Kevin's stay
Bergen, August 2008

// Some highlights //

 

 

--> Update 30th August 2008

[---> Kevin is airborne! (Sat, Aug 30th, 6:10 a.m.) Here at check-in:]

 

 

The way this home page seems to be developing day by day, it (mainly) consists of a Diary or whatchemacallit (upper half) as well as an amateur Photo section (lower half), and then some additional stuff in margin and elsewhere.

Scroll down and scroll up, and find what's new and what's up...

 

 

 

Map of Bergen

Bergen photos from the air (Bergen downtown West)

More fabulous photos from the air (Bergen downtown)

Hilde's new school is Tanks: http://www.tanks.no/

Vågen Bay, Bergen downtown. Our house is the lower condo with aluminum roof at 11 o'clock (the <-shape).

Diary (or whatchemacallit...):

Day 1:

Picked up Kevin at Bergen Airport / Flesland. He was not jet-lagging (said he had been in Amsterdam, so that's understandable...). He had a shower. We ate. Hilde came from school with a bunch of friends. All of them off to town.They hit it off right away. Dad to work. Lady already at work. – 6 p.m. pizza come-together at Peppe's (at least 25-30 people there, counting young and "aged"), great atmosphere – traditional first day of school thing, ever since the kids were small. (They are not small any more (to be sure), but it still works.) Even a speech (not by me, but in English, though – by Dagny's dad (he was raised on Long Island, and when Americans are around he has to make sure that his tongue still functions – by the way, it was very nice and including). Kids off again, to our apt. Movies and stuff (we guess). The "sane" bunch of us gathered for cakes, ice-cream, coffee (and something else starting with c - ognac)... in Diana's apt. (Hedda and Paul's mother, born and raised in Indiana), one flight down from us. Kids were served some of the things starting with c... To bed at midnight. Kevin installed in the study, great place (I think), it has most of the books and (not the least) an extra/the upstairs TV set. It is being used by the out of Amsterdam visitor. Good! (All channels according to regulations that might apply, take it easy...!)

Day 2:

Kevin up before me (me: Dad, who is a night worker at times). Hilde already at school. Lady at work. Made sure he ate and was ok, so off I (Dad) went (to go on with my and my colleagues' heavy work of installing all the office stuff back in our now refurbished real offices (removers brought it Mon and Tues) from the temporary building we used during the spring term (when we (Lady and I (Dad) and Hilde), fortunately, were in Seattle most of the time!!)). A funny week at work, this, in other words. – Kev to town. Girls (and boys) early out of school. Plans had been made night before. Half the group took Kevin swimming in the sea, the other half baked in our apt., got balloons and other decorating stuff, and when rejoined, the whole bunch threw Kev a surprise birthday party at our apt. It lasted and lasted. More movies (we guess). Then Kevin dozed off (a late jet-lag, in other words?), so did Ragnhild (but she can always regulate this since her father is a brain surgeon...). We woke him up again. Late dinner by me (Dad) – Chinese à la Norvège (?? – something like that). More girls and boys. Jammed living room. Then good night.

Day 3:

