12 April 1986 – Sat. a.m.
Dear ones,
This seems to have been another quiet week – we did take the trikk downtown last Saturday p.m. and went to the Historical Museum. We hurried some because it closed at 3. They had an interesting collection of things found from the Viking Age (800-1050 A.D.). The age of those things still is hard to comprehend. Their collection from the Middle Ages was good – a lot from the churches of those times (1500’s). They also had collections from Africa, Asia, Far East; a coin and medals collection. We walked along the streets some afterwards, but the town gets pretty dead – all the stores close at 1 or 2 on Saturday and don’t open again until Monday. We did stop for a cup of coffee and piece of cake.
Went to church here in Osteras on Sunday. It was baptism Sunday and 2 little babies were baptized. One cried the whole time it was his turn. Have I told you how are ushered in just before the baptism, the babies wear the really long dresses; the congregation stands for their entry and turn to watch (much as they do for a bride). Many of the women (mother, grandmother, sponsor) wear bunads.
Monday I met Jene downtown after her class – we had hamburgers at McDonalds. Then checked out some stores. There was a portrait schetcher working on the sidewalk so Jene decided to be sketched. She didn’t think it looks like her – so she gave it to us. As we were wending our way back to the trikk (to go to the lecture at the U – the first since Easter break) there was another artist doing landscapes in chalk. She decided she wanted one of those, too. So we stopped – he was working on one so we had to wait a bit. He smeared chalk on the “tagboard” or whatever, then took a wet rag and really smeared it around. It was amazing how he finally got it to look like something. Vince wasn’t feeling good on Monday so stayed home. Don’t know if it was a flu bug, or stomach upset. He did come to pick us up after our lecture, however. Jene baby sat for the Indiana couple downstairs, and needed to be there by 5:30.
Tuesday I finished the laundry; about all I can get dry in a day is 2 loads which I had done on Monday. Ironed the shirts and blouses, got the groceries. Got pictures of Heather in the mail from Dawn – that’s always fun. Also read a small book here of Mr. Gjonnes, a British one.
Wednesday Vince and I went to see about getting the snows (tires) off. They could do it the next morning. I looked up enough words in the English to Norsk dictionary to be able to look up a shipping firm in the yellow pages. The tires are good ones, and we will need snows back in Iowa. We can leave nothing in the car when we ship it. And even if we could, we need the space for our suitcases while we are traveling. Well, we could buy 4 tires for what it would cost us to ship them, so that’s out. The station (we bought them there) won’t buy them back and re-sell them. So then I called a newspaper to put an ad in. The big newspaper in Oslo (plus hotel workers, and hospital workers and oil workers) are all strike over here. And the little newspaper is really busy. But I mailed in an ad. Don’t know if they will translate it to Norsk or print it in English. We hope we can sell them and recoup some of the cost. (By the way, the rate exchange on the dollar has gone up must a bit, so it’s not quite so bad.)
Vince had been told to be at the station by 8 to get the tires changed, on Thursday, so he woke up bright and early. He left here some before 8, got into a little traffic, but probably wasn’t very late. Guess what? The mechanic doesn’t get there until 9. It’s things like that that are so frustrating sometimes.
Guess Vince thought that he’d (?) should give me something to write home about – so he did some work here at home, some writing, (after he got back from the station) and then suggested we drive up to Jevnaker – about an hour away – to the Hadeland Glassworks. The demonstration of glass blowing was closed – one of our tour books says open daily – but the outlet store was open. So we nosed around. We finally found out that the vases, candle holders, etc. were all seconds; I suppose if you didn’t know you might not notice – little bubbles in the glass, but once you start looking, you see them all. There is another glassworks in the same town so we went over there. Theirs are second also, and both places sell them for 40-50% less than the perfect ones you find in the retail stores. Did buy a candle holder for me – that wasn’t a second – she got it from the warehouse – and bought a vase for Nitzy. She’d given me $50.00 to buy something for her.
Got a couple of empty boxes from the book store the other day. We plan on sending home some of our winter stuff, when it gets warm enough to quit wearing them. We certainly can’t wear our winter boots home in June; and I haven’t worn them much here the last couple of weeks. The snow has melted enough so the sidewalks are clear.
Guess I’d better move along, Vince is up for forenoon lunch, and I need to write another letter before the post office closes (that’s at 1 p.m. today). I’ve already emptied a couple pens since we got here.
Love, Verla and Vince
Mom – thanks fo the obits – which of Elsie’s boys was the one she didn’t know where he was for awhile?
Forgot to include what Jene and I did yesterday. We went downtown and got to the Palace for at least part of the Changing of the Guard. We were trying to figure out if some of the other watchers were also tourists, or Norwegians visiting Oslo. After the guards had retired, we noticed that one fellow pushing a child in a buggy was still hanging around. I had heard that the band was going to play from 2 - 2:30, if the King was there. His flag was flying so that means he is there. The fellow with the buggy walked directly in front so Jene and I ambled there, too. Then we noticed a car in the portico and soon the chauffeur got out and helped a couple of people in. And as the limo drove out and right past us, we saw one of the persons was the King. The fellow with the buggy doffed his hat as the King went by. They drove down the street 2 -3 blocks, turned left on Univ. Ave. It wasn’t very long before the limo came back, minus the King. We debated waiting around, but eventually decided it might just be a waste of time. As we walked past the University, there were 2 police cars out in front and a red carpet up the steps. We didn’t hang around to see if the King came out, so we will never know. But it would seem to be a logical conclusion.
Checked out some shops we hadn’t seen before and some we had before comig home. Now it is time to go.
January 31, 2016
January 30, 2016
Volvo on its Side
Sat. a.m.
Dear ones,
I have a little over an hour before the Post Office closes so will attempt to get this written – otherwise, it won’t go out until Monday.
It has been a full week and I will start with the least desirous news to hear. We skidded on icy and snowy roads, put the car into the ditch on its side. Luckily, neither one of us got a scratch, and the car is drivable though it is estimated to have about $1000 damage. It won’t be able to be fixed until May 13 and then the garage will need it for 3 days. Every once in awhile I say or think if only – this or if only that, but then I think about how much worse it could have been! It was scary and it is inconvenient, but -!
A week ago tonight we went down to Oddvar’s mom’s for supper. She lives in As, not too far from where Oddvar farms. His brother, wife and little girl where there, too. Also, the pastor of the As church and his wife. Their English was very good – he had been an exchange pastor in a small town in N.W. Iowa (Inwood) a few years ago – for a year, I think. He has visited the states other times, too. He has even lectured at Symra in Decorah. Small world! He was also a courier for the Norwegian Resistance and carried messages to Stockholm to be relayed to the exile gov’t in England W.W.II. He also escorted 20 some Jews to safety in Sweden. I guess he is one of Norway’s war heroes.
Mrs. Bjerke started the meal by serving sea trout, scrambled eggs, spinach, and crescent shaped rolls. Seconds were passed – we’d had a similar meal except salmon instead of trout. Imagine our surprise when she next passed a platter of meat – pork and carbonade (a hamburger mixture) – and a fresh vegetable salad. And that was passed again. Then we had strawberries and tyttebaer and a cookie-cracker. Shortly after, it was suggested we go see the church – this was a new one, for a change. And it was suggested we walk – think we all needed it! The church was very pretty – knotty pine interior. When we got back to the house, we had coffee, the typical layer cake, kranskaka and cookies. We had eaten enough for 2 days, but we were invited out for 1 p.m. luncheon on Sunday – this time to a relative of Vince’s grandpa Johnson’s mother’s line. She is an only child, but she had also invited 2 of her first cousins, and some of their family. We had smorbrod (the famous Norwegian sandwiches), and then coffee with layer cake. There was lotza visiting! We were really glad it was a lighter meal. We were home again by 6 or so.
Monday Jene had class and I met her afterwards for a McDonald’s before we went to the lecture. We were walking along the street when we happened to see the same young fellow we had talked to on the palace grounds on the Friday before. He recognized us and came over to visit with us again. Vince stayed home all day – he may have eaten too much, or it is his hiatal hernia acting up or something. Think he did some studying or writing at home.
Wednesday Vince and I drove out northeast of Oslo – we stopped at Arnes to inquire as to the whereabouts of the old Husmofarm. The road was even called Husmovegen. We knocked at a couple of doors but got no answer. One of them had a nameplate “Husmo”. So we were on a Husmo farm and a lady bicyler we stopped and she though it was called “south” Husmo which is the one we wanted. So we are assuming we were on the right one. From there we drove thru Kongsvinger to Brandval area – we found the Sander farm (Vince’s Grandma Johnson was a Sander) according to a picture in the old ‘bygdegok’. Then we continued a little further north and came to the Grue church. Here we were looking for a Huseby farm, but had no real maps to go by. So we stopped at the city hall, figuring there might be an office there who would have records. The women working in the office knew where this farm was and attempted to give directions. They ended up by saying it was too difficult – they would show us. It was close to 3:30, closing time. By then it was beginning to snow just a little. They drove out to the farm – we followed. And they went to the door to tell or ask if this was the right place. The lady invited us in, and the 2 women as well; she got out her history book – and told us which of the farms were which – there were 5 or 6 all Huseby – divided for several sons maybe. All we wanted were pictures – we ended up with the neighbor lady who lived also on a Huseby farm being invited down to visit with us, too. And all the while snowing more and more. The 2 women left after about an hour. But we were offered coffee and donuts. The farms were sold out of the family when they came to the U.S. and so far we haven’t traced any for distant relatives in the area. It was six o’clock before we got away. Vince snapped 3-4 pictures and we were on our way. It must have been 7 or 7:30 when we slid into the ditch. Needless to say, that set us back for awhile – guess it was 11 p.m. when we finally got home.
Thursday we spent finding out what to do about getting the car repaired – it always seems to take several phone calls. We went to a Volvo garage for an estimate, and then downtown to the insurance company for their estimate.
Friday night (last night) the church choir gave a concert – but Jene and I were invited to coffee at a ‘cousin’ from Grandma Hoganson’s side. Their daughter had called Jene about a week ago, and they had met downtown on Tuesday. The cousin (Aase)’s husband works for Customs, and knows and uses English. Aase said she understood us when we talked, but it has been so long since She’s used her English that speaking it was difficult. We had waffles with whipped cream and strawberries. They were served cold – Jene and I used our forks but I noticed that they picked them up in their fingers (the smorbrod they use a fork). Then we had a layer cake. After some visiting and looking at pictures and checking family history, etc. we were served cheese and crackers. It was another interesting evening.
We haven’t decided what we will do or where we will travel from here. Guess we will wait and see what develops. Norway seems to be safe – we will see about Germany and England later on. We could spend the time seeing more of Norway, stopping longer in Denmark, or in Sweden.
See I missed a side, but guess I will let it go. Dawn called while we were gone on Wed – she talked with Jene.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
I have a little over an hour before the Post Office closes so will attempt to get this written – otherwise, it won’t go out until Monday.
It has been a full week and I will start with the least desirous news to hear. We skidded on icy and snowy roads, put the car into the ditch on its side. Luckily, neither one of us got a scratch, and the car is drivable though it is estimated to have about $1000 damage. It won’t be able to be fixed until May 13 and then the garage will need it for 3 days. Every once in awhile I say or think if only – this or if only that, but then I think about how much worse it could have been! It was scary and it is inconvenient, but -!
