Science! Psuedo-science! Nature! Art! Nonsense!
December 2, 2021
art, mountain, nature, photography, travel bergen, gondola, leaf Leave a comment
The morning started with a quick visit to pick up some pottery cups we couldn’t leave Norway without. We were driving in a Leaf.
The cups in question
The artist in question
The leaf
After a circuitous meandering walk, we made it to the gondola, and up we went. The gondola has been newly renovated.
Gondola
Up we go
Masked of course
Sunset coming soon
Photo op at the top
The couple
Hot chocolate behind you
No gøran
Gøran
We escaped through a classified tunnel back to the leaf.
December 1, 2021
cooking, photography, travel 14 courses, bare, bergen, michelin star, Norway, paparazzi, restaurant, wine 1 Comment
No food for this guy
Bergen has its first Michelin star restaurant, called Bare. We finagled our way in and had an incredible 14 course meal. Always go to fancy pants dinners with really fun friends. We laughed as much as we ate.
Course 1 (this was a pre-dinner bar treat)
The paparazzi have arrived
Course 2 (also in the bar)
Course 3 came in a beautiful dish. Each was different.
Course 4 was lil tacos (still in the bar)
Finally, we moved into the dining room. BTW, a hint about having a meal like this. say YES to all possibilities (like the caviar course and the wine pairing option). Always YES.
Starting the meal
Cider and a fist
Course 5 (sea urchin) with the cider
Our first wine (blanc de blanc) with the caviar
The incredible caviar course (number 6). very creamy.
Were we happy?
Course 7 wine: sauvignon blanc
Course 7 was calamari (which I usually don’t eat)
More paparazzi
The bread arrives
Now the paparazzi are out of control!
Wine for the crab
Course 8: alaskan crab with barley
Wine from Santa Barbara
Course 9: king crab and parsnip
wine
You will like the wine!
Wine
Course 10: lamb and mushroom
wine from Italy
Course 11: reindeer
sweet wine
Course 12 into the sweets (with blue cheese topping). Wow.
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Course 13, a tart little number
wine (a “white amarone”)
Course 14 finished the evening
grappa in the bar (coffee for some)
the empties
November 27, 2021
mountain, photography, travel bus, ferry, fjord, flåm, gudvangen, highest train in the world, myrdal, Norway, Norway in a nutshell, romey, train, voss Leave a comment
This iteration of Norway in a Nutshell was a one day jaunt out of (and back to) Bergen. Things got underway early (around 8:40) at the Bergen train station. The trip went Bergen–>Voss–>Gudvangen–>Flåm–>Myrdal–>Bergen (through Voss). Arrival at home was 6pm.
Of course the day was perfect and the light was beautiful. Even the clouds of Bergen parted temporarily as we departed.
Norway in a nutshell vehicle 2 is a bus. pic.twitter.com/UPXDplAuzw
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) November 25, 2021
Norway in a nutshell vehicle 4 is an old train. The flåm train route is one of the best rides on the planet. (Paging @SteveBellovin) pic.twitter.com/Vf3jpQj39E
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) November 25, 2021
Here’s how the day went. After a delicious breakfast in Bergen at the Børs hosted by the delightful Dalia, we walked to the plastic-wrapped train station and found our place.
Masked on the train to Voss
It was still early in Voss and the 15 minute connection wait for the bus was uneventful.
Voss station (the blue appears)
The bus to Gudvangen is roomy and nice. But no wifi this time (WTF?!). The trip took about an hour, leaving 45 minutes to have some cocoa and walk around in Gudvangen.
Waterfall from a bus
On the way to Gudvangen
Majestic and way bigger than this picture makes clear
Looking back to Gudvangen
The bridge
The fjord was simply magical
A crystal clear day with little wind left the Fjord a gigantic deep mirror.
The ferry arrives
Since we were touring on off season (and during a pandemic), snacks were harder to come by than on previous Norway in a Nutshell runs. Even the ferry (which usually has a nice snack bar with various food items) was limited to coffee and tea. Bring along some snacks.
The two hour ferry ride is nothing short of stunning.
Pretend Viking boat
The ferry (very upscale)
These days, the ferry (which can comfortably hold 400) is a super modern, quiet boat with lots of room. It is also fast.
Pole position (with a charger)
Just as we departed, some base jumpers blew in from on high. Check out this spectacular landing.
Looking back into the wake
From the bow
Norway
Mountain boat
We called ahead to the Flåm for a pizza from the bakery. This is a good move! The pizza was delicious and it was great to walk in and have a hot pie waiting.
Yum!
Then it was a 3 minute amble over to catch the Flåm–>Myrdal train (one of the steepest inclines in railroad) in an historical vehicle. Here we go.
The climb really is remarkable.
Myrdal here we come (check out the switchbacks)
A short stop at the waterfall is always in order.
Romey takes a picture
Romey also takes a video. (These bits are for Emily.)
And then on to Myrdal with some daylight remaining (remember, the sun sets around 3:30pm in late November).
We made it!
After a few minutes at the top, the train to Bergen arrived. Then it was three hours back, arriving just in time for dinner with friends (including Vemen and Hovard this time).
Last train back
The route
Back home in Bergen.
October 29, 2021
art, photography, travel art, art museum, dürer, IMPei, Indiana University, IU Art Museum, matisse, picasso, sculpture, toga 1 Comment
Smack dab in the heart of campus, the IU Art Museum occupies a beautiful building designed by I.M.Pei (whose initials spell out imp, for what it’s worth). The collection is well curated and presents a blend of historical artifacts in one space and an art collection in others.
Visit if you can.
START
A special exhibit of Dürer prints was on display in the 3rd floor gallery. This was one of those many life coincidences as Eli and I had been discussing his art the night before somewhat spontaneously. The world is small.
Ancient art was also available if the 1500s were too recent.
The contemporary collection includes mostly minor works, but has a nice blend of artifacts.
LOL
Off the cliff, chased by Native Americans!
Which results in an erection?! OK then.
FINISH
February 3, 2020
art, photography, travel art, australia, photography, sydney, sydney mca, sydney museum of contemporary art, video 1 Comment
Another visit to the stellar Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art. Cornelia Parker was on special exhibition.
February 2, 2020
animals, nature, ocean, photography, travel maritime museum, photography, sea life sydney aquarium, squarium, sydney, video 1 Comment
The aquarium was a first. So was the maritime museum. Visit both.
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November 30, 2019
food, travel food, ginza, gonpachi, japan, photography, rio, riotaro okada, sushi, tokyo, video 1 Comment
Thanks to my friend Rio, a masterful sushi lunch in Ginza at Gonpachi. Best sushi so far this life.
November 29, 2019
mountain, travel fuji, fujiyama, japan, mt fuji, nature, photography, shinkansen, travel, video 2 Comments
Fujiyama from the shinkansen.
November 29, 2019
nature, plants, travel, trees Arashiyama, bamboo, eli, japan, kyoto, nature, photography, travel 1 Comment
November 28, 2019
film, nature, photography, travel eli, Fushimi Inari, gem, jackie_, japan, kyoto, nature, photography, shinto, shinto shrine, shrine, travel, video Leave a comment
Four years is the blink of an eye for this Shinto Shrine in Kyoto since it has been here for over 1300 years. A previous visit was pre-Fall in 2015. This visit happened at the height of Fall in Japan.
