Norway in a Nutshell: (Pt. 2-Voss & Bergen)

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Norway has to be one of the most breathtaking places I have been so far in my travels! If you only had time to visit one place in Scandinavia, I would certainly put Norway at the top of your list. This post will include the last part of our Norway in a Nutshell tour (Voss & Bergen). I will post the 1st half of the adventure in my next post (Oslo, Flåm Railway & Nœrøyfjord). I’m posting them backwards so that it will show up on the blog in the correct order on the home page.  Here are some highlights from the second part of our Norway in a Nutshell adventure:

Mia and I in front of the Fleishman's Hotel where we stayed for one evening after our fjord cruise.

Mia and I in front of the Fleischer’s Hotel (built in 1864) where we stayed for one evening after our fjord cruise.  Lots of history here (royal guests) as well as an amazing view of Lake Vangsvatnet.

 

Mia and I with this huge troll in Voss, Norway.

Mia and I with this huge troll in Voss, Norway.

 

Mia had fun playing on this cool Voss sign.  Voss bottled water comes from this small town in Norway!

Mia had fun playing on this cool Voss sign!

 

Mia and I in front of the breathtaking Vangsvatnet Lake.

Mia and I in front of the breathtaking Vangsvatnet Lake.

 

The tranquil view of Lake Vangsvatnet! Ahhhhh... I sat for a long time on a rock and really soaked up the view and the fresh air!

The tranquil view of Lake Vangsvatnet! Ahhhhh… I sat for a long time on a rock and really soaked up the view and the fresh air!

 

Mia playing in front of the Lake.  She has always been our "water baby".  She is the happiest when she is in the water or close to it!

Mia playing in front of the Lake. She has always been our “water baby”. She is the happiest when she is in the water or close to it!

One last shot of Mia with the beautiful lake! I think she could have easily spent all day here!

One last shot of Mia with the beautiful lake! I think she could have easily spent all day here!

 

Vangsvatnet Lake in Voss, Norway.  I appreciate nature as an amazing work of art which we can enjoy everyday.

Vangsvatnet Lake in Voss, Norway. I will always remember this as one of the most serene moments of my life!

 

On to the next stop! Mia and I right before we boarded the train to Bergen!

On to the next stop! Mia and I right before we boarded the train to Bergen!

The following photos are from our last stop on the Norway in a Nutshell adventure – Bergen, Norway (Mt. Floyen, Fløibanen Funicular):

Street scene in beautiful Bergen, Norway!

Street scene in beautiful Bergen, Norway!

 

Mia on a cool fish sculpture in Bergen.

Mia on a cool fish wood carving in Bergen.

 

This is the entrance to the Fløibanen funicular.

This is the entrance to the Fløibanen Funicular.

 

Tracks and tunnel on the Fløibanen Funicular ride.

Tracks and tunnel on the Fløibanen Funicular ride.

 

The Norway flag and the Fløien Folkerestaurant at the top of Mt. Floyen.

The Norway flag and the Fløien Folkerestaurant at the top of Mt. Floyen.

 

The stunning view at the top of Mt. Floyen.

The stunning view at the top of Mt. Floyen.

 

This is Mia who went into this pose when we made it to the top of Mount Floyen in Bergen, Norway.

Mia went into this pose when we made it to the top of Mount Floyen in Bergen, Norway.

 

Mia on our hike around Mt. Floyen.

Mia on our hike around Mt. Floyen.

 

Mia and Danny checking out the swing on our hike around Mt. Floyen.

Mia and Danny found this cool swing on our hike around Mt. Floyen.

 

Getting ready to head back down the mountain!

Getting ready to head back down the mountain!

 

The beautiful view from the bell tower where we stayed in Bergen.

The beautiful view from the clock tower where we stayed in Bergen.

 

Another view right after sunset from the top of the clock tower.

Another view right after sunset from the top of the clock tower.

 

A beautiful ship at night in Bergen.

A beautiful ship at night in Bergen.

 

Getting ready to fly back to Helsinki... An amazing Mastiff dog we found at the Bergen airport wanted to play with Mia's stuffed whale!

Getting ready to fly back to Helsinki… An amazing Mastiff dog we found at the Bergen airport wanted to play with Mia’s stuffed whale!