Again Kevin beat me in the morning (shoot...!); Hilde already at school, Lady at work. Made sure he ate, then, by car, dropped him off at the Bergen Aquarium out on the downtown peninsula (where he afterwards said he had been talking with the penguins - don't know what they talked about...). Showed him the USF (United Sardines Factory) nearby, which, refurbished 15-20 years ago, is the cultural point in Bergen (jazz club, film club, all kinds of music clubs, venues, artists' studios/ateliers, etc. etc., and cafés and a restaurant – a wonderful, modern wharf). I (Dad) to work, more heavy work (but now all boxes in this "shipment" have been emptied, and all books and papers put on their shelves and in their places – tomorrow the major shipment comes from the winter storage... Puhhh...). Girls and boys (today I think mainly girls – but a lot of them!!) assembled in the living room. When I (Dad) came from work and peeped in, Kevin looked like a rooster in a chicken yard (what more can I say...). [He is besieged (and he besieges them)...] I (Dad) think this is what one might refer to as having a pretty good time. Lady was cook today – menu consisted of spaghetti and meat sauce (a great success with Kev, it turned out). After that, Hilde's soccer practice (that Kevin insists we should call football (he's really European!)), Ragnhild and Dagny with Kevin for swimming in the sea, they all went by city bus (7 min.s), and they all of them returned at the same time, now with Hedda, as well. Kevin said he had broken his ankle when diving – all, of course, a slightly exaggerated way of putting it since nothing had happened (but, mind you, there were girls present, so this, I guess, is what I (Dad) in Norwegian language would refer to as "smearing it thickly on" (the metaphor comes from what we do when we put butter on our slice of bread)). – Right now: Hedda, Hilde and Kevin watching a movie upstairs, all stretched out on Hilde's bed, and soon it is good night good night good night .– A very positive thing, mind you!!, check this: Everybody here speaks English now more or less all the time – A small step for Kevin, a great step for... etc... or whatever...! – Other than that: I (Dad) have finally made this home page thing work, so now we're up and kicking – to start with I (Dad) had prepared some quite standard photos from Bergen, but since I finally made it work, I (Dad) tonight ran upstairs and shot a couple of situational photos right in the middle of the laughing and giggling and I-don't-know-what-was-going-on-thing-up-there – so (in other words) you will as well get a glimpse of da Lady, Kevin, Hedda and Hilde. (I (Dad) normally live here with three ladies (including the Springer Spaniel) – so: I (Dad) am so happy Kevin is here!!! – but so far, he is more with the girls/ladies than with me (Dad) – well, I can understand him...) – Oh, one thing I (Dad) simply have to put down for the record – yesterday (Day 2), at my question how he feels it is like here, does he find this all right, etc. (you know), he said right away that What??, I'd like to be living here. (For the time being, I (Dad) take that as a sign that this is cool enough – and, I can assure you, it is definitely cool for my (Dad's) and da Lady's daughter and her friends....!!!Wow!!!)

Day 4:

Shoot – Kevin beat me in the morning (hey – the morning!??) today as well (but this time I am not sure he knows). He went out early, shopping. Back he came – with more things and trinkets from da old country (among other things a big (I mean big) Norwegian flag (something like the things you see the Olympic winners don after having crossed the finish line)). Prepare to clear a wall, it seems he intends to nail it up in his room. – Da Lady and me (Dad) at work, Hilde at school. (No second shipment for me today – at Comp. Lit. we will have everything delivered by the removers tomorrow morning, we've been told – a heavy day ahead, in other words.) – Kev met the girls at the lower funicular station after school (don't ask me what they have been doing). We all met for dinner at Kroathai, a fabulous, small Thai restaurant downtown. Iva (Hilde's cousin) and her husband Ilker came along. Food was good, and spicy! – Off they went to purchase a new math calculator for Hilde; we're all back home now and are watching the Olympics: Norway has qualified to play the finals in handball!! (And the US won the finals in women's soccer, with Brazil no. 2 and Germany no. 3 – congratulations!) – For tomorrow: The kids have talked about going to Mount Fløyen after school (I guess they'll cheat – taking the funicular up, and hike down, but anyway, it sounds good so they can exercise their b... a bit!). – Bergen is still a wonderfully sunny city, and we cross our fingers and hope it will last! – P.S. Extra update: Hedda has arrived – all of them upstairs. – Forgot to mention that our dog Lena has been drinking a lot lately (but other than that: good shape, same jolly mood, eating a lot as usual etc.); had her ultrasound scanned two days ago and had a blood sample taken, nothing found as yet. She is 9 and a half years old, so she is a mature lady. We think perhaps she has got diabetes; full check-up will be in a few days, when we will leave her for the day at the vet's.

Day 5:

