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Rihanna sings "You can stand under my um-brella- ella-ella" and TLC sings "don't go chasin waterfalls". We did both of these today. What R and B song should we tackle tomorrow? Feel free to suggest titles in your spare time.
It was a rainy day in the fjords today (which are also the complete lyrics to a rather repetitive song I made up this afternoon and Mark made me turn on the tv to try to get it out of his head). Our pictures are hazy, but this place (Geiranger, a long way inland via fjord from Alesund if you are trying to track us on a map) is still quite amazing. The cliffs drop right into the fjord and they are covered with waterfalls. Some are just skinny lines of rushing water and others are wide and roiling. The famous ones we just passed on our way out are called "the seven sisters" and they are really something. We tried to take pictures and video, but I don't think they will do them justice. The fjord water is salt water, I guess, and it's a deep shade of blue- green (some might call it sea green...). As we motor through the fjord, we pass...what do you call water intersections?...and the sun peaks through the clouds now and then to light up the snow capped mountains. There are a few small farms with red barns and white houses breaking up the rocky forests on the mountains. We are the only ship out here right now and it's quiet and beautiful. A wonderful Saturday night!
Earlier today we took a shore excursion to a farm outside of the little town of Ytterdal. Unfortunately the rain really started when we got off the bus, but we met a woman who started working as a milk maid(!) at this farm in her teen years back in the 50s and now she is one of the six owners of the farm. It's mainly a goat farm and goat cheese making operation that's only open in the summer, but has been a continuously running farm for over 300 years. The woman's goat herd lives lower on the mountain during the winter months and then in June they herd them up to this summer farm. By law in Norway, all farm animals must be outside for at least six weeks each summer (no massive corporate farming here, I guess). The farm owners have agreed not to have electricity at the summer farm, so they boil the goat milk for cheese over wood fires. They are famous for brown goat cheese that is sliced very thin and eaten with thin crackers. I was surprised at how tasty it was. The milk is cooked down for so long that all the water evaporates and the lactose starts to caramelize, which gives it the brown color and faintly sweet taste.
We haven't read anything from home yet today because out here at our most remote port we aren't getting any Internet connection. We should be out of the fjord and back into the sea later tonight and then we'll post and check in on you all. Hope your heat wave is starting to break back home. See you in a week! H and M
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Fran You may become as famous as Elton John with tunes like that. Sing it again...please! You photos are stunning again today. Is it still pretty cold? I am not seeing what you are wearing. We had a great day today. Steven played soccer and he was great. Margo is such a great fan. She always finds things to do. We sat in the shade. Then we came home and stood under the sprinkler. Oh so warm out. I am going to visit your house tomorrow morning and then pick up the kids for Gram overnight. Great fun. The beds are full of treats. Keep those messages coming. Love you, mom