Norway in HD

Do some armchair vacation travel with me to the village of Jelsa in Suldal, Ryfylke, Norway. This amazing little fjord community of about 250 people surely has a pace of its own. It is definitely one of my favorite spots. Enjoy!

This time we visit the home of norwegian painter Nikolai Astrup (1880-1928) in Jølster. Although his paintings would later sell at $5-600,000 he was never a rich man and died in pneumonia at the age of 47. His home in Jølster still has a definite and beautiful natural feel to it. It's peaceful and quiet and you can easily understand why he chose his immediate surroundings as his favorite motives. At the end of today's episode I have added a short 3D movie clip. If you are watching this episode on a 3D TV you should be able to enjoy the thrill. If you have no such option you can watch it cross-eyed (although somewhat distorted).

17th of May is our Constitution Day. And what a day it was this year. People in their finest, happy children, festivities and all the colors of springtime.

The west coast of Norway is blessed by the warm waters of the Gulfstream passing by and keeping the temperature a bit more pleasant than you would experience in the eastern and northern parts of the country. Under normal circumstances we would have only a few weeks of snow, but this winter has been exceptional, as we have had continuous snow from mid December to April. Join me for a Sunday afternoon of ice-skating in January. It will be obvious from these images that we are not very familiar with skating around here. I have also included a short driving sequence shot late March as the snow had just started to melt. It is slush time!

One of the main visuals of Norway, in addition to the (seawater) fjords, are the rivers, waterfalls and lakes found everywhere. And most of the time that water is in motion. God loves this country so much he washes it all the time. :-) And that water moves about a lot before it plunges back into the sea. In fact the major electric energy production in Norway is hydroelectric tapping this water on the move. Join me for a round trip to see just a few of these freshwater sights.

Before the Viking king Floke Vilgerdsson, with all his family and belongings, sailed off to become the first settlers on Iceland (around 900AD), he built a varde. A varde is a stone fireplace placed on a mountain top or other location that can be seen from afar. It was used to signal to others about enemies arriving and other major events. The spot Floke placed his varde was later was known as Ryvarden. Floke himself was later known as Ramnafloke due to the two ravens he brought with him to help locate land when approaching Iceland. (GPS didn’t work that well back in those days.) In more recent times a lighthouse was built in the same area and houses was built to cater for the lighthouse attendant and his assistants. The lighthouse was later automated and Sveio commune transformed the area and its buildings into a “Cultural Lighthouse” with art exhibitions and a cafe.

Come with me to the heart of the fjords of Norway, Geiranger. The nature surrounding this village of a few hundred souls draw 700,000 visitors every year. Now, you get a chance to experience "first hand" what the place is all about.

While roaming around in the Dovre Mountain National Park I came across a herd of 7 to 8 wild muskoxen. I was thrilled being able to capture the moment with my Sony. While editing the video I also noticed the little disobedient calf so unwilling to part with his mouthful while being chased by his parents. It reminded me of something ... ;-)

This time we will set sail to cruise along the coast near Bergen in the three-masted barque called Statsraad Lehmkuhl. This ship offers tourists and locals a unique afternoon experience of the Gateway to the Fjords. All accompanied by the samba rhythms of the on-board live orchestra. Ship o'hoy, mates!

Apple blossom in Hardanger Fjord. Snow capped mountains. Lush and green fjord gardens. Waterfalls. It's a fairytale.

It’s April and spring is back. The leaves are back on our trees and nature is green as it gets. In Bergen and other cities all over the Kingdom another spring phenomenon is unfolding; the senior students in high school – The Russ – are out on the streets wearing their red or blue overalls. The Blues are students from business oriented high-schools and the Reds are students from other high schools. Expect to see some unusual behaviour …

Most people know that the Statue of Liberty was given to the US as a gift from the French at the Centennial in 1876. However, not that many would know that the copper used to give the statue its characteristic green surface came from the copper mines at Visnes on the island of Karmoey outside Haugesund. The mines were owned by a French company and did at one point in history account for 70% of Norway's total income from export. The mines were closed down in 1972, but are preserved as a museum. Another little known fact about the Statue of Liberty, btw, is that it was the Norwegian engineer Joachim Gotsche Giaver that designed the iron girders and beams solution that connects the lady to her pedestal.

I found this clearing in the woods in Fana just south of Bergen. Get yourself a cup of coffee, fill your lungs with the fresh cool air and watch how the sun plays with the colors of the landscape. It is early spring and the new grass has not yet been able to overtake the grass killed off by frost, snow and ice during winter. However, with the sun gaining power and the clear water from ice melting watering its roots, there will be remarkable things happening over the next few months.