Wow! – Today I (Dad) beat da young man getting up!! I went to work to unpack a hundred thousand boxes of books and papers, have worked 11 hours altogether, and now, at just before midnight, I'm done. – Da young man first went shopping today: for a book he will need at school, he said. Was available in bookstore. Then I asked him to walk Lena while we were away, which he did. But, according to Kev, the mature lady dog's quite decisive and haughty manners made him have to follow her instead of she him. A slight problem about who was in the lead in relation to the leash. (Most important, though: she did pee.) Anyway, when I asked him, I am happy I didn't use the translated Norwegian idiom for walking a dog (which is "to air the dog"); that might have ended up with Lena being pinned to a string on the balcony to dry (or something like that). – Bergen and West Norway: still warm and very sunny!! Kevin met the girls after school, and after that we (da fossiles) had anticipated their sporty trek to Mount Fløyen (as reported as their plan yesterday), but what can we say... kids today... They skipped the whole mountain since other plans had come up: first baking at Ragnhild's up in the hillside, and then bringing the cakes to Kaia's place out by the Business School – there they (if what they say is true) were driven by Celine's mom. We've been in sms contact, and they will now return – hopefully saturated in every manner – by car at midnight, driven by the same mom. They are having a splendid time. Again the rooster and the ch.....!! – For dinner today (da Lady was cook), before they took off to go baking, we served a very special Norwegian dish: fish cakes, with mashed potatoes, tomato salad and shredded carrots. Well, we did know about the tip we were given as far as fish goes, but still, fish cakes are pretty innocent. We thought. Again well, da young man ate with a great appetite (but said very little while eating); but after we were done Kevin said he definitely hoped we would serve him fish cakes one more time during his stay, and (in addition!) that he would eat anything put in front of him as long as he can come back here. That sounds good! (Sorry for all this badly hidden irony...) – Other than all of this, I (Dad) checked the digital camera that was lying around tonight, and that had been moved, and what did I find – a couple of nice situational photos that must have been shot with automatic exposure – of the two young ones upstairs testing out some of Kev's (whatchemacallit?:) Norwegian purchases. Check for yourselves – today we update the photo selection a little bit, you see. – For tomorrow (Saturday – it is week-end, hallelujah!!!), plans are to take off from the wonderful city of Bergen (The Gateway to the Fjords) some time before noon. (I (Dad) would not count on us leaving before some time between noon and 1 p.m., but let them keep planning, it makes people happy....!) Then we will drive inland to our cabin (close to two hours' drive from Bergen, and – of course passing through the fabulous town of VOSS (where I (Dad) was born and raised, I'll of course point out exactly which house (which Hilde hates every time I do it, but I will do it)). Anyway, this means that we are heading into real and severe (sincere?) fjord land(scape) – our cabin is on the "peninsula" between two of the major fjords in West Norway: To the north the Sognefjord (The King of the Fjords, 200 km long and 1,300 m deep), and to the south the Hardangerfjord (a bit shorter and about 1,000 m deep), we'll also see the glaciers way up there. – More about all of this later, but in case they are going baking tomorrow again as well, I (Dad) find it to be safest to post you some pictures of the things we will see on beforehand. So scroll down and see updates of what we think we will see and where we think we will be tomorrow. (With these rooster/chicken guys, you never know, you know...). – Best wishes from an optimistic organizing team and da visitor: da man from out west!

Day 6:

On Saturday – as I (Dad) predicted (let them plan and be happy... remember?) – we – Kevin, Hilde, Hedda, and two fossiles (da Lady and me) – took off out of town after morning rituals, around 1:30 p.m. (!!), in the direction of the fjord lands magnifique... An hour and a half's drive, straight east/inland – and we were in my (Dad's) home town of Voss: A wonderful church from 1277 (incredibly enough not hit/bombed by the Nazis in the days after the invasion on 9th April 1940) – the rest of the town was bombed flat since Voss was and is a military garrison, as well. Voss, therefore, is today a relatively modern town, rebuilt in my childhood and youth. From the 50's I still remember the temporary "barracks" on columns of concrete, where the candy store and the music shop were located (as well as my uncle's paint shop), before the new buildings had been constructed and finished. The main city planner was (in fact) my mother's cousin, Leiv Tvilde, who at that time was just out of architects' university in Trondheim (and, if I may say so, he did a great job modernizing my home town!). We used to play soccer and other games in the huge town squares/blocks, which were lowered from the new street constructions: The planners raised the town and the streets five metres after 1945, at the same time handling the annual spring flooding problems (the huge river from inland, flowing into the big lake), and in the block areas we had wonderful and exciting playgrounds before the new buildings were erected there. – We stopped at a gas station to have the kids' football pumped, then we bought some good stuff to eat in the car (pan cakes with bacon, a classic on the way to the cabin), and on we went to the best inland supermarket around, just east of Voss. We always shop there on our way to the cabin; on Sat we purchased minced meat (for da Lady's super Croatian meat cake recipe), and other groceries that we hadn't brought from Bergen. – Then we looked at some of the activities of the crazy bunch (the present youngers in my home town): parachute, paraglider and all para kinds of activities from the mountains shelves and from airplanes – Voss is nowadays also a center for extreme sports, for anything down that lane.... (When I (Dad) went to school there, we thought we were top of the pops with our alpine madnesses (it still is a great skiing resort), but this has definetly changed...) – Arrived at cabin around five-ish p.m. Kids set themselves up in the attics of the cabin's new wing (a large area, where people are well shielded from what's going on downstairs. Lots of space...) Then they went off for an evening walk along the lake, while I (Dad) started the grill on the balcony, and da Lady mixed her wonderful Balkan dish, with lots of super-tasting spices. We ate like royals (although it was merely minced meat and oven fried potatoes... But they ate a lot!). Then games, TV watching (Olympics – what amount of medals didn't our two nations obtain over there!!)), and then the kids went upstairs to see a movie/DVD (The Da Vinci Code). Since our cabin computer has not had its operating system updated for some months, they needed mine (Dad's), and this is why I wasn't able to file the daily report yesterday, although our cabin broadband was operative... What don't we do for our beloved children...– Kev fell asleep during the movie; the girls woke him up, and then they all made their upstairs beds, and good night good night. – Kev experienced the wonderful touch of our cabin's loo: when we constructed this thing in the 80's, rules and regulations forbade week-end houses installing WC's – so, we have a wonderfully well functioning bio-thing (a big thing!), where the fan blowing all vapours up above the roof at the same time tickles your butt with wonderfully soothing breezes. It is nice!! In addition: Warm and cold water in kitchen and bathroom, soon we'll install the WC (new municipal rules) and perhaps a sauna as well... – Da Lady and I did the dishes, then da Lady went to bed, but I (Dad) had to see the Sat TV night movie to the end: Runaway Jury.... – A wonderful day, sunny weather, 20 Celsius, quiet, the real thing... Real was also the kids' giggling till late at night. You know how it is...

