Papa goes X-Mas shopping with Grandson and visiting great-grandmother

Grandson Metin Leander and his Mother Ingelin arrived some days ago.  From Germany. Papa picked them up at Oslo Airport in the Northern Seasonal darkness.
December 21-22 is the longest Night here. And December 22 the shortest Day.
 
Well, look at the bright sides of life.  Or what Metin Leander? He agreed. Here before we went out shopping. Metin Leander had to check out the advertisments before we went shopping.

I want quality, he said

Take it easy, I said – have a biscuit
- See, quality?
- yes I do mama
 
Shopping might be boring.
- I blew a balloon

Wedensday was special. 3 Generations went to the Family Chiropractor. Who happens to very good and trustes friends as well. Ingeling and his family and kids have met often, both in Norway and abroad. Papa like this fact.

After our treatment, we went for a Lunch. Metin Leander had pancakes, Ingelin Salad, papa as well and some pressed fruit

You want a taste?
You cant’t see it, but it was red berries
We did some X-Mas shopping, which can not be revealed, at this moment;-) Then we went across Oslo to visit papa’s Mother.

Here Ingelin, Metin Leander enters Papas Mother – she was 92 in October.

We stayed there for a while and hope to see Great-Grand Mother on Christmas Eve.

This is the view from Great Grandmothers Window. See the Ski Jump in the Hill? Holmenkollen.
 
Another view from my Mothers home

Yet another view. In fact the primary School for the Royal Norwegian Family.
 
Hope to see you all again soon. Here in fact, Metin Leander and Marie Louise watch TV…
More to come…..
From here and there
PS. Papa had wonderful moments

Snaps from Oslo, Sunday Oct 30-2011 – Off the Tourist Tracks

It was a very grey Morning this Sunday, but the Sun arrived after noon. We had an extra hour this Night as we are back to normal Solar Time. Wonderful a Sunday Morning. I took a Tour. All Photos taken inside Oslo.

First stop was Oslo West and the Marina in Frognerkilen.
 
Forest of Masts
 
In the Background, up in the Hills, you might see Holmenkollen Ski Jump.
 
Just a few on the Cruiseliner Deck (Oslo – Kiel, Germany, Color Line)
 
On the other side of the inlet, you see the Maritim Museums at Bygdöy.
 
The tiny Castle Oscarshall and Autumn Colours

Typical Seafront House – Skillebekk, Oslo

Waiting for next Summer
 
The fjord is allmost empty this time of year. Just a few persons fishing.
 
I made a stop outside the Vigeland Sculpture Park which attracks more than a million tourists each year. Behind the Trees it’s a Sports Arena.

Here you see a sculpture of Sonia Henie, famouse Olympic Champion Figurskater and (Hollywood) Movie Star in the 1920-30ies.

Here you can rent a City Bike for next to nothing. Lot’s of deposits to pick up and deliver all over the City.
 
Where is the Tram?
 
Oh, it’s here, on the other side, close to the Main entrance to the Sculpture Park.
 
I stopped for red light and what? A Street Musician at Majorstuen.
Important Junction for Oslo’s Subway, Trams and Buses besides a popular Shopping and Restaurant area in Oslo’s West End.
 
Then I went North, into a Valley. But still within the Border of Oslo. Maridalen is the name, after Maria, Mother of Jesus. Here yoy see  Hay wrapped in Plastic.
 
Here is the old Church Ruins, where they every Summer plays a Historical Drama. The Church of Margareta was built around the year 1250 AD

The Maridalen Lake is the main source for household and drinking water in Oslo. It is the largest Lake inside the Border of Oslo. Altitude: 149 meter (489 feet).
This Sunday the Sun was shining over Down Town and Southern Oslo, but in the Northern Hills, the Fog and Clouds still hang around. The highest point within City limits is 649 moh, 2129 feet.
The lowest is at Sea level.

We are pretty close to the Wildeness here in Oslo, Capital of Norway.  Here you’ll find rivers, creeks, lakes, Forests, Hills, small remote farms, meal serving lodges and accomodation and Wildlife (Moose, Deer, Lynx, Beavers, Foxes, Rabbits and even Wolfes and Bears have been observed) and a rich flora with berries free to pick. You can go camping, cyckling on Forest Roads, boating, Fishing (if you have bought an allowance), walking or skiing during the Winter (Alpine, Snow Boards, Jumping, Cross Country).
 
Well, everything comes to an end. I went Home by E6. Here from Southern Oslo. E stands for European. A network of Highways connecting different European Countries.

More to come from Oslo….

A Sunday in and around Oslo South East

WHAT I DID THIS WEEKEND 
My dear readers do know it’s a long time since I brought you around in the Oslo area.
You have so far mostly seen “landmarks” and “historical” places.
Hence, I took a tour this Sunday, just to give you an impression of how it looks like just now in the Southern part of Oslo and even further South and East. No landmarks, only how it really looks like.

South East Oslo

Birches in a tiny Wetland, Klemetsrud, Oslo

Low Sun lights up the lawn behind Klemetsrud Church, Oslo South

The Population of Oslo is growing rapidly. Houses are buildt everywhere . Yes, Houses because Norwegians love this form of housing and besides: Close to Nature,-) Like here in a steep hill in a Forest. Klemetsrud, Oslo South East.
 
Do you know from where we have heating and hot water in our Winter Home? From the Plant above which serves large parts of Oslo’s home with Heating and Hot water: The Source: Recycled waiste. The Smoke? No, it it’s Steam.

South East of Oslo - a Lake
 
Here we are at a Lake in Enebakk, SE of Oslo Deserted, tiny Island and Rush in the Foreground. The name for Rush in Norwegian is “Siv” which is also a female name.
Here is what I observed behind the Rush – tiny Boats. There might be Fish in this Lake;-) And kept as a secret….
 
From the same spot as the Photos before I as well observed a very tiny Island, with a fascintating Pine. This is at the Eastern end of the Lake, and you might observe the dominant wind directions. Yes, from West-North-West.

Going into Farmland
Now, lets go further South East, into Farmers land. How does Farms in South East Norway looks like in October?
 
Wellcome to Farmland
 
Preparing for next season – ploughing on a Sunday
 
I was really fascinated by the Light and Colours here.
 
And the waving , changing Landscape and ever changing light.
This Photo and the 3 before are taken from the same spot within the same minute. Can you understand why Norwegians allways talk about the Weather?

Returning to Oslo
 
When approaching Oslo again, I stopped just outside the community border to bring you this view from Sofiemyr. Here a Western View. Two Fiords, which you can not see are between my viewpoint and the Hills in the very distant Horizon.

Back in Oslo  16 km (10 miles) South of Downtown
 
… and close to Winter Home (5 minutes walking distance) who met me there? Colourful like the Autumn – and proud;-)
 
These sheeps are the original ones, breeded by the Vikings more than 1200 years ago. To the right you see part of a Lavvo or Sami Tent.
 
You see the Sheeps: Long fur and adapted to the Climate and Nature
 
Suddenly, what is this? Here in Norway?
 
The Peacock couple blocked the road… nipping some Water.
 
In the last bend on the Road before entering our Winter Home I had to stop again to take a Photo of the wonderful Autumn colours of Virginia Creepers, locally called “Wild Wine or Wild Grapes”.

Hope you got a tiny impression how how it looks like in the Oslo, Norway Southern area, in Mid October 2011.

Wish all my blogfriends a great week to come….