Europe - Norway, Finland, Eugene and Home

From Copenhagen, we could either have taken a boat to Oslo, or a train. The train took half as long, and we figured we'd see more. In retrospect, there is a reason that most people take the boat. It leaves in the evening so that you have a chance to see some stuff before bed, you sleep on the boat which is actually way cheaper than getting a hotel, and then you get a cruise of the Fjords along the way.  So instead, we took a train, found out that despite what the travel guides said about Oslo having a great tourist information center right at the RR station which can get you either hotel rooms or B&Bs, we find that a) they moved the information center 6 blocks away and b) they close at 6pm. So, Barbara finds some WiFi while I hang out with Delilah, and does manage to find a hotel for only a bit over $200 a night (but it DOES include breakfast). The good news was the beds were very comfortable other than this strange feature that the matress pads were taller in the center, so there was sort of a ridge you ended up sleeping on. Delilah actually rolled off of hers in the middle of the night with a thump.

Other than being expensive, Oslo is a lovely city in so many ways. People are friendlier, a real depth to the feeling of the place. We did a Fjord cruise and found so much beauty, so much respect for how they live with the land. There is a passion between the land and the sea there - a relationship that plays out both through the elements and through man. We will definitely return to Oslo some day, stay longer, see more.

Then, we were off towards Finland. We went through the center of Sweden, and spent a few hours in Stockholm waiting for our Ferry to Finland. Had enough time to figure out what bus (with help from the tourist info both at the RR station - what a concept) to ride to get to the terminal (oh, and BTW, taxi's in Sweden are NOT regulated), and find a nice cafe for dinner. Talked with the folks there and the shop keepers favorite city in the world turns out the be (drum roll....) Las Vegas. Wow. She's been there 7 times. Dang. I guess it's a Swedish thing...

I take this picture to say "do not rob". Hum, wonder how well that works? 

One of the strolling streets in Oslo. 

A piece of statuary on the water, supposed to look like a sinking ship. 

The Oslo Opera House - the only opera house that you can walk on the top of. Made to look like a glacier. 

Summer homes on some of the Islands in the Fjords. Because they don't have power, sewer, schools, or services, they are only zoned for short term usage - so people don't "live" there, just visit for a weekend or week. Turns out that the people of Norway have more registered boats than cars... They love their water. 

One of many classical buildings

An 8 rotored flying ROV hoisting an HD camcorder to take airiel shots of the buildings - in this case, and art museum. 

A fuel fire at the train station, the night before we were to leave... 

The ferry from Sweden to Finland was a fun adventure. Barbara was exhausted, so by the time we got on board, she was out, but Delilah and I adventured around, did the buffet (ended up being seated at the captains table, but he'd already left), did some shopping at the duty free, played some games on the arcade, and then slept very pleasantly until the porters actual opened the door to the cabin to wake us at 6:30AM before docking.
Once we got in to Finland, we were on Hagstrom Family time (Barbara's side). One cousin, Jerker met us at the ferry terminal and got us to the train, a 5 hour train ride to Jakobstad, where Bror picked us up. We stayed with him and Eva at their lovely house, and they were most cordial hosts. The second day, they took us out to the old family farm and houses (which they preserve as a family museum), and threw a party with about 20 relatives. One fellow was a mink farmer, and another was a trucker that collected hides for tanning. Turns out that the Hagstrom family has alternated between tanning and farming since at least 1400 (the church burned down which destroyed records from before then). Apparently, they would tan hides until they had enough money to buy a farm, and farm until they lost their money and had to tan again... We did Sauna, which Delilah loved, ate and drank at every opportunity, and spent some good quality time.

On the train to Jakobstad

Houses on Amerikagan - a street where there was emigration back from America for some folks that had earned some money there. Many houses on this street were made by craftsmen that returned from America, and made turn of the century American style houses

A nice park used both for community, and a school training area. 

The family museum 

Delilah in one of the "old houses" that her great-great-grandfather used to live in. 

To say that the family is important to the Finns, is an understatement. 

Kitchen in the old house

Us with some assorted tanned hides behind

The train that we took from Jakobstad to Helsinki. Ok, not really :) 

In Helsinki, with another set of relatives, Martin and Taru for lunch, then on to the Airport. 

The return flight took us through Iceland. Someday, we will return to Iceland. Then to Seattle for customs (only the second time someone looked at our passport - the first being when we LEFT the US), and transfer for Eugene. While in Eugene, after the memorial service, we learned that a possum had gotten in to the chicken coup and killed our chickens. Tough couple of days. 

 Finally, on Sunday, we got on the last leg of our journey, from Eugene to Salt Lake, then finally back to San Diego.
A remarkable trip, loaded with so many emotions, stories. We packed a ton in to two weeks. The Finnish relatives would have liked for us to have spent the entire two weeks there, and I'm sure they would have joyfully shuttled us around to meet every relative and visit ever piece of family history they could fit in :)