A Little France in Finland

For a little twist on the usual company Christmas party, we turned our home into a French bistro.  We seized the unique opportunity to have a French chef prepare a holiday dinner in Finland.  So what does one feast upon in Finland at Christmas time?  Why, reindeer, of course! Reindeer is a common dish in Finland.  Reindeer are raised like cattle in the Lapland-an area in Northern Finland.  It was quite good, the taste and texture is similar to beef tenderloin.  Everything was perfect, including the chef's french accent.  Everyone agreed, the food was amazing and the company superb!

Mike & I with Chef Jean-Marc

To Russia for Lunch

On Monday, I had the unique experience to go to Russia for a little shopping and lunch with some wonderful ladies.  Never, did I ever imagine I would go over to Russia just for lunch.  That was before I moved within 10 miles of the Russian border.  The town we visited in Russia, Vyborg, actually was part of Finland, but was lost in war to what was the U.S.S.R.  I may have mentioned this before, in the winter of 1939/1940, Finland and Russia fought the Winter War.  The respectively tiny Finnish army effectively held off the Russians.  They lost land, but were able to maintain their freedom.  Fire and Ice is an interesting movie about the Winter War.  If you are interested in WWII history, or even if you are not, it is definitely worth your time.

Vyborg is less than 50 miles away from where we live in Finland, but it took us over two hours to get there.  To go into Russia, we have to clear Finnish and Russian customs and then a couple Russian checkpoints along the way.  It can be a little nerve wracking crossing the border.  The always serious Russians even have those fur hats on!

Round Tower (ca. 1500)
This is the building where we had lunch.

My yummy salad!

Broscht
Delicious! And I didn't even think I liked beets.

The ladies at lunch.
Eating here, like our trip to Vyborg, was a trip back in time.

 Life is an adventure full of twists and turns.  There are adventures to be had that you can't even imagine for yourself, made all better when you encounter great friends along the way.

Getting Our Money's Worth in Oslo

I wasn't sure of what to expect from Oslo during its dark, cold and rainy season.  Rick Steves' description of Oslo as the "smallest and least earthshaking of the Scandinavian capitals" made me a little nervous.  The fact that Norway is one of Europe's most expensive destinations had me apprehensive as well.  Paying for tap water and more for a burger than you normally would for a nice steak, can be a little aggravating.  All that aside, Norway was a pleasant surprise that showed us that sometimes good things come in small packages.  Before we even bid Norway "farvel", we were already excitedly planning a return trip.  

So how do you get your money's worth in one of Europe's most expensive cities?  First of all, we loved our hotel, The Clarion Royal Christiana.   Finding the right accommodation can be priceless, especially when you are traveling with children.  First of all,  location is key.  We stayed next to the train station and in the heart of Oslo.  Oslo's efficient public transportation was literally at our doorstep.  My kids also loved the indoor pool which is a rare treat for them.

My first stop in Oslo was the tourist information office.  Most major European cities have one.  There I purchased the Oslo Pass.  This handy card gave us unlimited use of public transportation and free admission to museums.  Major cities all have a pass similar to this one, but this is the first time I have actually bought one.  You have to do your math and figure how many places you will visit and then determine if there is a savings in buying it.  We definitely got our money's worth out of this card.  I  can not praise Oslo enough for its EXCELLENT museums and public transportation.  We effortlessly breezed through 5 great museums in about as many hours.  I have learned there is something to be desired in a small and thoughtful museum.  The human brain best digests information in small chunks.  So, although a museum like the Louvre is massive, your brain can really only digest a room or two before you are overwhelmed.  Believe it or not, my kids did not complain one time of being bored, and like I said, we went to 5 museums back to back and three on the following day.  Every single one of these museums was worthwhile.  Had I not bought the Oslo Pass, we would not have gone to as many and we would have missed out on a unique learning experience.  (It was also nice to pay the fee up front and not feel the constant strain on the wallet to remind you how much you are spending.)

To give you a peek into what a trip to Oslo might be like for you, I thought I would list the sights and what we liked most about each.

Fram Museum: We loved the simulated polar boat experience.

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Kon Tiki:  Fun museum!  Unbelievable this "paper" boat sailed across the Pacific Ocean.  The Easter Island exhibit and statues were pretty cool too!

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Viking Ship Museum:  A pint-size Viking adventure!  Although this museum was much smaller than we thought it would be, it was still great fun to see these infamous ships and the loot!

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Pictures of three patriots who resisted the Nazis and were executed right outside The Norwegian Resistance Museum by a Nazi firing squad.

Not sure, but I think this represents how Norway was broken during its Nazi occupation.  In visiting these museums, I got the distinct sense that most Norwegians are very contrite about their involvement with the Nazis and are sincere when they say
 "Never Again" 

Norwegian Holocaust Center & Norwegian Resistance Museum:  These are actually two different museums located entirely across town from one another.  Norway has a fascinating history when it comes to WWII.  Exhibits show how racism and the rise of anti-Semitism led to 760 Norwegian Jews being willingly surrendered to and subsequently murdered by the Nazis.  It is inspiring to learn of the patriots who resisted the Nazis and made the ultimate sacrifice themselves for the liberties of others.

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Stave Church
Unfortunately, in the off season, renovations are common.  Hey, it is either strangers in your pictures or stray scaffolding. 

Interior of the stave church.
This picture doesn't do it justice, but picture peeking into a small window in the door (see picture above).  The only light is from the two candles on the altar, much like it must have been in the 13th century when it was built.  Having a tranquil peek, made it more mystical, and is an image I won't soon forget.

Norwegian Folk Museum:  This is an open air museum where historic buildings from around Norway were transplanted.  So rather than driving around the country to see these buildings, the building come to you in the center of Oslo!  Although it was off season, we enjoyed having the run of the place.