Day 7:

Da Lady and Kevin first out of bed. Then me (Dad). Then da young ladies, "Hedd" and "Billa" (slowly...). Breakfast on the balcony – Croatian ham and sausages, bread, then all healthy accessories... yeah, you know. Sun out and happy. We, too. A wonderful day, again. Kids went playing football (soccer) on the lawn (we call it a lawn, since I (Dad) do mowe it from time to time with the lawn mower; here I have the definitional power). – Then we (da Lady and I (Dad)) ordered the youngsters to collect their bed-linen, vacuum clean upstairs (we have to say that some chips and chocolate items were consumed up there last night); then we washed the dishes, packed and took off further east into fjord land magnifique. – First to Stalheim Hotel, a famous first class tourist hotel for Americans, Japanese, Germans and the like (five-six coaches in at night, overnight stay, wonderful food, then same amount if coaches out the next morning – this hotel is right on the east-west passage, and lots of tourists (I mean lots) stay overnight there. Da Lady and I (Dad) know, since we as students worked there for a summer season.... In addition, this hotel up in the mountains gets most of the tourists from the big tourist ships that enter our fjords and moor at Gudvangen in the summer. – Magnificent view (see photos). – I have to tell you: Partly for fun, but also partly because they know this is something, Hedda and Hilde started singing-acting the Norwegian National Anthem for Kevin out there on the view platform (they, as well as we, are proud of this landscape, to be sure), but then, realizing that their singing might be just a bit over the edge, they added: But, you know, the two of us are "half Norwegian" (giggle, giggle...), having an American and a Croatian mom respectively... Other than that: They kept playing CDs in the car both days, and as well Hedda, Hilde as Kevin kept singing at the top of their voices in the car (until they fell asleep). – Then we went down into Gudvangen, a small village and port at the end of the Nærøyfjord, a branch of the big bugger, the Sognefjord. You crack your neck when you look up to see the sky there. – From there, on to the neighbouring branch of Aurlandsfjord, through one of the looong tunnels that made the east/west connection Oslo/Bergen ferry-free some 15 yrs ago, by way of tunnels (previously: by ferry from Gudvangen to the end of the Sognefjord, and then on again by road). Our tunnel today is 11 km long, and from its far end we proceeded down to a small, still originally kept village called Underdal: Here some 60-70 souls live normally; in the season it is nowadays a wonderful, tiny tourist spot, for foreigners as well as for locals. It has a small stave curch from the 14th C, which – with all its original paintings and decorations – shows that counter to what we might think (that these far-away places were just far-away places till the road came), these places have been in continuous contact with and severely influenced by continental Europe: by way of the Catholic church (which in Norway lasted up till the Reformation in the 1530's). This church had all kinds of contacts with the diocese, with carpenters. craftsmen, artisans and artists, travelling across Europe from their bases in the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Rome. – Still, Underdal's inhabitants are simple people – the mainly keep goats in their small valley, and today they sell their products, which are among the best to be had in da old country. So we did buy today. – See photos below for further Gudvangen and Underdal/Aurlandsfjord documentation. – Our return trip took us 2 and a half hours to town. Da young ones fell asleep (Kev had seen the long fjord east of Bergen on the way inland, so we did not wake him up), and Hedda, Hilde and Kevin all awoke just before the city: Here (by way of sms contact) Diana and Mr Paul had prepared the most wonderful mutton dinner: Lamb's leg, with creamed potatoes and gravy, we added salad and broccoli (you get that, Mom?; Kev had broccoli!!) – and we all ate and ate. It was a magnificent meal, continuing into small talk, and more ball games outside for the children – as well as them visiting the movie store for another film that they saw at Diana's place downstairs while we small talkers continued up here at the dinner table. – A wonderful trip, if you ask me (Dad), and a wonderful finale to it by Diana's superb cooking. – Now everybody is sleeping around here (except me (Dad), the reporter – Oh, I feel so free this way, I can formulate everything the way I like – bienvenu, digital age! The dog is snoring at my feet... Of course, she got a lot of lamb and gravy, too.)

