Thursday, August 13, 2009

viking summer, part 6: stalheim

just a little outside of gudvangen there is this spectacular place: stalheimskleiva.
at the top of this extremely steep path there is a folk museum (above), and a big hotel. the hotel was first built as a prolongation (right word?) of a small inn. the inn was a stop on the royal mail road between bergen and oslo, and was in turn a prolongation of a farmhouse. the mail road was opened in 1647, the inn was built in 1750, and the first hotel was built in 1885. then it burned. 3 times. the photo below shows the third and, in my opinion, the most beautiful of the four hotels.
skiing activities during winter
biking was a popular sport in the 1800's. some time in 1889 these guys were out exercising. impressive. but the most impressive fact? well, look at them; they got there wearing suits.
kl.

9 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 13, 2009 at 6:43 AM

    More amazing photos! And what a great shot of the healthy fellows in suits :-) Thanks so much for sharing all the beauty in your corner of the world!!

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  2. Ana Cristina AbreuAugust 13, 2009 at 6:58 AM

    wow
    this is very very pretty!!
    the road is perfect and the litle wood houses are so cute and gorgeous. it must be a great viking summer!!!

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  3. jaz@octoberfarmAugust 13, 2009 at 6:19 PM

    just found you and love your blog. i signed on to follow! have a look at mine when you have time!

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  4. Ida/FarEastLogbookAugust 13, 2009 at 10:58 PM

    Simply stunning!! The picture of the men with their bikes cracks me up-I wonder if they biked all the way up there?

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  5. FrancescaAugust 14, 2009 at 4:15 AM

    That winding steep road could almost be the road up to my village, except that our road is only as wide as one vehicle and yet it's two ways! When I drive it up and have mountain bikers in front of me, and a clear view of their behinds, I often wish they'd also wear suits instead of tighter than tight lycra outfits:)!

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  6. Amy BradstreetAugust 14, 2009 at 8:48 AM

    These photos are fascinating as well as gorgeous. I'm so drawn to the landscape, but I know I'd have terrible vertigo if I ever went. So beautiful, regardless.

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  7. ElizabethAugust 15, 2009 at 11:12 PM

    wow--that looks so wonderful, so far away and magical

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  8. 5 orange potatoesAugust 26, 2009 at 12:35 PM

    You live in such an amazingly beautiful part of the world Therese! I'm catching up on posts and had to call my husband in to show him your photos!

    Lisa :)

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  9. thelightfitzOctober 9, 2009 at 10:48 AM

    It seems magical where you live! I just may have to move to Norway! Come visit my blog sometime...just starting out....

    http://moretoliterature.blogspot.com/

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