A week ago tonight we went down to Oddvar’s mom’s for supper. She lives in As, not too far from where Oddvar farms. His brother, wife and little girl where there, too. Also, the pastor of the As church and his wife. Their English was very good – he had been an exchange pastor in a small town in N.W. Iowa (Inwood) a few years ago – for a year, I think. He has visited the states other times, too. He has even lectured at Symra in Decorah. Small world! He was also a courier for the Norwegian Resistance and carried messages to Stockholm to be relayed to the exile gov’t in England W.W.II. He also escorted 20 some Jews to safety in Sweden. I guess he is one of Norway’s war heroes.
Mrs. Bjerke started the meal by serving sea trout, scrambled eggs, spinach, and crescent shaped rolls. Seconds were passed – we’d had a similar meal except salmon instead of trout. Imagine our surprise when she next passed a platter of meat – pork and carbonade (a hamburger mixture) – and a fresh vegetable salad. And that was passed again. Then we had strawberries and tyttebaer and a cookie-cracker. Shortly after, it was suggested we go see the church – this was a new one, for a change. And it was suggested we walk – think we all needed it! The church was very pretty – knotty pine interior. When we got back to the house, we had coffee, the typical layer cake, kranskaka and cookies. We had eaten enough for 2 days, but we were invited out for 1 p.m. luncheon on Sunday – this time to a relative of Vince’s grandpa Johnson’s mother’s line. She is an only child, but she had also invited 2 of her first cousins, and some of their family. We had smorbrod (the famous Norwegian sandwiches), and then coffee with layer cake. There was lotza visiting! We were really glad it was a lighter meal. We were home again by 6 or so.
Monday Jene had class and I met her afterwards for a McDonald’s before we went to the lecture. We were walking along the street when we happened to see the same young fellow we had talked to on the palace grounds on the Friday before. He recognized us and came over to visit with us again. Vince stayed home all day – he may have eaten too much, or it is his hiatal hernia acting up or something. Think he did some studying or writing at home.
Wednesday Vince and I drove out northeast of Oslo – we stopped at Arnes to inquire as to the whereabouts of the old Husmofarm. The road was even called Husmovegen. We knocked at a couple of doors but got no answer. One of them had a nameplate “Husmo”. So we were on a Husmo farm and a lady bicyler we stopped and she though it was called “south” Husmo which is the one we wanted. So we are assuming we were on the right one. From there we drove thru Kongsvinger to Brandval area – we found the Sander farm (Vince’s Grandma Johnson was a Sander) according to a picture in the old ‘bygdegok’. Then we continued a little further north and came to the Grue church. Here we were looking for a Huseby farm, but had no real maps to go by. So we stopped at the city hall, figuring there might be an office there who would have records. The women working in the office knew where this farm was and attempted to give directions. They ended up by saying it was too difficult – they would show us. It was close to 3:30, closing time. By then it was beginning to snow just a little. They drove out to the farm – we followed. And they went to the door to tell or ask if this was the right place. The lady invited us in, and the 2 women as well; she got out her history book – and told us which of the farms were which – there were 5 or 6 all Huseby – divided for several sons maybe. All we wanted were pictures – we ended up with the neighbor lady who lived also on a Huseby farm being invited down to visit with us, too. And all the while snowing more and more. The 2 women left after about an hour. But we were offered coffee and donuts. The farms were sold out of the family when they came to the U.S. and so far we haven’t traced any for distant relatives in the area. It was six o’clock before we got away. Vince snapped 3-4 pictures and we were on our way. It must have been 7 or 7:30 when we slid into the ditch. Needless to say, that set us back for awhile – guess it was 11 p.m. when we finally got home.
Thursday we spent finding out what to do about getting the car repaired – it always seems to take several phone calls. We went to a Volvo garage for an estimate, and then downtown to the insurance company for their estimate.
Friday night (last night) the church choir gave a concert – but Jene and I were invited to coffee at a ‘cousin’ from Grandma Hoganson’s side. Their daughter had called Jene about a week ago, and they had met downtown on Tuesday. The cousin (Aase)’s husband works for Customs, and knows and uses English. Aase said she understood us when we talked, but it has been so long since She’s used her English that speaking it was difficult. We had waffles with whipped cream and strawberries. They were served cold – Jene and I used our forks but I noticed that they picked them up in their fingers (the smorbrod they use a fork). Then we had a layer cake. After some visiting and looking at pictures and checking family history, etc. we were served cheese and crackers. It was another interesting evening.
We haven’t decided what we will do or where we will travel from here. Guess we will wait and see what develops. Norway seems to be safe – we will see about Germany and England later on. We could spend the time seeing more of Norway, stopping longer in Denmark, or in Sweden.
See I missed a side, but guess I will let it go. Dawn called while we were gone on Wed – she talked with Jene.
Love, Verla and Vince
January 29, 2016
A Busy Weekend
29 April 1986
Dear ones,
We had a busy weekend – we left on Friday morning for Koppang, a little town about 150 miles north of Oslo. That is where Kari Beisvag lives, the minister’s wife who has helped us find our relatives here. Her husband died in December so these last few months have been hard. She made flat bread and soup for us, and also served us multiberries. That is the or (?) a real Norwegian delicacy – grow in marshy, wet areas. She also served us cake and coffee, and a kaka particular only to Rendalen called tynnkaka – can be syrup tynnkaka, or cream tynnkaka or a third one , I think. I wonder why great grandma Lina didn’t make it – or maybe you did have it when you were little, Mom. We had an invitation for coffee at Kaare and Olaug Wardenaer (Kaare is a grandson of Oline and a brother of Ottar’s here in Oslo) – we visited at Kari’s until 6 so it was going on 7 when we got to Kaare’s. His son and family live next door, and were there, too. Vince’s Norwegian carried us through – Jene and I tried a little. There we had more tynnkaka, the layer cake, krumkaka, ice cream with our coffee. And you can’t eat and run – so it was going on 10 when we left. Olaug gave me a crocheted table runner and a ten or pewter plate with the Ytre Rendal church on it. Next we headed for Ovre Rendal where Sverre Hornseth lives – he and his wife operated a guest house for years; they still live there. Jene had room # 1 – we were in # 5. Neat, huh. We were a little late for the evening meal for which we were invited, though they offered us food, we begged off. We did visit for a couple of hours before going to bed. A niece of Sverre’s and her husband were up there for a week’s vacation – (they have a cabin) he speaks really good English so he was the official translator but Vince used his Norwegian a lot. Saturday we went out to get a few pictures of farms ancestors lived on, a couple of different times. We had coffee at Aase’s (the niece), and the rest of the meals at Sverre’s – he is 81 or 82 and is still farming. He is the son of Martin Hornseth (brother to Lina) and a first cousin of Elise’s. They were surprised to hear that Sverre had a first cousin still living. Sunday we went to church at Ovre Rendal – the bishop spoke. He would probably be like a district president, or I guess we call them bishops now, too. Then we went to the top of one of the mountains for pictures of the view – not as sheer as the western fjords but very pretty. They have more snow that we do here in Oslo. After coffee, we packed up and left for Oslo. It took a little longer than 4 hrs. – the traffic got heavy until we hit the 4-lane.
Don’t remember that the week was too busy. I did meet Jene downtown on Thursday, no I went in when she did. We decided to go to the Applied Art Museum – they were having a special show of weavings (tapestries) by a well-known (I suppose) Norwegian. We also saw a tapestry from the year 1200. And a lot of silver collections, and jewelry. By the time we got to the 4th floor, it was almost closing time so we got only a glimpse of the Royal Coronation Robes & gowns – Norway is only on its 2nd king of its own so the collection is not large.
Tuesday we were supposed to go down to As and to Oddvar’s for supper. The newspaper down there printed a story a couple of years ago about our looking for relatives – Kari had written the As minister. Anyway, the paper wants to take pictures and do a follow-up. It snowed however, wet, heavy slippery snow and we didn’t dare drive. So it has been reset for today. It is cloudy today but too warm to snow.
Monday (the 21st) I met Jene downtown – we went to the lecture (at 3:15) but evidently the professor forgot to show. So there we sat and waited – Vince picked us up at 5.
Sunday, Oddvar and his family, he has 2 little girls, one 2 and one 5 – and his mom came for dinner. We had beef roast, gravy, potatoes, the vegetable dish, and the fruit salad with honey-nut dressing, and apple pie with the coffee. It wasn’t as good as I could do at home, but guess the best I could do under the circumstances. We went for a walk in the afternoon (to wear off a little steam, particularly of the 2 yr. old) and showed them the church here in Osteras. It snowed that day too – so they left for home shortly after the pie and coffee, but guess that was almost 6 p.m.
The choir gave a concert that night, so I went down for that. It was well done – had piano, bass, oboe, drums, a soprano, and a baritone along with the choir. Afterwards, the director had the musicians and soloists over to her apt. and asked us too. We had a layer cake plus cheese sandwiches with the coffee. We visited till after midnight – the director’s husband spoke quite good English. He is employed as a deacon in the church – but here in Oslo he is taking some more schooling.
Now we are planning on company for supper tomorrow night, and then Lyle & Exene will be here Friday morning.
Thanks for cards and gifts! Last night we went out for pizza supper – a first for us here in Oslo. Will glance thru your letters to see if there are any questions.
We still don’t know for sure, but tentatively plan to leave Norway about the 20th of May. I would guess that perhaps you shouldn’t mail anything after May 10, unless I write differently. I will try to keep in touch as we travel, but I/m not sure that you would be able to get in touch with us.
Better fix breakfast and get going on the day.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
We had a busy weekend – we left on Friday morning for Koppang, a little town about 150 miles north of Oslo. That is where Kari Beisvag lives, the minister’s wife who has helped us find our relatives here. Her husband died in December so these last few months have been hard. She made flat bread and soup for us, and also served us multiberries. That is the or (?) a real Norwegian delicacy – grow in marshy, wet areas. She also served us cake and coffee, and a kaka particular only to Rendalen called tynnkaka – can be syrup tynnkaka, or cream tynnkaka or a third one , I think. I wonder why great grandma Lina didn’t make it – or maybe you did have it when you were little, Mom. We had an invitation for coffee at Kaare and Olaug Wardenaer (Kaare is a grandson of Oline and a brother of Ottar’s here in Oslo) – we visited at Kari’s until 6 so it was going on 7 when we got to Kaare’s. His son and family live next door, and were there, too. Vince’s Norwegian carried us through – Jene and I tried a little. There we had more tynnkaka, the layer cake, krumkaka, ice cream with our coffee. And you can’t eat and run – so it was going on 10 when we left. Olaug gave me a crocheted table runner and a ten or pewter plate with the Ytre Rendal church on it. Next we headed for Ovre Rendal where Sverre Hornseth lives – he and his wife operated a guest house for years; they still live there. Jene had room # 1 – we were in # 5. Neat, huh. We were a little late for the evening meal for which we were invited, though they offered us food, we begged off. We did visit for a couple of hours before going to bed. A niece of Sverre’s and her husband were up there for a week’s vacation – (they have a cabin) he speaks really good English so he was the official translator but Vince used his Norwegian a lot. Saturday we went out to get a few pictures of farms ancestors lived on, a couple of different times. We had coffee at Aase’s (the niece), and the rest of the meals at Sverre’s – he is 81 or 82 and is still farming. He is the son of Martin Hornseth (brother to Lina) and a first cousin of Elise’s. They were surprised to hear that Sverre had a first cousin still living. Sunday we went to church at Ovre Rendal – the bishop spoke. He would probably be like a district president, or I guess we call them bishops now, too. Then we went to the top of one of the mountains for pictures of the view – not as sheer as the western fjords but very pretty. They have more snow that we do here in Oslo. After coffee, we packed up and left for Oslo. It took a little longer than 4 hrs. – the traffic got heavy until we hit the 4-lane.
