Prisoner of Hopes

Category: Perspectives

  • Seeking Peace: Travel Goals

    Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 Peace is an illusive goal. I question whether it is even possible in a broken world. Freedom from disturbance. Tranquility. A time of no war. “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart…..” As we wander through the Nobel…

  • Ferry and Fortress: Travel Goals

    It is a lazy Saturday in Norway and the sun is shining. Each morning I thank God for the health and ability to travel and experience a new life style. Our day starts slowly. I have some muesli and coffee and catch up on some reading. Eventually we leave the house. We are in no…

  • Paradoxical: Travel Goals

    We are walking and looking for a small museum called The Paradox. It is cold and misty. Although the gps ultimately got us to the right place, there was no visible sign. We walk by it twice before we notice a worker in a Paradox jacket in a doorway. We have arrived, even though we…

  • Parkering: Travel Goals

    Norway is full of surprises. Everyday we find something strange (to us) yet wonderful. Brown cheese is the best! Skiing to town! And amazing public transport….America has a lot to learn. On almost every corner we find a sign that reads “parkering forbudt” which means parking is forbidden. Because public transportation is so wonderful, parking…

  • Time Traveling in Oslo: Travel Goals

    I love outdoor history museums. The Norsk folk center in Bygdoy did not disappoint. The Norwegian King had entire neighborhoods and farms and other random buildings moved to this park so that visitors can experience life across Norway. We get there early. I am excited to arrive at the Stave church before any other visitors.…

  • Jump: Travel Goals

    Norwegians love skiing. In Tromso, they ski to work. In Oslo it is warmer, so they have indoor skiing and they have snow machines to maintain cross country trails. But the king of the mountain is the Holmenkollen ski jump. We take the tram up the mountain to Holmenkollen and then walk uphill to the…

  • Military History: Travel Goals

    We aren’t sure what to expect at the Akershus Festning (Fortress). We walked by the large park/military complex when we first arrived in Oslo (two weeks ago). But it is much bigger than it appeared from our walk along the harbor. The walled fortress houses a castle, a resistance museum, a military museum, outdoor amphitheaters,…

  • Tromso Love Is True, But I Hate Their Airport: Travel Goals

    I mention in each travel day post that I dislike air travel. It feels chaotic and uncivil in ways other forms of transport avoid. Each airport and airline has its own system that you can’t know if you have not been there before. Sometimes your experience is different due to the people you encounter. Add…

  • Chasing the Northern Lights: Travel Goals

    One of the best reasons to come to Norway in winter is to see the Northern Lights. We brave the cold and the snow. We take a boat up the coast far beyond the arctic circle. We encounter six nights with low clouds and wind and snow. With only one night left, we sign up…

  • Accidental Tromsø: Travel Goals

    Some days you just stumble onto fun. We are walking to the polar museum, but run across a house that says restaurant and museum. So, of course, in we go. There are no people. None. A self pay machine let us in. The building has been a warehouse on the dock. It houses a fun…