Been busy with something, but here we go:
More crowds, smiling faces, and a King and Queen on top form.
Day 2:
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Day 2 started in Granvin municipality today, June 19:
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Pic 1 **
Pic 2 **
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kongehuset: Kongeparet i Granvin **
Thanks!
Granvin (English Wikipedia article in post 32):
After arriving on the dock, Their Majesties travelled by car to ''the people's party'' at Granvin-village-area where they met with people from the farming-industry, Granvin Youth Council, the tour-team, the shooting-team; and the arm wrestling-team, who demonstrated their skills to a ''very interested'' Regent-Couple. Afterwards, it was time to be entertained by some adorable singing 4-6-year-olds, traditional folk music (which they got to learn more about BTW), some history about the municipality, and in-between, speeches from Mayor, Ingebjørg Winjum and The Queen. HM said: ''Thank you so much for the warm welcome The King and I have received here in Granvin! And the wonderful weather you’ve taken the chance on. Not a tent! You are optimists, and that’s good.
Sailing with The Royal Yacht into Hardanger itself is one of the most beautiful things I can imagine. It's *therefore* (she didn't said ''therefore,'' but it sounds better in English) not surprising that Johan Christian Clausen Dahl, Adolph Tidemand and Hans Gude (Norwegian painters) found inspiration for some of their most famous motifs right here. Think so lucky we are - living in this country!''
(BTW: Hardanger is a traditional district in the western part of Norway, dominated by the breathtaking Hardangerfjord, and which consists of seven municipalities, four of which have been visited during this trip. Read about it in this English Wikipedia article -
link.)
She also said: ''Granvin knows how to preserve its distinctive character in several ways. Like the Havaas Collection - this important documentation of botanist Johan Havaas' great and important work. We look forward to seeing the collection later today (they did it after the entertainment ended).
Such initiatives require that there are someone *who wants to* (take the initiative, she means). One aspect that touches us on our travels around Norway is the great activity of various teams and associations. I don't think we're fully aware of which glue this is for our small and large communities until we possibly lose them. Therefore, it's so good to see - and so important to preserve - the diversity of teams and associations that exist also here in Granvin.
*pause*
When I find myself on the trail, that is named after me, up from *Kinsarvik* (the administrative centre of the neighbouring municipality of Ullensvang ), I sense Granvin behind (the mountain) *Oksen* (the ''Ox'' in English) - and it can be alluring to any hiker. The hiking trails and nature in Hardanger have caught my heart! Here are endless possibilities along the fjord and at *Folgefonna* (which I wrote about in my previous post) and all the places around! You are lucky to have these opportunities. I hope you will focus on mapping out to the public these treasures you possess - so many can enjoy them! Take good care of them - and on each other!''
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Ulvik (English Wikipedia article in post 32):
From the dock, The Regent-Couple travelled by car to Hjeltnes gardening school for yet another ''people's party.'' There, they got to hear about farming, fruit cultivation, cider-production (yes, they even got a taste of it) and tourism, which was followed by music and song from school children, a speech from Mayor, Hans Petter Thorbjørnsen; and one from The King himself, who said: ''The Queen and I have been looking forward to coming to Ulvik on our county tour in Hordaland. Because here it's beautiful!
[...]
Agriculture and fruit cultivation, cider-production and tourism create a good basis for living in Ulvik - like many places along the fjord (yes, I could have written ''like many places along the fjord'' first in the sentence or put the word ''other'' in, but not what he said). You can see it as soon as you come here, and we got to see it up close when we drove *the fruit and cider route* (read more about it in English here -
link). In modern agriculture in Ulvik, cider-production has created the basis for continued operation on farms that otherwise might have become too small for traditional farm operations. This testifies to creativity and the ability to think new (better said in English as ''shows creativity and the ability to think about new things'').
Ulvik is a small village, innermost in the fjord - but attractive to a whole world. Ever since the 19th century, tourists have come here by boat, on the road, on foot or on skis. Tourism is still important, and the potential may be even more important. Ulvik’s history gives you an advantage in meeting new times. [...]''
After the speech: Hjelnes gardening school has the only education in Norway for ''tree planters,'' so The Queen was, therefore, asked to plant an oak tree there as a reminder of the visit. Then it was time for a well-deserved break, before attending a dinner (hosted by the municipality) at Brakanes hotel in the evening.
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Day 3:
Thanks!
Askøy (English Wikipedia article in post 32):
After their arrival on the dock, The King and Queen drove by car to ''the people's party'' at Herdla museum, where they first got an orientation about the so-called ''water-scandal.'' Yes, this month, Askøy was hit by a water pollution that affected more than 2,000 people. 76 of them (16 children and 60 adults) had to be hospitalized, while two people are believed to have died from it (a one-year-old child and a 72-year-old woman).
Read more in this English article-series (
link).
Then it was time for some entertainment from school children and artists, history-telling about the municipality, meetings with the elderly and veterans, and in-between, speeches from Mayor, Terje Mathiassen and The King. HM said: ''The Queen and I visit you under very special circumstances. Not having clean drinking water is one of the most serious issues we as individuals and as a community can experience. The crisis you have been through and experiencing now puts a whole society to the test.
We have followed what has happened on Askøy, and we feel with you. We can only imagine your insecurity and frustration. We understand your concerns and pain.
We almost don't understand that you have time for our visit. We know how much work and worries that lies behind. And that you have other and very important things to do.
Therefore, we give thanks for being at Askøy, together with you - also in this situation. It's nice to be able to stand here and meet so many of you, and it's been great to sit in front of the stage and experience some of the diverse cultural life you have to offer. [...]''
The visit was then concluded after Their Majesties:
1. Got the chance to meet people from Askøy business-association, The Eco-agents, The Volunteer-central and The Healthy life-central.
2. Gave a press meeting, where the journalists were free to ask what they wanted. But nobody (no, NOBODY) asked about Märtha. Yes, pretty strange, especially after what The King said in the NRK-interview during the visit's first day (see post 38).
But I think the media was more interested in talking about the water-stuff, to which His Majesty said he and The Queen had ''offered to cancel the Askøy part of the trip, but the municipality wanted'' them ''to come.''
Why? Because many had prepared and looked forward to it, and the Mayor didn't want ''to give people even more disappointment.'' Another aspect was that it might help raise the spirit; and that it did, I mean people down there were totally blown up with excitement just by getting a little glimpse of them. LOL.
3. Gave a reception aboard The Royal Yacht for representatives from the 5 municipalities they had visited.
No more space to write in the previous post, so let's continue here:
Today there are great opportunities to see musk on Dovre ��"
