Bergen Norge - More Architecture, Blondes, and a 2nd Scene from "Frozen"

Well, we slept for over 12 hours, and missed joining up with the Olivers on a tour of "Old Bergen." We started an hour later. Old Bergen is a restored area of wooden buildings at the wharf. Almost 700 years ago, in 1350, 2/3 of Norwegians were wiped out by the "Black Plague." For the next 400 years, Germans came in and ran the trading operation (interestingly, the sea level then was about 15' higher than today - maybe due to global cooling). But I digress. Exports were dried cod, and cod liver oil, while imports were mostly food, especially grains. Here are some pictures of the buildings, and a cod: From "Old Bergen," we took a cable car to the top of a (small) mountain to see the valley Bergen sits in. Here are two views: At the summit, we turned to see a group of school children looking over the view. Requirements - wear a green vest and have blonde hair! Finally, if you saw "Frozen" you remember the trolls. No, the film makers did not make them up. Here is one of their statues:

Bergen, Norge - Architecture, Blondes, and a scene from "Frozen"

Denmark and Sweden are relatively flat. Norway is all mountains and fjords - great architecture, more blondes than you will see anywhere else, and scenes that must have inspired the movie "Frozen." Let's start with "frozen" and a picture from the "old wharf" (a World Heritage site): The harbor, mall, and architecture are very interesting: Not all Norwegians are blonde, but many - more than you'll see anywhere else: And, of course, my favorite: We'll be here tomorrow, then off for the fjords.

Heading North

Last year we went West - to some amazing National Parks. This year we are heading North - to Norway and Svalbard (which is actually part of Norway). We'll be above the Arctic Circle in June - so we'll see no night skies (we don't stay up to see the sun go down at 2 AM). To make sure I remember how to blog, here are some sights of water on our grounds, and a shot of the garden. First, a path to Crum Creek, and a shot of the creek; Next, pictures of our big and small ponds: Finally Pictures of our ponies and the garden - and both will be moving soon. It is a long story, but the ponies will have a wonderful new home. Next stop, Bergen.

Last full day

Today we drove to the East End where there are several large resorts. We snorkeled around the piers for two of them: the Morritts, and the Reefs. In each case, it was like a fish zoo, with hundreds of fish swimming in and around the piers - and everything from small sargent-majors to huge tarpons. Their secret is no secret - they feed the fish, and the fish cooperate for the guests by milling around. It was awesome. In the PM, De De took a last walk around Starfish Point, where we are staying. She got some interesting pictures: In the evening we went to Rum Point for our last dinner. We close with two pictures from there. De De graduated from her normal chardonnay to a Mudslide - more appropriate to brace for a trip from 85 degrees with a warm breeze, and swimming two or three times a day, to sleet, cold, and 12" of snow forecast. This was a terrific spot, a wonderful time, and, my guess, we'll do it again.

Yuum

Today's blog (for yesterday) starts off where we usually end up - on the beach, out on the little pier, and looking at the sunset. Yesterday was quiet with a snorkel at Rum Point, but after the sunset, we had a fabulous dinner from Mise en Place, who had served us three superb meals last week. Gardine and Elin cooked and served the dinner, so we were honored to have their best. Gardine Euter-Miller won "Top Chef" for the Caymans in 2011 and came in a close second last year. Elin is here from Sweden, and is learning the business. Steve, based on last week's dinners and his taste, thinks Gardine could be one of Philly's top 5 chef's if she were in PA. So we had the idea to blog the meal. *** We opened with an appetizer of scallops, topped with a green pea and roasted pepper salad, and capped with prosciutto. After the appetizer, Elin served our salad: grapefruit and avocado, topped with arugula and baby greens. The combination was wonderful. Meanwhile Gardine was preparing the main course of tiger shrimp with risotto, callalop (a green similar to spinach), and sweet potato fries - oh, yes. And here is what it looked like on the plate. For dessert, we savored a chocolate mousse cake with fruit - it lived up to all the other specialties. It is a rare treat to have such a meal. Thank you, Gardine and Elin.

Looking at the sun and stars

This was another relaxing day on Grand Cayman. We snorkeled in the late AM and early PM in crystal clear water. Lots and lots of fish (especially when the guides started putting small pieces of squid in the water). Dozens and dozens of colorful fish swarmed us. We also saw impressive coral, rays, and lobster. Best place in the Caymans so far, and in the top 5 we've ever been. Back at our digs on Star Point, we counted a dozen star fish right in front of our beach walking in only up to our knees. Here are several pictures: For the ecology crew, De De had "Big Red" out of the water only for a few seconds. Later, De De took a walk, while Pop Pop took another snorkel. De De saw some interesting sights: You know how the grandchildren never tired of walking to Rum Point in the PM for ice cream? Well, De De and Pop Pop seem to have the same pattern - a little wine, sit on the pier, and watch the sun go down. So, one more time - the same, but a little different each time. Signing off again, "Peace and quiet."

Ivan the Terrible

No pictures today, so you can stop reading here if you just look at our pictures. However, De De and Pop Pop heard an almost unbelievable story today, which follows. We met with Joyce Forbes, head of Kirk Markets food delivery services, which is a wonderful service as you move into a vacation home. Joyce provides great service, and she is a very friendly person. *** Hurricane Ivan hit Grand Cayman on a Friday in 2004 at 8 PM, but then just sat over the island until Monday morning. Virtually the whole island was under water (the highest point on the island is only 60' high, and most of the island is less than 20' above sea level). Electricity and water were out for three weeks! She and her husband had to sit out the storm on top of their furniture with four feet of water around them from Saturday through Sunday, terrified that they could not escape their house, and that in any event, there was no place to go. De De and Pop Pop both felt we'd have been freaked out. After surviving, driving was an adventure for the next week - with almost nothing to differentiate the road from the beach. Then the mold set in. Ouch! *** A little snorkeling, a walk on the beach, and a broccoli topped pizza filled out the rest of our day. Peace and quiet.

Winding down

Yesterday (Saturday)was a day of transition. We had a very nice lunch at Camana Bay, and all the children and grandchildren who were here made it safely home to PA. Today De De and Pop Pop had a chance to settle into our new place about a mile from Sun Salutations, and facing south, not northwest, as at Sun. It is way larger (three bedrooms) than we need, but it is much less than last week's residence. We snorkeled around the Sound off our beach, and saw lots of turtle grass and Star Fish, a few swimming fish and a small sting ray. Bummer! My underwater battery has been recharged, and the camera is still out of whack. Oh, well. Here are a few pictures as we look out from our new home for this week. And, as last week, we close with a sunset picture off the beach. A beautiful sunset works from all beaches.

Last full day - Friday PM

When the game is on the line, go to what works: pool, beach, and hammock. We spent Friday PM soaking in the best Sun Salutations had to offer. If it is hot on the beach, the hammock is a big attraction, as these pictures attest: The pool is good for cooling off: While at heart, the beach is the real attraction: We were going to close there, but Pop Pop thought, "Well, maybe the babies deserve a curtain call." So ... Are you kidding me? It is no wonder that grandparents are prejudiced when it comes to children and grandchildren. Unless the underwater camera recovers, next week will be relatively short on the blogging. We'll see what the week brings.