akershus fortress podcasts

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026

The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin

christmas love new year power house passion story minnesota ring watching fantasy romance minneapolis figure lust intimacy fate norway sexuality connected excuse metro virgin judging norwegian oslo affair oral bergen anal fortress legally smiles larsen homeland mamma erotic experimentation fantasies sensuality tour guides sauron pappa vy remnants tin man constructed coupling intercourse descriptive solveig christmas star tryst nurse ratched lurid jorunn norwegian american apple fritter norwegian christmas akershus fortress gustav vigeland

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Steamy Stories Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026

The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin

christmas love new year power house passion story minnesota ring watching fantasy romance minneapolis figure lust intimacy fate norway sexuality connected excuse metro virgin judging norwegian oslo affair oral bergen anal fortress legally smiles larsen homeland mamma erotic experimentation fantasies sensuality tour guides sauron pappa vy remnants tin man constructed coupling intercourse descriptive solveig christmas star tryst nurse ratched lurid jorunn norwegian american apple fritter norwegian christmas akershus fortress gustav vigeland

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

ExplicitNovels

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026

The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin

christmas new year power stories house minnesota ring watching fantasy narrative minneapolis figure fate norway sexuality connected excuse metro judging norwegian oslo explicit bergen fortress legally novels smiles larsen homeland mamma erotica tour guides sauron pappa vy remnants tin man constructed solveig christmas star nurse ratched jorunn norwegian american apple fritter norwegian christmas akershus fortress gustav vigeland