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The Ski Simulator was a thrill!

Holmenkollen Ski Jump
Yep, it's really high! 

Holmenkollen Museum and Ski Jump:  We thoroughly enjoyed the 40 minute train ride into the Norwegian countryside to this museum and ski jump.  The Ski Simulator was a real thrill too!

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Frogner Park:  This park, in the center of Oslo, had a great vibe.  I don't know if it was just us, but we couldn't help but snicker at all that naked humanity.  Your time in Oslo wouldn't be complete without a frolic through this eccentric park featuring the life work of Norway's famed sculptor, Gustav Vigeland.

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"The Scream"
Edvard Munch

The National Gallery:  This art museum is a joy, even if you are not an art aficionado.  It was so impressive to see Picasso, Manet, Monet, Van Gogh and many more packed tidily into this bite size and easy to digest museum.  Although I knew of "The Scream", I did not know the artist, Norwegian painter, Edvard Munch.  "The Scream" is his most recognizable, but his other works were thought provoking and interesting to see.

So, as you can see, we packed a lot of sight-seeing into two days.  Although, a trip to Norway is not a budget trip, in the two full days we were there, we felt we got our money's worth.  There are enough value packed sights in Norway that I don't think you will be crying into your $15 beer!  We want to return in the spring for the famed Norway in a Nutshell tour.  Stay posted...

Ten Minutes in The Golden City of a Hundred Spires!

Charle's Bridge

Prague is one amazing city with more "Wow!" per square inch, than any city we have visited to date.  Everywhere you look, there is something amazing to see and a piece of history to discover.  

What better way to feel a part of history than to stay at a 17th Century Bed & Breakfast.  Dům u velké boty  is a small, family run hotel.  It is situated in a quiet square directly across from the German Embassy and steps from the US Embassy.  From our hotel, a ten minute walk in any direction, was history packed and full of beautiful sights.

A ten minute walk downhill and around the corner sits:  The Church of Our Lady Victorious, where the miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague welcomes pilgrims from around the world.  

Another ten minute walk brought us to Wallenstein Palace Garden.  This is a peaceful (until my kids arrived) garden hidden in the Little Quarter.  Unless you were looking for it, you would walk right past its inconspicuous entrance.  The kids were enchanted with this albino peacock.  He seemed to know the drill too!

The kids pose for a picture on the walk up to the castle.

A ten minute walk uphill brought us to one of Prague's most recognizable sites, Prague Castle.

The main castle entrance.

View from the castle grounds

A view from steps leading down from the castle to the Little Quarter

A view of St. Vitus Cathedral by day

St. Vitus Cathedral by night

We arrived at the castle late in the day to avoid the massive crowds.  This late in the day, paying the $25 for a family admission didn't seem worth the expense.  After 6pm, one can stroll through the castle grounds and enjoy few to no crowds.  Here is the cheapskates view of the impossibly cute  "Golden Lane".   Previously, these houses were the servants quarters.  Today, they are gift shops.

Here I am with a glass of hot wine called Mead.  This charming Medieval restaurant was along the walk to the castle.

Oh! And here we are with some famous Czech beer.  It is touted as some of the best beer in the world.  (I still prefer German and Belgium beer)

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge is the always crowded and festive bridge that crosses Vltava river and connects the Little Quarter to Old Town.  The bridge is crowded with tourists, vendors and musicians during the day.

These were just a few of the sites that were within a 10 minute walk from our hotel.  However, don't let the ten minutes mislead you.  We did a lot of walking.  Anyone who has ever traveled with us knows that I am not exaggerating.  Prague is best visited by foot and I am sure we put on no less than 6 miles a day!!!

Just beyond Charles' Bridge, lies Old Town Square, where one is surrounded by awesome sights and history in every direction.

Astronomical Clock

The Astromical clock was installed on the Old Town Hall in the 15th Century and is the oldest working astronomical clock in the world.

Jan Hus Memorial commemorates the Czech's long hard struggle for freedom

Tyn Church

Beyond Old Town Square, lies Wencheschlaus Square.  We treated ourselves to some traditional Czech sausage, hot wine and potato chips on a sword...I mean skewer.

The Jewish Quarter, or Josefov, provides a fascinating glimpse of Jewish history.  The cemetery, the Pinkas Synagogue and the Spanish Synagogue were among the most memorable exhibits that comprise the Jewish Museum of Prague.  The Pinkas Synagogue has a particularly moving display of artwork from the children of Terezin.  Terezin was a "model" concentration camp located outside the city of Prague.  The Nazis "allowed" the prisoners some creative expression in the form of drawings, music and plays.  The artwork displayed was created from smuggled scraps from the Jewish draftsmen and artists who were forced to draw the infrastructure of their own prison camp.  Of the 15,000 children who passed through Terezin, only 132 were known to survive.  This artwork is all that remains of their memory.

Below, is a picture of the Old Jewish cemetery.  This was the only place Jews were allowed to be buried in Prague from the 15th through 18th century.  It is thought there are some 10,000 graves here, 6-7 deep.

Petrin Hill and Tower

A steep uphill walk brings you to Petrin Hill.  The funicular was out of service, but that didn't stop us from making the trek.  Once at the top of the hill, a quick walk through the mirror maze was good for a few laughs before hiking up another 400 stairs to the top of Petrin Tower.

There you have it, our three days in Prague...the condensed version.  Prague is a city full of wonder, full of beauty, full of history and full of tourists.  It is a city so uniquely Prague.  It is no wonder why it is so popular.  With so much to see and do, a trip to Prague will surely not disappoint.