Tag: #folksytravel

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Glaciers and Snow – Norway

This glacier used to reach the bottom of this part of the mountain but not anymore.
A small river running underneath snow and ice
the higher lakes are melting
hard to believe all the water coming through the waterfalls
These cruise ships go up and down the coast into the fjords and let customers off in small towns. These fjords can get up to a 600 m depth
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Jewels in Royal Stockholm

These are the royal jewels locked up in the treasury. Some are very old.

The parliament building
Crowns for any size prince and princess
The palace
Waiting room for something
Dinners served here for state guests
Formal dining room
Royal government business room
King’s bedroom
Poker table?
Table in the foreground from a pope
Ceiling paintings
Various medals
Pope’s robes
Notice the “IHS” inscription
From various state visits
Coronation throne room at the entrance
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Vasa (Stockholm) – the great failure

The Vasa was built in 1628 in Sweden to be the greatest warship in North Europe. Due to 3 or 4 major miscalculations it sank in the harbor on its maiden voyage. Then it was discovered and reassembled in this museum, 95% original parts and structure. Here is a link to the Vasa.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasa_Museum

Building the model.
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Stockholm is a real beauty

A friend’s cottage in an old area filled with small cottages without running water inside the cottage.

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is a well organized and fairly quiet place with good transportation, except for commute traffic, old buildings that predate WWII (Sweden was neutral and never fought over during the war). You don’t need cash since all transactions are cashless. We never changed Euro for Swedish Kroner. The trains are not always on time but more so than the ICE (long distance) trains in Germany, and they are very clean and comfortable. But Sweden is expensive so plan for “dishing out” a lot of money.

Talk about turning around in a narrow street, this driver had a helping navigator and did a superb job.
The old city is an island with some stocks (wood pillars) holding up parts, thus the name “Stock Home”. Just note that many words in English came from the Viking invasions of the British isles.
this guy gets around!
Swedes love the flag colors of light blue and yellow. Expect them to use those colors most everywhere, especially outside Sweden.
this week the US Coast Guard had their clipper ship in Stockholm port as part of a diplomatic mission. We got the free tour with fairly new “sailors” who were flown in from the US for the week but who were schooled in the operation of this 1936 war prize from Germany, still in opration (as an ambassador), clipper. The tour was free but the hats and other for sale kitsch was double normal tourist prices so we passed on the souvenirs.
another clipper just siting in the harbor
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Hamburg – the city of trade.

The concert hall where a friend works

Hamburg is in the north of Germany and has been a trading part for many centuries. The buildings that were left from war destruction commemorate a considerable memory of Hamburg’s economic and religious past.

Cornellians will enjoy the Altona destination.
The city hall in great splendor.
a criminal; cat admits to his crime in public
taxis are this cream color. this Tesla driver got out and explained his Tesla taxi was “expensive”
church tower left from a fire
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England’s roots in Germany

Celle Castle
The house of Hanover
England had no king so in 1714 the borrowed one from Hanover – the seat was in Celle castle. This guy became George I of England

It was not until Elizabeth’s father, George VI, the royal House of Hanover (now the House of Windsor) that the English royalty married someone from England. Previously all were German or from there about. Even Elizabeth’s husband, Phillip, was Danish/German.

George II
For US people the infamous George III, all of the House of Hanover
George III
funny painting
my hero, the god of wine, Baccus
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Celle-the 400 year old beauty

I thought this was Yogurt. It is sour cream. I bought 2. One was spoiled and the other did not go well with muesli.

In the next Phlog you will learn why Celle is such an important town in European history. This cute little town is definitely worth a visit.

50/50. The Hawaiian half (pineapple) was for my “babe in the woods” pizza eater. I had Gorgonzola. Takes time to learn what “real” pizza is. By the way, this one was not so great.
What we found is that most “Asian” restaurants in the 5 countries we visited are run by Vietnamese. The most prominent titles are “Sushi, Vietnamese and Asian Food”
Reminds me of “Fujiyama Mama”, a popular song in Japan and Hawaii in the 70’s by, if I remember correctly, the Yellow Magic Orchestra.
these beautiful buildings are 300 to 450 years old
I guess he got caught in the maelstrom.
This reads, “there are two situations that drive men crazy; WOMEN and NO WOMEN!”
Look at the date on this one. Often the original owner (what I assume is the original owner) has their names on the buildings.
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“Last Sexy Day” Amsterdam

Windmills Galore at Zaanse Schans, a short ride from Amsterdam Central
This is a paint pigment windmill
didn’t get my head knocked off by this one
they grind different organic materials to create pigment for artists’ paing
the internal workings, very noisy
this explains the paint color windmills
current windmills on the river
nice town around to visit
guesthouses along the river. good to stay here
lots of tourists
a customer tries on the XXXXXXXXXXL size
diamond clog
how they are made
clogs for every occasion
where the windmills used to be long ago
Why not?
wide bicycle lanes in red next to car lanes. this is bicyclers heaven
yes, a visit to the Sex Museum is a must
the red light district at night. It is on a canal
All about the windmills
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“Stunning” Amsterdam – Day 2

the train station

More than any other city Amsterdam is the city of bridges and canals. Transport is excellent until someone causes an accident blocking traffic, tourists are PLENTIFUL and it is expensive. There are hundreds of museums that are not cheap. Remember the story about the Scots (known for being tight with money)? Well, Europeans say the Scots went to Holland to learn from the Dutch how to be good with money and they failed the course. But almost everything can be paid contactless with your phone with most payment systems including getting on and off the trams.

Look at the station clock. It doesn’t have numbers.
quite a few of these little electric cars around. they take up very little space.
there are electric charging stations on many residential streets
this is a Russian tank destroyed by Ukranians recently. The sign in front says “NATO propaganda”. In the back you can see “Burger King”. Interesting!
this is the Foodhallen food stands. it is a little between street fast food and restaurant food. they are like hot dog stands
the Rijksmuseum. we didn’t go in but were told it is impressive
in the halls of the museum entryway a wannabe opera singer
the other side of the museum
book this one at least a few weeks in advance
My favorite
close to the red light district
Basilica of Saint Nicholas
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“Arrival” Amsterdam

Cheese in Amsterdam?
A Cheese museum/shop (expensive)
My new friend
trams run everywhere
Amsterdam has more bridges/canals than Venice
watch out for cars? NO! watch out for aggressive bicycle riders!
Ann Frank museum. people lining up for boat rides at 22 Euro/person
beautiful, relaxing weather
at Ann Frank’s house. have to book visits more than a month in advance
the home of Atlas?
the hooks at the top of the buildings are for hoisting things up or down, out or in the buildings? also convenient ways to just “hang around” outside. stairways inside these old buildings are too narrow to manage most furniture.
finally some delicious and spicy Thai food (Laab and Yam)