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Steamy Stories

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026

The Homeland calls for Gunnar, And So Does Love.Based on a post by Jorunn, in 4 parts. Listen to the ►Podcast at Connected.‘You are the Tin Man. This tour; is the Oil Can. Figure it out.'A recently widowed Norwegian American plans his escape from a Minnesota nursing home to travel abroad and join a ‘Christmas in Norway Tour’. While battling his fears, he meets a beautiful young tour guide and her divorced mother, who years later, still bears scars from her unfaithful husband’s affair. This story is about overcoming those fears to let healing begin. This story picks up after that, and shows the lingering effects of a husband’s extra-marital affair on his family. This is also a Christmas story, so expect to travel to locations in Norway, encounter Norwegian Christmas traditions, and maybe even get sprinkled with pixie-dust!“A man has only one escape from his old self: to see a different self - in the mirror of some woman’s eyes” - Clare Booth LucePrequel: The Ruined ChristmasOslo, Norway - Three Years AgoMy name is Jorunn. As a Norwegian landsby girl, Mamma and I spent Christmas week in Bergen, visiting her family and celebrating my 22nd birthday. We decided to leave Bergen two days early so that Pappa would not have to celebrate New Year’s Eve alone. During the week, while we were away, Pappa told us how he missed us.We arrived back home in mid-afternoon, just as the sun was setting, and saw our Christmas Star lit up in the window. After entering the house, we heard Pappa moaning upstairs and went up to see if he was all right. Opening the bedroom door, we saw him humping a strange woman!“What are you doing?” shouted Mamma.Pappa replied, “Leah, you’re home early.”“Who is this woman?”“She’s just a slut. She means nothing to me.”The woman yelped, “I am not a slut! I am a happily married woman.”Mamma yelled, “I can see what keeps you happy.”Pappa yelled back, “I still love you, Leah. Let me get rid of this slut. She’s only here because I was lonely. We can talk.”Mamma replied, “You can talk to my advokater. We’re through! How can I ever trust you again, you bastard? Do you realize what you have done to our family!”Mamma began sobbing and ran down the stairs.Pappa looked at me and said, “Jorunn, none of this would have happened if your mother hadn’t come home early and seen us.”I looked at Pappa and saw his slime-covered beard slick with the woman’s juices. “You’re wrong Pappa. It did happen. Mamma and I just wouldn’t have known. You said you didn’t want to be seen by us. That works both ways! I don’t ever want to talk to you or see you ever again!”I ran downstairs to Mamma, and with our suitcases still in the boot, we drove to a friend’s house.Gunnar and Nurse RatchedDecember 13 - MorningMinneapolis, Minnesota - Present DayI pressed the button on my cell phone and hung up after talking with Roger Mans, my long-time friend and attorney. My two adult children texted a few days ago they wanted to visit me here in the nursing home. I had not seen them since the funeral of my wife, Solveig, and that was two months ago. Their plan was for me to sign their power of attorney forms, giving them full control over me and my affairs. But my plan was different, and now was time to put it into place.Two years ago, at just 54 years old, I had a stroke. A devastating paralysis left me needing a lot of care, and therapy to regain my mobility, speech, and other functions.I realized Solveig was unable to care for me at our home. She tried with all her heart, but she was also fighting her own battle with cancer, and undergoing her own rigorous treatments.So I decided to enter a nursing home, while I continued to get rehab. I wanted a facility with a stroke recovery unit. This limited my nursing home choices. The only thing making life bearable here, was Solveig faithfully visiting me, and sneaking an occasional home-cooked meal past the head nurse and her staff. Sadly, Solveig succumbed to the cancer while I was still a resident at the ‘Bethel Retirement Center'. At Solveig’s funeral, my children promised to visit often, but as usual, I could never count on them for anything.Without my wife here to check on things, my decent clothes never came back from the laundry, and instead, the staff returned excuses. I put on old sweatpants and an old sweatshirt. It would do for now. I prepared myself for this day by walking the halls of the nursing home, attending physical therapy sessions, and taking care of myself without help from the staff. Still not fully recovered, but like my clothing, it would do for now.I said goodbye to Alfred, my shared roommate. He nodded, wished me luck, and said he would love to go with me. I felt sorry for him. He was a great storyteller but needed to use his walker, and physically, he required the kind of care they provided here.I walked down the hall to the nurse’s station and found Molly Turner, the rather brusque chief nurse, and her two assistants sitting behind it. “Good morning, Nurse Ratched,” I said.“Good day to you, Gunnar,” she replied.“I’m checking out,” I said.“Be serious, Gunnar. No one ever checks out of a nursing home, unless they are flat on their back with a toe tag.”I looked at her and smiled, “I only hope that will be your Fate, Molly.”“That’s not a nice thing to say, Gunnar. Now, return to your room or I will have dietary take away your rice pudding for a week.”The rice pudding here was a pale imitation of the riskrem, which Solvieg would make every Christmas. I would miss it this year. I gave Nurse Ratched a one-fingered salute, then walked toward the exit. There was a scramble of squeaky chairs and shouts behind me, and I heard their footsteps closing in on me. As I pushed the two doors open to the main lobby, there was Roger, standing next to the nursing home administrator. I walked up to my lawyer, and shook his hand, “Thank you, old friend.”I turned to see a stunned Nurse Ratched. “Allow me to escort Mr. Larsen back to his room,” she meekly pronounced.The nursing home administrator said, “That won’t be necessary, Molly. Mr. Larsen is leaving us. He isn’t taking anything with him. You may clear out his room and get it ready for the next resident.”I looked Nurse Ratched in the eye and saw the fires of hell blazing within. Then, it was my turn to smile back.All my therapists had agreed that my rehab was successful. My speech skills were quite restored. My left arm and leg took longer to restore. But it was good enough to ditch the wheelchair, then the walker, then the cane. What really set me back was the grief of losing my wife, and the guilt of not being there when she needed me most.Gunnar’s HouseRoger drove me to my house. I hadn't been there in two years. It looked pathetic. No one bothered shoveling the snow on the walkway, and I feared what my children may have done to the inside. I found the hidden key I placed under a rock years ago and used it to enter through the front door. The living room and dining room furniture were mostly gone, or should I say, stolen. They had rifled through the small office nook next to the kitchen, with papers scattered over the kitchen countertops and floor.I turned and said, “You’re going to have your work cut out for you, Roger.”“This is exactly what you said would happen, Gunnar. Our firm will take care of it for you.”I opened a small drawer in the office nook and thankfully found my passport intact. It was useless to my children. I went to the master bedroom and saw the dresser drawers partially opened, with clothes scattered all about the floor. On top of the dresser was Solvieg’s jewelry box. I opened it, and few things remained. I was glad to see the gold charm bracelet I gave her 35 years ago for Christmas. She wore it a couple of times, then stopped, complaining it turned her wrist green as the fake gold coating wore away. But she kept it all these years. A worn-out trinket to my children, as precious as the Sauron’s Ring of Power to me. I picked it up and put it in the pocket of my sweatpants.I went into the walk-in closet and picked out some clothes, tossed them into an old gym bag, and said, “I’m done. We can go.”Roger said, “The locksmith and security company will meet me here this afternoon. Once they are done, your children will no longer have access.”“I’d rather not have an auction of whatever is left in the house. I don’t think Solveig would have liked that. Once you go through the papers, just throw everything left in a dumpster and haul it away. Whatever the two pirates plundered will be the only inheritance they will ever see from me.”Miller And Mans Law OfficeRoger and I next went to his office. I said hello to Jane, the long-time receptionist. I have always suspected that Jane knows everything that goes on here, and secretly runs the whole place, not unlike the way Nurse Ratched does in her domain. However, Jane does so with more efficiency, happiness, and joy for both clients and staff.Jane asked, “Can I get you anything, Gunnar?”“I’d love a cup of decent coffee, and an Apple Fritter if you have one.”“I’ll bring them to Roger’s office. Two creams and no sugar, if I remember right.”“Perfect, as always, Jane.”We went into Roger’s plush office, and I sat down in a chair more comfortable than any I sat in for the last two years.“Are you actually going to go through with this?” Roger asked.“Every bit of it,” I replied.I signed multiple papers, removing my two children as beneficiaries from my life insurance and investment accounts. I also gave Roger limited power of attorney to sell my house and dispose of its possessions.Jane arrived with the coffee and Apple Fritter. “Norway? Why would anyone want to go to Norway in December?”“Did Roger spill the beans?” I asked.Jane replied, “Every piece of paper that comes into this office passes through my hands. I opened your travel visa when it came in.”“Jane, I can’t spend Christmas here in Minnesota. The bitter wintry weather pales in comparison to the cold hearts of my own two children. The further away from them I am, the better. I’ve never been to Norway and have always wanted to see the 'home country’ of my ancestors.”Like I said, Jane knows all. The coffee tasted great, and the deep-fried Apple Fritter, one of Nursed Ratched’s 'prohibited foods’, was outstanding. Roger slid me a packet labeled 'Gunnar - Norway’. As Jane left, I opened it and looked at the contents. As planned, there was an international cell phone with a different number, a stack of krone, and three new credit cards bearing the name of a fictitious business. I handed Roger my old cell phone.“We’ll dispose of this for you. Your children will have no idea where you are unless they hire a private detective with exceptionally good connections. Legally, they have no rights to any of your assets, so even if somehow they track you to our law office, they will not get past Jane.”I believed Roger on that.“The tour company you asked us to sign you up with seems pretty sketchy. Their contract looks like something generated off a free online legal site. We reviewed it, it is crude, but legal and binding. If you back out, they still get paid. Why did you pick this tour company? There are many larger and more reputable companies we might have booked you with.”“It’s silly, Roger. I know it’s only a one-person company, run by a young vlogger in Norway. It was terribly boring in the nursing home, so I would spend evenings watching her videos as she traveled around Norway visiting various places, and leading small groups of tourists. It looked like the people were having fun and she made me laugh. Watching her videos was one of the few things that brought me any happiness.”“Why did you reserve for four persons?” asked Roger.“I wanted to make sure her Christmas in Norway tour wouldn’t be canceled. She has a four-person minimum.”“You won’t get those other bookings back, even if more people are going.”“I don’t need the money, Roger, but I do need this tour.”“How about clothing? You don’t have many clothes in that gym bag, Gunnar. Do you want to stop somewhere before we get to the airport?”“No. I’ll travel light. It’ll be easier when going through airport security. I’ll buy more clothes when I get to Norway.”“How about after you come back?”“I’m going to someplace warm and sunny. Maybe visit a mouse in Florida. I’ll be in touch if I need anything while I’m in Norway, and call you when I get back in three weeks.”Jorunn, The Tour GuideDecember 15 – Morning, Two Days LaterI spent yesterday shopping for the new clothes I would need. The tour is a mix of city and outdoor activities, so I bought a basic wardrobe, along with good walking shoes, snow pants, a warm jacket, and gloves. I ate lunch and dinner at two smaller restaurants. The food was good, but I felt lonely eating by myself, in a city I didn’t know, in a strange country. I missed Solveig very much and wished she were here with me.The next morning, I walked to the nearby hotel where the tour group would be meeting and followed the “Christmas in Norway Tour” sign to a small room off the lobby. There she was! Jorunn. My vlogger! She was about as tall as I am, at least when I can stand straight, with long blonde hair parted in the middle, clear blue eyes, and her signature radiant smile. She wore a Norwegian Dale sweater and brown pants.Jorunn spoke to me in Norwegian. “Excuse me, sir, this room is reserved for a tour group.”I hobbled closer. “Yes, and I’m one of the people taking the tour.”“We have a pretty active schedule for the next seven days, from December 15th through the 22nd. Do you think you are well enough to take this tour?”I wasn’t sure if I was, but I didn’t want to tell her that. “I won’t slow you down,” I replied.“What is your name?” she asked.“Gunnar Larsen.”She opened a small notebook and flipped through the pages. “It says here you are in a group of four. I see three other names. When are they coming?”“There won’t be any others from my group. One of the names is my recently deceased wife, the other two are my estranged adult children. I’m all there is.”Jorunn looked puzzled. “Only four people in total signed up, including you, all from your group. If the others aren’t coming, then you will be the only one. I don’t… I can’t… I mean, I have reservations I cannot cancel. You’re going to cost me a fortune whether I go through with the tour or not.”I replied, “The contract states that you have a four-person minimum. I am paying you in full for all four people. You won’t lose any money.”Jorunn smirked and looked like she was thinking. “I don’t know if you’re some kind of dirty old man, but if I agree to continue this tour, you should know that we will have separate rooms every night and there will be no sex of any kind. Judging by the way you look; I hope you can at least wipe your own butt!”“Your terms are acceptable. I had a stroke two years ago, but I have mostly recovered. I can walk, talk, and listen. I have trouble with my balance at times and sometimes slur my words. If you think something is too strenuous for me, I am willing to skip that part of the tour.”“Well, Mr. Larsen of Minnesota, you need to sign some release forms. As stated in the contract, I get to film the tour group for my vlogs, so I expect smiles when I am filming you. For now, go help yourself to breakfast. There is coffee, brunost, bread, and milk. Enough to feed four. Don’t expect me to serve you, and if you don’t know how to use a cheese sliver, learn fast.”She looked puzzled earlier but was now the confident Jorunn with whom I spent virtual evenings. I was delighted we worked this out. Smiles would not be a problem.OsloDecember 15 - MorningJorunn left the room and returned shortly with a small basket of food. “We have a lot of brunost left over, so I am going to make us a food packet for lunch called matpakke. I have a place in mind where we can sit and picnic.”“We will use the Vy app and Oslo Pass and travel by train and Metro. But today, we will mainly walk around Oslo. You will need to check into this hotel under the tour name if you have not done so. We will be in Oslo for two nights. The prepaid room is part of your tour package. I will try to cancel or change some reservations. Meet me back here in one hour.”I went back to my hotel to retrieve my belongings, then checked into the one Jorunn requested. It was not as nice as the one I left, but it was clean, and I did not want to make a fuss on the first day. I purchased a surprising amount of clothing yesterday and needed to make two trips to bring everything over. Then I returned to the meeting room and found Jorunn waiting.Jorunn and I walked from the hotel to Oslo Central Station and took a tram to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Jorunn told me it is the world’s largest sculpture park made by a single artist, Gustav Vigeland, with over two hundred sculptures combining the human form with an element of fantasy. Most figures were naked, with a mix of vagueness and rather notably open precision. The most prominent sculpture was a 17-meter-high monolith consisting of 121 intertwined human figures clambering to the top, carved from a single stone block. We spent over an hour walking the grounds, and while it was interesting, I told Jorunn that I didn’t see much in the way of Christmas here.A combination of walking and a short bus ride brought us to the grounds of the Akershus Fortress. Constructed in the 13th century, it protects the waterfront and Oslo harbor. Also on the site was the restored Akershus Castle, which was formerly a residence of prior kings of Norway. Jorunn said it serves today as an entertainment and event center for the Norwegian government, and this close to Christmas was not open to the public.I found it challenging to walk the grounds of the Fortress, as there were steep inclines mixed with stone steps and cobblestone paths. Remnants of a prior snowstorm still lingered in shady areas and under arches, making the footing treacherous. We did stop at places offering magnificent views of the city of Oslo, the bay, and the fjord, and several ramparts still bore cannons. Jorunn was rather businesslike and did not seem to be enjoyin

christmas love new year power house passion story minnesota ring watching fantasy romance minneapolis figure lust intimacy fate norway sexuality connected excuse metro virgin judging norwegian oslo affair oral bergen anal fortress legally smiles larsen homeland mamma erotic experimentation fantasies sensuality tour guides sauron pappa vy remnants tin man constructed coupling intercourse descriptive solveig christmas star tryst nurse ratched lurid jorunn norwegian american apple fritter norwegian christmas akershus fortress gustav vigeland

