Hei all, We had a great trip to Norway. Sonja and I spent the first 3 days with Kris McCrea in Oslo. Had fun visiting with Egil and Gunhild Øyangen in Oslo. (I also got a terrible red rash and was sick the first couple of days :-)) We also had an evening meal with Anne Hildrum. Anne was very helpful in helping me with train reservations and schedules in Norway. (Here on the farm we call it supper, but we were told in Norway that supper is like garbage, at many places we went to :-)) On Sunday the three of us took the train to Flåm, Norway. The scenery was beautiful. We went from Spring in Oslo to Winter in Myrdal and back to Spring again in Flåm. On Monday, we went our separate ways. Sonja and I went north to Øyer and Lillehammer area to visit with the hubby's relatives. It rained most of the time, but we had lots of fun anyway. First stop was the Ringsaker Church where a cousin of Lyle's is the minister. We had a wonderful meal about 11 am, then we got a great tour of the Church from top to bottom. About 3 pm we got served another great meal. Then off to Øyer to visit some more relatives. We also viewed the Hasli and Aspehaug Farms where Sonja's gggrandmother grew up and lived. We stayed with relatives there overnight and had another huge meal at 7 pm. We also spent time in the barn with the new lambs that were just born. In the morning we were served a great breakfast and went off to Lillehammer to catch the train to Hell. Our first trip there. Terje Erik Garberg picked us up there and took us to Tydal, where some of my family came from. We stayed with Johanna Marie Østby and were served more food. :-)) In the morning, we were treated to a tour of the Tydal area and some of the farms that my family came from. We also had a tour of the Tydal Museum. Later that day, we were picked up by Terje Erik and taken to his house in Selbu. There we met Marlyn and Shirley from the Trondelag list. We had a great couple of days in Selbu. We should have had our picture in the Selbu newspaper, if Brynjar had film in his camera?? Terje Erik took us on a tour of the Selbu Church. Per Magne from the Tommerdalen's took us on a tour of the Museum and also where the sweaters and knitted stuff is made in Selbu. We were treated to lunch at his house and a musical program by Brynjar Dahlo (Also a member of the Tommerdalen's) on his accordian. From Selbu, a cousin picked us up and took us to Roros for the weekend. We got a tour of the NEA radio station from Tore Ostby. We also visited his wife and family in their home. On the 17th of May, we watched the program in Roros and taped it all. We also marched in the parade and waved Norwegian flags. Then we met with more family and went for a Buffet at a local place. All the great foods of the area were offered and I think I tried most of them. On Sunday we headed towards Aalen and Haltdalen. Was a beautiful trip and I taped it all. We stopped at the Storli Farm and visited with Wenche Tamlagsronning and her daughter. It was beautiful to see, I had read about the place for years and the view was out of this world. The monument honoring Jonas Lie was also something to see at the farm. From there we went to Nordpa at Aunegrenda and had a reindeer dinner. Was really exciting for me. I was in home territory. I could view what I had only envisioned all these years in my office here in Flom. :-)) This trip was for my father, he came from the Roros, Aalen, Haltdalen and Tydal areas of Norway. He always wanted to know where he came from, I just wish he would have been here to go with me on the trip. We met lots of family and had dessert at the Nysetvoll (Nysetvold) Farm with Sigurd and Bjorg Nysetvoll and their daughter Marit and other extended family members. It was something special to see the writing desk that my gggrandfather sat at and wrote, also his chest with his name on and his clock. Made everything come alive for me. Everyone was so nice and great to visit with, even if we did not understand all they said. Someone was always willing to translate. On the way back to Roros, we stopped in Haltdalen at the Church. Got to see my tip tip's gravesite and his marker. A gggrandaughter bought a permanent marker and put on his grave instead of the old iron crosses they use to use. On Monday morning, Endre Holden and his daughter Monica picked us up. We got to see their Summer Cabin in the mountains at Roros. What a beautiful site. I could easily spend time there, as long as I had my computer....:-)). They then took us into Roros and we toured the Church and the Copper Mines. We also stopped and had waffles at a small cafe. I could spend days in that area of Norway and not be bored at all. When we left Roros, we headed towards Trondheim and Endre's home. The scenery was so beautiful I can not explain it. Both Endre and Monica were very good at explaining things to us. When we got to Trondheim, they took us by the ski jump, there was still some snow left at the bottom. Then we went to Endre and Greta's home and got to visit with the rest of the family and have a great meal. The daylight all night was difficult to get use to. Seemed like we never got tired. The next morning Monica took us on a tour of Trondheim. One thing I especially liked was the beach. It was very beautiful and peaceful at the same time. She was excellent at explaining things that we had questions about. We then went on to the round tower restaurant and had lunch. Lyle should enjoy that, we just set the video camera on the table and let him view Trondheim as we did while enjoying an excellent lunch. After lunch, we met up with Turid, a friend of mine from a few years ago and went to her house. It was much fun to visit with her family and her father. Turid and her father, Asbjorn stayed at our home in 2000. I hope they can someday come again. We had great food there and sweets that are so good. In the morning, she took us to Sverresborg and we got to take a tour through the area before leaving on the train for southern Sweden to visit more relatives who have roots in Norway and because of economic conditions, moved to Sweden in the 1940's. To be continued............. Margit and Sonja