Gothenburg- Port City of Sweden

Hi Aprilia and other grandkids or family

On friday we woke up in Gothenburg which is the major port and shipping city for Sweden.  The City was built along the Gota River that separates Norway from Sweden and was a walled city with a moat.  It has a couple of canals and lots of parks and 4-5 story high apartment buildings- many were built in 1850-1925 and have lots of architecture and character.  Railroads were constructed from 1850-1900 all through Sweden and lots of shipping to other countries and imports from other countries came through Gothenburg. The city has lots of electric trolleys like Sacramento Light Rail from Folsom to Sacramento.  But they go everywhere in Gothenburg.  Our old hotel is across from the Central train station and most of the trolley lines come through the square (plaza) that our hotel is looking over- the people looked like ants coming out of the train station and walking every which way to get on trolleys to go to work on Friday.  The white building is our hotel- our room in on the third floor- they call it the second floor (above the ground floor.

We started the day with a double-deck bus ride through downtown with english narration telling us about the buildings and history of Gothenburg.  Then we took a canal boat with a guide who told us more things about the buildings we were seeing from the canal and harbor.  We had lunch at McDonalds (they are everywhere) and went to the history museum and art museum.  The art museum had paintings by Carl Larson who we have liked for many years.  We also saw paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt and Picasso. The history museum was in the building built for the Swedish East Indies (China) Trading Company- who had several sailing ships that went around the world to China and brought back silk and porcelain and tea.  Many countries in Europe had their own trading companies- they were competing for the trade profits- but only the rich people had money to invest and get richer. Farmers and servants and laborers just had to work hard to survive. As the port developed and more shipping and boat building and other factories were established lots of people from the countryside moved to the city.  Aprilia- I am glad that you do not live in a city- they can be interesting to visit but it is much nicer to have a house with a yard and sidewalk to ride bikes and swing and jump on a trampoline.

Our first Carl Larsson painting

      
On Saturday we got up and the Central station plaza was quiet- very few trollies were running because people were not going to work.  We bought day passes to ride the trollies and went to the Botanical Gardens about 5 miles out of the city.  The university professors brought plants and flowers from all parts of the world to grow them on a hillside in Gothenburg.  They were very beautiful with 1000's of different plants along trails and in greenhouses.  Aprilia- you and your cousins would have loved running through the woods on the paths and climbing the rocks on the hillside.  Maybe we should make a forest garden at Love Creek- except we will have to put a fence around it to keep the deer from eating all the plants and flowers.  We had lunch at the outdoor cafe at the gardens with flowers and trees all around us. God's creation is very beautiful and wonderful.

We took another trolley to the maritime museum near the harbor.  We read about the Swedish American Ship Line which was established in 1915 to take emigrants to America from Sweden- like my grandfather Eskil who came to the US in 1920.  Maybe he sailed in one of their ships.  The same company started Scandinavia Airline Service (SAS) in 1955.  Lots of swedish people came to America because they could find work or start farms with lots of free land in places like Minnesota and Turlock California.  I liked the big models of old sailing ships from 1600-1700.  After taking another trolley back to our hotel we rode on a historical wooden trolley from 1920.  We had a fun day riding trollies all over town.  After a nap we took a trolley to the amusement park (like six flags) and found dinner and had a fresh waffle with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. One last trolley to our nice hotel room.  So far Grandma likes our hotel rooms best- colorful with soft comfortable beds- the most relaxing and peaceful part of our days together. 

Old Trolley Car-maybe my Grandfather rode in one in 1920?

Waffle makers on a carousel

Aprilia- we don't know all of the places you will travel to during your life, but we do know that God will always go with you on whatever adventures you have.  Jesus is always with you- on trollies, ships, trains, buses, canal boats, cars or just walking or climbing a mountain like your Dad.  You might find yourself lost sometimes, but God will know where to lead you and take you home.  We hope you get to visit Gothenburg someday on your way to somewhere.

