Cousin Splash

 The boys had a great time with the family in Florida!  Even though it was a rainy week, they still were able to get in some pool time every day (or just about every day). 

Fjords

 For our last day in Norway, I took a three hour boat ride to the fjords. (Dad's stomach wasn't feeling well, so he did not come.) 

It was a beautiful day -- even a little hot, which is unusual for this part of the world!  We went by a salmon fishery, a tiny waterfall (which I think is usually more impressive -- they've had a very dry few weeks here), and we saw Pulpit Rock, a big outcropping that provides climbers with an amazing view.  (Of course, we just saw it from the bottom!)

The fjords were really cool -- it was a bit foggy as we approached them, but sunny on the way back.  (And of course, very windy with the speed of the boat!) 

(At some points we could also smell the smoke from forest fires in the area -- between the record-breaking heat, the dryness, and the fires, it felt like global warming was making its presence known!)

The goats in the pictures were the only wildlife we really saw -- and these goats come up to the boat because the staff feeds them!  There was also a very well-behaved dog on board. :)

Red Moon

 We had a lovely adventure in Norway last night --we watched the lunar eclipse on a hill surrounded by sheep (and fellow sky-watching Norwegians). It was 11:15 PM and the eclipse was on one side and the sunset was on the other! (We think Mars was also visible on the horizon, but my camera wasn't good enough to capture it.) 

Tall Ships in Stavanger

 The Tall Ship Races are in town, and so there was a little festival downtown.  It had some booths on old-time ship-building, activities, for the kid, and so on.  And as you can see, it was a beautiful sunny day for it! 

(I don't know how much racing actually happens, or if this is just a stop and then they race to another town.)

The white houses are Old Town Stavanger, very quaint but also very hilly with cobblestone streets.