Day 3 Monday Norway to Sweden and back

This morning we were to be up and ready for coffee at 8:15 am. We had coffee and off for the ferry in Sandefjord Norway to Stromstad Sweden.

Whaling Boat and Whale fin

Norway and Swedish Flags

This is a big ferry, a couple hundred cars can be placed on it. We were on deck three, with a group of cars ahead which were now hoisted above us. We quickly made our way to the restaurant for a buffet lunch. Another cup of coffee for each and off to the buffet we went.

Again, liver spread, salami, bacon, hard and soft boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, sausages, chicken wings, watermelon, grapes, and melon. More than enough and tasty. We then went thru the duty free area. It was an amazing sight, the liquor was being bought by many Norwegians to take back home as the cost is considerably less than in their own country. We picked up our allotted share.

As we left the ferry, rain began. We drove thru the port city which is normally bustling with pensioners, but because of the rain few. We went along the coast jtill the next shopping enter. Here the pensioners come to buy at a large grocery store. This was an experience, the largest shopping carts I have ever seen. As we enters the store there was a bottle and plastic return area, here you gave your aluminum cans and received money for them. Of course there was fresh pop right behind this area. Thru the veggie area, butter and milk, down the meat area, all kinds most sliced and vacuum packed. Tons of meat left when we were there. It was obvious they were buying here to reduce the taxes on these items in their own country. As we passé the Laplander area with tier rain deer,

there was a bakery with many types of breads. Next to that was a lady giving out a warm creamy potato salad with a piece of hamburger with bernaise sauce. A real treat. A we stood there and ate it, I noticed a ladies handbag unattended in the cart by us. I mentioned it to Ed, he took it to the lady at the counter and she took it for safe keeping. We were packing the grocery's and I looked up and here was the man who briskly walked past me and entered the store as we were paying, in his hand was the purse. I said I am glad to see that you picked up the purse we had found, I mentioned we were from the US and he was extremely happy we found it for him and he said he was from Norway, of course we would have thought that. It rained harder all the way to the next ferry. To Horton. This is a short ride a half hour or so. On board we had coffee and chocolate. We left the ferry it rained hard in many spots.

Ferry back

We entered back into Norway and just zoomed through the checkpoint which didn't have an guards present. We drove along the coast and came to the area where 500 to a thousand years ago Vikings were buried under burial mounds, raining hard but for us a must see sight.

Viking burial mound

Munch's Haus

As we travelled along we came into the town where Edmund Munch lived and painted "The Scream" , the rain prevent us from doing anything but looking at it. The area has small streets which wound along the seaside a way above it.

Now we approached Tonsberg, Ed mentioned that we are charged 3 dollars for each time we go into the town. There was even a vote which passed by a 70 percent majority but the city elders thought they shoud retain the charge. Now does that sound any different?

We return home, they now have to pack for a three week camping trip to Poland with their camper. You can imagine the preparation that takes place for something like this. Tomorrow they will take us to Oslo and then meet up with other camping friends in Sweden, they are already there waiting for them. We felt bad that they put off their trip for us but appreciate their hospitality.

Ed made the dinner, freshly boiled shrimp with 4 levels of hotness - one extremely hot and spicy. A delicious warm potato salad we bought in Sweden, and black beans. The wine was great Francisco.

After dinner their next door neighbors came to meet us. We had a friendly visit.jerr

Neighbors

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