Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Weekend Rewind...Bergen Part Two: Fjord Tour

Saturday we were lucky with good weather for the majority of the Fjord Trip and were able to get some great pictures. I swear I felt as if I was rolling through postcards. Hope you enjoy the scenes!

Just a little FYI...

Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity. The word comes to English from Icelandic, but related words are used in several Scandinavian languages, in many cases to refer to any long narrow body of water other than the more specific meaning it has in English. The coasts of Norway, Iceland, and Greenland have many fjords.




The floating bridge...the floor bed is too deep to anchor


Um can we say oil money!?



Just a little lunch on the tour...and if ya know me,  you know I LOVE hot dogs with mustard





This is a frame worthy pic of the Mr and me

There were so many waterfalls


Told yal it was BEAUTIFUL



So picturesque






The tour was 4 hours long and it was just perfect...not sure how some people do the 8 or 10 hour tours. It was a nice weekend getaway...and remember never live life too serious... 

Me not being serious...

Cheers, Nelly


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Weekend Rewind...Bergen Part 1

Good Morning Folks! I really wanted to get this post up yesterday but it was a crazy Monday and my routine was all out of whack. I know, I know...it's not like I have a job but it still can get crazy.

I never thought about Norway as a place I wanted to visit. I am sure we all have lists of dream places to visit and Bergen, Norway just never made it on mine. But let me tell you I am so glad I was able to visit and now have so many gorgeous pictures to share.

I also realized that my maiden name originates from the area...I joked all weekend that I was hangin' with my peeps...getting back to my heritage...I thought I could get a discount too since it was so dang expensive. Bless America! $8 for a coke? $30 for a hamburger??

A few friends asked how Norway was and honestly it was so hard to find the accurate words or phrase to express it's beauty and landscape...So here are some photos..

We left early Friday morning and it was a quick 1.5 hour flight. I was prepared with all the essentials...Raincoat and Umbrella...it rains 260 days a year in Bergen...I'd be one depressed chica...

As we walked through the airport I was made aware once again that I cannot escape the presence of 'Merica...
7-Eleven was everywhere!! Also a good reminder of Dallas/FTW. 
Our hotel was so unique. From the outside it looked like it would be more a farmhouse decor hotel, lo and behold is was awesome on the inside. It was a wealthy merchants 'mansion' and warehouse back in the day. All the little nooks and hallways were great evidence of it's transformation, but also made it that much more unique. 

Isn't that sweet!? 
See how modern it is?! I loved the trunks.



The Mr pretty much wanted to take that bed home...It was so comfy.

Grab a book and sit a while...not really it's just wallpaper.

Friday we just walked around the city center area and the infamous fish market and we booked our fjord trip for Saturday morning. I'll post all the fjord tour pictures tomorrow for yal. After the tour we took the funicular up to Mt. Floyen and walked around some of the trails, played with the trolls and saw amazing views of Bergen. Sunday we wandered the city past the fish market and found some hidden treasures. 

Edward Grieg...famous composer

Long way from home, huh?! 

City Centre...Look at those clouds.

This was our ride for the Fjord Tour

The sun came out to play...just for a little

Sweet Roses always reminding me of Calista 


Think that troll wants a kiss 

Ole Bull...famous violinist from Bergen

The Funicular


Bryggen Wharf

My little friend

Views of Bergen from Mt Floyen

All of the houses were bright colors... I mean I would too in that rainy city

Norway is one of the largest salmon producers

Old cable wheel of the funicular


Pretty sure Santa would be upset with this one...Reindeer Filet

The Mr in 60yrs ... I kid I kid

Bergen Theatre


His crazy eyes were just weird

Skillings Bolle...So yummy and reminded me of my Grandmother's kolaches
Tomorrow I will share the wonderful pictures of the Fjord Tour...so yal come back now ya hear! 

Cheers, Nelly





Thursday, August 15, 2013

Small World

It is a small world indeed but yet so much to see and experience...

Off in a bit to meet a family friend...she is the granddaughter of a special couple I knew growing up. I met her my senior year of high school and thought she was pretty cool then. I totally forgot they lived in the London area...but how small the world is...she lives only about 2mi from our flat.

We are off early in the morning to Bergen, Norway...we are going to tour and hike the fjords. Can't wait to share all the pics with you when we return.

Cheers, Nelly

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Cooking it...London Style

I love to cook. I would make new recipes and take lunch or dinner to friends. I miss grilling, miss the crock pot and all my seasonings. But I haven't given up on cooking, I've just become more creative.

The kitchen is quaint. There's a stove top and an oven but they are half the size of what you would have in the states. I tend to find meats already prepared seasoned-wise and then just fresh veggies that I can either roast, bake, boil or saute. So far no complaints from the Mr...

Getting those gas burners on is sometimes a challenge

Itty bitty oven


And it was delicious! 

Cheers, Nelly

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Lessons of London...Part Two

Each day there is something else that I learn to adapt to here in London...

(You can read my first Lessons of London here)

- Grocery shopping is still an adventure; zucchini is called courgettes, eggplant is aubergine...


- One day we wanted a little sweet snack and I was confused what a digestive cookie was and then found this adorable and smart sleeve of Oreos...why don't they package Oreos like this in the states?? It would really help with eating half a pack and a half gallon of milk in one sitting! Not saying I've ever done that...or am I?!

- Fashion is CRAY CRAY!! I feel as if I am back in the 1980's. I was wearing onsies in the 80's but these kids truly went back to their roots. And if you are wearing a sheer shirt or skirt or dress apparently you must wear dark undergarments or hey none at all.


- Number one rule of London is to never leave the flat without an umbrella. It may be sun shiny bright but it still will rain on ya. 

- There is a newspaper that is handed out at the tube stations, The Evening Standard. I always grab one and read what is going on around us and while reading some of the articles I come across the interesting spelling of words and how they differ...where we would use a 'z' they tend to use the letter 's'...i.e.  realise vs realize. Also, throwing trash away is called 'bin it'. It is a trash bin not a trash can. 

I'm sure I will learn more today, so yal come back next week for another lesson, ya hear... 

Cheers, Nelly