Oslo, Norway Part 1 of 2

Dr Mary Travelbest Guide

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2026 9:30

Where in the world am I? In San Diego, talking about Oslo Part 1 Welcome back to the Dr. Mary Travelbest Guide podcast. I had my second solo 90-day journey around the world, and I'm excited to connect with fellow travelers and share experiences. The FAQ is from Amara, who wants to travel more. She asked: How can I plan a trip like you do, Dr. Travelbest? Would I love to take some of the trips you have been on? I'm not sure where to start. I hear a lot from YOU, but how do I do it? Answer: Getting started is like this. Take small trips until you build up your travel muscles. I met a woman yesterday named Teresa who said she needs to read my books and here's why.. She's a single woman in her 70s and relies on her grown children for travel assistance. But they don't always want to go on the same trips as mom. So Teresa needs to manage her travel. I also think she needs to organize her phone apps so she can find the ones she needs quickly. If this is you, stick around. Some of this will flow into your DNA. I know it. 60-second confidence challenge Your challenge today is to plan a Step One Trip. That means you spend the night in a new city, by yourself. You book your room, meals, and itinerary yourself. You come home the next day, refreshed and confident that you can do anything! One night of travel can reset your travel confidence. If you like today's Confidence Challenge, my book series delves deeper into Step 1 travel. Never heard of it? You will. It's been tried, tested, and trusted since 2020. You can find the series at the link in the description. See Book A for addressing this concern.. Find it on the website at https://www.5stepstosolotravel.com/ or on Amazon. It's a several-part series. Today's special destination is Oslo, Norway, Part 1, the intro of Oslo. Today we're heading north — to Oslo, Norway, a city surrounded by fjords and forests. Oslo is one of Europe's most accessible and progressive capitals, offering a calm, safe, and modern environment — perfect for solo women travelers over 50, including those using wheelchairs or mobility aids. Norway is a stunning country with a vibrant population of around 5 million, comparable to Montana's population and area, stretching over 142,000 square miles. The current exchange rate is favorable at $10 USD for 10.1 NOK, making it an exciting time to explore this beautiful land! The renowned Hurtigruten line makes it easy to connect with major cities and highlights throughout the region. There are so many incredible places to visit, including these: - Hammerfest - The breathtaking Svalbard and the Lofoten Islands - Crossing the Arctic Circle and visiting Trondheim—particularly special for Karin - The scenic Flåm Railroad - The unique Vigeland Sculpture Park - The fascinating Fram Museum - Tasty cloudberries - The architectural marvel of the Oslo Opera House - The Well spa, a relaxing retreat at just $65 per day, open from 10 AM to 10 PM, and includes food - Convenient Bus 81 for easy travel Italian traveler Julius highly recommends the Paradox optical illusions exhibit in Oslo—what a fun experience! Additional must-see spots include: https://www.paradoxmuseumoslo.com/en/ - An impressive castle - The immersive Vikings exhibit that captivated Debbie and Erik from Toronto, Canada, whom I had the pleasure of meeting on the train and spending the better part of the day with. https://www.science.org/content/article/thousand-year-old-viking-fortress-reveals-technologically-advanced-society - The Bergen Hurtigruten line - Stunning views of the Skagerrak Strait - Enchanting Troll Forest - The magical Aurora Domes - An informative visit to Oslo City Hall and the Nobel Peace Center - The enchanting Munch Museum featuring "The Scream." - The lovely Bygdøy neighborhood You pronounce Bygdøy (a peninsula in Oslo) roughly as "BIG-day" (or "BIG-oy"), with the 'y' sounding like the 'i' in 'big' or 'ee' in 'see', and the 'ø' sounding like the 'i' in 'bird' or the 'u' in 'fur', making it close to 'BIG-doy' or 'BÜGD-oy' in Norwegian, but 'Big-Day' is a common English approximation. For an unforgettable adventure, the "Norway in a Nutshell" tour can be completed in just 2 to 3 days. Don't miss the dazzling Lofoten Islands, the majestic western fjords, and the charming Longyearbyen in Svalbard, along with Trondheim! Get ready for a fantastic journey through Norway! . - Library - Ibsens Gate - Tysnes Festival: A nearby island with many summer music events. People in Norway typically take two months of vacation. Education and healthcare are publicly funded through high taxes, which support strong economic conditions. Activities and locations: - Cable car to Mt. Ulriken - Royal Gamlehaugen Castle and Park - Kayaking On my First Day in Oslo, I arrived at the Train station and found my hostel on Karl Lagerfeldsgate Street - Oslo K7 Hostel: There were minor issues, such as being under construction, but it wasn't a bad experience. My initial Activities included: - Swimming in the sea with Nina from South Korea - Visiting the Opera House, the Munch Museum, and the library - Tasting hot dogs and even shopping for underwear. https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/oslo/oslo-opera-house/ Art, Architecture, and the Waterfront Start your day at the Oslo Opera House, an architectural masterpiece that rises from the fjord like a glacier. The sloping white roof is fully wheelchair-accessible, with gentle ramps leading to panoramic views of the harbor and the city skyline—a truly unique experience. https://www.visitoslo.com/en/articles/the-harbour-promenade/ From there, take a leisurely roll or stroll along the Harbor Promenade, a flat, scenic walkway that connects many of Oslo's major attractions. Stop by the MUNCH Museum, dedicated to artist Edvard Munch, whose "The Scream" is on display here. The museum is fully accessible with wide galleries, elevators, and a riverside café for a light lunch. https://www.munch.no/en/ In the afternoon, visit Akershus Fortress. While some cobblestone areas can be uneven, the main paths and museum sections are accessible, and the views of the Oslofjord are worth the effort. End your first day at Aker Brygge (BRU-geh), a lively waterfront district filled with accessible restaurants and outdoor seating for watching the sunset. Brygge, spelled, B R Y …..(Norwegian/Danish for "jetty" or "quay") is pronounced roughly like "BRÜ-geh" (German ü sound, short 'e' at the end) in Norwegian or "BRŒK-eh" (like 'brok' with a soft 'eh' sound) in Danish, involving a rolled 'r' and a rounded vowel, similar to the start of "burger" but with a distinct "oo" or "uh" vowel sound before the 'g' and 'e'. https://www.visitoslo.com/en/activities-and-attractions/boroughs/aker-brygge-tjuvholmen/ My missteps: High prices were not expected I was not fully prepared for the high costs of dining and transportation in one of Europe's priciest cities. Many travelers like me mistakenly expect prices to match other European capitals. To make the most of my time, I purchased a 24-hour Oslo Pass for convenient access to public transport and popular attractions. Plus, I used a refillable water bottle and enjoyed picnic meals from local grocery stores and bakeries. Connect with Dr. Travelbest 5 Steps to Solo Travel website Dr. Mary Travelbest X Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Page Dr. Mary Travelbest Facebook Group Dr. Mary Travelbest Instagram Dr. Mary Travelbest Podcast Dr. Travelbest on TikTok Dr.Travelbest onYouTube In the news

amazon canada europe art english education european toronto german dna italian san diego train mt montana norway scream paradoxes vikings architecture swimming activities danish norwegian oslo usd first day cable faq stunning tasting nutshell arctic circle solo travel trondheim svalbard opera house nok edvard munch oslo norway hurtigruten longyearbyen bygd lofoten islands tiktok dr akershus fortress