Don’t remember that the week was too busy. I did meet Jene downtown on Thursday, no I went in when she did. We decided to go to the Applied Art Museum – they were having a special show of weavings (tapestries) by a well-known (I suppose) Norwegian. We also saw a tapestry from the year 1200. And a lot of silver collections, and jewelry. By the time we got to the 4th floor, it was almost closing time so we got only a glimpse of the Royal Coronation Robes & gowns – Norway is only on its 2nd king of its own so the collection is not large.
Tuesday we were supposed to go down to As and to Oddvar’s for supper. The newspaper down there printed a story a couple of years ago about our looking for relatives – Kari had written the As minister. Anyway, the paper wants to take pictures and do a follow-up. It snowed however, wet, heavy slippery snow and we didn’t dare drive. So it has been reset for today. It is cloudy today but too warm to snow.
Monday (the 21st) I met Jene downtown – we went to the lecture (at 3:15) but evidently the professor forgot to show. So there we sat and waited – Vince picked us up at 5.
Sunday, Oddvar and his family, he has 2 little girls, one 2 and one 5 – and his mom came for dinner. We had beef roast, gravy, potatoes, the vegetable dish, and the fruit salad with honey-nut dressing, and apple pie with the coffee. It wasn’t as good as I could do at home, but guess the best I could do under the circumstances. We went for a walk in the afternoon (to wear off a little steam, particularly of the 2 yr. old) and showed them the church here in Osteras. It snowed that day too – so they left for home shortly after the pie and coffee, but guess that was almost 6 p.m.
The choir gave a concert that night, so I went down for that. It was well done – had piano, bass, oboe, drums, a soprano, and a baritone along with the choir. Afterwards, the director had the musicians and soloists over to her apt. and asked us too. We had a layer cake plus cheese sandwiches with the coffee. We visited till after midnight – the director’s husband spoke quite good English. He is employed as a deacon in the church – but here in Oslo he is taking some more schooling.
Now we are planning on company for supper tomorrow night, and then Lyle & Exene will be here Friday morning.
Thanks for cards and gifts! Last night we went out for pizza supper – a first for us here in Oslo. Will glance thru your letters to see if there are any questions.
We still don’t know for sure, but tentatively plan to leave Norway about the 20th of May. I would guess that perhaps you shouldn’t mail anything after May 10, unless I write differently. I will try to keep in touch as we travel, but I/m not sure that you would be able to get in touch with us.
Better fix breakfast and get going on the day.
Love, Verla and Vince
January 28, 2016
A Different Week
6 May 1986
Dear ones,
Since I got out of the pattern of writing on Saturday morning, I don’t remember when I’ve written to whom. This has been a different week – different than we expected anyway.
The last few days have been bright and warm – more like Oslo’s summer weather. It has been about 70 or so. Just heard the radio announcer say it should get to 73.
Wednesday night the Koppang’s were here for supper – I made lasagna, tossed salad and apple pie. We had 2 phone calls while they were here – one from Vince’s ‘cousin’ at Krakstad. He had found more information on Vince’s great grandmother, and many more farms to visit, he said. Lyle also called verifying his flight time, etc.
Thursday was a holiday here – May 1 Labor Day – so no stores, banks, post offices, or schools were open. We drove over to Bente’s apartment to get a sweater her sister Berit had knitted for Jene. On the way home we stopped at a car wash and ran the car thru. Then we vacuumed and cleaned out the inside. Mid-afternoon Lyle called again. He had changed his mind about coming – think the radiation scared him more than anything else. Vince was really disappointed – he had worked out a couple of itineraries for sight seeing trips. So on Friday we went to Bygdoy – to see the RA II and the Kontiki (Thor Heyerdahl’s raft and balsa boat – the RA oproved that Egyptian culture could reach South America), the Fram which Roald Amundsen used to reach the South Pole I 1911-12. That was more interesting than when we saw it before, since we had watched a series on TV about that expedition. We also went to the Maritime Museum, and to the building housing the 3 Viking ships that have been found and preserved. And before heading home we stopped at the Outdoor Museum and wandered through a part of it. The buildings weren’t open for the season yet. It was a full afternoon – it had been so foggy until nearly noon that we didn’t start early.
Saturday wasn’t foggy but we still didn’t get an early start. Jene slept late, and Vince did some writing or something. But we did go to Vigiland Park in the afternoon. A lot of people were there – more Norwegians soaking up the sun than tourists. We spent about 3 hours looking at the statues and also going through the museum. That was interesting – showed how he made the molds for the bronze statues and the models he made for the granite ones, some of the drawings, etc.
Sunday morning it dawned bright and beautiful. We drove down to Krakstad to go to church, Vince wanted to get pictures of the inside. But it wasn’t open – apparently it has services every other Sunday. So we drove over to As, figuring we would make it in time for church there. However, a note on the fence said that on the first Sunday of the month, services were at 10 a.m. at the “working church” in town. So we drove over to Drobak. Had lunch at an outdoor café, and then drove to the top of a hill to find a dismantled fort from which we were supposed to be able to see the 2 cannons which sunk the German ship on its way to occupy Oslo May 7, 1940. Slowing down the German advance made it possible for the King and the gold to get out of Oslo and eventually out of the country. We didn’t see much of a fort though there were some old cannons. Guess there were more cannons on the other side pointing toward Sweden. We talked to a fellow and he showed us where on the island those 2 cannons were. They were hard to see, and the island is a military base so no one (tourists) is allowed on it. We aren’t sure they will show up on the slide. Guess if you are in a boat you can see the ship 2 km. farther up.
Well, from there we put the car on a ferry and crossed the Oslo fjord to the west side. Wedrove on a winding road along the coast back to Oslo – a pretty drive.
We decided to wait till tomorrow to go to the fjords. Hope the weather holds. Think we will be in Laerdal visiting Ingebrigt Raa on Friday evening. We may make it as far as Bergen before coming back here on Monday. Our car goes in early Tuesday morning and then we will be 3 days without it.
Since we were here, Jene went to her class yesterday, and we went to the final lecture on Norwegian Life and Society. Did I tell you about the American whose parents were missionaries in Japan (she attended the lectures, too)? Her aunt was (or is) a school teacher in Osage – Dawn knows her (the aunt). Her dad’s name is Philip Luttio and I think he was at LBI when I was. The rest of the class has an exam next week – since we weren’t registered we aren’t taking that. Jene has her final class in Norwegian today. Last Saturday one of her classmates was here for supper, she is working for a year at least as live-in help in a Norwegian home. Her duties are mostly housework, though there are 2 children in the home. She has graduated from a college in Washington state – next she hopes to work in France. She likes languages, so learns the language in these countries.
Better get this ready to mail and then have some coffee. We will be here until the 20th for sure.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
Since I got out of the pattern of writing on Saturday morning, I don’t remember when I’ve written to whom. This has been a different week – different than we expected anyway.
The last few days have been bright and warm – more like Oslo’s summer weather. It has been about 70 or so. Just heard the radio announcer say it should get to 73.
Wednesday night the Koppang’s were here for supper – I made lasagna, tossed salad and apple pie. We had 2 phone calls while they were here – one from Vince’s ‘cousin’ at Krakstad. He had found more information on Vince’s great grandmother, and many more farms to visit, he said. Lyle also called verifying his flight time, etc.
Thursday was a holiday here – May 1 Labor Day – so no stores, banks, post offices, or schools were open. We drove over to Bente’s apartment to get a sweater her sister Berit had knitted for Jene. On the way home we stopped at a car wash and ran the car thru. Then we vacuumed and cleaned out the inside. Mid-afternoon Lyle called again. He had changed his mind about coming – think the radiation scared him more than anything else. Vince was really disappointed – he had worked out a couple of itineraries for sight seeing trips. So on Friday we went to Bygdoy – to see the RA II and the Kontiki (Thor Heyerdahl’s raft and balsa boat – the RA oproved that Egyptian culture could reach South America), the Fram which Roald Amundsen used to reach the South Pole I 1911-12. That was more interesting than when we saw it before, since we had watched a series on TV about that expedition. We also went to the Maritime Museum, and to the building housing the 3 Viking ships that have been found and preserved. And before heading home we stopped at the Outdoor Museum and wandered through a part of it. The buildings weren’t open for the season yet. It was a full afternoon – it had been so foggy until nearly noon that we didn’t start early.
Saturday wasn’t foggy but we still didn’t get an early start. Jene slept late, and Vince did some writing or something. But we did go to Vigiland Park in the afternoon. A lot of people were there – more Norwegians soaking up the sun than tourists. We spent about 3 hours looking at the statues and also going through the museum. That was interesting – showed how he made the molds for the bronze statues and the models he made for the granite ones, some of the drawings, etc.
Sunday morning it dawned bright and beautiful. We drove down to Krakstad to go to church, Vince wanted to get pictures of the inside. But it wasn’t open – apparently it has services every other Sunday. So we drove over to As, figuring we would make it in time for church there. However, a note on the fence said that on the first Sunday of the month, services were at 10 a.m. at the “working church” in town. So we drove over to Drobak. Had lunch at an outdoor café, and then drove to the top of a hill to find a dismantled fort from which we were supposed to be able to see the 2 cannons which sunk the German ship on its way to occupy Oslo May 7, 1940. Slowing down the German advance made it possible for the King and the gold to get out of Oslo and eventually out of the country. We didn’t see much of a fort though there were some old cannons. Guess there were more cannons on the other side pointing toward Sweden. We talked to a fellow and he showed us where on the island those 2 cannons were. They were hard to see, and the island is a military base so no one (tourists) is allowed on it. We aren’t sure they will show up on the slide. Guess if you are in a boat you can see the ship 2 km. farther up.
Well, from there we put the car on a ferry and crossed the Oslo fjord to the west side. Wedrove on a winding road along the coast back to Oslo – a pretty drive.
We decided to wait till tomorrow to go to the fjords. Hope the weather holds. Think we will be in Laerdal visiting Ingebrigt Raa on Friday evening. We may make it as far as Bergen before coming back here on Monday. Our car goes in early Tuesday morning and then we will be 3 days without it.
Since we were here, Jene went to her class yesterday, and we went to the final lecture on Norwegian Life and Society. Did I tell you about the American whose parents were missionaries in Japan (she attended the lectures, too)? Her aunt was (or is) a school teacher in Osage – Dawn knows her (the aunt). Her dad’s name is Philip Luttio and I think he was at LBI when I was. The rest of the class has an exam next week – since we weren’t registered we aren’t taking that. Jene has her final class in Norwegian today. Last Saturday one of her classmates was here for supper, she is working for a year at least as live-in help in a Norwegian home. Her duties are mostly housework, though there are 2 children in the home. She has graduated from a college in Washington state – next she hopes to work in France. She likes languages, so learns the language in these countries.