Day 8:

A rainy day in Paradise! First day of rain since K arrived. But – it will clear up again tomorrow. – Again, I beat da young man in the morning (had a meeting at 9:00...), and then things went the way they normally do at work: supervising, more meetings, a wonderful lunch (for a change, now that we are back in the main building), planning September, etc. Then home, where I met Kevin...and some girls doing homework. Today: focus on math. – K had been out twice "airing the dog" (– I like that expression also in English), seems they are good buddies now, and as well been around in town until the girls returned from school. – For dinner today: a rerun of spaghetti and meat sauce (cook was I (Dad)), and it went down – a lot! – Now in the evening, Zeljka and Kevin have been to the movies!! A typical rainy day thing to do. Hilde has finished her homework, and the guys are upstairs.

Day 9:

"A Heart of Gold" day!! – Da Lady decided to have her weekly day at home work day today (nicely phrased!). So I (Dad) – having a pretty rough cold/flu/sinus inflammation thing going, with a bit of bang-bang between the temples and eyes running – decided that this is the day to roll out the limousine and drive to work. Which I did. And at that I beat da young man getting up! Had a lot of things done, in between the coughs. – Turned out that da Lady and da young man needed air, so reportedly they took off to Mount Fløyen by funicular, including da dog, and hiked down. Nice to strech one's legs. – For dinner: turkey breast, vegetables, mlinci (a special Croatian softened-in-water flatbread), gravy and the lot. Ate and ate. Hedda, Mr Paul and Diana were dinner guests.– Then Hedda off to tennis practice, and H and K did homework upstairs (so we were told). – Then everybody minus da Lady stashed up, and off we went to Neil Young's concert over at the fortress and castle. Beautiful weather. Hedda, Kevin and Hilde in the lead, I (Dad) in the very lead (of course). A great concert (by my (Dad's) standards), and at that I got my couple of outdoor beers with my buddies (and other Dads) as well as jolly excursions to the wonderful festival latrine (if you ask me, it was 60 m long). Happy days are here again... Kev, Billa (as we sometimes call her) and Hedda threw in the towel after an hour and a half and went up to the apartment again (and so missed the things we all had been waiting for, like "Rockin' In the Free World" and "Heart of Gold" – but they could anyway definitely hear also those songs "backstage", up in the apt.). Critics and audience all agree today: A classic and great gig by the aging man. – After all of this: Good night good night good night. [I (Dad) surmise that you Mom and whoever else might be reading this page also check its lower sections – that's where recent photos are added when we have some.]

Day 10:

