Natural Beauty

Every day I am stricken by the beauty of my surroundings here in Norway.  It seems that at any moment you feel you are in the most beautiful spot in the world - and then you walk around the corner and somehow it gets better!

On Friday, we were able to see one of the ways that a business is taking advantage of the natural beauty within the region.  Our visit to Lundhs  included a presentation as well as visit to one of their quarries.  It was fascinating to see the process they use to remove the stone.  Lundhs is a global company just as many other companies in Norway are.  Their finished product can be seen in projects around the globe.

[hauling stone at Lundhs Quarry]

[Lundhs quarry]

We continued with the trend of seeing Norway's natural beauty yesterday with a trip up to the mountains.  Although the drive was a little lengthy and the roads winding [those who know me are aware of my motion sickness and how that combination isn't pleasant :)] the view was worth it!

 

Our mountain excursion included a stop in the small town of Rjukan.  Nestled deep in the valley [so deep that for a few months during the winter the residents do not see sunlight] this city sets the scene for the 1943 sabotage efforts to prevent Germany from making an atomic bomb.  In order to get to the museum/hydro plant, we had to hike up the steep mountainside only to find, upon reaching the top, that the museum had just closed!  However we were not to be discouraged.  Jennifer approached the nice young staff working the front door and asked them to let us have a quick look around...and they did.  It was a fascinating museum that I will have to visit again on my next trip to Norway.

[Vemork hydroelectric power plant]

[mountainside in Rjukan]

As if the day were not good enough, I almost forgot to mention one of the best parts of the day!  On the drive up to the mountains we passed one of Norway's infamous Stave churches.  It was absolutely beautiful and amazing to see something that old preserved so well.  I feel really lucky to have had the opportunity to see one [and actually the one we saw is the largest one in the country.]

[Heddal Stave Church]