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

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

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

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

Weekend Rewind

Another great weekend and it was packed full with new sites. We have been so lucky with great weather on the weekends and it looks like it'll continue.

Yal ready for a bunch of pictures??! Ok, good...

 Friday we went to Yauatcha for dinner. It was my first time trying dim sum and it was delicious. We ordered a pumpkin mushroom dish and it was decorated so adorable.

The Lola drink was so refreshing...lemongrass goodness!

We walked around the Carnaby Street area after dinner and stopped for some amazing carrot cake and blueberry tea.

        

           

The Spirit of Soho Mural

A pedestrian mall with all the stores you could want

As often as you use an umbrella here...guess they might as well be fun

Shakespeare just hanging out 

Saturday we made the trek to Borough Market and I can't wait to go back! It was exactly what I would think a market should be. There were so many booths to see...from homemade jams, to cheese, to bake goods and meats. We definitely got a true German Bratwurst with sweet German mustard and sauerkraut. I was in heaven! We picked up some French cheese, unpasteurized and thought it would be nice to try...lord bless it! It stunk to high heaven and was awful but at least we tried. 

That's the truth

Goat's Milk Ice Cream! Next time I must get the Apple Pie Flavor...the Mr wouldn't swap. 

Can we say carb overload!? 

The market is next to Tower Hill- home of the Crown Jewels. We walked across the London Bridge parallel to the Tower Bridge that is most recognized. We took a tour led by a Beefeater and he was awesome. I don't think I ever laughed so much on a historical tour. There were definitely plenty of American jokes and jabs. We stood in queue (yep, queue...you don't line up here) for the Crown Jewels even after a long day. They don't allow pictures inside and truly wish they did. All of the jewels were breathtaking! At Tower Hill there was also the Armour Hall. It was an extremely long day but so worth it all. 

The Shard

Tower Bridge

Bloody Tower...they leave no need for imagination

Our hilarious tour guide and Beefeater

White Tower

Always so serious

Inside here are the Crown Jewels

Armour Hall

Hey boy hey

The Keeper

It's expression makes me giggle

My knight in shining armor...I mean my knight taking a picture of me and shining armor 

Monkey-ing around

I'm not a tourist or anything am I?! 

Made our way back to the flat for a quick nap and freshen up for another night out on the town. We went to Aqua and had tapas. This chick even tried octopus. I was nervous bet after spending time speaking with the Spanish waiter he convinced me to try it...and after he kept pouring us some free rose cava. 

The Mr sneaked a picture of me chilling on the tube

View off the terrace at Aqua

Nervous Nelly about to try octopus

Sunday was a lazy day and a walk through Notting Hill for some dinner. After all the fun we had this weekend...a lazy day was just what I needed. Now I need to go to the grocery store since I didn't do it yesterday...Yal have a magnificent Monday! 

Cheers, Nelly