A Winter's Tale: Finding Connection at Akershus Fortress

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2025 14:50 Transcription Available

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: A Winter's Tale: Finding Connection at Akershus Fortress Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2025-11-16-23-34-02-no Story Transcript:No: Leif sto på brosteinsveien og så opp mot Akershus festning.En: Leif stood on the cobblestone road and looked up at Akershus festning.No: De sterke steinveggene var dekket av et tynt lag med snø.En: The strong stone walls were covered with a thin layer of snow.No: Det var senhøst, og frostrøyken steg fra munnen hans mens han pustet.En: It was late autumn, and his breath rose in frosty puffs as he breathed.No: Han hadde lenge sett frem til dette besøket.En: He had long looked forward to this visit.No: Som en historieentusiast ønsket Leif å utforske festningen og føle seg nærmere sin kulturarv.En: As a history enthusiast, Leif wanted to explore the fortress and feel closer to his cultural heritage.No: Sammen med vennene Astrid og Mikkel hadde han planlagt en dag med utforskning.En: Together with his friends Astrid and Mikkel, he had planned a day of exploration.No: Akershus festning hadde alltid fascinert ham med sin rike historie og vakre arkitektur.En: Akershus festning had always fascinated him with its rich history and beautiful architecture.No: Leif drømte om å bruke opplevelsen sin til et personlig prosjekt om norsk historie.En: Leif dreamed of using his experience for a personal project on Norwegian history.No: Men været hadde andre planer.En: But the weather had other plans.No: Før de visste ordet av det, begynte en voldsom snøstorm å herje.En: Before they knew it, a violent snowstorm began to rage.No: Snøen falt tungt og gjorde det vanskelig å se.En: The snow fell heavily, making it difficult to see.No: Leif, som ble for oppslukt i fortidens tanker, mistet kontakten med Astrid og Mikkel.En: Leif, absorbed in thoughts of the past, lost contact with Astrid and Mikkel.No: Leif følte kulden krype inn under jakken.En: Leif felt the cold creeping in under his jacket.No: Han visste at han måtte finne varme.En: He knew he had to find warmth.No: Men tanken på å forlate festningen uten å ha sett alt plaget ham.En: But the thought of leaving the fortress without having seen everything troubled him.No: Han nølte, det gamle ønsket om tilhørighet i strid med hans egen helse og sikkerhet.En: He hesitated, the old desire for belonging clashing with his own health and safety.No: Da vinden tiltok og gjorde det nesten umulig å ta et steg fremover, skjønte Leif at han hadde gjort en feil.En: When the wind picked up and made it nearly impossible to take a step forward, Leif realized he had made a mistake.No: Snøen blåste rundt ham, og han innså hvor sårbar han var.En: The snow blew around him, and he realized how vulnerable he was.No: Med stive fingre prøvde han å fiske frem telefonen, men den var tom for batteri.En: With stiff fingers, he tried to fish out his phone, but it was out of battery.No: Det var da han hørte stemmer.En: That's when he heard voices.No: Vage i det intense snødrevet, men klare nok.En: Faint in the intense snowfall, but clear enough.No: "Leif!En: "Leif!"No: " ropte Astrid.En: called Astrid.No: "Hvor er du?En: "Where are you?"No: " Med et siste anstrengelse svarte Leif.En: With one last effort, Leif responded.No: Snart kom Astrid og Mikkel løpende ut av snøkaoset, lettet over å ha funnet ham.En: Soon, Astrid and Mikkel came running out of the snow chaos, relieved to have found him.No: "Vi må finne ly," sa Mikkel, alvorlig bekymret.En: "We need to find shelter," said Mikkel, seriously concerned.No: De vandret sammen inn mot hjertet av festningen.En: They walked together into the heart of the fortress.No: Til slutt fant de et rom med en peis, heldigvis allerede tent av en annen besøkende som hadde søkt ly.En: Eventually, they found a room with a fireplace, fortunately already lit by another visitor who had sought refuge.No: Varmen fra peisen var en velsignelse, og sakte følte Leif seg komme til hektene igjen.En: The warmth from the fireplace was a blessing, and slowly Leif felt himself recovering.No: Selv om Leif hadde ønsket å dykke dypt inn i festningens historie, var det her, i vennenes nærvær, han følte en annen form for tilknytning.En: Even though Leif had wanted to delve deeply into the fortress's history, it was here, in the presence of friends, that he felt another form of connection.No: Kanskje var ikke tilhørighet bare å finne i gamle steiner og fortidens spor, men også blant de menneskene man deler livet med.En: Perhaps belonging wasn't just to be found in old stones and traces of the past, but also among the people one shares life with.No: Når snøstormen roet seg, og det var trygt å dra, forlot de festningen sammen.En: When the snowstorm calmed and it was safe to leave, they left the fortress together.No: Leif visste at han ville komme tilbake en dag for å fullføre sin utforskning.En: Leif knew he would return one day to complete his exploration.No: Men for nå hadde han lært noe viktig: å stole på vennene, og å verdsette de båndene som binder oss til nåtid så mye som til fortid.En: But for now, he had learned something important: to trust his friends, and to value the ties that bind us to the present as much as to the past. Vocabulary Words:cobblestone: brosteinfortress: festningenthusiast: entusiastautumn: senhøstexploration: utforskningarchitecture: arkitekturviolent: voldsomrage: herjeabsorb: oppsluktvulnerable: sårbarfaint: vageshelter: lyrefuge: søkt lyblessing: velsignelsedelve: dykkepresence: nærværbelonging: tilhørighetdesire: ønsketheritage: kulturarvbreath: pustetfrosty: frostrøykenplague/trouble: plagethesitate: nøltestiff: stivebattery: batteriintense: intensechaos: kaosblow: blåstestagger: komme til hekteneties/bonds: båndene

friendship tale storytelling norwegian leif norsk snowstorms mikkel nomen akershus vocabulary words en even akershus fortress en before en eventually

Top European Cruise Shore Excursions: Northern Europe & Mediterranean

All Things Travel

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025 17:23 Transcription Available

Planning a European cruise and overwhelmed by shore excursion choices? Travel advisors Ryan and Julie break down the must-do tours and activities at Europe's most popular cruise ports. From Norwegian fjords to Greek islands, discover how to maximize your limited time in each destination and choose experiences that match your travel style.Northern Europe Ports:Edinburgh, Scotland - Royal Mile walking tour with National Gallery visit featuring Da Vinci and RembrandtLisbon, Portugal - Historic neighborhood exploration including 10th-century cathedral and cobblestone cafesOslo, Norway - Traditional wooden boat fjord cruise with Akershus Fortress visit (dating to 1299)Amsterdam, Netherlands - GPS-guided tour to Volendam and Marken windmills with Dutch cheese-making demonstrationCopenhagen, Denmark - Segway waterfront tour past Gefion Fountain and Royal Opera House with Danish pastry tastingMediterranean & Central Europe Ports:Barcelona, Spain - Montserrat Monastery combined with Sagrada Familia and Park Güell tourAthens, Greece - Acropolis visit with Temple of Zeus, Tomb of Unknown Soldier, and Plaka free timeNaples, Italy - Amalfi Coast day trip to Positano, Amalfi, and SorrentoCivitavecchia (Rome), Italy - Full-day Rome tour including Colosseum, Vatican City, and Trevi FountainDubrovnik, Croatia - Old Town walking tour with panoramic views and Game of Thrones filming locationsMykonos, Greece - Coastal panoramas, Oia village, windmills, and Little Venice explorationExpert TipsLearn why European cruise ports make perfect "sampler trips" for planning future extended vacations. Discover which ports require longer transit times and how to balance guided tours with free exploration time. Plus, hear why some excursions work better for families versus couples.Perfect for first-time European cruisers and seasoned travelers looking to optimize their port days on Northern Europe or Mediterranean itineraries.Next Episode: Walt Disney World's Four Park ChallengeSupport the showLove the podcast? Help us continue to create great travel content by supporting the show. You can do that here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1197029/supporters/new Ready to plan your vacation? Most families are confused and overwhelmed when planning a vacation. We work with you to plan a trip perfect for your family. Saving you time, money, and stress! Visit our website www.allthingstravelpodcast.com and click on "Plan Your Next Vacation" Join the travel conversations and the fun in our Facebook Page and Instagram Page! Please share the show with your travel buddies!! Click this link and share the show! Never miss an episode and help us take you to the top with us by following and leaving a 5-Star review on your favorite podcasting app!

