Category: Europe Fall 2022

We are off to Sweden, just because we can. A short train ride across the Great Belt Sea brings us to Malmo, Sweden for the day. Parks and food, we try smashed potatoes, Sweden’s version of French Fries. Small round butterball type potatoes, smashed, then fried. The uniqueness is the additional of Grana Padano cheese… Continue reading Final Days in Copenhagen – but first, a short side trip →

We traverse the city on our bikes, visit a butterfly garden, and seek out the best coffee roasters. There is an abundance of very good coffee in the city. This is their only signage This is a very tall pastry filled with pistachio cream We have found many of the cemeteries double as parks where… Continue reading Exploring and Eating – Copenhagen →

First impression: Bikes, bikes, bikes, really, I mean bikes everywhere!!! The sheer vista of bikes literally everywhere is amazing. Copenhagen is widely famed as one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. The locals cycle around 1.44 million kilometers every day, with 63% of the population riding their bike to work. The city has created a… Continue reading Copenhagen Denmark →

We have never before traveled in August and emotionally prepared ourselves to accept crowds, lots of people everywhere. Turns out, the first two weeks of August is a great time to visit Norwegian cities. The weather is warm, and the Norwegians are on holiday in the countryside or other parts of Europe. The only real… Continue reading Traveling – different paths for different people →

We take a day to explore the outskirts of Stavanger via the local ferry. We board a commuter ferry boat that services the small outlying islands. It is tempting to get off and wander one of these picturesque islands. The problem is the ferry only stops on the return route if it is “called”, literally… Continue reading Stavanger Norway- Exploring →

Stavanger is a fascinating city nestled on the western coast of Norway surrounded by islands and fjords. Thus, the attraction, not only for us, but a massive number of tourists via huge cruise ships. Stavanger can host even the largest cruise ships (upwards of 5000 people) and some days more than one, fills the small… Continue reading Stavanger Norway →

This post concludes with thoughts on private stays versus hotels In Norway, alcoholic beverages over 4.7%, essentially anything other than basic beers, are controlled and sold only in government run stores called Vinmonopolet. Their hours are limited, closing at 6pm and not open on Sundays. One must plan in advance to enjoy a bottle of… Continue reading Traveling in Norway – Kristiansand →

We decided this trip not to push ourselves with long days of travel.  Since we have lots of time, we can make shorter travel days and explore different cities in countries we have not visited before. We knew we wanted to go to Stavanger, where the fjord boats depart to explore the many inlets and… Continue reading Kristiansand – Norway →

Who is the attractive young woman? Keep reading. But first, Did the touristy thing! We bought tickets for a tour of the Oslo Fjord and nearby islands, touted as a guided sightseeing tour on a historic wooden boat. It was a fun tour of the bay which included a few tidbits of information about Oslo… Continue reading Amazing Encounter – Olso →

Shopping Mall We are wrapped in sweaters while everyone around us is in shorts, sleeveless dresses, drinking iced coffees. An ice cappuccino in a martini glass! Wandering the streets, discovering interesting urban art, funky little neighborhoods, taking random photos of things that interest us. Electric car charging stations Motorized disabled transport - instead of a… Continue reading Discovering Oslo →