Kevin left his recently purchased book at the cabin, it seems, unfortunately. On the up-side: he then did not have to study for a couple of days... But today he took off with da Lady to the Bergen Public Library, found the book, and then sat down studying all day long!! – This has been a rainy day in the Hanseatic city, but what the hack, some drizzle as a slight variation of the superb weather I (Dad) ordered for Kev's stay is something we can tolerate. (And it seems to forward studying!) – I (Dad) had to stay undercover today (that means: under the cover, with a fever: My sinus inflammation has worsened over the last few days, and having contacted doc and heard what's up, I went to the pharmacy and got myself what is needed; already getting better). – Da man met Hedda after school, then met Hilde (who had a long day at school today). – Then da fossiles co-operated about dinner (mainly da Lady was cook), and it ended up with a magnifique chicken Thai pot and rice, hot enough for me (Dad), but I think da man could have had it even a bit spicier. However, he ate like a horse (that means: a lot). – After that a bunch of young ones were upstairs, until we fossiles went to parents' meeting (first one) at Billa's new school. (Great school, it seems, leadership and teachers oozing of experience, self-reliance and positivity; 325 students only, and right in the heart of the city – all of this reminds us of something in Seattle!!! What could be reflected upon, is an exchange thing between Tanks and Center, perhaps??: At Tanks, students may take the second year abroad, but the county school administration has no struck deals with any foreign schools except one in The Orkney Islands (!!) and a few places in Wales – the rest is up to individual initiative...something to think about.) – After that, fossiles rushed home, to receive a bunch of mothers and daughters: Five young girls last year got a trip to a European city with their mothers as a confirmation gift, and they have now decided to go to Istanbul in the autumn. Billa's cousin, Iva, is married to Ilker, who was born and raised in Istanbul, so he was "booked" to come here tonight (after the school meeting) to tip and guide them and tell them what to do. Cakes and stuff are on the menu, and Kevin is in the center of things as well (he would have liked to join them at Bosporus, he said), so right now I (Dad) sit upstairs updating the web page while the Turkish party is well underway downstairs. (That's what I (Dad) call responsibility...!) – Till tomorrow!

Day 11:

I (Dad) have been two days bedridden with sinus inflammation and respiratory problems. Today the real stuff was prescribed by doc, so now – although the 60's and the 70's are definitely over – I am on mushrooms... Things will pick up from here. – Billa and da Lady early off for school and work, we men at home (unclassical structure...). I checked that Kev ate for breakfast (cereals). Then da man went out, and helped me getting things at the pharmacy, then went out again, and he met Hilde after 1 p.m., since she was early out of school today. When they returned, I realized that some homework was being done upstairs, and – listen up! – da man found his lost book, so also he could go on studying a bit. Well, you won't believe where Kevin's book finally saw the light of day again: in Hedda's backpack (from the cabin trip, I surmise). Hallelujah, and hip hop: What are youngsters today, juxtaposed to what we were in those days.... (I merely ask....). – It has been another gorgeous day in Bergen (for those who could go outside), sunny and warm. I (Dad) had a lot of work done in bed (computerized), so all in all it was a good day for all. – Da teenagers responded to the call for dinner (at that call they always come rumbling down the stairs immediately), which today was tacos and all the things that go with it. Again: Da young man's appetite is great, he ate a lot, and we are all happy about that! – On the programme tonight (apart from mushroom medicine for me), is a big concert at Logen Theatre nearby the National Stage downtown: Kevin and Hilde (and, to be sure, a lot of other chickens) left at around 5.30 p.m., and they are there while these lines are being written. The concert is the presentation/celebration of a new teenagers' page in Bergens Tidende, The Times of Bergen, and lots of bands are playing, some of them have members from Hilde's circle of friends and aquaintances. So they are most probably having a great time as we (i.e. I (Dad)) speak. – Today I asked Kevin if he would like me to take him to visit Edvard Grieg's home just outside town (a 15 min.s ride), perhaps we can do it tomorrow.

Day 12:

Today is Friday (Aug 29th), and I (Dad) beat da lot last night as well as this morning: I awoke from my mushroom dreams (penicillin against my sinus inflammation) and decided that this is the moment to say Yes I can: I sat down and watched Obama's speech in real time from Denver. After that, some more half-hours of sleep, until I again arose and prepared breakfast. – Then Hilde off to school, da Lady to work, and me (Dad) off to my own work corner during convalescense: my living room wi-fi corner... (You won't believe what I have had done today professionally.) – Kevin got up (when he got up), had breakfast (cereals – on the balcony, even (another gorgeous day in sunny 'Seattle of Norway')), and then took off, first to say good-bye to his friend in one of the first downtown stores he visited after arrival, then to meet da gals... (they were early out of school today as well). All comings and goings during the day: much more than I (Dad) in my academic wi-fi corner would be able to account for.. – The only thing I (Dad) know, is that I was cook today, and after (I think) they had all been to Stemmemyren sportsfield to 'help' Hedda play tennis, then the bunch arrived back here – for rare to medium rare steak, oven fried potatoes, Bearnaise sauce and salad. And they ate, and ate, and ate. Bon! – Then the family (Kev considered part of it by now) had their after dinner rest on the couch (da Lady included), where I (Dad) managed to get some more situational photos. After that, more girls started arriving, and after that I (Dad) lost my orientation. This being closing night, they seem to be all over da place (right now, I think, they're out to get DVDs for the grand finale party (which, according to latest one-syllables, seems to have been planned for our living room)). Fair enough! – If my ears have heard correctly, a bunch of youngsters will not be sleeping tonight, all of them seeing da young man off tomorrow early morning... – Well, Mom (and whoever else is reading this) – my cheerful attempts – in spite of my sinuses – to take Kevin by car the 15 min.s ride to visit good old jolly Grieg's place today, were hopelessly futile (good old Eddie Grieg has definitely been parked for a later occasion) – for, Eddie has no chance compared to other Dionysian elements in da old Viking nation (section West) right now... – Till prospective concluding remarks: Best wishes, from Bergen among Bergens!

