Arriving Oslo by Ship a November Morning

It’s curious how we often think: What we see everyday, might be so familiar we do not think it might be excotic for people who lives in other parts of this tiny planet…
You are hereby invited to join my experience when entering Oslo by Ship on Saturday Morning, November 26 –2011. With Photos and a few Words.

See the follower? Just before 9 AM . What a Hunt.
 
We are followed – Who will be the Winner?
  Here we are in the inner part of the Oslofiord. The Ship behind is coming from Kiel in Germany. It’s the Worlds largest Car ferry and as well a cruise liner, with all what you expect of fascilities on a Cruise. Our Summer House is, by the way,  just on the right side of the Ship, in the Background Hills.

This Island – in fact several, used to have Oil Tanks when I was a little boy. And it’s a saying: The Sun allways shines on Steilene, the name of these tiny Islands. To day you can stay overnight here in old style seaside and Light Houses.

In the distance you see some typical Hills around Oslo. The White Building to the Right:  Here was Oslo Airport until 1998.
This is Southern part of the Penninsula where I lived for 30 years.
It was an Island, but due to the raise of the Land after the last Ice Age it is now a Penninsula.
 
During the Oslo Blog Gathering in 2010, we had a common Dinner in the White Building just in the Center of this Photo. We then took photos on the Ship from Land, this time from a ship towards land and Hills.

Dyna Light House and Foghorn. I remember when as a little boy , Iwas in our Garden, less than a Mile away a foggy afternoon and heard the “Sorrow Sounds”  from here. Two Days later:  Whooping cough. A Token?  To Day it’s Restaurant… In the Summer
 
The Ship is bringen us closer to the Capital of Norway: Oslo

What’s going on here? Are they building a new part of the City?
  
Be Aware. It’s lot’s of challenges to arrive Oslo by Boat.

This Ship that looked so tiny – just before in Oslo, Norway

Can you see the Ski-Jump in the Center of this Photo? Holmenkollen. The competions there attracts several 10k attenders every year, since more than a 100 Years. It so easy to get there with Oslos metro systems. You can walk as well. In my Childhood we did walk down -35-45 minutes...
Enlarge the Photo and you will realize how close it is to the Down Town
  
Here you can see Oslo City Hall – and some Hills
The Blue Sea, the Hills and  what you do not see: The capital of Live Music in Northern Europe..

See, how Green it is? Where I grew up.  Blue and Green and four Seasons. Oslo – Norway

250 meters away is were the Ship arrives. Here is only one of Oslos’s several Marinas.
 
Have a  great life everybody, regards Tor

PS. Hope to meet you in real life

Texas 2011 – Part 3: Lake Travis in drought

Due to the worst drought ever here in the Texas Hill Country, Lake Travis has changed dramatically. The Waterstand is 54 feet lower than normal.
 
Here you see Rough Hollow and part of the Marina. No doubt what normal waterstand should be.
 
Here you see Rough Hollow General Store ….

From Rough Hollow Marina
 
Enough Water for the Ducks;-)
 
Boats stranded

Stranded Marinas
 
Marina Rescue teams have a “Golden Periode”
Rocks you usually not see
 
Will the Stairways be long enough?
 
The Island Recidency: No longer an Island
 
Where have all the Water gone?

Hope Lake Travis will be back to normal again, but lot’s of Rain needed.

More to come..... (When back home)

Texas 11-2011 – Part 2

Part 2 from Texas is about our trip from Austin area down South to San Antonio – nearly 3 hours on the Road.
 
We left the House, some minutes delayed as I had to take a Photo of this Mexican Jay. The Blue Feather was fascinating and after all we were heading South.

It has been the worst draught here in Texas Hill Countries ever measured. But we brought the Rain from Europe.
 
San Antonio welcomed us with Rain. Good for the Locals, bad for us who have had the most Rainy Summer ever.

But when in a Art and Historical Museum, weather does not matter. Here The Boy and the Fish Basket at McNay in San Antonio.

We stayed close to the Court House in San Antonio

San Antonio in Texas is a mix up of different Cultures. This red Brick Tower in some way reminds me about India…

And this about Spain…

View from Hotel Room in San Antiono
 
The River Walk in San Antonio is so special we understand it is the main attraction in the City
 
Charming, so close and yet so far from the down ciy sounds just seconds walking distance away.
 
At River Walk, allways people to help you

And most important: At the River Walk people meet people from all over…

She was a  Convention participant – we talked and shared minds for some good time. 

We were there as well

Good Night from San Antiono River Walk
More to come..

White Tail Deer – a meeting

Just outside the House there are flocks of Texas White Tail Deers.

Even they are Wild they are not very shy, some not at all. In this area Deer hunting is prohibited.
 
The Chief himself
 
A couple just outside the Front Door
 
He watch me. Not affraid of me, but the Camera Click
 
Am I sweet?

More to come…