ArchivesCategory: Norway/Croatia

If these walls could talk. It was a Wheaties (and deodorant) kind of day with lots of walking. From the Old Port we bought round trip tickets to the island of Lokrum. It’s about a 12 minute ride and well worth it. Lokrum is both a nature reserve and special forest vegetation reserve. The Benedictines Continue Reading

We’re closed, you’re lucky. Friday we decided to follow Rick Steves’ suggestion for a more secluded beach. It’s supposed to be about 25 minutes from the Old Town but our apartment is pretty much right in the middle, so it was an easy jaunt. We took the first stairs after the church and behold! A Continue Reading

Getting to know you. After being encased in fleece and wool for a week, it was time put bare feet to beach. But first, we walked the 1/2 block to the local grocery store and bought some coffee, milk, fruit and other edibles. After a disastrous affair with what resembles an espresso maker, we settled Continue Reading

Don’t worry. Sleep in peace. In the days before we left Hellvik, Norway for Dubrovnik, Croatia, I had emailed the woman we reserved our apartment with online to confirm our airport transfer. She wasn’t responding, so the night before I called the owner of the apartment we were renting to check in. Maja (pretend the Continue Reading

Questioning the degree of intelligence. Tuesday was shopping day in Stavanger, details of which I will spare you except to say there are some really lovely houseware and apparel selections but it ain’t cheap. I did find some sweet black pants with cool zippy pocket thingies for about $60. Not bad! And as mentioned in Continue Reading

Old school. Monday morning, Marit, Constance and I piled into the car for a day of sightseeing, hosted by our hostess, boat captain and chef extraordinaire, Anne. Our first stop was a captivating road-side rest stop. Any time you’re loaded with coffee or tea and have been holding your bladder for “just five more miles,” Continue Reading

Easy breezy boulderful. Sunday, post-party, was a lazy day. Anne had to work so Marit, Constance and I were left to our own devices. We decided to work off the previous night’s desserts with a walk through the Hellvick hood, including a visit to the soccer field (that wouldn’t exist without Marit’s uncle’s determination) and Continue Reading

It’s my party and I’ll throw it at 6pm in a barn if I want to. The whole reason for this trip to Hellvik, Norway, is to celebrate Marit’s Mom Valborg’s 80th birthday. She and husband Odd arrived in Hellvik (where she was born and raised) some three weeks ago and have been visiting many Continue Reading

After a cold gray day, the sun is coming out in Hellvik, Norway. It’ 9:30pm. I’m tempted to go to bed but can’t seem to swing it when it’s so beautifully bright out. That and the knowledge that there is Finlandia vodka in the freezer and the Norwegian version of Nutella just a spoon-dip away. Continue Reading