Better get this ready to mail and then have some coffee. We will be here until the 20th for sure.
Love, Verla and Vince
January 27, 2016
Back in Oslo
Monday p.m. – 12 May 1986
Dear ones,
We are back in Oslo – I’ve unpacked, defrosted the refrig, took our raincoats to the cleaners, and figured out how much we’d spent on the trip. We did all right, but we probably stayed at some places that some people wouldn’t even stop at. But we have read and found to be true that even if the places aren’t fancy, they are always clean. Of the 5 places we stayed in, 2 of them had the bathrooms across the hall and they were the cheapest. The other 3 had the bathrooms in the room – all 5 had sinks in the room. Think it was 4 of them that included breakfast. We had bought fruit, bread, cheese and jam and beverages, so we ate our noon lunch along the way. We bought more bread and cheese and drinks, but it is cheaper than eating in restaurants. We hear that Norway is the most expensive country to live or travel in so it should get better.
We had no mishaps along the way, but we had to change our plans once in a while because we were ahead of the tourist season or because the road was closed (snow hadn’t melted yet). We headed north because Vince had to stop in Elverum for a special cap – it is called the Osterdalen cap (Hogansons came from N. Osterdal) so he calls it his bunad. He thinks Dalen will want one just like it. We also stopped at Hamar because we thought we might see the ruins of an old church which we briefly got a peek at in March (I think). But it still wasn’t open – would be opening 17 May – so we ate our lunch in the car. And then drove on as far as Vagamo. One hotel wasn’t open, the other one had no rooms left so we stayed at a gjestgiveri, a guest house, an old building made out of logs. The dining area, kitchen, lounge were on ground floor, the sleeping rooms upstairs. The stairway was out on the front porch, typical of old houses. We ate our supper there, walked around the small town some and then decided to drive up a road or 2. They were narrow, and farms or houses almost all the way to the top of the mountain. Don’t see how the farmers can eke out a living at all. Before going back to the room, we stopped and asked about the road we intended to take in the morning to Geiranger at the head (or foot) of Geiranger Fjord. We were told it was closed, so we figured we’d be in for a change of plans.
Thursday – had our breakfast and headed out. Sure enough the road was closed, so we had to take the more southerly road which brought us out at H(?) at the other end of the G. fjord. We drove through snow higher than the car in a lot of places on the road we did take. Guess all of Norway had an earlier, harder, snowier winter than usual. We had intended to put our car on the ferry at Geiranger, ride down the fjord and get off at H(?). Instead we left our car at H(?), rode the ferry both ways, and then drove on from there. It was a pretty ride, but would have been better if the sun had been shining. Hope our pictures turn out. It even started raining some while we were still on the ferry. That night we stayed at a gjestgiveri at Stryn. It was more like a hotel, but the bath were across the hall. They didn’t serve dinners, just sandwiches. So we went uptown for supper. Shopped around town a little bit the next morning after breakfast and then headed out. We went to the Briksdal glacier. Of course, the place wasn’t open or we might have rented a horse and cart to take us up to the Glacier. As it was it was over an hour’s walk, all up hill. Vince and I went slower than Jene. There were a couple other groups walking the trail, too. We probably shouldn’t have – we were running late the rest of the day. We had some touch mountain driving – narrow, one-lane roads. There is one stretch Vince won’t forget – I don’t know how high it was, or how many switchbacks there were. We took a picture at the bottom; we saw evidences of avalanches all the way down, and still quite a bit of snow left. Then we had to wait a half hour or so for one ferry and a little while for another one, as we headed towards Lærdal. I had written Ingebrigt Raa that we would geet there after 7. It was after 9 when we got there; probably just on the verge of getting too dark for pictures. We’ll see. His wife is a nurse’s aid and she was at work. His daughter was home – she’s 18 – so she made sandwiches – smorbrod – for us; served us Lærdal lefse which is a little different but I’m not sure just how. They also served us another typical Lærdal dish – cooked milk. We didn’t ask for the recipe for that. Inge has some animals, sheep and beef cattle. Suppose he raised some grain. He also grows potatoes – Lærdal supplies the rest of Norway with early potatoes. Spring come to Lærdal as early as any place in Norway and they don’t get much snow. They are on the end of the Sognefjord. He said it was a good thing we hadn’t come straight up out of Oslo. That road was closed because of a rock slide. The side of a mountain, or part of it, came sliding down. The road would be closed for at least 3 days. We ‘visited” until 2 a.m. – his wife came home about 11. He doesn’t speak much English, his daughter did some. Vince got to use his Eastern Norwegian in Western Norway.
Saturday – we should have gotten going a little earlier, but we were tired (we had stayed at a hotel in Lærdal). We had hoped to take a ferry to Gudvanger, but it left before 9. The next one didn’t leave until 3 and we didn’t think we should wait that long. So we retraced our way and took a ferry from Hella to Vangsness (Willis’ family comes from there) and drove to Voss, on our way to Bergen. We had another lulu – one way, short guard rails, hair pin curves. One place we even had to back up because there wasn’t room to meet the car that was coming. We finally got to Bergen – and finally found a hotel. We got a good deal on rates for a nice hotel right downtown. This one even had a TV in the room – not just in the lounge. Jene liked that! For the first time, we ordered a real nice meal – fish, of course. The next day we had to head back towards Oslo. With the tough driving, its too far to go in 1 day. Before we started back however, we took a bus tour, 2 hour, of the city. Got out and saw one of the Hanseatic League houses, and gout out at Haakon’s Hall, an old ceremonial palace. Otherwise, we did our looking from the bus. Had some more narrow roads, and then drove for quite a ways on the plateau on top. We were going to stop at Geilo for the night, but couldn’t find a room. The cheaper places were closed. May is their quiet month – a lull between winter skiers and summer tourists. The hotel wanted more money than we wanted to pay, so we drove on to Gol and there we found a motel room.
We had a pretty drive today – the first sun we’d had since we left, except briefly Sat. morning at Laerdal. We drove down Hallingdal Valley and on to Oslo – decent 2 lane roads.
We sort of plan on leaving here on the 23 May, and I will try to send some kind of itinerary. We are going to ask about the highways in the Alps before we plan to do any more mountain driving. Vince had almost all of it, and when I tried it made him nervous. He thought once he was going over the edge. Better get a few groceries and start on supper.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
We are back in Oslo – I’ve unpacked, defrosted the refrig, took our raincoats to the cleaners, and figured out how much we’d spent on the trip. We did all right, but we probably stayed at some places that some people wouldn’t even stop at. But we have read and found to be true that even if the places aren’t fancy, they are always clean. Of the 5 places we stayed in, 2 of them had the bathrooms across the hall and they were the cheapest. The other 3 had the bathrooms in the room – all 5 had sinks in the room. Think it was 4 of them that included breakfast. We had bought fruit, bread, cheese and jam and beverages, so we ate our noon lunch along the way. We bought more bread and cheese and drinks, but it is cheaper than eating in restaurants. We hear that Norway is the most expensive country to live or travel in so it should get better.
We had no mishaps along the way, but we had to change our plans once in a while because we were ahead of the tourist season or because the road was closed (snow hadn’t melted yet). We headed north because Vince had to stop in Elverum for a special cap – it is called the Osterdalen cap (Hogansons came from N. Osterdal) so he calls it his bunad. He thinks Dalen will want one just like it. We also stopped at Hamar because we thought we might see the ruins of an old church which we briefly got a peek at in March (I think). But it still wasn’t open – would be opening 17 May – so we ate our lunch in the car. And then drove on as far as Vagamo. One hotel wasn’t open, the other one had no rooms left so we stayed at a gjestgiveri, a guest house, an old building made out of logs. The dining area, kitchen, lounge were on ground floor, the sleeping rooms upstairs. The stairway was out on the front porch, typical of old houses. We ate our supper there, walked around the small town some and then decided to drive up a road or 2. They were narrow, and farms or houses almost all the way to the top of the mountain. Don’t see how the farmers can eke out a living at all. Before going back to the room, we stopped and asked about the road we intended to take in the morning to Geiranger at the head (or foot) of Geiranger Fjord. We were told it was closed, so we figured we’d be in for a change of plans.
Thursday – had our breakfast and headed out. Sure enough the road was closed, so we had to take the more southerly road which brought us out at H(?) at the other end of the G. fjord. We drove through snow higher than the car in a lot of places on the road we did take. Guess all of Norway had an earlier, harder, snowier winter than usual. We had intended to put our car on the ferry at Geiranger, ride down the fjord and get off at H(?). Instead we left our car at H(?), rode the ferry both ways, and then drove on from there. It was a pretty ride, but would have been better if the sun had been shining. Hope our pictures turn out. It even started raining some while we were still on the ferry. That night we stayed at a gjestgiveri at Stryn. It was more like a hotel, but the bath were across the hall. They didn’t serve dinners, just sandwiches. So we went uptown for supper. Shopped around town a little bit the next morning after breakfast and then headed out. We went to the Briksdal glacier. Of course, the place wasn’t open or we might have rented a horse and cart to take us up to the Glacier. As it was it was over an hour’s walk, all up hill. Vince and I went slower than Jene. There were a couple other groups walking the trail, too. We probably shouldn’t have – we were running late the rest of the day. We had some touch mountain driving – narrow, one-lane roads. There is one stretch Vince won’t forget – I don’t know how high it was, or how many switchbacks there were. We took a picture at the bottom; we saw evidences of avalanches all the way down, and still quite a bit of snow left. Then we had to wait a half hour or so for one ferry and a little while for another one, as we headed towards Lærdal. I had written Ingebrigt Raa that we would geet there after 7. It was after 9 when we got there; probably just on the verge of getting too dark for pictures. We’ll see. His wife is a nurse’s aid and she was at work. His daughter was home – she’s 18 – so she made sandwiches – smorbrod – for us; served us Lærdal lefse which is a little different but I’m not sure just how. They also served us another typical Lærdal dish – cooked milk. We didn’t ask for the recipe for that. Inge has some animals, sheep and beef cattle. Suppose he raised some grain. He also grows potatoes – Lærdal supplies the rest of Norway with early potatoes. Spring come to Lærdal as early as any place in Norway and they don’t get much snow. They are on the end of the Sognefjord. He said it was a good thing we hadn’t come straight up out of Oslo. That road was closed because of a rock slide. The side of a mountain, or part of it, came sliding down. The road would be closed for at least 3 days. We ‘visited” until 2 a.m. – his wife came home about 11. He doesn’t speak much English, his daughter did some. Vince got to use his Eastern Norwegian in Western Norway.
Saturday – we should have gotten going a little earlier, but we were tired (we had stayed at a hotel in Lærdal). We had hoped to take a ferry to Gudvanger, but it left before 9. The next one didn’t leave until 3 and we didn’t think we should wait that long. So we retraced our way and took a ferry from Hella to Vangsness (Willis’ family comes from there) and drove to Voss, on our way to Bergen. We had another lulu – one way, short guard rails, hair pin curves. One place we even had to back up because there wasn’t room to meet the car that was coming. We finally got to Bergen – and finally found a hotel. We got a good deal on rates for a nice hotel right downtown. This one even had a TV in the room – not just in the lounge. Jene liked that! For the first time, we ordered a real nice meal – fish, of course. The next day we had to head back towards Oslo. With the tough driving, its too far to go in 1 day. Before we started back however, we took a bus tour, 2 hour, of the city. Got out and saw one of the Hanseatic League houses, and gout out at Haakon’s Hall, an old ceremonial palace. Otherwise, we did our looking from the bus. Had some more narrow roads, and then drove for quite a ways on the plateau on top. We were going to stop at Geilo for the night, but couldn’t find a room. The cheaper places were closed. May is their quiet month – a lull between winter skiers and summer tourists. The hotel wanted more money than we wanted to pay, so we drove on to Gol and there we found a motel room.