Love, Grandpa and Grandma

Oslo to Sweden

Hi Becca and other grandkids or family

Our third day in Oslo started with a great breakfast that included orange juice from a mechanical squeezer machine.  The oranges are in a basket at the top and one orange drops down into a series of   holders that slice the orange and turn the two halves to squeeze them and then drops the two rinds below.    Meanwhile the glass fills up with fresh juice. This reminds me that a half glass of fresh juice is half full because every drop is a treat.  This is how God wants us to think- thankful for every day and every friend and every adventure- not so much about what we don't have.

We walked to the old fort in a drizzle and walked around the stone buildings to the Norway Resistance Museum which tells the story of what people in Norway did to resist the Nazis who invaded one cold morning in 1940.  People started secret (hidden printing press) newsletters, formed small groups to help people escape over the mountains to Sweden or in fishing boats to England, sabotage German equipment, and used secret radios to listen to BBC and smuggled radio transmitters to send messages about German troops and ships to the English army. We learned that Hitler feared an allied landing into Norway instead of Normandy- so he sent lots of men to defend an attack that never came.  This reminded us that God wants us to resist evil and defend the helpless- be friendly and watch out for people who need help, but avoid or flee from troublemakers (not counting your brothers).  A cruise ship was docked right next to the fortress walls- look how big the ship was!

Old buildings and church in Oslo

Cruise ship is taller than the Oslo Fortress

The Royal Palace rooms were closed because they are only open in June and July since the King and Queen actually live there.  The fortress palace rooms built by a king in about 1750 were closed for renovation and two other museums that we tried to visit were closed because Oslo is constructing a new museum building to combine several museums.  We happened to see a new Bible museum in the old town area- they explained how many christian kings supported Martin Luther's idea that the Bible should be translated into each language so every person could read for herself.  Aren't you glad your Mom taught you how to read the Bible and other adventure books?  How about science and history books?  

The first printed Bible (in German) was completed in about 1455 (Gutenberg Bible) and the kings of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark each sponsored Bibles translated from hebrew, greek, and latin (roman language) and printed in their languages within the next 50-100 years.  King James of England had a group of men translate and print the Bible in English in about 1615- some people still like to read this version of the english bible, but many of the words sound funny- because our common language changes over time.  Printing each sheet was hard work but copying the pages by hand was really hard and took many years to copy a Bible. Bible translation into other languages is still an important task- uncle Jeremy and aunt Sara helped make videos of Bible stories (sections) in five languages of Congo.  The Bible is one of God's greatest gifts to us because He tells us (reveals) about himself and how he wants us to live.  Reading a few pages from the Bible is a great way to start each day- God promises that He is our fortress, so we don't need big stone walls to protect us against our enemies and our troubles.

Hand-decorated page from an old printed Bible

We visited the Oslo City Hall that was decorated with huge murals on every wall showing people from Norway doing their work as farmers, loggers, teachers, builders, and also enjoying time together at meals and family gatherings and festivals.  Norway has high taxes (50% of earnings) and expects the government to provide lots of services.  The very elaborate City Hall was dedicated to common citizens and workers- they are important for a country's success and not just the king and noblemen.

Becca- God is the only person who really knows all about you- what you enjoy and what makes you afraid.  He is the only one who knows what you will do- this year in a new school, and many years from now when you will... ?  I don't know and even your Mom and Dad can only guess and imagine your future, based on the talents and abilities that God has already given to you.   Our government can help us and provides services like schools and roads but only God can love us and direct our steps. Let Jesus be your best friend and guide you through happy and sometimes difficult experiences.

Large murals in City Hall

Today we ate our delicious breakfast and took a taxi to our car rental office that was 6 miles out of downtown because they don't have many cars in the downtown area- everyone rides the trolleys and busses and subways.  Because about half of the streets have been blocked (pedestrians only) the taxi driver had to go almost in circles (like a maze) to get us out of town. There are lots of buildings being constructed and this blocks other streets.

We rented a car (VW Golf) and drove to Gothenburg- the major port for Sweden where many ships filled with emigrants left between 1850 and 1925- bringing Grandma Judy's grandparents and my grandparents to America.  Your dad is about half Swedish so you are one fourth Swedish. Isn't it great to know that many of your ancestors read the Bible and believed that Jesus is our Savior? Our human ancestry (genes) are important but our spiritual heritage is even more important. This is one way you can talk to your friends about who you are- part Swedish but fully adopted into God's family forever.