A Spring Tale: Friendship Blooms at Akershus Fortress

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 13:47

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: A Spring Tale: Friendship Blooms at Akershus Fortress Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/no/episode/2025-03-12-22-34-01-no Story Transcript:No: Akershus festning sto majestetisk over Oslofjorden, badet i vårens milde sol.En: Akershus festning stood majestically over the Oslofjorden, bathed in the mild spring sun.No: Det var påske, og byen var levende med farger og folk.En: It was Easter, and the city was alive with colors and people.No: Blant de mange som gikk seg vill i historien denne dagen, var Signe, som hadde reist fra Bergen.En: Among the many who got lost in history that day was Signe, who had traveled from Bergen.No: Hun hadde alltid vært fascinert av Norges middelalderhistorie og søkte inspirasjon for en roman hun drømte om å skrive.En: She had always been fascinated by Norway's medieval history and sought inspiration for a novel she dreamed of writing.No: Eirik var dagens guide.En: Eirik was the guide for the day.No: Han var lokal, kjent med hver stein og hemmelighet som festningen bar på.En: He was a local, familiar with every stone and secret the fortress held.No: Hans lidenskap var tydelig, men plutselig kom ordene hans i en mekanisk rytme siden han ofte skjulte seg bak sin profesjonelle fasade.En: His passion was evident, but suddenly his words came in a mechanical rhythm as he often hid behind his professional facade.No: Likevel ønsket han å gjøre turene minneverdige.En: Nevertheless, he wished to make the tours memorable.No: Signe observerte ham med nysgjerrighet.En: Signe observed him with curiosity.No: Hun ønsket å forstå mer enn bare de vanlige fakta.En: She wanted to understand more than just the usual facts.No: Derfor begynte hun å stille spørsmål som gikk utover historien.En: Therefore, she began asking questions that went beyond history.No: "Hva er din favorittfortelling fra festningen?En: "What is your favorite story from the fortress?"No: " spurte hun.En: she asked.No: Eirik stanset et øyeblikk, overrasket over det personlige spørsmålet.En: Eirik paused for a moment, surprised by the personal question.No: Han bestemte seg for å dele en mindre kjent historie om en kjeller hvor en gammel skatt en gang ble funnet.En: He decided to share a lesser-known story about a cellar where an old treasure was once found.No: Hans øyne skinte da han beskrev hendelsen, og for første gang delte han noe av seg selv.En: His eyes sparkled as he described the event, and for the first time, he shared something of himself.No: Turen fortsatte, og på et tidspunkt nådde de en balkong med utsikt over fjorden.En: The tour continued, and at one point they reached a balcony overlooking the fjord.No: Solen skinte, og en stille bris rørte blomstene som nettopp begynte å blomstre.En: The sun shone, and a gentle breeze stirred the flowers that had just begun to bloom.No: Signe og Eirik stoppet opp, tause og grein utover.En: Signe and Eirik stopped, silent and gazing out.No: Stillheten var komfortabel, barrieren mellom dem brøt sammen i skjønnheten av øyeblikket.En: The silence was comfortable, the barrier between them breaking down in the beauty of the moment.No: Da turen var over, nølte Signe litt før hun tok mot til seg.En: When the tour was over, Signe hesitated a bit before she mustered the courage.No: "Kan vi kanskje utforske flere historiske steder sammen?En: "Could we perhaps explore more historical places together?"No: " spurte hun.En: she asked.No: "Jeg vil gjerne ha litt hjelp med romanen min.En: "I would love some help with my novel."No: "Eirik smilte.En: Eirik smiled.No: For første gang på lenge følte han seg villig til å la noen komme nært.En: For the first time in a long while, he felt willing to let someone come close.No: "Gjerne," svarte han og ga henne nummeret sitt.En: "Sure," he replied and gave her his number.No: Solen falt mykere mot festningens steinvegger da de skiltes.En: The sun fell softly against the fortress's stone walls as they parted ways.No: Signe forlot festningen med hjerte fylt av både inspirasjon for romanen og håpet om en ny vennskap.En: Signe left the fortress with a heart filled with both inspiration for her novel and the hope of a new friendship.No: Eirik, som hadde holdt seg tilbake i frykt for forstyrrelser i jobben, hadde åpnet for verdien av personlige forbindelser.En: Eirik, who had held back in fear of disturbances in his work, had opened up to the value of personal connections.No: De satt kursen mot en vår full av historier, klar til å dele mer enn bare fakta om fortiden.En: They set a course toward a spring full of stories, ready to share more than just facts about the past. Vocabulary Words:majestic: majestetiskbathed: badetfascinated: fascinertmedieval: middelalderhistorieinspiration: inspirasjonnovel: romanguide: guidepassion: lidenskapmechanical: mekaniskrhythm: rytmefacade: fasadecuriosity: nysgjerrighetpaused: stansetsurprised: overraskettreasure: skattsparkled: skinteevent: hendelsebalcony: balkongfjord: fjordbreeze: brisbarrier: barrierecourage: motexplore: utforskefriendship: vennskapdisturbances: forstyrrelserconnections: forbindelsercourse: kursenstories: historiersilent: taustgazing: grein

spring friendship tale norway norwegian bergen norges signe norsk blooms eirik oslofjorden vocabulary words no signe akershus fortress en among

Laughter's Unexpected Connection: A Banana Peel Love Story

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 14:59

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian: Laughter's Unexpected Connection: A Banana Peel Love Story Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/laughters-unexpected-connection-a-banana-peel-love-story Story Transcript:Nb: En dag i Oslo, var solen lys og foretningen var i luften.En: One day in Oslo, the sun was bright and the air was filled with excitement.Nb: Lars og Ingrid vandret rundt i byen sammen.En: Lars and Ingrid were strolling around the city together.Nb: De pratet om alt mellom himmel og jord.En: They chatted about everything under the sun.Nb: Rundt dem var mange mennesker travelt opptatt med dagen sine aktiviteter.En: Around them, many people were busy with their daily activities.Nb: De gikk rundt i Karl Johans gate, der Magasiner og butikker var i fulle gang med sommersalget.En: They walked around Karl Johans gate, where department stores and shops were bustling with summer sales.Nb: Ved en fruktstand, la Lars merke til et bananskall ved sine føtter.En: At a fruit stand, Lars noticed a banana peel at his feet.Nb: Uten å tenke seg om, gikk han rett på det.En: Without thinking, he stepped right on it.Nb: Med et plutselig, komisk sving, glir Lars på bananskallet.En: With a sudden, comical spin, Lars slipped on the banana peel.Nb: Ingrid, som stod ved siden av ham, brøt ut i en hjertelig latter.En: Ingrid, standing next to him, burst into hearty laughter.Nb: Det ofte alvorlige og seriøse ansiktet hennes strålte av glede.En: Her usually serious and solemn face lit up with joy.Nb: Lars, selv innhyllet i forlegenhet, kunne ikke hjelpe, men le også.En: Lars, though embarrassed, couldn't help but laugh too.Nb: Menneskene rundt dem stoppet opp og delte den gode humoren.En: The people around them stopped and shared in the good humor.Nb: En dame med rødt hår, en mann i en blå dress, barnet med iskrem - alle lo og pekte.En: A lady with red hair, a man in a blue suit, a child with an ice-cream - they all laughed and pointed.Nb: For en stund, var de ikke fremmede, men en gruppe venner, leende sammen.En: For a while, they were not strangers, but a group of friends, laughing together.Nb: Den tilsynelatende ynkelige hendelsen tok en helt uventet skjønnhet.En: The seemingly pathetic incident took on an unexpectedly beautiful turn.Nb: Lars og Ingrid, omringet av latter og glede, følte seg møtt på en spesiell måte.En: Lars and Ingrid, surrounded by laughter and joy, felt connected in a special way.Nb: Dette øyeblikket av ren humor, varmet opp hjertene deres, og de ble trukket nærmere mot hverandre.En: This moment of pure humor warmed their hearts and drew them closer to each other.Nb: Mens de fortsatt lo, tok Lars Ingrids hånd.En: While still laughing, Lars took Ingrid's hand.Nb: Han så henne i øynene med takknemlighet.En: He looked into her eyes with gratitude.Nb: Ingrid, stadig leende, klemte hånden hans tilbake.En: Ingrid, still smiling, squeezed his hand back.Nb: Selv om de aldri hadde snakket om det, følte de begge to at noe skjedde mellom dem.En: Although they had never talked about it, they both felt that something was happening between them.Nb: Resten av dagen fortsatte å være fylt med latter.En: The rest of the day continued to be filled with laughter.Nb: Det var ikke bare glede, men en dypere forbindelse mellom Lars og Ingrid.En: It was not just happiness, but a deeper connection between Lars and Ingrid.Nb: De forsto hverandre på en måte de aldri hadde gjort før.En: They understood each other in a way they never had before.Nb: Dagen endte med en vakker solnedgang bak Oslo rådhus.En: The day ended with a beautiful sunset behind Oslo City Hall.Nb: Lars og Ingrid satt på en benk i nærheten av Akershus festning, fortsatt hånd i hånd.En: Lars and Ingrid sat on a bench near Akershus Fortress, still holding hands.Nb: De lo sammen, snakket sammen og nøt hverandres selskap.En: They laughed together, talked together, and enjoyed each other's company.Nb: Glidende på et bananskall kan ha vært pinlig for Lars, men det endte opp som en minneverdig opplevelse.En: Slipping on a banana peel may have been embarrassing for Lars, but it turned out to be a memorable experience.Nb: Ikke bare for ham, men for alle som var vitne til denne morsomme hendelsen.En: Not only for him, but for everyone who witnessed this funny incident.Nb: Og mest av alt, for Ingrid, som lot hjertet sitt åpne seg litt mer mot Lars.En: And most of all, for Ingrid, who let her heart open up a little more towards Lars.Nb: Selv i Oslo, en av de travleste byene i Norge, kan det være stunder av glede og latter.En: Even in Oslo, one of the busiest cities in Norway, there can be moments of joy and laughter.Nb: Og noen ganger kan det endre livets retning.En: And sometimes, it can change the course of life.Nb: For Lars og Ingrid, hadde det eskortert dem til en vei mindre reist - en vei av kjærlighet og vennskap, belyset av en fortapt bananskall og en uforglemmelig latter.En: For Lars and Ingrid, it had led them down a less traveled path - a path of love and friendship, illuminated by a lost banana peel and an unforgettable laughter. Vocabulary Words:One: Enday: en dagOslo: Oslosun: solenbright: lysair: luftexcitement: foretningenLars: LarsIngrid: Ingridstrolling: vandretcity: byentogether: sammenchatted: prateteverything: altunder: mellompeople: menneskerbusy: travelt opptattdaily: dagligactivities: aktiviteterwalked: gikkdepartment: magasinstores: butikkershops: butikkerbustling: fulle gangfruit: fruktstand: fruktstandnoticed: la merke tilbanana: bananpeel: bananskall