In this sequel to our previous exploration of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau we start off at the rail station of the famous winter sport resort called Geilo as the train from Oslo arrives and then departs westward towards Bergen. We enjoy some ski-kiting in a windy mountain narrow and marvel the solitude and silence of the frozen snow covered nature of this incredible place.

Come with me to Bergen - the Gateway of the Fjords! It's a winterly Bergen that greets us this time as we explore the view of the city from the Nordnes district. The tallship in the harbour next to the famous Bryggen is the S/S Statsraad Lemkuhl. Enjoy!

In two episodes we will travel to the Hardangervidda and enjoy this winter wonderland together. Hardangervidda is the largest mountain plateau in Europe with an area of roughly 6,500 km2 with an average elevation of about 3,500 ft above sea level. It is located smack in the middle of southern Norway and most of the area is protected as a national park. This is one of the favourite spots to go skiing during the Easter Holidays or mountain hiking during summer. It is both a place for solitude in nature or fun and action packed activities, whatever is your flavour.

Due to the warm Gulf Stream that pushes past our shores, the winter along the coast is not as harsh as in the inland area or up north. Still, Jack Frost paints the early twilight hours with a thin coat of frosted mist on every surface. If you go north of the Artic Circle you will not see the sun at all this time of year. It will not be visible over the horizon. However, in the southern parts of our country there is about 7 hours from sunrise to sunset. Twilight starts around 8.30am CET and sunrise is at 9:20am. Today's episode explores the twilight zone. Enjoy!

Here is a compilation of great shots that never made it to the podcast in 2008. Thank you for your support through the year and see you again in 2009!

There is something about kids playing in the snow that is guaranteed to make your Christmas spirit soar. It’s a magical time of frozen air in your nostrils, the laughter of kids and parents speeding down the slope in your ears, and the white cover of snow that makes the familiar features of the world look so different, bright and new. Please join me for one of those magical moments …

Strong icy cold winds and waves breaking onto land is a common sight in our part of the world. Particularily so during the winter season. Enjoy this natural theater in today's episode.

The most prominent feature of this cosy town is its waterfall. If not visible all the time it is at least audible. :-) However, the town is also host to one of Norway's most hi-tech engineering clusters sporting leading edge technology in aviation, auto, weapon technology and subsea oil & gas installations. And it is the town where A-ha vocalist Morten Harket was born and raised ...

Welcome back to my garden. The wonderful autumn colors are here and I just couldn't resist sharing it with you.

This 40 minute ferry ride takes you across the Bjoernefjord and is a compulsary part of the E39 between Stavanger and Bergen. Enjoy!

I simply love this view out “my virtual window". The crisp, yet tranquil green of the grass and the trees has been broken by the wild of the waterfall.  The huge rock that has fallen off the mountain and placed itself in the midst of the grass finds itself surrounded by the most harmless creature – the sheep. Want music? Why not enjoy this window at the tunes of Edvard Grieg’s “Solveig’s Song” (Peer Gynt, Suite No 2, Op. 55)?

Check out the view of the fjord from my garden and say hello to Turtle, my trusted lawn robot.

Norway declared herself a sovereign kingdom in 1905 ending almost one hundred years of a union with neighboring Sweden. As a fairly young nation, the Constitution Day on May 17th is still one of the big annual celebrations. On this day children of all ages dress up in either one of the many national folklore costumes or their Sunday best. At 10am the Children’s Parade pushes off.  The children march to the tunes of their school's brass band accompanied by their teachers. A long the route parents and other relatives watches their offspring with pride. For the rest of the day the children can enjoy their privileges of non-stop supply of ice-cream, hot dogs and soda. The Senior High School students celebrate following their own traditions. Easily recognized in their red or blue overalls they have been up all through the night and "marching capabilities" may at this point be somewhat limited ...

For a lot of people in our region May signals the start of the boating season. It is time to do that last minute maintenance before the whole family takes to the fjords. We visit a stunningly beautiful marina and watch as nature, man and his machines prepare for the season.

It is April. Nature is in the process of awakening from winter hibernation. Together we will visit The Aker Fjord, we enjoy a harbour scene in Haugesund, do some lamb studies in Olen, visit Lake Stordal for a quiet moment, then on to the Bokna Fjord on a windy day. Next we will visit the Sandhaland beach, the Ferkingstad bay and finally the Swords in Rock monument commemorating the battle of Hafrsfjord in 872. A decisive victory that enabled viking king Harald the Fairhair to unite the Kingdom of Norway.