We were so surprised that we didn't even get any photos but on the night of the big Julebord (Christmas Dinner) we got a visit from Erin, Ali, and Susie. We had a great time eating pinekjøtt, ribbe and all the trimmings. Next morning we were up late for breakfast but ready for a day in Bergen.
First it was the old castle and fort, followed by shopping at Bryggen and some lunch.
This is the view of the Bryggen from the back. It was cold too, with highs below freezing.
About 3:30 we all gathered downtown at Festplassen - the main square - for the Lysfest. Yes, It was December first and time to light the official Christmas Tree for the city of Bergen.
Thousands of people gathered around the big pond, in front of the stage and jumbotron, and on the surrounding streets.
Various local entertainers sang Christmas songs until it got dark at about 4:00. Then they got right down to business. The tree was lighted in simple Norwegian style - very minimalist - just white lights. We all and I mean just about all of the 30,000 people sang carols together. As we looked around we started to see torches being waved about. They were handing out torches! Free torches for Everybody! OK, not little kids.
Before long we were holding torches and singing Deilig er Jorden. That was followed up with a great fireworks display shot over the big pond. By 6 pm it was over; we were cold and ready to sit down.
We walked a couple of blocks to the "teaching center" that the church maintains for the missionaries to use for their street contacts and as a shelter from the rain and cold. Tonight it was perfect for hot chocolate and sweet Norwegian waffles with jam. We sat around with the young adults, missionaries, and visitors until the crowd had cleared. Then we headed home in the cold.
We drove up until the steep road got too slippery in Sandviken for a night view of the city.
After church we posed for this wintery scene. The days of our daughter's visit were the coldest days we saw in Norway. It was in the low teens and the highs were only in the twenties.
Right around the corner from our church is the Fantoft Stave Church. It was beautiful in the snow.
Erin had to leave (work in London beckoned) but we got Ali and Suze for another day. We took the funicular up to Fløyen and then continued the day with a little more shopping and a beautiful ride out to Nærøyfjord.
It got colder as we went into the mountains. All of the waterfalls were frozen.
We made it to this part of Sogne Fjord in time for sunset. Then it was back to the house and off to the airport. We had a most enjoyable time for the long first weekend of advent.
Besides packing, cleaning, and clearing out stuff we didn't need, we had numerous dinner or lunch appointments. Christiana and Vital had cooked a lovely goodbye dinner for us.
We shared a wonderful lunch with Karin and Henry. There were other goodbyes too.
The Broughs, front left in the photo, came one week before our departure. We had all of those days to help them get set up, introduce them to people and answer questions.
The night before we left Bergen we gathered with the Young Adults, our missionaries and a few others at the home of President and Sister Berg.
After a fantastic family recipe of codfish with sour cream sauce, plus ribbe and Christmas pølser (Christmas sausages), we posed for a farewell shot.
We flew to Oslo on Dec 17th. After a day kicking around the city we gathered for our farewell dinner with President and Sister Evans. Seven of us were going home - none of us slept much.
With President and Sister Evans
Oslo to London to Dallas to Sacramento and it is over. We were met by this enthusiastic crowd. Now, we are on to a new begining, our family and renewing relationships with old friends. We learned so much, made so many new friends and got back much more than we gave. We know that we are fortunate to have had such an experience and such complete support from our wonderful family. So, it is on to a new adventure ... as soon as we get unpacked!
