Today I wanted to experiment with posting photos, something I hadn’t tried on the blog yet, so I’ve chosen three from the solo trip I took to Norway in May 1998. Norway was a natural choice for an adventure. My maternal grandfather, Lars Ringstveit, emigrated to the United States with one of his brothers when they were in their teens. Another brother, Peter, had already settled in Montana, purchasing land on which he would herd sheep. He paid his brothers’ passage to North America.

Two of my mother’s cousins, older ladies who had worked and studied in England and traveled extensively, live in Stavanger. I wanted to go. My hubby declined, but didn’t protest when I decided to go it alone. My itinerary involved flying to Stavanger with a connection in London, staying in Stavanger with one of the cousins for several days, taking a train to Oslo for one night so I could hop on a bus to visit the sculpture gardens, back on the train the next day to chug over the mountains to Bergen. A couple of nights in Bergen to see the sights and visit art museums, and then the ferry ride back to Stavanger for a few more days with the cousins.

I haven’t asked for permission to post family photos, so will focus on scenery. This picture was shot about ten o’clock at night. I was standing in the living room of the cabin that sits on what’s left of the property owned by my grandfather’s ancestors.

Earlier the next day, I looked out the kitchen window as I drank my morning coffee, then went to grab my camera. This time I used the window as a picture frame:

And then, to show the weather is not always gorgeous in Norway, here’s a shot taken during my rough ferry ride from Bergen to Stavanger. I can’t remember how long the ride took, but I was very worried about getting seasick. Luckily, that didn’t happen.

One of these days, when I have time (haha), I need to get the rest of my Norway photos scanned, as well as the best shots from other trips. Now that I’ve become more armchair traveler than actual traveler, I forget just how much fun traveling is, and how much other armchair travelers of the world experience their adventures vicariously through websites and blogs. Must plan, must scan, must write.

Permission is required to copy or use any of the photographs posted on this blog.