 

Saying goodbye to Norway... An amazing Mastiff dog drooling and happy as can be and at the Bergen airport! :)

A great way to say goodbye to Norway… Seeing an amazing Mastiff dog drooling and happy as can be at the Bergen airport! 🙂

 

For more information about Voss, please visit:  Voss, Norway

For more information about Bergen, please visit: Bergen, Norway

For more information about the Fløibanen funicular, please visit: Fløibanen (Bergen)

My next post will be Part 1 of our Norway in a Nutshell adventure.  We can now mark another Red Pin Adventure off our Travel/Life Bucket List:  Oslo – Bergen, Norway (See the Fjords & Ride on the Flåm Railway)

Copenhagen, Denmark: Tivoli Gardens

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I’m way behind again on blog posts… we have been very busy planning for our upcoming move and packing up the apartment. It is hard to believe that we have less than two weeks left here in Finland. We finally had beautiful weather this weekend and we enjoyed a high of 72℉ today! Too bad we will be moving when it is so nice here. It felt like we were back in Florida today!!

This post is from a trip in April during Spring Break. We decided to use the break to work on seeing more of Scandinavia.  Spring Break in Finland is only a long weekend (not like the week off we are used to in Florida), but it was a nice break to finally enjoy some nice sunshine after the dark winter.  Here are a few photos which highlight the stunning Tivoli Gardens, which opened in 1843 (the second oldest theme park in the world & the most visited in Scandinavia).  Walt Disney himself even visited this park for inspiration for Disneyland:

Mia and I in front of the entrance to Tivoli Gardens.

Mia and I in front of the entrance to Tivoli Gardens.

A beautiful view over the water at Tivoli Gardens.

A beautiful view over the water at Tivoli Gardens.

Mia and I in front of one of the beautiful cherry blossom trees at the park.

Mia and I in front of one of the beautiful cherry blossom trees at the park.

Mia and I had fun watching this peacock eat cookies inside this store at Tivoli.

We had fun watching this peacock visit this store at Tivoli for some treats!

A  beautiful ballet show at the park.

A beautiful ballet show at the Pantomime Theatre.  Shows have been performed here since 1874.

Mia enjoying a nice relaxing break at the park.

Mia enjoying a nice relaxing break at the park.

Danny and Mia having fun in front of the stage.

Danny and Mia having fun in front of the stage.

Below are a few other places we visited while in Copenhagen (Rosenborg Castle, The King’s Gardens, Amalienborg Palace & The Little Mermaid Sculpture) :

The front view of the stunning Rosenborg Castle (built in 1606).

The front view of the stunning Rosenborg Castle (built in 1606).

This is the crown of King Christian IV which is on display at the castle.

This is the crown of King Christian IV which is on display at the castle.

On display at the castle, these amazing S. Colt Revolvers given to King Fredrick VII by Pres. Abraham Lincoln.

On display at the castle, these amazing S. Colt Revolvers given to King Frederik VII by Pres. Abraham Lincoln (1861).

Mia in front of an amazing cherry blossom tree in the King's Gardens.

Mia in front of an amazing cherry blossom tree in the King’s Gardens.

Mia and I having fun on the amazing cherry blossom tree at the King's Gardens.

Mia and I having fun on the amazing cherry blossom tree at the King’s Gardens.

Mia and I next to the Amalienborg Palace Guards.

Mia and I next to the Amalienborg Palace Guards.

The beautiful The Little Mermaid Sculpture by Edvard Eriksen in 1913 at Copenhagen Harbour.

The beautiful The Little Mermaid Sculpture by Edvard Eriksen in 1913 at Copenhagen Harbour.

Mia and I in front of The Little Mermaid sculpture.

Mia and I in front of The Little Mermaid sculpture.

A view through the trees of Skt. Alban Church.

A view through the trees of Skt. Alban Church.

A beautiful swan was proud to pose for a photo at the Copenhagen Harbour.

A beautiful swan next to The Little Mermaid sculpture at the Copenhagen Harbour.

Mia and I in front of an amazing group of Cherry Blossom Trees.

Mia and I in front of an amazing group of Cherry Blossom Trees.

For more information about Rosenborg Castle, please visit: Rosenborg Castle

For more information about Tivoli Gardens, please visit: Tivoli Gardens

For more information about Sculptor Edvard Eriksen and The Little Mermaid, please visit: The Little Mermaid

My next posts will show our adventures in Norway and Sweden.  We can now mark another Red Pin Adventure off our Travel Bucket List:  Copenhagen, Denmark (visit Tivoli Gardens)