinavian Air...

Got stuck in a mail box, since unlike our mailboxes theirs had to holes: one for local mail and one for the world... I did try to get some back, but was afraid to end up in there as well...

From that moment on I've became Stinkypaw's Postcrossing Meet mascot, you have to admit I have quite the look for it all...

Postcard worthy!

While there, also visited the area (between Lyon and Grenoble) and spent the night at a Postcrossing member's place who had kindly offered to be our hostess. Her son, who feel in love with me, had given up his room and look what I found that night, waiting for me in bed... a little chocolate on my Sponge Bob pillow!

This is where we stayed.

And even there, I had to take a picture of those two holes mailboxes...

Early the next morning, we made our way to the Lyon airport and headed home to Norway... What a weekend that was!

Fifth Trip: Drive South to the Arctic Circle

We headed South to the Arctic Circle. Yes, South. Bodø is located at 67 degrees 16 minutes and 48 seconds latitude North and the Arctic Circle is at 66 degrees 33 minutes 45.7 seconds. Did you know that its position varies? It moves by something like 49 feet per year.

Within about thirty minutes outside the city we were following the fljord. The blue of the water, the sky and the puffy clouds here and there were making this gorgeous scenery that we had to stop and capture.

It was windy but managed to stand for this shot.

Giving that the road was nice, barely any traffic, but quite winding and on the edge of the water, there wasn't many places we could stop to take pictures. The further South we were going, the higher we were climbing, and there the more snow we were seeing.

Look at those blues, beautiful!

It actually got to a point that only the road was clear of snow, everything else around us was white.  It was beautiful, and somewhat bizarre. The further South we went, the whiter it got. It looked like there was a lot of snow, not only what we were seeing on the surface. It looked deep.

After being in the car for 2.5 hours, we did get to the Arctic Circle.  There wasn't many people around, but they sure were replaced by snow!

He isn't a short man, 6' 2"

That wall of snow was on the way from the parking lot to the Center, which is in fact a big souvenir shop, they had cut through the snow to clear the path.  It wasn't pushed snow... it was very impressive!

The monument is behind where He stands, and I'm on top of the snow wall.  In the Summer months, supposedly you can walk up to it, on grass.  There were a few monuments marking the spot.

At the center, they sold postcards AND had a special cancellation stamp, which Stinkypaw had read about and wanted. They even offered to mail the cards for Christmas. They had a special box for that, for cards to be sent out for Christmas. There was also a little cafeteria. Their special of the day was Reindeer, potatoes and coffee. While our food was being prepared Stinkypaw wrote myself a special souvenir card, because after all how often can one say that they've crossed the Arctic Circle and that they had to drive South to do so! ah!

The Center as shown in the postcard

Cancellation from the Arctic Circle

On the way back we actually saw a reindeer along the road, so it was the perfect way to close that visit to the Arctic Circle!

Happy National Day Norway!

Today is Norway's National Day!  Flags everywhere, people walking around in their traditional costumes, which are beautiful by the way, everything is showing how proud the people are of being Norwegian.  It is nice to see.  The TV only shows footage of Norwegians around the world celebrating their day, from the Royal Palace in Oslo where the crowd is parading in front of the Palace where the Royal Family stands and waves to everyone.

For the occasion, I've raised my little Norway flag!

Fourth Trip: Oslo on Labor Day!

Being in Europe, we got to celebrate Labor Day there on a different day than in Canada.  He was off work and did manage to get someone from Montréal to cover his work while we went to Oslo to meet up with some friends now living in Zurich.  They suggested meeting in Oslo, and since Stinkypaw wanted to visit the capital, it was all arranged that the two couples would spent the long weekend there and I tagged along, of course!

Enjoying the nice big bed at the Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz

The next morning, I got to meet the friends, such a lovely couple...

In the Hotel Lobby

I have a feeling the friend was a little embarrassed to meet me, and to be taking a picture with me, but his wife liked me!

We walked around Oslo for a while, couldn't do much shopping since everything was closed so we made our way to Holmenkollen, the ski jump.  We had to take a metro to get there, it was a good 45 minutes ride (longer than expected) and I will say this, I got many looks and smirks sitting on the train...

Us three ladies...

Since the ride there was so long and there was this huge line up to visit the ski jump, it was decided to go back down and make our way to the Vigeland Sculpture Park.  When we got there, I got so excited, there were tulips popping up everywhere!  We had none of that where we lived, only some buds coming out and some dandelions, but no flowers yet...  I just had to go and see them up close!

Time to smell the flowers

That park was beautiful, not only because of the sculptures, there were quite the sight, but the grounds were so nice and well maintained, it was a gorgeous park, perfect for an afternoon stroll.

I don't know if there is any other park in the world with so many naked statues, all sizes and ages... it was quite the sight, really!

On our way out, I just had to photobomb the friend trying to do a nice selfie by the fountain!

It was a lovely day of walking and getting warmed up by the sun felt great!

This is the type of breaking we had, included with our room at the hotel...

Brasserie Paleo, Oslo

That brown cheese called Gjetost was deeeelicious!  And their jam as well!  Plus they had fresh pressed orange juice daily!