Day 13:

Perhaps (max.) two hours of sleep – the teenagers certainly had a splendid evening and a ditto night. They fed themselves with DVDs, potato chips etc. etc. into the wee hours. Then – this being the last night – they all just as well moved into Hilde's room; the final group of kids residing there last night consisted of Hilde, Hedda and Kevin (K just as well hauled his whole bed in there, putting it at the end of the one H & H were sleeping in). Giggling, happy laughter, editing of Facebooks and we don't know what not books went on till we fell asleep anyway. When I (Dad) was awake for a minute shortly before 3, there was still talking going on – whether that was in sleep or still discussing, we don't know... – Da young man packed last night, prepared his travelling outfit, consulted me (Dad) about his air ticket and booking number, and had a shower before turning in. Very structured and tidy. – At 4 we woke them up ("Nooooo...!!" (Hilde) were the first sounds to be heard in the morning). In 5 Kevin was ready, had his cereals, went upstairs again for another hug and further "Noooo..."s and Goodbye's, and that was it. We fossiles had our cup of coffee, then rolled out the limousine, took Lena along with us, and off the four of us went. Girls back to sleep. – On the way: Now we had a chance to at least point out Grieg's home and property, as well as the Royal family's Bergen castle, both of which are on the way to the airport... – Flesland Airport was jammed with early travellers – check-in went smoothly, and then we stood upstairs talking till about 5:20, then the final, real good hug, and off Kev went through security. Then turned around, and waved back to us. – When this line is being written, the KLM flight passes above our house up in the air, now it makes the turn, then heads south. – Kevin said it had simply been great! That's what we fossiles think, too – and we all know that the girls do...!! What a great time! What a great guy!

Amateur photos:

I (Dad) have asked Kevin if he has any photos from his own camera so far, that he might like to put on the web page "for Mom" (of course, excluding those from Amsterdam...ho-ho!!) – but till now nothing has materialized. So, below I fetch a bit here and a bit there, in a couple of days the photo selection might pick up (who knows, we'll see)...!!!

Towards the west. Behind Askøy island is the North Sea (and Scotland/England appr.10 o'clock)

Same perspective, from Mount Ulriken

The Hanseatic Wharf, perspective towards the north-east, Mount Ulriken in the background

The Hanseatic Wharf (on UNESCO's preservation list)

The Fish Market and Vågen Bay

Downtown city map (our condominium is right above no. 4 – The University of Bergen campus is stretched out in lower right corner – Lars's and Zeljka's Humanities Faculty building is right to the left of no. 24 (HF-bygget)) – Bergen has 250,000 inhabitants and is Norway's second largest city.

King Haakon's Hall, from appr. 1260 when Bergen was the capital of Norway, and The Rosenkrantz Tower (from 1270-1560)

St. Mary's Church (Mariakirken), from appr. 1150 (right next to our house)

The Hanseatic Wharf and St. Mary's Church (we're right behind)

Our condominium, lower right (5 o'clock – lower/left semi-circle (left apt.building (of the two); we're in the middle of that one, two top stories); between the condo buildings: garden, no traffic, a day-care unit, playgrounds.– Other than that: Examples of Bergen's 19th and 20th C wooden housing environments. – The Neil Young outdoor concert will be just outside lower left picture corner, at the MA King Haakon's Castle and Fortress.

