http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker Sophie in the land of the midnight sun Tue, 30 May 2006 07:56:30 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en More tourist outings, to artist communes and local galleries, and a tour of historic Risør (it's pretty much all historic) by a guide dressed in period costume (from what period, I never discovered). And less tourist activities. Another boat ride, this time to the island of Lyngør, which one a ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker/play-a-little-work-a-little-sleep-very-little.html We're in Risør now. It's another charming seaside village, population 7000 in the winter, 20,000 in summer. The houses are a uniform white wood, like in Flekkefjord. After a rainy drive from Flekkefjord, we arrived in Risør and headed straight for the Mayor's office. He was looking rather harried, being ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker/through-the-pearly-gates.html I don't know why Norway isn't better known for its cuisine, or at the very least for their great hospitality. Åse, my host, had everyone over for a shrimp dinner in a very traditional coastal way. She put out two vats of boiled shrimp, then passed around bread, butter and ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker/on-the-food-trail.html We've seen more industry here than I'd ever think to pursue as a tourist.  The shipyard, plus a tour of Tinfos, a mining company in Kvinesdal on the outskirts of Flekkeford.  Watching molten metal being poured, cooled and stacked has a very MadMax feel to it, especially through safety goggles.  Then there's ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker/more-flekkefjord.html This morning we went to a shipyard, apparently one of the finest in Norway. We were told that among the top ten boats in Norway, 9 of them come from this builder. And in 2003 their G. E. Sars won "Boat of the Year" in Norway. The owner took us on ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker/19-mai.html Saying a long goodbye to our various hosts, we boarded a mini-bus for Flekkefjord, our next destination.  Our driver, Johann, must be close to 80, but he took the winding roads like a BMW ad.  I'd forgotten to take my quasi-dramamine, and got well nauseated very quickly.  Åsa, the president ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker/18-mai.html During a break in the 17 mai festivities, Randi and I finished the choco chip cookies. I think baking soda is pretty critical for those things.  Now I know.  But they taste *kind of* like ccc's. Lunch after the Rotary meeting was a lavish Norwegian cold buffet: salmon cured in brine ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker/more-food-only-for-diehard-foodies.html Today, May 17th, is Constitution Day in Norway, the biggest holiday of the year.  Randi, her husband Thorbyen, and Thorva (the younger daughter), all got up early to get ready for the children's parade.  Thorva had already left by the time I got downstairs.  Randi, Thorbyen, and Turenn (the elder daughter) ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker/17-mai-may-17.html It wouldn't be my site without a mention of the food.  I'm loving the dairy products here, which is a good thing because they're everywhere.  The butter (don't worry, Stephenie) is soooooooo fresh and creamy.  We made butter-cream filling for the lefse with powdered sugar and a hint of cinnamon ... http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker/food-2.html 10:04pm, and it's still light outside..... still can't seem to upload photos.  I'll work on it tomorrow. http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Xpacker/10-oclock-and-alls-well.html