unexpected norway bananas laughter love stories norwegian oslo norge peel norsk akershus laughter therapy magasiner en even akershus fortress nb for karl johans nb dette en although en not en without nb de

TPPP 112: The Death of the Soundboard | A Best of Episode of Some of Our Best Episodes

The Possibly Paranormal Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2023 54:17

Pour a little out this week for our soundboard, for we will only see it from here on out if it becomes a ghost or some other paranormal entity. Because of that, it's time for us to go through some of our favorite and scarier moments of the podcast.Lisa takes us back to he history all about the Manchac Swamp, one of the scarier stories she ever told. It involves bridges and the swamp itself. Not normally does Davis ever squirm during the history section, but this one got all of us to feel uncomfortable.Davis brings us back to the singing days when he did the whole thing for the Akershus Fortress and the musical introduction to Norway. If the singing scares you, then this part counts as scary. If it doesn't then you will get a nice relief before we get into the scary stories.And Jake tells two of his scariest stories from the past year. Starting with Daksa Island and ending with Bhangar Fort. Each story scarier than the last and sure to make your July feel a little more like October. Complete with music and everything.All this on the 112th episode of the Possibly Paranormal Podcast. We've got a new soundboard on the way and we'll be back next week with The Pyramids of Giza. Until then! TPPP 112: The Death of the Soundboard.Support the show

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Exploring Akershus Fortress: A Magical Celebration

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2023 14:07

Link to full transcript at https://www.fluentfiction.org/... Fluent Fiction - Norwegianwww.FluentFiction.org/Norwegia... Exploring Akershus Fortress: A Magical Celebration Story Transcript: Nb: En skarp høstdag sto Wilson og Tove i ærefrykt ved de ruvende steinveggene på Akershus festning. En: On a crisp autumn day, Wilson and Tove stood in awe at the towering stone walls of the Akershus Fortress. Nb: Like bortenfor den imponerende inngangen kunne de høre den svake lyden av trommer og lukten av stekt kjøtt som strakte seg gjennom luften. En: Just beyond the imposing entrance, they could hear the faint sound of drums and the smell of roasted meats wafting through the air. Nb: Det var Olavsfesten, og den norske hovedstaden Oslo var på sitt mest levende. En: It was the Feast of St. Olav, and the Norwegian capital of Oslo was at its most vibrant. Nb: Wilson og Tove hadde kommet fra en liten by nord i landet, og ble betatt av synet og lyden av byen. En: Wilson and Tove had come from a small town in the north of the country, and were entranced by the sights and sounds of the city. Nb: Overalt hvor de så var folk i fargerike tradisjonelle klær som nøt festlighetene. En: Everywhere they looked were people in brightly-colored traditional dress, enjoying the festivities. Nb: De følte en spenning av forventning da de gikk over terskelen til festningen. En: They felt a thrill of anticipation as they stepped over the threshold of the fortress. Nb: De to vennene vandret gjennom gårdsplassen, beundret den eldgamle arkitekturen og så på festerne. En: The two friends wandered through the courtyard, admiring the ancient architecture and watching the revelers. Nb: Mens de beveget seg mellom bygningene, snublet de over et stort gjestebud midt på gårdsplassen. En: As they moved between the buildings, they stumbled upon a large feast in the center of the courtyard. Nb: Bordene var fulle av deilige retter, og folk lo og danset rundt et flammende bål. En: Tables were laden with delicious-smelling dishes, and people were laughing and dancing around a blazing bonfire. Nb: Wilson og Tove ble hypnotisert av atmosfæren og dvelet for å se forestillingen. En: Wilson and Tove were mesmerised by the atmosphere and lingered to watch the spectacle. Nb: Plutselig dukket det opp en skikkelse på motsatt side av gårdsplassen. En: Suddenly, a figure appeared on the opposite side of the courtyard. Nb: Han var drapert i en lang svart kappe og stod i skyggene og så direkte på dem. En: He was draped in a long black cloak and standing in the shadows, looking directly at them. Nb: Skikkelsen gjorde en vinkende gest, og fordi de følte seg nysgjerrige, kom Wilson og Tove nærmere. En: The figure made a beckoning gesture and, feeling curious, Wilson and Tove edged closer. Nb: Da de nærmet seg, la de merke til en stor bok i hendene på figuren. En: As they approached, they noticed a large book in the figure's hands. Nb: Figuren presenterte seg som Olav, Akershus festnings ånd. En: The figure introduced himself as Olav, the spirit of the Akershus Fortress. Nb: Han forklarte at han hadde sett på dem siden de kom og var fascinert av nysgjerrigheten deres. En: He explained that he had been watching them since their arrival and was intrigued by their curiosity. Nb: Han inviterte dem til å delta i en spesiell seremoni - en feiring av Olavsfesten - og overrakte dem et gammelt manuskript. En: He invited them to take part in a special ceremony - a celebration of the Feast of St. Olav - and presented them with an ancient manuscript. Nb: Manuskriptet var fylt med historier om festningen og menneskene som hadde bodd der gjennom århundrene. En: The manuscript was filled with stories of the fortress and the people who had lived there over the centuries. Nb: Wilson og Tove skjønte snart at Olav ikke var noen vanlig ånd. En: Wilson and Tove soon realised that Olav was no ordinary spirit. Nb: Han hadde en eldstes visdom og var opptatt av å formidle kunnskapen sin til de to vennene. En: He had the wisdom of an elder and was keen to impart his knowledge to the two friends. Nb: Utover natten fylte gårdsplassen seg med mennesker, og de to var omgitt av dans og sang. En: As the night progressed, the courtyard filled with people, and the two were surrounded by dancing and song. Nb: På slutten av kvelden overrakte Olav dem hver sin gave: en liten sølvmedaljong med symbolet på Akershus festning. En: At the end of the evening, Olav handed them each a special gift: a small silver medallion with the symbol of the Akershus Fortress. Nb: Med et smil tok han farvel med dem og inviterte dem til å vende tilbake til festningen når de måtte ønske det. En: With a smile, he bid them farewell and invited them to return to the fortress whenever they wished. Nb: Wilson og Tove gikk ut av festningen og inn i natten, både takknemlige og inspirerte. En: Wilson and Tove stepped out of the fortress and into the night, both feeling grateful and inspired. Nb: De hadde lært så mye og vært med på noe spesielt. En: They had learned so much and been part of something special. Nb: Da de gikk tilbake til den lille byen sin i nord, delte Wilson og Tove historier om Olavsfesten og Akershus festning, vel vitende om at de ville huske feiringen resten av livet. En: As they walked back to their small town in the north, Wilson and Tove shared stories of the Feast of St. Olav and the Akershus Fortress, knowing they would remember the celebration for the rest of their lives. Vocabulary Words: sharp : skarp autumn day : høstdag Wilson : Wilson Tove : Tove awe : ærefrykt towering : ruvende stone walls : steinveggene Akershus : Akershus Fortress : festning entrance : inngangen drums : trommer roasted : roasted meats : meats Feast of St. Olav : Olavsfesten Norwegian capital : hovedstaden Oslo : Oslo small : liten town : by north : nord brightly-colored : fargerike traditional : tradisjonelle dress : klær enjoyed : nøt threshold : terskelen courtyard : gårdsplassen architecture : arkitekturen revelers : festerne bonfire : bål manuscript : manuskriptet spirit : ånd medallion : medaljong

