July 2022

Baltic Sea: Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Estonia & more! Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Photos Share

July 2022 Traveler
Warm welcome
July 14, 2022 in Denmark ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
Not only did the locals in Fredericia, Denmark greet us with a brass band, chocolate candy, maps, and cannon fire, but they gave us quite a send off when we left town, as well.
Two to TravelI remember this welcome and farewell … nicely done and different from so many others we’ve enjoyed from locals around the world.
7/15/22Reply
TravelerIt really lifted our spirits. This is the friendliest town!
7/15/22Reply
0 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Reflections in Norway
July 15, 2022 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
Thought our ship looked nice reflected in this modern building as we walked into Kristiansand, Norway.
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Around town
July 15, 2022 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F
Here are a few more shots from around town.

The McDonald’s tucked in an old bank building amused me, while Burger Bordello gives a salacious twist to, “Would you like fries with that?”

As you can see, I found another cool manhole cover for my collection, and Larry found a creative place to strike a pose.

As for that crazed looking statue, doesn’t “Mystery of the Big-Eyed Monk” sound like an Agatha Christie book?Read more
3 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Not the Swedish chef, but…
July 15, 2022 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
I know he’s Norwegian not Swedish, but I can’t help but imagine him going, “Bork, Bork, Bork!”
1 like
July 2022 Traveler
Strolling
July 15, 2022 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Kristiansand is a pretty little seaside town. Even the modern buildings are appealing to look at, which I find rare.

Like so many places in Scandinavia, the town is clean and the buildings meticulously upkept.

According to a friend on Facebook, Kristiansand is:
“The “Santa Cruz of Norway” People from the far north like to come down there in the summer because it is so ‘warm and dark.’ (compared to the far north, it is!)”

Meanwhile, Lar and I appreciate how cool and breezy it is compared to blazing hot Texas.Read more
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Fjord cruise
July 16, 2022 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
Admiring Slartibartfast’s handiwork again in Norway!
3 likes
July 2022 Traveler
2
More Fjording
July 16, 2022 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
The seas were too rough to navigate into Haugesund today, so we took a scenic fjord cruise today.
Traveler Is this a fish hatchery?
7/17/22Reply
TravelerYes! There are a lot of hatcheries and little apple orchards tucked in these fjords.
7/19/22Reply
3 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Alesund
July 17, 2022 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
Greetings from Alesund, Norway. It’s a bit drizzly & windy today, but we are still enjoying the town & the view!
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Alesund Cemetery
July 17, 2022 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
The church doors were locked today. Rather odd for a Sunday, but at least we were able to explore the churchyard.

Many of the oldest graves are cast iron and flush to the ground. I enjoyed seeing a cast iron cherub peeking through wild strawberry blossoms.

Nordic crows squawked high in the trees as swallows swooped low, snatching bugs from the air even during the steady drizzle. It smelled so fresh. We didn’t miss having an umbrella.

One pair of bas reliefs feature his and her birds. (His seems to be a gull of some sort!)

Another bas relief has a beautiful ouroboros (snake eating its tail) on top.

I even took an accidental selfie! Black marble is so reflective. I just wanted to show that some of the battery powered candles are lit.

One unusual cast iron marker features what appears to be a wasp emerging from a cocoon. Butterflies are often used to represent a soul’s transformation and resurrection, but it’s the first time I’ve seen a wasp!Read more
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Art ambulance
July 17, 2022 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
“Kunst” means “art,” so I guess this is the ambulance to call if you are having an “art attack.” (Har dee har!)

Meanwhile, these restroom graphics really get the point across!
Two to TravelI know exactly where that “toilet art” is 😃
7/19/22Reply
TravelerHehe! You really get around! :)
7/20/22Reply
1 like
July 2022 Traveler
Icelandic signs
July 20, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F
Seems like a fitting name for a seaside brew here in Akureyri.

Meanwhile, I thought that other sign in Aku read “lasagna” at first. (And interesting that the silhouette looks like a husky now. Most dog signs I’ve seen throughout all these northern countries have looked like Scotty dogs.)Read more
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Godafoss
July 20, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F
When Iceland converted to Christianity, their leader tossed all his pagan god statues into this waterfall, which is why it’s called Godafoss (the waterfall of the gods.)
3 likes
July 2022 Traveler
More Godafoss
July 20, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F
When Iceland converted to Christianity, their leader tossed all his pagan god statues into this waterfall, which is why it’s called Godafoss (the waterfall of the gods.)
:
4 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Grundafjordur
July 21, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
Glanced out my window this morning to find Grundafjordur already dressed and ready to go!
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Tender trip
July 21, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
Smooth sailing into Grundafjordur!
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Snaelfesnes Peninsula
July 21, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
Cabin on the Snaefelsnes Peninsula.
3 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Dramatic landscapes
July 21, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
Dramatic landscapes along the Snaefelsnes Peninsula.
3 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Long migration
July 21, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
Did you know that Arctic Terns raise their young in Iceland and then migrate all the way to Antarctica?!? (This is a shot of gulls nesting on seaside cliffs. I have not gotten a decent tern shot yet, despite seeing throngs of them.)Read more
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Another view
July 21, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
Another look at Iceland’s Snaefelsnes Peninsula.
3 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Snaefelsnes Peninsula
July 21, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
Snaefelsnes Peninsula in Iceland.
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Famous Giant
July 21, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
Here’s a monument to a famous Icelandic giant on the Snaefelsnes Peninsula.
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Splish splash
July 21, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
Couldn’t resist splashing around at the black sand beach. No one else seemed to share my urge. Lol!
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Whales!
July 21, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
We keep seeing whales, but I haven’t gotten a decent shot, so here’s a cool rock formation, instead. (The whales were even leaping out of the water in some places!)
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Angry gods
July 22, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ 🌧 50 °F
Shortly after Icelanders converted to Christianity and tossed all their pagan statues into Godafoss, a volcano erupted, creating this lava field. They figured the gods were angry. That’s why it’s known as “Valley of Christianity.”Read more
2 likes
July 2022 Traveler
Icelandic Word
July 22, 2022 in Iceland ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
Ever wonder where the word “geyser” comes from? There’s a geyser called “geysir” here in Iceland that started it all!
4 likes