We had a pretty drive today – the first sun we’d had since we left, except briefly Sat. morning at Laerdal. We drove down Hallingdal Valley and on to Oslo – decent 2 lane roads.
We sort of plan on leaving here on the 23 May, and I will try to send some kind of itinerary. We are going to ask about the highways in the Alps before we plan to do any more mountain driving. Vince had almost all of it, and when I tried it made him nervous. He thought once he was going over the edge. Better get a few groceries and start on supper.
Love, Verla and Vince
January 26, 2016
Syttende Mai
Monday p.m. 19 May 1986
Dear ones,
Vince went to see about getting the oil changed in the car – we have 5000 miles on it already. It went in to the garage last Tuesday for a new fender and a few other things. They said they would need to have it 3 days. So on Thursday Vince called to see when he could pick it up – of course it wasn’t going to be ready that day and the man wasn’t sure it would be ready on Friday, which meant we wouldn’t get it till tomorrow - Saturday and today have both been holidays so Norwegian stores and businesses are closed again. Vince told him he really needed the car – we had commitments. What he said was, “Jeg trenger bilen!” He was supposed to call back on Friday at 10, to find out if it would be ready that day. Think he had mentally prepared himself that it wouldn’t be ready. So when he called at 10, he was relieved to hear that it would be ready, and we should call at 1 to see what time we could get it. Vince was going to noon seminar at the U. to say goodby to the dentists he’d been working with; so he called a cab. Jene called the body shop (he speaks only Norwegian) to find out what time and he said 2 o’clock. So I went to get the car – I also took a cab.
We were invited out for supper Friday to a ‘cousin’ on Vince’s side. We had met her once before. She had roast lamb – very good. With tossed salad and potato salad. And after awhile we had coffee and cake.
Syttende mai was Saturday. We were invited to Koppang’s for breakfast. We had scrambled eggs and cold salmon, and another plate of cold meats – including dried mutton. They tried to push us out the door by 9 because we had special ‘passes for foreigners’ to be in a special area for watching the children parade before the King. We decided not to take the car down, and then had to wait for a long time for the trikk. So the parade had started, and we had to push thru people 8 deep and then cross in front of the parade to get to were we wanted to be. We watched for a couple hours and still no sign of an end to the paade. We decided to leave – both to beat the crowd and also because Oddvar was expecting us in As. We met him at a wide spot in the road where the train stops, and he took us to nearby farm. We met the farmer, I think he is distantly related to Vince. We chatted briefly, took a few pictures and then went on to As. There we watched a short parade. Malfrid took the kids and went to a coffee party. Oddvar went with us, to see a few more farms, take some pictures, etc. He had made new discoveries on Vince’s great grandmother so had some different farms to show us. Then we went to his place. We were going to have cake and coffee but Oddvar was hungry, so was Vince, so Malfrid made sandwiches, too. We visited till midnight. So guess we had celebrated 17 May!
Sunday we drove down to meet him again and this time went with them down to their summer hytte which is south on the Oslo fjord. They hadn’t been down there yet this spring – it’s been cool and wet. But he wanted to get the ‘cistern’ open so they could be collecting water. It’s a simple cabin – no running water, no electricity. But nice. We watched 3 swans swimming right in front. They had packed food along for middag, pork steaks on the grill. Oddvar’s mom came along, too, and we were invited back to her house for coffee later on. Malfrid’s dad and sisters live not too far so they decided we should stop by there. There we had cake and coffee. Afterwards when we got back in the car Oddvar’s mom said, “I was going to have cake, too”. We did have cake but she also made some scrambled eggs and cold him. We didn’t visit quite as long as the night before, but said our goodbyes. They have really put themselves out for us while we have been here.
Today is Pentecost Monday so Norway is closed. We should have gone to see some thing – the sun was even shining. But we didn’t get in gear. I washed 3 loads of clothes – that took over 3 hours. Some are still on a rack on the balcony, and some are still hanging in the dryer.
Without the car last week, we didn’t do much. Tuesday I laid around with another cold – it started while we were on our trip, probably that ferry ride on the Geiranger. Vince had it Thursday, Friday, Saturday –so it was a bad weekend to have so many invitations. Jene and I went downtown on Wednesday, and Thursday I went to the city library to read bygdeboker for awhile.
10:45 p.m.
Had supper after Vince got back. Watched the news and then a movie. Now we’ve just come back from a walk, and it will be dark in a half hour or so. I’d better write down the itinerary and have this ready to mail tomorrow.
May 22 – Goteburg
May 23 – Copenhagen
May 24 – Copenhagen
May 25 – Arhus
May 26 – Arhus (Vince lectures at Danish Dental School)
May 27 – Hanover
May 28 – Schweinfurt
May 29 – Bavarian Alps – Oberammagau
May 30 – Liechenstein
May 31 – Freiberg
June 1 – Lusembourg
June 2 - Breda
June 3 – Netherlands
June 4 – Canterbury
June 5 – Bradford
June 6 – Edinburg
June 7 – Inverness
June 8 – Carlisle
June 9 – Aberystwyth
June 10 – London
June 11 – London
June 12 – Iowa City – 9 p.m. Leave London 2 p.m. Arr. Chicago – 4 p.m.
Dear ones,
Vince went to see about getting the oil changed in the car – we have 5000 miles on it already. It went in to the garage last Tuesday for a new fender and a few other things. They said they would need to have it 3 days. So on Thursday Vince called to see when he could pick it up – of course it wasn’t going to be ready that day and the man wasn’t sure it would be ready on Friday, which meant we wouldn’t get it till tomorrow - Saturday and today have both been holidays so Norwegian stores and businesses are closed again. Vince told him he really needed the car – we had commitments. What he said was, “Jeg trenger bilen!” He was supposed to call back on Friday at 10, to find out if it would be ready that day. Think he had mentally prepared himself that it wouldn’t be ready. So when he called at 10, he was relieved to hear that it would be ready, and we should call at 1 to see what time we could get it. Vince was going to noon seminar at the U. to say goodby to the dentists he’d been working with; so he called a cab. Jene called the body shop (he speaks only Norwegian) to find out what time and he said 2 o’clock. So I went to get the car – I also took a cab.
We were invited out for supper Friday to a ‘cousin’ on Vince’s side. We had met her once before. She had roast lamb – very good. With tossed salad and potato salad. And after awhile we had coffee and cake.
Syttende mai was Saturday. We were invited to Koppang’s for breakfast. We had scrambled eggs and cold salmon, and another plate of cold meats – including dried mutton. They tried to push us out the door by 9 because we had special ‘passes for foreigners’ to be in a special area for watching the children parade before the King. We decided not to take the car down, and then had to wait for a long time for the trikk. So the parade had started, and we had to push thru people 8 deep and then cross in front of the parade to get to were we wanted to be. We watched for a couple hours and still no sign of an end to the paade. We decided to leave – both to beat the crowd and also because Oddvar was expecting us in As. We met him at a wide spot in the road where the train stops, and he took us to nearby farm. We met the farmer, I think he is distantly related to Vince. We chatted briefly, took a few pictures and then went on to As. There we watched a short parade. Malfrid took the kids and went to a coffee party. Oddvar went with us, to see a few more farms, take some pictures, etc. He had made new discoveries on Vince’s great grandmother so had some different farms to show us. Then we went to his place. We were going to have cake and coffee but Oddvar was hungry, so was Vince, so Malfrid made sandwiches, too. We visited till midnight. So guess we had celebrated 17 May!
Sunday we drove down to meet him again and this time went with them down to their summer hytte which is south on the Oslo fjord. They hadn’t been down there yet this spring – it’s been cool and wet. But he wanted to get the ‘cistern’ open so they could be collecting water. It’s a simple cabin – no running water, no electricity. But nice. We watched 3 swans swimming right in front. They had packed food along for middag, pork steaks on the grill. Oddvar’s mom came along, too, and we were invited back to her house for coffee later on. Malfrid’s dad and sisters live not too far so they decided we should stop by there. There we had cake and coffee. Afterwards when we got back in the car Oddvar’s mom said, “I was going to have cake, too”. We did have cake but she also made some scrambled eggs and cold him. We didn’t visit quite as long as the night before, but said our goodbyes. They have really put themselves out for us while we have been here.
Today is Pentecost Monday so Norway is closed. We should have gone to see some thing – the sun was even shining. But we didn’t get in gear. I washed 3 loads of clothes – that took over 3 hours. Some are still on a rack on the balcony, and some are still hanging in the dryer.
Without the car last week, we didn’t do much. Tuesday I laid around with another cold – it started while we were on our trip, probably that ferry ride on the Geiranger. Vince had it Thursday, Friday, Saturday –so it was a bad weekend to have so many invitations. Jene and I went downtown on Wednesday, and Thursday I went to the city library to read bygdeboker for awhile.
10:45 p.m.
Had supper after Vince got back. Watched the news and then a movie. Now we’ve just come back from a walk, and it will be dark in a half hour or so. I’d better write down the itinerary and have this ready to mail tomorrow.
May 22 – Goteburg
May 23 – Copenhagen
May 24 – Copenhagen
May 25 – Arhus
May 26 – Arhus (Vince lectures at Danish Dental School)
May 27 – Hanover
May 28 – Schweinfurt
May 29 – Bavarian Alps – Oberammagau
May 30 – Liechenstein
May 31 – Freiberg
June 1 – Lusembourg
June 2 - Breda
June 3 – Netherlands
June 4 – Canterbury
June 5 – Bradford
June 6 – Edinburg
June 7 – Inverness
June 8 – Carlisle
June 9 – Aberystwyth
June 10 – London
June 11 – London
June 12 – Iowa City – 9 p.m. Leave London 2 p.m. Arr. Chicago – 4 p.m.
January 25, 2016
Arhus on Tuesday
Tues. 26 May 1986
Dear ones,
If this is Tuesday, it must be Arhus, or is it, if this is Arhus, it must be Tuesday.
A week ago today was a beautiful sunshiny day – we used it for packing and running errands. Jene and I carried 3 boses over to the Post Office and sent them home. It was some of our bulky winter clothes – boots, jacket, ski boots, etc, winter coats. Our suit cases are jam-packed to guess it was a good idea! Vince and I went to the bank and got Travelers checks. Later in the afternoon we took the trikk downtown to meet the fellow who now lives on the farm Vince’s grandpa Williams was born on. He had a copy of an aerial view of the farm made, and we needed to get it from him.
We should have changed Tuesday and Wednesday around – Wednesday we drove to Porsgrunn to get some china dishes for Norma and Willis. But it rained, sometimes hard most of the day. Norma wanted to fill out LeAnn’s dishes and if you go to the Outlet Store at the factory, they sell “seconds” cheaper. We found out when we got there that the pattern has been discontinued, and they didn’t have all of the pieces. We got what we could – had it shipped to them. We took a different road back so saw one more pretty valley.