Construction was everywhere in Oslo

On the way to Gothenburg we stopped at the locks (steps of river gates) that connect Lake Vannern to the Gota river that flows past Gothenburg to the ocean.  The locks allows lumber and farm produce and meat and iron and copper ore to be transported from central Sweden to ships at Gothenburg that carry the products to other cities and countries.  The total lift is about 125 feet- the first locks were built in 1800, the second larger locks were built in 1845, and the largest locks were built in 1915 (same time as Panama Canal).  I like seeing dams and hydro-electric power plants and locks and river gorges, so I was happy we found our way to Trollhatten and that the canal museum was open with a good film in english to explain the history of the canal and locks. Here are pictures of the 1845 and the modern locks and a boat passing downstream. Judy enjoyed the nice walk along the gates and canal.  

We are staying in a really old hotel across from the train station- I think both were built about 1850.  Fortunately the bathroom has been remodeled but some of the furniture may be original vintage.  Becca- I hope you enjoy each week at school and that you make more friends by being friendly and helpful and kind- just like the Bible says that Jesus wants to help us love God and love other people.  I love you too!

Our Historic Hotel Eggers in Gothenburg

Train Station across from our Hotel

      

We're Off to Oslo

Hi Ben and other grandkids or family

Grandma and I flew the polar route to Oslo, Norway.  The flight took 9 hours and Norway is 9 hours ahead of California, so when we arrived it was 18 hours since we left California.  So- we don't know what time to follow- our minds have trouble sleeping when the clock says go to bed.  Our first surprise in Norway was to wake up at 5 AM- too early- to enjoy a wonderful variety of delicious breakfast foods. Norway is famous for their smorgasbord-  but have a look at some of our choices.  Since we are from California we thought we should try a little of each! How much breakfast can you eat?

Our hotel breakfast room filled with food!

Monday we walked to the train station and purchased our Oslo Pass that includes admission to most museums and transportation (subway, trolley and buss).  They might consider adding bikes to the package because lots of people ride to work in Oslo.  We took a boat across the fjord to the Folk Museum where they brought old farm buildings from different parts of Norway- starting in 1895- to preserve some of the historical way of life.  Norway is famous for stave church buildings- built from wood with decorative carving- maybe we should try making a tall cabin at Love Creek from some of our redwood trees?

We can't imagine how cold and hard life was for most people on earth- God has blessed us because we live in modern times with all necessities and many conveniences.  Having a house with a fire and a bed box- I know you would have been thankful compared to living in a tent or a cave!  One or more kids would sleep together with blankets and reindeer fur piled on top of you.  Maybe you and Mike would like to convert your bunk-beds to bed boxes- ask your dad about nailing some boards around your posts.  Then ask your mom for some bear or reindeer furs.  

On Tuesday we visited some museums near our hotel- the art museum and the historical museum.  At the art museum they have many paintings showing Norway landscapes- so we could see most Norway by walking through the rooms in one museum.

Our next surprise was a special exhibit of an artist-designer from about 1900.  He used all sorts of imaginative drawings and colorful paintings- many looked like illustrations from fairy tales or fantasy stories like Lord of the Rings or Narnia.  

Ben- I think your drawings are colorful and imaginative and I encourage you to continue drawing and maybe try watercolor or oil paints- to mix unusual colors- or see what you can come up with using a computer drawing program.  Here are a couple of paintings by Gerhard Munthe. 

After lunch we took a bus to the maritime museum where they had lots of paintings of ships and ocean landscapes as well as many scale models of ships.  Looking at the stormy seas and thinking about the hard and lonely life of a sailor- away from home for long trips- we are thankful that we are not fishing or traveling on a ship or pirates.  We saw many other interesting things today and we are thankful for all of the beautiful pictures and buildings that other people have made. We decided that we are very happy that God made us who we are and where we live and when we live.  Ben- look around as you travel the "roads of life" that God gives to you- to see what you can do with your life and energy and creative thoughts and drawings or inventions.

Love, Grandpa and Grandma.