Wendy: Touring the coast, Oslo; Festinord

Mutt and Jeff?  David and Goliath?  Geiranger Fjord

The Seven Sisters - Geiranger Fjord

Prrrrty

On the road from Geiranger to Bergen.  This is dedicated to our Texans.  And also to those who hate to pay $11.00 for a burger at 7-11.

Downtown Bergen

Wonder if this guy was a politician.

Gotta love the color of this lake.

Many major highways are this narrow.  Doesn't seem to bother the truck drivers.

Ahhh.

mmmmmm

Dang, we love that color!

Bergen

Wendy didn't know if this pic would turn out, but pretty nice, huh?  Overlooking Bergen.

Bergen, looking out into the ocean

Oh, the recklessness of a 20-something

Downtown Bergen

We did a Norway in a Nutshell tour, beginning with an old train traveling to the town of Flam.  On the train we met some BYU Study Abroad students studying in Oslo.  One of the students worked with us when we were at the MTC.

Train stopped for us to see this waterfall.  Following a legend, a young woman comes out and sings while standing near the top of the falls.

Train ride ends at the tourist town of Flam. Norway is known for Vikings and Trolls, both kind of weird creatures.  

Flam is located on the Sonjefjord, Norways longest fjord.  We took the boat back to Bergen.  Wendy jumped so high she fell off the boat.  Being a gold-medalist swimmer, she caught up and saved herself.  Not!

Sonjefjord

Another spectacular view of the countryside from a fjord, seen all over the country.

One of our two gorgeous daughters

Traveling over the mountains from Bergen to Oslo we stopped to eat in a ski resort town.  Skiing is Norway's national sport.

Big waterfalls, although the pic doesn't do it justice.  On the road, Bergen to Oslo.

Frogner Park in Oslo.  Wendy liked this little guy.

Cute

While driving to Oslo our young adults kept texting us telling us about a bombing that had happened in the city.  About 30 miles out of Oslo we came to a roadblock.  Going the opposite direction were probably 10-15 ambulances.  Coming behind us we noticed flashing lights.  The police car passing us had a small fishing boat on the back.  We learned we were only a few miles from the island where the 70+ students were killed and that rescue workers were still scrambling to find ways to get to the island.  The pic taken above was taken the next day while we were riding the streetcar in downtown Oslo.  It shows the royal family entering a church to pay respects to victims of the disaster.

Typical fast food menu in Oslo, judged by some to be the world's most expensive city. Divide the prices by about 6 to compare with dollars.  A $17. cheeseburger? 

Eating kebabs in Oslo, a popular missionary quick meal.  Let's see, chopped meat, lettuce, tomato, peppers, cukes, and other condiments inside a tortilla.  Oh, and don't forget the wonderful, rich, goopy sauce smothering it all.  

Soldiers in downtown Oslo blocking and guarding the building that had been bombed the day before.  Oslo's young adult center is a few blocks away and felt the blast of the bomb.

Flowers left by well-wishers

2 good-lookin women standing on Karl Johans gate in downtown Oslo

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King's palace in Oslo.  Typically you can drive a car up the road to the palace but the place was heavily guarded the day after the disaster.

Machine gun in hand; the day after the shootings and bombing there were still reports that additional trouble could happen.  

In downtown Oslo we met up with our good friend, Elizabeth who is very good at making sure we don't get lost.

The always-loving, hospitable President and Sister Johansen invited us to stay at the mission home for the weekend.

Elder S disturbing the President as he prepares for yet one more speech.

Back home at the mission office!  Ah, we really miss coming up the 3 flights of stairs carrying dozens of Book of Mormon cases.  Here Wendy tries it out.

In the President's office Wendy tests her inspiration as she looks at the moves board.  "Let's see, next transfer let's put  those whose names begin with B together in Bergen and the S's together in Stavanger".

Checking out the supply room.  About 70 Book of Mormon languages represented.

Trying out the desk where her mom spent many hours a few months ago.

Every Saturday we play volleyball in the church gym. Wendy joined in everything we did and had a great time.

Wendy's walk around the fjord around midnight.

Ahhhhh! Midnight at the Theim Fjord

After a week in Trondheim we took Wendy on a trip through beautiful Norway. This is Geiranger.

The Queen's Chair at Geiranger.

After Geiranger we drove to Bergen. Everything between Trondheim and Bergen was fjords, green, mountains, lakes, farms, towns - unbelievable.

Traveling with Wendy to Bergen.

Help Wendy! We can't find the pics of Bergen, the road to Oslo, and Oslo. You'll have to fix this for us on the blog sometime. Meantime......we made it to Festinord at the town of Nykoping in southern Sweden, about an hour south of Stockholm. Festinord is an annual event for LDS singles adults mostly from Scandinavia but also from other European countries and places around the world - including the USA. This shows Wendy with some of her international friends carving a totem pole.

Festinord Opening Ceremonies. Theme was "Attitude is Everything". Lots of fun.

Our friend Elizabeth from Oslo was at Festinord. Notice Wendy's cool Norway jacket!

Elder Johnson and Sister Molholt - together? Actually they are returned missionaries from Norway who are together at Festinord. Notice Elder J's cool Norway Flag suit.

Wendy's not-so-great international softball team at Festinord.

B-O-W-L-I-N-G! Wendy and Corrie and friend from Sweden.

Strike! Norm gets three in a row.

Stefan, Sister Molholt's brother from Denmark, a boxer, teaching the sport to Wendy.

.For our boys: Local McDonald's in Sweden

Use your imagination.

Wendy found a buddy from Australia!

Dancing every night at Festinord until 1, or 2 am. We're too old for this!