Swans In Stavanger, Norway
If you love swans, as I do, you’ll likely love Stavanger, Norway.
They were EVERYWHERE, even in places they shouldn’t be (which was often obstructing traffic – grins). And they were GORGEOUS.
They can definitely be found near less boat traffic heavy bodies of water.
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Muse Food – Fairy Houses And Other World Building Hints
When the Dear Wonderful Hubby and I visited Iceland, we were fascinated by the fairy houses, tiny homes crafted by humans for the hidden folk.
In a story, structures like that would be a strong hint we weren’t in a purely human world. It is a hint of magic, of the paranormal, of the unknown.
And hints like these are powerful in storytelling and for worldbuilding.
Because a much beloved story technique is to, at first, make a world seem like the reader’s world here in present day Earth. That is comfortable. It is relatable. The reader can focus on the characters.
Then we slowly introduce the unusual world-specific elements, pushing the reader out of their comfort zones.
Little hints such as fairy houses or a clockwork-like clicking sound deep in a forest or upside down rain are great ways to start this transition.
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Things To Do In Skjolden, Norway
Skjolden is a village. It is home to about 200 families. It isn’t large.
But there are some great hikes and some great views.
There are farms within an easy walking distance. One farm, while we were there, hosted one sheep who stood away from the buildings a bit and baa’ed loudly for over an hour. (grins) She looked healthy. I don’t know what her issues were but she certainly had some.
Some of the locals have erected sculptures and artwork also…like this giant wooden hand.
It is a fun place to visit!
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Llamas In Skjolden, Norway
One of the fun things to do in Skjolden, Norway is to visit a nearby Llama Farm.
Visitors, for a fee, can walk the llamas and feed them.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I watched this from outside the fence. It looked like a great experience. (smiles)
The farm is an easy and beautiful walk from the center of town.
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Stavanger, Norway Street Art
Stavanger is known as the street art capital of Norway. They host a huge celebration of street art every year.
And their streets are filled with art.
Everywhere.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I walked as much as we could and looked for the street art. It was a fun way to spend part of the day.
(smiles)
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Muse Food – The Floors At Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque And What Characters Are Standing On
This is a tiny bit of a gorgeous tiled floor at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
And this is a view of some of the carpet inside the Mosque. (It is the world’s largest hand-knotted carpet and is absolutely exquisite.)
Two different flooring types. Two different experiences. Two different settings.
What your characters are standing on can be super important. It is part of setting and it could be part of plot. It is easier to be stealthy, for example, when your heroine is walking on thick, lush moss rather than a twig-strewn, dried-leaf-covered forest floor.
Remember to ‘look down.’
(smiles)
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Gamle Stavanger, Norway
When the Dear Wonderful Hubby and I were in Stavanger, Norway, we trekked around Gamle Stavanger, which is the older part of the town.
Stavanger is one of the oldest settlements in Norway. Some of the houses in old town date back to the 18th Century.
There are cobblestone streets and beautiful gardens. It was a lovely way to spend part of our visit.
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Briksdal Glacier And Jostedal Glacier National Park, Norway
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I visited Briksdal Glacier in Jostedal Glacier National Park during one of our stops in Northern Norway.
The trek by foot to the glacier is super easy but it takes a bit of time. There are trolleys called ‘Troll Cars’ for folks who are in more of a rush or who can’t walk that distance.
The National Park is more than just the glacier. There are a gazillion glacier fed waterfalls, rapids, rivers and even a lake at the base of the glacier.
And the scenery is amazing. It was green and lush. The birds were singing. It was a beautiful hike.
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Hiking In Ålesund, Norway
When the Dear Wonderful Hubby and I were in Ålesund, Norway, we hiked to the top of Mount Aksla.
It is a fairly easy climb. There are well set paths and wide steps.
And the views are amazing. (smiles)
We could see in all directions. We also saw birds and bees and a couple butterflies.
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Visiting A Botanical Garden In Akureyri, Iceland
Akureyri, Iceland is a fairly small and extremely walkable town.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I spent a good portion of our time there exploring the Botanical Gardens, which are absolutely gorgeous.
There were so many flowers and many were bright colors like vivid purples or deep blues. The bees were buzzing. The birds were singing.
There were displays of older farming equipment like tractors placed throughout the gardens. And charming little buildings.
It is well worth a visit.
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