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Three views from Mount Fløyen:

After soccer/swimming, Day 3 (Hilde, Hedda, Kevin, Zeljka):

Testing out Kevin's souvenir purchases... (3 photos):

Some brief examples of house order, Day 5 – Hilde's and Kevin's rooms (3 photos):

Some photos from the cabin and the village of Oppheim (various seasons), 350 m above sea level (mountains up to 1,200 m, and in the winter a lot of snow and often minus 20 Celsius, no Gulf Current here, like in Bergen...):

First, you won't believe what I suddenly found left on my computer; a photo of Kevin and another possible 'candidate(in)'. This is Kev and Celine N: Hallelujah!! (The picture must be from the cake baking at Ragnhild's and then bringing the cakes to Kaia's near Business School a couple of days ago.) What can we say....

Here are the photos from our cabin and fjord excursion over the week-end: Dep. Bergen 1:30 p.m. Sat, then through my (Dad's) fabulous home town of VOSS (pay attention: VOSS!!, and it is pronouced with a v, mind you), then shopping at the super and then on to the cabin – two hours' drive from downtown Bergen:

Two photos above: Dinner at around 7 p.m. on balcony at cabin.

Above: Something cookin' in the attics above the cabin's new section: Three young folks well installed (if you ask me), and obviously having fun...

Two above: Late night photos outside cabin "Livd" of the one who witnesses and enjoys it all: The dog among dogs: Lena.

Further excursion after breakfast at cabin on Sun (next 5 photos): First stop at Stalheim Hotel, here looking down the cliff towards the Nærøy Valley (at the end of the valley: The Nærøy Fjord; see below). This is crazy Norwegian landscape, it is a National park area, and the extreme sporters have dispensation from park regulations one week every summer to do their hilarious parachute jumps from the mountains on the right here. Notice: First V-valley shape (dug and excavated by river); beyond the far end in the distance: U-shape (dug and excavated by ice/glacier). The characteristic sugar top mountain is called Jordalsnuten. The quality of the rock here (anorthositis) is excellent for gravel to be used in asphalt to make it whitish, a big industry down in the valley, and gravel is shipped out by boats on the fjord – a lot goes to the European continent (first and foremost: the German Autobahn).

Here (below) we have arrived down at the little village and fjord port of Gudvangen – we are right in central South Norway, and what you see is da kids, as well as the Nærøy Fjord, which is sea level and salt water, a long branch going southwards of the King of the Fjords: the Sognefjord (see – here the fjord valley is already U shaped). The ferry is arriving left of Kevin's head. In here it is damned cold in the winter, and a lot of snow. But beautiful now!! The fjord freezes partly, but the ferries and boats keep it open enough to sail. And imagine: In here, and in the neighbouring fjord (next pictures) of Aurlandsfjord (another branch), the superbig tourist ships arrive daily in the season, all the way from the North Sea/Bergen, then along the big Sognefjord; then there are barges to take people ashore, then up to lunch at Stalheim's famous cold table (smorgasbord), and others drive by coaches from Oslo to Bergen and vice versa. Gudvangen is situated at one of the main routes between Oslo and Bergen (this used to be the old mail/postal route east/west, from 1850 on, on horse and carriage. Then the automobiles came, and the road was and has ever since been the same – ask Kevin about the hairpin bends from Stalheim Hotel down to this fjord valley - 13 bends with 20% steepness, i.e. one in five..., and it is a dual carriageway, still used by locals and by those of the tourist coaches that are most daring...) Today, we went the tunnels recently blasted underneath, and saved some time that way on our long trip.

Here (below) we have passed through an 11 kilometer long tunnel from Gudvangen (one of two tunnels constructed 20 years ago) to the area between the two fjord branches (Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord), and then by another tunnel the road continues onto to the village of Flåm (at the end of the Aurlandsfjord). These tunnels made this Bergen–Oslo route one of the most popular modern ones without ferry connection between the fjords, just 20 yrs ago. This road project made the village of Underdal obtain a road conection – the village of Underdal (where the photos below were shot) is a magnificent pearl in the fjord landscape: Here a small community keeps goats and produces first class goat cheese (we purchased some today, one of the types tastes like parmesan), and it is nowadays a frequently visited spot as well by foreign tourists as by locals (like us) – we'd defintely like to buy a house here.... Max 60 inhabitants. – Guys – this is (still, unbelievably!!) the real thing!!!

Above: Ice-cream outside the Underdal grocery store, before our departure for the return to Bergen (a 3 hrs' drive from here).

From the Neil Young and The Electric Band concert, Bergen, Aug. 26th (Kevin, Hilde & Hedda):

Since Eddie was out today (Friday), here are two borrowed photos from Edvard Grieg's home (Troldhaugen):

Then, some grand finale photos:

Organizing team:

Main hostess

Host family (in full attire)