OPDALSLAG NORWAY TOUR, JULY 23 - AUGUST 3, 2007

Submitted by Pauline Strait


On July 23,2007, nineteen eager Midwesterners met at the Minneapolis airport to embark on a wonderful adventure - a trip to the beautiful country of Norway. All four of my grandparents were born in Norway, two of them at Oppdal, and I had dreamed for many years of visiting there, but never really believed it would actually happen. Having five other family members along made the trip extra special.

We traveled with a great group of people, most of them with ties to the Oppdal area. After two days in Oslo, where we visited the Viking Ship and Kon- Tiki Museums, Vigeland Sculpture Park, City Hall where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually, Akershus Fortress, and other sights; we traveled by motor coach north toward Oppdal. We toured the Norwegian Emigrant Museum in Hamar, the Maihaugen Open Air Museum and, of course, the 1994 Olympic sites at Lillehammer, where we spent the night; then on to Oppdal.

The entire trip was wonderful, but the highlight for me was the two days and three nights spent in Oppdal. The hospitality of the local Oppdal people was wonderful. Within an hour of arriving at the hotel, local distant relatives (I did not even know before we arrived) came to welcome us. Over the next two days they showed us around the area, took us to church, and invited us to their homes and farms for fellowship and wonderful food. We visited farms in the area where grandparents and their families had lived. I was struck by how welcoming and genuinely excited they were to see us. That time went entirely too fast. The last evening there we enjoyed a special meal served in a Sami "lavoo" tent.

Upon leaving Oppdal, we traveled to "fjord country". We saw magnificent scenery, cruised on the Geirangerfjord, rode the troll car to Briksdal glacier, saw spectacular waterfalls, and stayed in beautiful hotels in Loen and Balestrand, on our way to Bergen. Our one-day and two nights in Bergen were very busy. We enjoyed the historic Bryggen wharf and the fish market. We also took a city tour, visited Troldhaugen (the former home of composer Edvard Grieg) and traveled to the top of Mt. Floien for dinner in the restaurant, with a beautiful view of the city (marred a little by the rain and fog, but still a great experience).

Ken Mjoen was a great host and every day he could be seen "counting noses" to make sure nobody was left behind. We were sorry LeElla was not able to make the trip. I always thought I would enjoy a trip to Norway, but this trip exceeded all my expectations. I loved every minute of it and would recommend it to anybody who likes to travel.


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