Vince had forgotten his camera on Friday when he went in for his final goodbyes, so on our way out of town on Thursday, (and we were a little later than we hoped) we stopped at the Univ. to get a picture of the Koppangs and say goodbye. They’d told us when we had breakfast with them that they wanted us to at least call them the day we left. And wouldn’t you know on our way out of town we were in the wrong lane, and took a wrong street one more time!
We drove as far as Goteburg that day and it was late when we got there. We didn’t see many motels; we were hoping to stay away from Sentrum and we were trying to get somewhat close to the Volvo factory. We finally found a Scandic Hotel at Molndal, so got a room there. We were almost ready to fly home from there after the frustrations of that day – Vince is afraid to let me drive: twice I put my foot on the brake instead of the clotch. That’s different! Especially with a semi right behind us. And we stopped for gas just after we crossed the Swedish border. The hose split as Vince was using it and got gas on his leg and shoe and one side of the car. The attendants wanted to know if he had run over the hose – dumb. They finally said, after talking with the boss, that he should send them the bill for replacing the trousers, socks and shoes and they would reimburse him. We’ll see! We stopped on down the road a ways for some bread and cheese or jam; Vince got out his moccasins and a pair of jeans and changed. So we put the smelly ones in the trunk.
After we checked in to the hotel, Vince and I were going out to look for something to eat – the restaurant at the hotel was closed. We drove thru the business district of Molndal, and didn’t find any erring places open. (Jene said she wasn’t hungry. Think it was because there was a TV in the room.) So we went back to the hotel and ate some more bread and cheese. What a day!
The tour at the Volvo factory was at 1 p.m. on Friday – there were a lot of people on the tour so there must have been a lot of people getting their cars. We were the only ones in Jan. We rode on a small open “train” through the different areas – saw the old assembly lines they use in some parts and the new robots used in others. It was interesting! Think it was 3 before we got going. So were were late getting to the outskirts of Copenhagen. Found a motel there and ate our supper there.
Saturday Jene navigated us to downtown Copenhagen. She has a thing for seeing castles so think it was 4 or 5 we saw. Some we just looked at from the outside. We got to the palace just before noon so we were there for the changing of the guard. One of the castles we did go through. Supposedly a couple of objects in there were hand carved by an ancestor of Vince’s 9 generations ago. A curator who happened to be in the office when we bought our tickets and he told us where to find them. That castle is so full of stuff that we might never have found them. Vince attempted to get pictures, but they were in glass cases, so we wonder about the reflection from the flash. While checking out one more palace, we parked right by Thorvaldsen Museum. We raced thru that - and saw the well-known statue of Christ with head down and hands outstretched that Thorvaldsen is known for. We didn’t see Tivoli or the Little Mermaid. We tell Jene to put that on her list for her next trip. And did I tell you it was raining all day and we were wet and cold. The restaurant at the motel was closed for a party, so after getting dry and warm we drove to Roskilde for supper. Vince and I ordered roast beef with onions and potato salad. There were some thin shavings (grated) of something on the plate. I asked Vince what it was. He said, “If it doesn’t move, eat it”. Wrong! I took a bite – not a taste – a bite – it was horseradish.
The next day we back tracked to Helsinor, where our ferry had landed the night before, to go through Kronberg – the castle Wm. Shakespear mentions in Hamlet. On our way down the dark hall to the dungeon, Vince turned his ankle. Luckily, it wasn’t sprained though he limped for awhile. Denmark celebrated the 18th birthday of their Crown Prince (he is now old enough to rule the country when the Queen is away). And while we were at the castle, the Queen and her husband stopped by for a visit. Jene says she got a picture of them – Vince got one of their Rolls Royce. We started on our way to Arhus, stopping by a couple more castles so Jene could get pictures. We got into Arhus about six. I drove some (and didn’t step on the brake except when I was supposed to). Vince and Jene say I drove around the block twice before we located the Hotel, once more to see parking space and once more to turn in. Vince reviewed his lecture notes after we’d had dinner at the hotel. He took a taxi to the Dental Building yesterday and Jene and I did a little sight seeing on foot. Saw the Cathedral, and Gamle Byen – which is a reconstructed town of old buildings. We stopped in several shops, and yet forgot that we were going to buy umbrellas.
Vince’s day at the Dental College was good, he said. His lecture was well attended and well received. In the evening we were taken out for dinner by 3 dentists and one of the wives (wife of one of them); had a delicious meal in a new concert hall.
This morning we are getting ready to head for Germany. Vince has to stop back at the Dental College – they are paying him some for his lecture and the check wasn’t ready yesterday.
Vince says he is done with the communicating – he knows no German. Now it is up to Jene and me. All we say is “Can you speak English?”
We’re off –
Love, Verla
Dear ones,
If this is Tuesday, it must be Arhus, or is it, if this is Arhus, it must be Tuesday.
A week ago today was a beautiful sunshiny day – we used it for packing and running errands. Jene and I carried 3 boses over to the Post Office and sent them home. It was some of our bulky winter clothes – boots, jacket, ski boots, etc, winter coats. Our suit cases are jam-packed to guess it was a good idea! Vince and I went to the bank and got Travelers checks. Later in the afternoon we took the trikk downtown to meet the fellow who now lives on the farm Vince’s grandpa Williams was born on. He had a copy of an aerial view of the farm made, and we needed to get it from him.
We should have changed Tuesday and Wednesday around – Wednesday we drove to Porsgrunn to get some china dishes for Norma and Willis. But it rained, sometimes hard most of the day. Norma wanted to fill out LeAnn’s dishes and if you go to the Outlet Store at the factory, they sell “seconds” cheaper. We found out when we got there that the pattern has been discontinued, and they didn’t have all of the pieces. We got what we could – had it shipped to them. We took a different road back so saw one more pretty valley.
Vince had forgotten his camera on Friday when he went in for his final goodbyes, so on our way out of town on Thursday, (and we were a little later than we hoped) we stopped at the Univ. to get a picture of the Koppangs and say goodbye. They’d told us when we had breakfast with them that they wanted us to at least call them the day we left. And wouldn’t you know on our way out of town we were in the wrong lane, and took a wrong street one more time!
We drove as far as Goteburg that day and it was late when we got there. We didn’t see many motels; we were hoping to stay away from Sentrum and we were trying to get somewhat close to the Volvo factory. We finally found a Scandic Hotel at Molndal, so got a room there. We were almost ready to fly home from there after the frustrations of that day – Vince is afraid to let me drive: twice I put my foot on the brake instead of the clotch. That’s different! Especially with a semi right behind us. And we stopped for gas just after we crossed the Swedish border. The hose split as Vince was using it and got gas on his leg and shoe and one side of the car. The attendants wanted to know if he had run over the hose – dumb. They finally said, after talking with the boss, that he should send them the bill for replacing the trousers, socks and shoes and they would reimburse him. We’ll see! We stopped on down the road a ways for some bread and cheese or jam; Vince got out his moccasins and a pair of jeans and changed. So we put the smelly ones in the trunk.
After we checked in to the hotel, Vince and I were going out to look for something to eat – the restaurant at the hotel was closed. We drove thru the business district of Molndal, and didn’t find any erring places open. (Jene said she wasn’t hungry. Think it was because there was a TV in the room.) So we went back to the hotel and ate some more bread and cheese. What a day!
The tour at the Volvo factory was at 1 p.m. on Friday – there were a lot of people on the tour so there must have been a lot of people getting their cars. We were the only ones in Jan. We rode on a small open “train” through the different areas – saw the old assembly lines they use in some parts and the new robots used in others. It was interesting! Think it was 3 before we got going. So were were late getting to the outskirts of Copenhagen. Found a motel there and ate our supper there.
Saturday Jene navigated us to downtown Copenhagen. She has a thing for seeing castles so think it was 4 or 5 we saw. Some we just looked at from the outside. We got to the palace just before noon so we were there for the changing of the guard. One of the castles we did go through. Supposedly a couple of objects in there were hand carved by an ancestor of Vince’s 9 generations ago. A curator who happened to be in the office when we bought our tickets and he told us where to find them. That castle is so full of stuff that we might never have found them. Vince attempted to get pictures, but they were in glass cases, so we wonder about the reflection from the flash. While checking out one more palace, we parked right by Thorvaldsen Museum. We raced thru that - and saw the well-known statue of Christ with head down and hands outstretched that Thorvaldsen is known for. We didn’t see Tivoli or the Little Mermaid. We tell Jene to put that on her list for her next trip. And did I tell you it was raining all day and we were wet and cold. The restaurant at the motel was closed for a party, so after getting dry and warm we drove to Roskilde for supper. Vince and I ordered roast beef with onions and potato salad. There were some thin shavings (grated) of something on the plate. I asked Vince what it was. He said, “If it doesn’t move, eat it”. Wrong! I took a bite – not a taste – a bite – it was horseradish.
The next day we back tracked to Helsinor, where our ferry had landed the night before, to go through Kronberg – the castle Wm. Shakespear mentions in Hamlet. On our way down the dark hall to the dungeon, Vince turned his ankle. Luckily, it wasn’t sprained though he limped for awhile. Denmark celebrated the 18th birthday of their Crown Prince (he is now old enough to rule the country when the Queen is away). And while we were at the castle, the Queen and her husband stopped by for a visit. Jene says she got a picture of them – Vince got one of their Rolls Royce. We started on our way to Arhus, stopping by a couple more castles so Jene could get pictures. We got into Arhus about six. I drove some (and didn’t step on the brake except when I was supposed to). Vince and Jene say I drove around the block twice before we located the Hotel, once more to see parking space and once more to turn in. Vince reviewed his lecture notes after we’d had dinner at the hotel. He took a taxi to the Dental Building yesterday and Jene and I did a little sight seeing on foot. Saw the Cathedral, and Gamle Byen – which is a reconstructed town of old buildings. We stopped in several shops, and yet forgot that we were going to buy umbrellas.
Vince’s day at the Dental College was good, he said. His lecture was well attended and well received. In the evening we were taken out for dinner by 3 dentists and one of the wives (wife of one of them); had a delicious meal in a new concert hall.
This morning we are getting ready to head for Germany. Vince has to stop back at the Dental College – they are paying him some for his lecture and the check wasn’t ready yesterday.
Vince says he is done with the communicating – he knows no German. Now it is up to Jene and me. All we say is “Can you speak English?”
We’re off –
Love, Verla
The Alps
Postcard. Verla Williams (31 May 1986). Grüsse von der Grossen Alpenfahrt.
5/31/1986
Dear Dalen, Sharon, Jessica & Kelsey,
Are you still at this address? We saw a monastery and 2 castles today. But so far no mountain tops. It has been raining and cool. Yesterday at Hitler’s Nest we were in snow – it was snowing! Saw Bergen-Belsen Con. Camp memorial, but drove by Dachau. We might have turned in if we’d seen the sign sooner. Start back up towards the north tomorrow. We miss most of the big cities, since Dalen isn’t along to drive. Jené is a good navigator. Lotza Americans traveling.
Love, Verla
Postcard. Verla Williams (31 May 1986). Kloster Ettal-Bayerische Alpen.
