Bergen

We just checkedonto our nice modern hotel in Bergen. Scott was impressed because there is an umbrella hanging by the door for us to use. Of course this is the first place we have been where the sunis out. The boat ride down the fjords was beautiful and relaxing. Mary if you read this my advice is to bring some binoculors. There is so much to see as you slwly cruise past. Farms, boats, churches, villages... Now since the weather is nice we are going to explore Bergen acharming old city with brightly painted houses along the waterfront. Pizza for dinner tonight as it is the only way to eat an affordable meal...about $50 for a pizza...

Today we went to Sverresborg. Like pioneer village but the Stave church they have there was built in 1171 and the wood is still holding it up! It was a catholic church until the reformation in 1530 something when it became Protestant. We had flatbread which was being cooked over fire by a young Norwegian girl. After a dinner in a restaurant last night that cost about 180$ we are back to bread and cheese from the storbuttik (supermarket). Even that was about $50 for bread cheese beer and chips. So is Norway expensive? Yes. We are looking forward to the boat trip down the coast and fjords tomorrow.

We went to the frank Lloyd wright house in Chicago, the robie house. Great from the outside but dark and cold inside. Interesting tour though. In Oslo we saw the naked people statues in vigeland park and a naked man in the cemetery. Well actually hewasnt naked he just had NO pants on. We were looking for Munchs grave. Our pension was in a quiet street...until the French cultral center next door had a party last night. And since we are in the land of the midnight sun, we saw partyers leave in a taxi this morning when we got up! Ian we found your picture and took a picture, no posters available. Also saw The Scream of course just like the Mona Lisa , it is smaller than you would guess. And more colorful. That was one messed up dude. The painting was based on his own experience of no one noticing his desperation.
Today we took the train from Oslo to Trondheim with ascreaming baby behind us. So much for a peaceful trip! His parents did nothing to distract him. I wanted to take him for a walk or do itsy bitsy spider... Anything!! So glad when they got off after four hours!!! Very beautiful scenery, green and farms and colorful slate or sod roofed buildings and even some snow. Our hotel here is odd...it is associated with the hospital and it feels very much like a hospital room...nurse is on duty all the time and there are emergency pull strings all over. But free wifi so I guess it will do. Oh Mom I found a grave of Madsens in Oslo and took a pic.
We are wearing all our warm clothes. Even though there is some sun here today it is cold . We have been rained on every day but only in Chicago did we get drenched...and we even had the umbrella!!!
I'll try to writemore tomorrow

We are in Oslo.  Scott is in line to get our tickets.  i just wrote a whole page and it is gone.  so just know we are having a good time.  ill try to write more later.

I found free wifi at the wAter tower . Yesterday it poured on us!we thought it would be a good idea to take a walk along the lakke. We did bring an umbrella and a poncho but we were about a mile from the hotel when we heard thunder and then it really dumped on us with no shelter anywhere. We did talk to nice friendly people...a man walking a huskyix who said he should have brought shampoo and washed the dog! And a fishean hoping for white bass or perch but ok with rock cod. The hotel has a laundry room, so we were able to dry everything we were wearing while we ate a burger and drank a beer. Lunch was great today at Topo. Had Goose Island beer and a SO good choco tart and walleye and duck and trout and sunfish cebiche.

Test

Just making sure that I can post on my blog using the iPod. It's hard to type and I don't know where we will have wifi access. And of course we won't be able to post pictures until we get back unless we find a computer that will allow us to download pictures