Norway, here we come!

This is the first ferry of many that we took in Norway. The cars line up an hour ahead in order to be first one (then first off). The traffic directors are very efficient and unloading and loading only takes a few minutes. Buses and big trucks go on these ferries too and when you get parked squished between two large vehicles sometimes you all have to squeeze out one door. But that's the exception, not the rule.





You pass all kinds of sights you never see from a road. Somehow, this made it clear we were coming into Norway!












There are so many quaint places to have a summer cabin. Everyone has one - either on a mountain or in a fjord - sometimes on a mountain on a fjord.










The ferry arrived at the wharf very near to this statue in the main thoroughfare's traffic circle. The statue depicts whalers harpoon's raised in a boat being tossed by a whale's tail. Whaling was a major industry for many, many years in Sandefjord but not anymore.
Petter Blaasvaer met us here to guide us up the 'hill' to his house. (Petter's grandmother and my mother were cousins.)




A wonderful al fresco dinner was waiting for us!
We stayed two nights with Petter and Hilde.
L to R: Laila, Petter's mother (my second cousin), Hilde, his wife, Janne, their younger daughter, and Petter are on the left side of the table. Edit, Tord and Bill on the right side.
What a lovely peaceful home they have!

After dinner we took a walk further up the hill to see the view of the fjord. The next day we drove around to the community you see in the distance to visit Laila at her house. More about that next time.

~ to be continued.
Karen

p.s. We'll be out of touch for a few days so the next posting will be on Sunday.