5/31/86
Dear Mom and Dad,
We saw this monastery today plus a couple of castles. The weather has been rainy and cool & poor visibility. We drove along way day before yesterday, not so far since. Will have to put in another long day soon. This is quite close to Alps in Switzerland, but we didn’t go across. Was in snow yesterday at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. We’re counting downward on days.
Love, Verla
January 24, 2016
Jené Turns Twenty
Mon. nite - 2 June 1986
Dear ones,
Jene has celebrated her 20th birthday! We stopped for the night in a small town near Heilbronn, between Karlsruh and Stuffgart. We are in the Odenwald (wald-forest) and this is the area the Kepharts came from according to my present information. Last night we stayed in a small town near Strasbourg, France, but in Germany. So we didn’t travel very far today. This morning we drove a scenic route in the Black Forest. Of course, it was raining and foggy. This afternoon we stopped to see an Abbey in a small town called Maulbronn. The abbey was interesting and very old. It became protestant after the Reformation and I think I read is was now an Evangelical Seminary. The parents of one of Vince’s students this past year live in Maulbronn and she told him to call them if we needed help or a place to stay or something. We tried to call them from a pay phone and couldn’t get the phone to work. As we were about to give up, a fellow pulled up and stopped. He was from the phone company and was going to collect the coins. We asked for help, and come to find out the receiver or some part wasn’t working – the German word is kaput – so he fixed it, and then tried the number. It ran, but there was no answer. But if the student (she has graduated now in May) ever sees Vince again, he can say he tried.
Yesterday we drove from Fossen – we saw one more castle in the forenoon. There weren’t enough English speaking people for a tour, so we went along with a German tour. Didn’t get as much out of it, but had a English book which helped a little. We drove along the North shore of Lake Constance – Switzerland is on the south side. We are about a day behind our itinerary so we didn’t take time to go into Austria or Switzerland. And then through the Black Forest. The weather was pretty good so we saw some nice scenery.
Don’t remember if I wrote Sunday night or Monday night last week. But will start with Monday a.m. Vince got ready to go to the Univ at Arhus – he took a cab. Guess it was a fortunate move – parking is almost impossible to find. He said his day went well – his lectures were well received and well attended. Jene and I walked thru a shopping district on our way to the Cathredral. Then we wandered our way to the Gamle Byen – which is rather an outdoor museum with old houses moved in and rebuilt in the style of an old town. There are some shops in some of the buildings. We wandered back to the hotel. We had a nice dinner with 3 of the dental professors and the wife of one of them at the Concert Hall. It was a good meal!
Before we started out Tuesday forenoon, Jene and I went shopping for umbrellas. We figured we didn’t need to get soaked again like we had in Copenhagen. Jene got a picture of the summer palace of the Danish Queen, and we looked at a nearby memorial to the Danish ead in W.W. I. It reminded me of the Viet Nam one – though it wasn’t black marble. It was circular and into a hill, with the names of the dead, their birth and death dates carved. There was also 4 panels, depicting the soldier leaving home, the soldier getting wounded or killed, the armistice and the funeral of the soldier back at home. A little farther out we stopped at a Museum, well done, showing Stone, bronze, Iron, and Viking Ages – relics from each period of time. Their most famous item is a man believed to have lived about 100 B.C. – his body was found about 1952 in a peat bog, well preserved. Hope Vince’s picture turns out. Then we drove – down into Germany past Hamburg. We found a hotel in a small town, and retired for the night.
Wednesday forenoon we did a little shopping – needed bread and jam for our noon lunches, some more film, found a German traveler book, and also the Post Office. Then we headed out – first for Bergen-Belsen, one of the concentration camps. It is more like a memorial, so none of the buildings or crematoriums are there. But a monument and then the mass graves, where a 1,000 or 5,000 Jews were buried. 30,000 lost their lives at that camp. From there we headed for the E. German border. Jene wanted to see it. We did drive through an area where we got a good view of the high fence. From there we headed west towards Bielefeld – I wanted to see Bethel Institutions. It was getting late so we pulled into a hotel along the road not terribly far from Bielefeld. It is the only questionable hotel we’ve stayed at. We were the only guests, though the restaurant downstairs was quite busy. It was owned by a Greek, and they served Greek food.
Thursday we drove into Bielefeld. Got directions to Bethel at a gas station and found it with no problem. But wouldn’t you know it was a holiday in Germany; and it (or nothing else)wasn’t open. We tried to talk to the man at the info desk – he was the only one working, and he spoke no English. But I was able to leave the postage stamps I had saved while I was in Norway. And we looked at a map – it is a huge operation with many, many buildings.
So we got an early start on the road and drove almost to Augsburg. Stopped in a neat little town that had restored its old town in the center of town. We stayed in a nice old hotel in the center of town, redecorated inside 4 years ago. Didn’t even get any pictures there – it was raining.
Friday morning we decided to drive to Berchtesgaden where Hitler had his Eagles Nest. It is close to Salzburg, Austria in the S.E. Corner of Germany. It was 1:30 or so when we got there, and followed the signs to Eagles Nest. Parked our car and took a bus as far as the road goes. From there we walked a short ways in a tunnel to an elevator, lined in bras. It took us to the top. The view from there is fantastic – it’s in the German and Austrian Alps. Would you believe it was snowing at the top and we couldn’t see a thing! We took the bus back down – we got in one which had mostly deaf people on it – evidently a tour group. Some seemed a little distraut that we were on it. But some of the young men near Jene started talking to her. They asked her if she could speak German. One of them knew English but couldn’t speak very well. Jene knew (or knows) the sign alphabet so she talked with them that way a little. That sure pleased them! It was a neat experience. Anyway, the bus we got on wasn’t working and we all had to get off, and then were were told to get on a bus different from the one they all got on. They waved goodbye to Jene like she was an old, old friend.
We started on our drive to GarmischPartenkirken, the popular German resort area in the German Alps. Found a nice hotel, almost elegant, right close in. A lot of American servicemen take vacations in this area. But before that, just after we left Eagle’s Nest and was still on a 2 lane highway, we were in a real slow line of traffic. It was an accident – a car and a semi. The driver was still pinned in the car, and I doubt he was alive. Our traffic line wended thru – the other lane was stopped. That is real sobering! It rained hard most of the way.
Saturday was still a little rainy in the morning. We gave up on seeing the Zugspitke (or something like that) because we knew it would be swallowed up in the clouds. Went up to Ettal and saw a monastery. The church was beautiful; we got in on a service or description – we don’t know. But it was led by a monk or priest maybe and ended with Praise to the Lord the Almighty (we recognized the tune) and a prayer. From there we went to see a castle – it was ostentatiously furnished! And then we headed down the road towards Fussen and another castle or 2. We got through only 1 when the day ran out, so we found a guest house and settled in. (That castle is the one Walt Disney used as a pattern for the one he built in Disneyland.) Went to bed a little early – the room was cold.
Think that brings me to yesterday and the 2nd castle – tomorrow will probably be a day of travel on the fast autobahn. We need to make some time if we are to get to England on the 4th. It is difficult traveling here – the towns are large (a lot of them), the traffic fast, and the language unknown.
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
Jene has celebrated her 20th birthday! We stopped for the night in a small town near Heilbronn, between Karlsruh and Stuffgart. We are in the Odenwald (wald-forest) and this is the area the Kepharts came from according to my present information. Last night we stayed in a small town near Strasbourg, France, but in Germany. So we didn’t travel very far today. This morning we drove a scenic route in the Black Forest. Of course, it was raining and foggy. This afternoon we stopped to see an Abbey in a small town called Maulbronn. The abbey was interesting and very old. It became protestant after the Reformation and I think I read is was now an Evangelical Seminary. The parents of one of Vince’s students this past year live in Maulbronn and she told him to call them if we needed help or a place to stay or something. We tried to call them from a pay phone and couldn’t get the phone to work. As we were about to give up, a fellow pulled up and stopped. He was from the phone company and was going to collect the coins. We asked for help, and come to find out the receiver or some part wasn’t working – the German word is kaput – so he fixed it, and then tried the number. It ran, but there was no answer. But if the student (she has graduated now in May) ever sees Vince again, he can say he tried.
Yesterday we drove from Fossen – we saw one more castle in the forenoon. There weren’t enough English speaking people for a tour, so we went along with a German tour. Didn’t get as much out of it, but had a English book which helped a little. We drove along the North shore of Lake Constance – Switzerland is on the south side. We are about a day behind our itinerary so we didn’t take time to go into Austria or Switzerland. And then through the Black Forest. The weather was pretty good so we saw some nice scenery.
Don’t remember if I wrote Sunday night or Monday night last week. But will start with Monday a.m. Vince got ready to go to the Univ at Arhus – he took a cab. Guess it was a fortunate move – parking is almost impossible to find. He said his day went well – his lectures were well received and well attended. Jene and I walked thru a shopping district on our way to the Cathredral. Then we wandered our way to the Gamle Byen – which is rather an outdoor museum with old houses moved in and rebuilt in the style of an old town. There are some shops in some of the buildings. We wandered back to the hotel. We had a nice dinner with 3 of the dental professors and the wife of one of them at the Concert Hall. It was a good meal!
Before we started out Tuesday forenoon, Jene and I went shopping for umbrellas. We figured we didn’t need to get soaked again like we had in Copenhagen. Jene got a picture of the summer palace of the Danish Queen, and we looked at a nearby memorial to the Danish ead in W.W. I. It reminded me of the Viet Nam one – though it wasn’t black marble. It was circular and into a hill, with the names of the dead, their birth and death dates carved. There was also 4 panels, depicting the soldier leaving home, the soldier getting wounded or killed, the armistice and the funeral of the soldier back at home. A little farther out we stopped at a Museum, well done, showing Stone, bronze, Iron, and Viking Ages – relics from each period of time. Their most famous item is a man believed to have lived about 100 B.C. – his body was found about 1952 in a peat bog, well preserved. Hope Vince’s picture turns out. Then we drove – down into Germany past Hamburg. We found a hotel in a small town, and retired for the night.
Wednesday forenoon we did a little shopping – needed bread and jam for our noon lunches, some more film, found a German traveler book, and also the Post Office. Then we headed out – first for Bergen-Belsen, one of the concentration camps. It is more like a memorial, so none of the buildings or crematoriums are there. But a monument and then the mass graves, where a 1,000 or 5,000 Jews were buried. 30,000 lost their lives at that camp. From there we headed for the E. German border. Jene wanted to see it. We did drive through an area where we got a good view of the high fence. From there we headed west towards Bielefeld – I wanted to see Bethel Institutions. It was getting late so we pulled into a hotel along the road not terribly far from Bielefeld. It is the only questionable hotel we’ve stayed at. We were the only guests, though the restaurant downstairs was quite busy. It was owned by a Greek, and they served Greek food.
Thursday we drove into Bielefeld. Got directions to Bethel at a gas station and found it with no problem. But wouldn’t you know it was a holiday in Germany; and it (or nothing else)wasn’t open. We tried to talk to the man at the info desk – he was the only one working, and he spoke no English. But I was able to leave the postage stamps I had saved while I was in Norway. And we looked at a map – it is a huge operation with many, many buildings.
So we got an early start on the road and drove almost to Augsburg. Stopped in a neat little town that had restored its old town in the center of town. We stayed in a nice old hotel in the center of town, redecorated inside 4 years ago. Didn’t even get any pictures there – it was raining.