celebration tradition norway feast magical norwegian oslo norsk olav medallions akershus norwegia vocabulary words akershus fortress nb de

TPPP Trailer

The Possibly Paranormal Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2022 1:59

Don't know where to start? try this one out! TPPP is a paranormal podcast where we explore different paranormal locations. We do so through history, scary first hand accounts, and all with a comedic twist. If you want to have a few episodes to check out, we suggest starting anywhere, but our favorites are below.Episode 21: Waverly Hills SanatoriumEpisode 32: Akershus Fortress, NorwayEpisode 3: Lake SuperiorEpisode 4: Palmer HouseEpisode 24: Lake Julia SanatoriumThanks, and don't forget to like us on social media!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tppp)

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TPPP 32: Akershus Fortress, Norway

The Possibly Paranormal Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 61:34

We continue down the outside of the US trend for Castle Month, this time going to the land of origin for many Minnesotans, Norway! Akershus Fortress is a castle located pretty much in Oslo. Lisa's history around fire, the Swedish invaders, and even Nazis during WWII will keep you coming back. Jake's stories around a ghost dog that guards the gate, a glacially white woman, and a drunk Swedish invader will terrify you and make you laugh. Davis also gives us a musical introduction to the whole country of Norway!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/tppp)

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Old Timey Crimey #135: International Hauntings - ”Raining Henrys”

Old Timey Crimey

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2021 86:07

Amber and Kristy take the ghost chat overseas, talking about haunted places in France and Norway. Locales include: Chateau de Commarque, Abbaye de Mortemer, Jardin des Tuileries, Akershus Fortress, Nidaros Cathedral, Hotel Union Oye, Frikesten Fortress, and Dalen the Fairytale Hotel. Apologies for the echoes on the zoom call. We tried to fix it where we could. You can find Chris at his other podcasts: Short Story, Short Podcast Dial-a-Crime Zodiac Speaking Or go read one of his fabulous zines: The Drink Tank, The Claims Department, Journey Planet. Or just go find him on twitter or instagram! Check out our sponsors: Ohio Hauntings and Legends Podcast Why Do We Say That? Podcast Best Fiends The Haunting of Redburn Manor by Eve Evans Visit/support/contact us: Patreon  Facebook Instagram Twitter MERCH Amazon Wishlist oldtimeycrimey@gmail.com Sources: The Travel by Elena Alston Werewoofs I love Bergen Pinterest Norwegian American Minimalist Sometimes Insider Smithsonian The Nordic Escape Seeks Ghosts Blog Wikipedia Travel Versed Paul McQueen on Culture Trip. Commarque. Abbaye de Mortemer. The World's Creepiest Places By Bob Curran, Ian Daniels The Fairy Mythology by Thomas Keightley Geri Walton on Geri Walton.com

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We Didn't Start the Fire... Probably

Pineapple Pizza Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2021 53:18

Lindsay closes out our tour of Norway with a three-course meal of fire and even more fire. For starters, we learn about the Bloody Monk of Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim who likes to get handsy, and not in a great way, before diving into our main course — a curious phone in Bærums Verk that likes to ring on the reg with no one on the other end of the line. To close out our meal, we visit the capital city of Oslo and Akershus Fortress where we learn about its fucked up security system. If you like learning about a lot of ghosts and hearing about tons of fires, this is one episode you won't want to miss.This episode is sponsored by Hello Fresh. Be sure to sign up for your $80 Discount ($50 - $20 - $10) including free shipping on your first box! Click the link below and use the code: HFAFF80https://hellofresh-ca.o5kg.net/c/2544961/791027/7893 (https://hellofresh-ca.o5kg.net/c/2544961/791027/7893)To stay on top of all the latest from Pineapple Pizza Podcast, be sure to check out our website at http://www.pineapplepizzapodcast.com (www.pineapplepizzapodcast.com) where you will find links to merch, Patreon and a variety of ways to support the show, as well as detailed episode descriptions and regional specials. Help our show grow by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pineapple-pizza-podcast/id1543640038 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pineapple-pizza-podcast/id1543640038)Or on Podchaser at https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/pineapple-pizza-podcast-1568165 (https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/pineapple-pizza-podcast-1568165)You can also send mail to: Pineapple Pizza PodcastPO Box 341Wyoming, MN 55092Remember, no matter how you slice it, you're awesome and we love you.Sources:2021 Let's Travel More article titled “The Most Scary Places to Visit in Norway”2020 Life in Norway article titled “The Most Haunted Places in Norway” by Jess Scott2019 The Travel article titled “10 Haunted Places in Norway (& The Stories Behind Them)” by Elena Alston2018 Life in Norway article titled “Trondheim's Nidaros Cathedral” by David NikelVisit NorwayVisit TrondheimWikipedia2021 Let's Travel More article “The Most Scary Places to Visit in Norway”2020 Life in Norway article titled “The Most Haunted Places in Norway” by Jess Scott2020 Moon Mausoleum article “Most Haunted Village in Norway”2019 The Travel article titled “10 Haunted Places in Norway (& The Stories Behind Them)” by Elena AlstonVisit NorwayWikipedia2021 Life in Norway article titles “The Fascinating History of Oslo's Akershus Fortress by David Nikel2021 The Little House of Horrors article on Akershus Castle2020 Life in Norway article titled “The Most Haunted Places in Norway” by Jess Scott2019 Sons of Norway article titles “A Mysterious Fortress on the Oslo Fjord” by Andrea Vuleta-Jensen2019 The Travel article titled “10 Haunted Places in Norway (& The Stories Behind Them)” by Elena Alston2018 The Unexpected Traveller article by Antoine P BorgVisit Norway

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EPISODE 277 - Akershus Fortress vs. Rowan Oak

Boos and Brews Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2021 67:46

Tidy up your living room and lay out the charcuterie board, 'cause this week the BnB crew is doing some good old-fashioned Haunted Houses! Melissa makes her bed first with the story of Akershus Fortress, a fortress/palace named after one of Engineer Bob's many DnD characters that was built by the son of the creator of Norwegian bird-law. Then Vanessa fluffs some pillows with the tale of Rowan Oak, home of William Faulkner, author and incredible liar. Our beer this week is Modern Times' Black House Vanilla Latte Edition. Who will win in the battle bird murder vs ghosts that can make themselves up? Listen and find out!

