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

Norway in HD

Jelsa

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

Home of Nikolai Astrup

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

Constitution Day 2010

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

Winter Memories

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

Freshwater!

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

Ryvarden Lighthouse

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

Geiranger

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

Wild Muskoxen!

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

Statsraad Lehmkuhl

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

Fairytale.

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

Bergen in April

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

The Origin of Ms Liberty

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

Early spring in Fana

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

Hardangervidda II

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

Winter in Bergen

My Virtual Window: Norway in HD is a high def non-commented video podcast exploring the nature, culture and business life mainly of Western Norway. Be prepared for majestic fjords, snowy mountains and fresh, crisp and clear air that fills your lungs with much needed oxygen.

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Norway in HD

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