Friday morning we decided to drive to Berchtesgaden where Hitler had his Eagles Nest. It is close to Salzburg, Austria in the S.E. Corner of Germany. It was 1:30 or so when we got there, and followed the signs to Eagles Nest. Parked our car and took a bus as far as the road goes. From there we walked a short ways in a tunnel to an elevator, lined in bras. It took us to the top. The view from there is fantastic – it’s in the German and Austrian Alps. Would you believe it was snowing at the top and we couldn’t see a thing! We took the bus back down – we got in one which had mostly deaf people on it – evidently a tour group. Some seemed a little distraut that we were on it. But some of the young men near Jene started talking to her. They asked her if she could speak German. One of them knew English but couldn’t speak very well. Jene knew (or knows) the sign alphabet so she talked with them that way a little. That sure pleased them! It was a neat experience. Anyway, the bus we got on wasn’t working and we all had to get off, and then were were told to get on a bus different from the one they all got on. They waved goodbye to Jene like she was an old, old friend.
We started on our drive to GarmischPartenkirken, the popular German resort area in the German Alps. Found a nice hotel, almost elegant, right close in. A lot of American servicemen take vacations in this area. But before that, just after we left Eagle’s Nest and was still on a 2 lane highway, we were in a real slow line of traffic. It was an accident – a car and a semi. The driver was still pinned in the car, and I doubt he was alive. Our traffic line wended thru – the other lane was stopped. That is real sobering! It rained hard most of the way.
Saturday was still a little rainy in the morning. We gave up on seeing the Zugspitke (or something like that) because we knew it would be swallowed up in the clouds. Went up to Ettal and saw a monastery. The church was beautiful; we got in on a service or description – we don’t know. But it was led by a monk or priest maybe and ended with Praise to the Lord the Almighty (we recognized the tune) and a prayer. From there we went to see a castle – it was ostentatiously furnished! And then we headed down the road towards Fussen and another castle or 2. We got through only 1 when the day ran out, so we found a guest house and settled in. (That castle is the one Walt Disney used as a pattern for the one he built in Disneyland.) Went to bed a little early – the room was cold.
Think that brings me to yesterday and the 2nd castle – tomorrow will probably be a day of travel on the fast autobahn. We need to make some time if we are to get to England on the 4th. It is difficult traveling here – the towns are large (a lot of them), the traffic fast, and the language unknown.
Love, Verla and Vince
January 23, 2016
The Lake District
Postcard. Verla Williams (8 Jun 1986). Beauty Spots of The Lake District.
6/8/86
Dear Dalen and Sharon,
Saw this today on our drive thru Lake District. Also saw Hadrian’s Wall. It’s on to London tomorrow. Am not looking forward to the traffic!
Love, Verla
Postcard. Verla Williams (9 Jun 1986). Rydal Water, The Lake District. ET.6168.
6/9/1986
Dear Mom & Dad,
Saw this yesterday as we drove thru the Lake District. Never did make it to Scotland or Wales. England roads are slow except for the “interstates”. It’s on to London today. Suppose we will get lost!
Love, Verla and Vince
January 22, 2016
London
10 June 1986
Dear ones,
This is London so it must be Tuesday or is it the other way around? We drove in here yesterday afternoon about 5, without too much difficulty. We exited off the motorway orbital near Heathrow; and only asked once where we might find the hotel. An Englishman told us to follow him and he would point the way. We have found the English people to be very friendly and very helpful. So we have a hotel close to the airport, and not too far from the Volvo garage. So we figure the rest should be easy. We took the tube downtown today, and then found a tour bus. And took a ride around. Guess we got a good feel for the hugeness of the city, the many people, and the heavy traffic. Looked like a lot of the traffic was either busses or taxis, but guess people venture down there in cars, too. Even bicyclers! We were studying our maps once – not lost, we knew where we were but were trying to figure out how to get where we wanted to go. A fellow walked up to us and asked if he could help. And he did! Several have remarked to us that we weren’t scared off!
A week ago today we were still in Germany. We were heading northward, of course, and drove for a ways along the Rhine. We thought about driving into Cologne – the cathedral is outstanding – but we put it on the list for next time. And continued driving on towards the Netherlands. By following signs, we found a neat hotel, out in the country, but right on the Rhine.
Wednesday was a long day, but we planned on getting to England. So we drove through a corner of the Netherlands, on thru Belgium and some in France to Calais. There we put the car on a ferry and took a 75 minute ride to Dover, England. Drove on to the next little town, stopped at a house with a bed and breakfast sign. He could only put up 2, but he called a lady just down the block and she had room for 3. She served us a good English breakfast – (in contrast to continental [roll and coffee] breakfasts). We had bacon and eggs. It was reasonable but we felt a little strange in someone’s home. So we have looked for inns or hotels since. She warned us that when the English heard our American accents, they would up their prices – especially when we would buy antiques which aren’t marked. We haven’t bought any antiques so guess we’ve gotten along okay.
Thursday we headed back thru Dover and south and west along the coast. Vince wanted to get the feel of driving on the left hand side of the road before we tried the motorways or the bigger towns. But the little roads are slow – go smack thru the center of every town and village. It seemed like a long day before we stopped at a little town. We had stopped in a small town earlier in the day, and walked around a little, so it hadn’t been only driving.
On Friday, we drove to Stonehenge. It didn’t look like more than a bunch of stones in a field, but when you think that they are 4,000 years old, it becomes mind boggling. We then drove to the motorway so we could make some time. Wanted to get as far north as the Bradford, Halifax, area. Found a nice hotel just a short ways off the Motorway. They even had a swimming pool so Vince took a dip. And on Saturday we drove down to Brighouse. That is where Henry and Jemima Blakey lived when they were married. We nosed around the town awhile – I took the address of a Blakey still living in Rastrick, the village next door, and the place where Henry and Jemima lived when James was born. It was a neat day. We had decided to stay another night at the same hotel so headed back there. That was nice – not to have to find another place and lug the suitcases in!
But we checked out the next morning and headed north through some of the lake country. That was pretty – though lotza traffic. It’s like Minnesota lakes in the summer – real touristy. We walked around some in one of the little towns on the lake, had a cup of coffee and piece of cake. And then on the road again. Got as far north as Hadrian’s Wall. That is from 120 A.D. – stopped at a Museum, and then drove along where the road runs close to the Wall. Got quite close to Newcastle, and found a ‘hotel’. It was already 8 o’clock so we were tired.
That brings us to yesterday, and we started our drive to London. Took the Motorway – it goes faster and all the traffic goes the same way – and still it took most of the day. We did drive off a couple of times – once to find a bank so we would have enough pounds when we got to London. The owner of the hotel told us when we were checking out that 2 cars in the lot had been broken into during the night – we were lucky! Wouldn’t that have been an aggravation?!
So tomorrow is another day in London. Think Jene wants to go back into town. It should be easy – we know how now. Thursday morning we take the car to the Volvo place and leave it. Then we go to the airport!
Think we are all ready for the trip to be over. Vacationing can be tiring; we are ready to sleep in our own beds and take our clothes out of our own drawers and closets. We will probably have stories to tell for years to come. And just wait until you see our 14 rolls of film!
Hope to see all of you soon. Don’t know when we will feel like traveling again – can you come to see us?
Love, Verla and Vince
Dear ones,
This is London so it must be Tuesday or is it the other way around? We drove in here yesterday afternoon about 5, without too much difficulty. We exited off the motorway orbital near Heathrow; and only asked once where we might find the hotel. An Englishman told us to follow him and he would point the way. We have found the English people to be very friendly and very helpful. So we have a hotel close to the airport, and not too far from the Volvo garage. So we figure the rest should be easy. We took the tube downtown today, and then found a tour bus. And took a ride around. Guess we got a good feel for the hugeness of the city, the many people, and the heavy traffic. Looked like a lot of the traffic was either busses or taxis, but guess people venture down there in cars, too. Even bicyclers! We were studying our maps once – not lost, we knew where we were but were trying to figure out how to get where we wanted to go. A fellow walked up to us and asked if he could help. And he did! Several have remarked to us that we weren’t scared off!
A week ago today we were still in Germany. We were heading northward, of course, and drove for a ways along the Rhine. We thought about driving into Cologne – the cathedral is outstanding – but we put it on the list for next time. And continued driving on towards the Netherlands. By following signs, we found a neat hotel, out in the country, but right on the Rhine.
Wednesday was a long day, but we planned on getting to England. So we drove through a corner of the Netherlands, on thru Belgium and some in France to Calais. There we put the car on a ferry and took a 75 minute ride to Dover, England. Drove on to the next little town, stopped at a house with a bed and breakfast sign. He could only put up 2, but he called a lady just down the block and she had room for 3. She served us a good English breakfast – (in contrast to continental [roll and coffee] breakfasts). We had bacon and eggs. It was reasonable but we felt a little strange in someone’s home. So we have looked for inns or hotels since. She warned us that when the English heard our American accents, they would up their prices – especially when we would buy antiques which aren’t marked. We haven’t bought any antiques so guess we’ve gotten along okay.
Thursday we headed back thru Dover and south and west along the coast. Vince wanted to get the feel of driving on the left hand side of the road before we tried the motorways or the bigger towns. But the little roads are slow – go smack thru the center of every town and village. It seemed like a long day before we stopped at a little town. We had stopped in a small town earlier in the day, and walked around a little, so it hadn’t been only driving.
On Friday, we drove to Stonehenge. It didn’t look like more than a bunch of stones in a field, but when you think that they are 4,000 years old, it becomes mind boggling. We then drove to the motorway so we could make some time. Wanted to get as far north as the Bradford, Halifax, area. Found a nice hotel just a short ways off the Motorway. They even had a swimming pool so Vince took a dip. And on Saturday we drove down to Brighouse. That is where Henry and Jemima Blakey lived when they were married. We nosed around the town awhile – I took the address of a Blakey still living in Rastrick, the village next door, and the place where Henry and Jemima lived when James was born. It was a neat day. We had decided to stay another night at the same hotel so headed back there. That was nice – not to have to find another place and lug the suitcases in!
But we checked out the next morning and headed north through some of the lake country. That was pretty – though lotza traffic. It’s like Minnesota lakes in the summer – real touristy. We walked around some in one of the little towns on the lake, had a cup of coffee and piece of cake. And then on the road again. Got as far north as Hadrian’s Wall. That is from 120 A.D. – stopped at a Museum, and then drove along where the road runs close to the Wall. Got quite close to Newcastle, and found a ‘hotel’. It was already 8 o’clock so we were tired.
That brings us to yesterday, and we started our drive to London. Took the Motorway – it goes faster and all the traffic goes the same way – and still it took most of the day. We did drive off a couple of times – once to find a bank so we would have enough pounds when we got to London. The owner of the hotel told us when we were checking out that 2 cars in the lot had been broken into during the night – we were lucky! Wouldn’t that have been an aggravation?!
So tomorrow is another day in London. Think Jene wants to go back into town. It should be easy – we know how now. Thursday morning we take the car to the Volvo place and leave it. Then we go to the airport!
Think we are all ready for the trip to be over. Vacationing can be tiring; we are ready to sleep in our own beds and take our clothes out of our own drawers and closets. We will probably have stories to tell for years to come. And just wait until you see our 14 rolls of film!
Hope to see all of you soon. Don’t know when we will feel like traveling again – can you come to see us?
Love, Verla and Vince
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