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Episode 7: Creepy Castles (that are haunted AF)

Castles & Cryptids

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2021 116:19

Well it's episode 7 and to celebrate this milestone: we are covering our first haunted castles! Kelsey covers the very bloody history of Leap Castle and all its ghosts, and Alanna brings on a demon dog who haunts a Norwegian fortress. Get comfy because the castles are haunted as f@*k. We are very excited to recommend a fellow podcast to you! Click the link below to check them out and listen to their trailer at the top of our show! Promo! Crime and Roses These lovely ladies are smart AF. They are lawyers who cover The Bachelor and cool crime stories related to it or inspired by it! Here is their show in their own words: Hey there, we're Megan and Danielle, and we are Crime and Roses. We're a true crime and Bachelor recap Podcast! During the airing of a Bachelor franchise season, we will recap episodes and spill all the latest tea. Each week, we'll also tie a true crime story in with Bachelor Nation. If you have a suggestion of a true crime story for us to cover, we would love to hear about it! You can email us at crimeandroses@gmail.com. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/crimeandroses/support We love podcasts supporting other podcasts! linktr.ee/castlesandcryptids Website: castlesandcryptidspod.squarespace.com Tags: Leap Castle, Ireland, Akershus Fortress, Norway, Haunted Castles, Crime and Roses

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Curvy Unicorn

Crossing Over The East Coast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021 59:14

Send us your own spooky stories at crossingovereastcoast@gmail.comFollow us on instagram @crossingovereastcoast and twitter @CrossingEastSources for Akershus Fortress houses the Royal Mausoleumhttps://theoslobook.no/2017/12/30/gems-of-oslo/https://www.sofn.com/blog/a-mysterious-fortress-on-the-oslo-fjord/https://our-spooky-world.tumblr.com/post/162373147372/akershus-fortress-the-most-haunted-castle-inhttps://www.werewoofs.com/underrated-ghost-stories-and-mythical-creatures-all-over-the-world/underrated-ghost-stories-mythical-creatures-world-twenty-second-stop-oslo-norway/Unicorn Sourceshttps://www.britannica.com/topic/unicornhttps://www.wired.com/2015/02/fantastically-wrong-unicorn/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicornhttps://www.vox.com/culture/2017/5/17/15597954/unicorn-trend-explainedhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unicornshttps://www.wickandtallow.com/blogs/news/13277949-unicorn-sighting-in-scotlandhttp://assets.wwf.org.uk/custom/stories/adoptaunicorn/

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The Haunted Halls of Akershus

Spooky U

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 45:48

**Disclaimer** This Episode was recorded before purchasing awesome podcasting equipment, please excuse the sound it will improve shortly. Welcome to the greatest online education this side of the spirit world! Join siblings Ally and JP as they embark on an adventure through Norway's most haunted castle. There will be ghostly hounds, political intrigue, and decorating tips as we uncover the legends and, the history behind them. Welcome to Akershus Fortress. email us at spookyupodcast@gmail,com Find us on instagram @spookyupodcast Special thanks to Megan and Chris for artwork and editing

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Ep. 41: Ghost of a Texas Ladies Man & Time of the Preacher

Everything In Between

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2019 75:21

It’s episode 41! This week, Emma covers Akershus Fortress and the Driscoll Hotel, and Anish talks about the Hall/Mills murder. We also discuss everything from Stranger Things 3 to the Women’s World Cup! Send us your own suggestions/fun facts/stories through our gmail (everythinginpodcast@gmail.com) or through our website (www.everythingpodcast.weebly.com)! And of course, follow us on instagram @everythinginpodcast and twitter @between_podcast. Our spotify playlist is called The Soundtrack In Between - feel free to check it out! Enjoy!

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Norway

Stupidstition

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2018 54:05

Welcome to Stupidstition! This week on Stupidstion, the besties are drinking Norwegian forest cocktails because we’re gabbing on the nation of Norway! & nothing says Norway better than some female Norse Gods! Thor may have a pretty hammer but does he have a flying chariot pulled by giant freakin house cats? We think not! With shots of Aquavit for strength, the girls then let you know what’s really going on in Akershus Fortress. Death Omens and Battle Pigs await so join your besties for some serious spirits on this Halloween episode! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to receive featured cocktail recipes, details on upcoming episodes and pictures from the show! Also subscribe to us on iTunes, so you don’t miss any future episodes. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter / StupidStition Email: StupidstitionPodcast@gmail.com

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Episode 303 – Oslo, Norway Podcast

Travel Thru History

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2016 23:57

We set sail to the land of the Norseman in Oslo, Norway. We’ll climb the fort walls at Akershus Fortress and discover the North and South Poles at the Fram Museum. Then, we’ll unearth ancient viking ship treasures at the Viking Ship Museum, and we’ll brave the open waters of the Pacific with Thor Heyerdahl at the Kon-tiki museum. For more information on a trip to Oslo head here. Click here to listen on iTunes. The post Episode 303 – Oslo, Norway Podcast appeared first on Travel Thru History.

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Oslo, Norway: Lively, Lovely City on the Fjord

Rick Steves' Europe Video

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2013 3:02

Spectacularly situated at the head of a 60-mile-long fjord, Oslo is Norway's biggest city - yet it's easy to navigate with its compact historic core and great public transportation. Karl Johans Gate, the city's people-friendly main drag stretches from the train station to Royal Palace. Nearby, the harborfront hums with international shipping and a thriving cruise industry. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

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Oslo, Norway: Lively, Lovely City on the Fjord

Rick Steves' Europe Video

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2013 3:02

Spectacularly situated at the head of a 60-mile-long fjord, Oslo is Norway's biggest city - yet it’s easy to navigate with its compact historic core and great public transportation. Karl Johans Gate, the city’s people-friendly main drag stretches from the train station to Royal Palace. Nearby, the harborfront hums with international shipping and a thriving cruise industry. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

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Rebel Notion No. 9 0006 – Akershus Fortress – Oslo Norway

Rebel Notion No. 9

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2013

Early morning ducks in Akershus Fortress, Olso Norway Saturday April 27 2013 Duration : 3m9s Size : 8mb Equipment used: Zoom H2 and Roland – CS-10EM – Binaural Microphones/Earphones

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Podcasts about akershus fortress

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Fluent Fiction - Norwegian

The Possibly Paranormal Podcast

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Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Oslo, Norway Part 1 of 2

A Winter's Tale: Finding Connection at Akershus Fortress

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A Spring Tale: Friendship Blooms at Akershus Fortress

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We Didn't Start the Fire... Probably

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Episode 7: Creepy Castles (that are haunted AF)

Curvy Unicorn

The Haunted Halls of Akershus

Ep. 41: Ghost of a Texas Ladies Man & Time of the Preacher

Norway

Episode 303 – Oslo, Norway Podcast

Oslo, Norway: Lively, Lovely City on the Fjord

Oslo, Norway: Lively, Lovely City on the Fjord

Rebel Notion No. 9 0006 – Akershus Fortress – Oslo Norway

Podcasts about akershus fortress

Best podcasts about akershus fortress

Fluent Fiction - Norwegian

The Possibly Paranormal Podcast

Latest news about akershus fortress

Latest podcast episodes about akershus fortress

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Christmas In Norway: Part 1

Oslo, Norway Part 1 of 2

A Winter's Tale: Finding Connection at Akershus Fortress

Top European Cruise Shore Excursions: Northern Europe & Mediterranean

A Spring Tale: Friendship Blooms at Akershus Fortress

Laughter's Unexpected Connection: A Banana Peel Love Story

TPPP 112: The Death of the Soundboard | A Best of Episode of Some of Our Best Episodes

Exploring Akershus Fortress: A Magical Celebration

TPPP Trailer

TPPP 32: Akershus Fortress, Norway

Old Timey Crimey #135: International Hauntings - ”Raining Henrys”

We Didn't Start the Fire... Probably

EPISODE 277 - Akershus Fortress vs. Rowan Oak

Episode 7: Creepy Castles (that are haunted AF)

Curvy Unicorn

The Haunted Halls of Akershus

Ep. 41: Ghost of a Texas Ladies Man & Time of the Preacher

Norway

Episode 303 – Oslo, Norway Podcast

Oslo, Norway: Lively, Lovely City on the Fjord

Oslo, Norway: Lively, Lovely City on the Fjord

Rebel Notion No. 9 0006 – Akershus Fortress – Oslo Norway