@ Saltstraumen Bridge, Norway Sparkle begins his tour of "Norway". Wrap up warm! Saltstraumen Bridge, Norway The Saltstraumen Bridge has been in use since 1978 and is one of four bridges built in the 70s to connect the islands to each other.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Pingu.
Sparkle shook paws with Pingu the Playful Penguin. They both received one silver mole!
@ Lysefjord, Norway Chipilona settled back in her coach seat and turned to her neighbour. "Would you like a potato crisp, Sparkle?" she asked, opening the bright blue packet. "Mmm, yes, please!" responded Sparkle, and helped himself. Some happy crunching by both pets ensued. "These are really delicious!" enthused Sparkle. "So what does Potetgull on the packet mean?" "I asked our tour guide earlier. It means "gold potatoes". The maker is Maarud, who make most of the crisps in Norway." Lysefjord, Norway Our airborne pets would like to show us the view of Norway they see every day, all day. You can be certain they never get tired of gazing down at the spectacular Lyesfjord. Not to leave the land-dwelling pets out of a breath-taking experience, this area offers a hike to the top of Flørli via 4,444 wooden steps that just happen to be the world's longest wooden staircase!
While enjoying your Saga, you met Chipilona.
Sparkle shook paws with Chipilona the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
@ Sætre, Asker, Norway Sparkle and Ginny stopped at a confectioner's to buy Norwegian chocolate for pets back home. "This one looks lovely, Ginny," remarked Sparkle. "Freia Melkesjokolade Firkløver—hakkede hasselnøte. So we know it's milk chocolate, and taking the pictures and text together, it's called Four Leaf Clover with hacked hazelnuts!" "I think "chopped" hazelnuts would be more accurate, Sparkle!" "Yes, that's what I meant!" Sætre, Asker, Norway The name Sætre is derived from the Norse word which literally means 'place to sit' or can be understood to mean 'place of residence,' However, only 3796 Norwegians have decided to do that. Sætre is also home to the Sætreelva (Sætre River) which is an important breeding ground for sea trout and many species of seabirds.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Ginny.
Sparkle shook paws with Ginny the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Kirkenes, Norway "It says here that Norway’s capital wasn’t always called Oslo. When it was founded in 1040, its name was originally spelt Ânslo or Áslo. However, in 1624, after a great fire destroyed large parts of the city, it was moved and rebuilt. So the capital city's name was changed to Christiania after the ruling monarch, King Christian IV." "When did it become Oslo?" queried Gray. "Well, first the name changed to start with a K instead of C-H, adopted at the end of the 19th century. Then in 1925 the city expanded to include the original 11th century village and was renamed Oslo. Phew! Today it ranks number one of all European cities in terms of quality of life." Kirkenes, Norway This small group of cabins in Kirkenes featuring large windows is often used by travelers who hope to get a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis while staying warm. Another fun attraction besides aurora viewing is the Kirkenes Snowhotel which is rebuilt from fresh snow every year. This small town is located in northeastern Norway, close to the borders of Finland and Russia.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Gray.
Sparkle shook paws with Gray the Dauntless Dolphin. They both received one silver mole!
@ Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway "Today's quiz question, Shadow!" announced Sparkle. "How many times has Norway hosted the Winter Olympics?" Shadow pondered. "Well, I would say more than once, at any rate!" "Correct, Shadow! The answer is twice: in 1952 in Oslo, and in 1994 in Lillehammer." Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway Saint Olav’s holy shrine in the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim has been an important pilgrimage site ever since the former Viking king Olaf II was canonised in 1031, and it is still a treasured destination for pilgrims from all over the world. Before you enter as a pilgrim, you should perform the old ritual of walking around the cathedral three times."
While enjoying your Saga, you met Shadow.
Sparkle shook paws with Shadow the Black Lovable Labrador. They both received one silver mole!
@ Snowy Evergreen Forest, Norway "More trivia, Sparkle!" announced Willow. "What gift does Norway make to Britain every single year?" "Ooh, I know this!" responded Sparkle. "It's a Christmas tree!" "Correct!" said Willow. "It's a 65 feet (20 m) tall Norwegian spruce from an Oslo forest, usually about 50 to 60 years old. The cutting ceremony is attended by the British Ambassador and the Mayor of Oslo and after shipping to England is placed prominently in Trafalgar Square. The tree, decorated in a typical Norwegian style with white lights, provides a focal point for the carol-singing festivities that take place on the square throughout the Christmas period. After Twelfth Night the tree is converted into compost." Snowy Evergreen Forest, Norway Time to go on another winter adventure. This time it's an exhilarating snowshoe or cross-country ski trek through the pristine evergreen forest. The air is fresh and crisp and the fresh;y-fallen snow on the branches of the evergreen trees offers a beautiful image of peace and serenity.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Willow.
Sparkle shook paws with Willow the Meadow's Secret Caterpillar. They both received one silver mole!
@ Whale Watching, Norway "Did you know that Oslo, the Norwegian capital, has been the venue of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony almost every year since 1901, Flip Flop Flap?" queried Sparkle. "The other Nobel prizes in science and literature are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden." Flip Flop Flap grinned. "Yup—well, I know the physics prize ceremony is in Stockholm. The last episode of the Big Bang Theory was unforgettable!" Whale Watching, Norway The Norwegian Sea is a perfect place for whale watching all year long. Sperm whales are the most common whale spotted in the summer months. In the winter months, orcas and humpbacks can be spotted in the fjords. If you are lucky, you may also see pilot whales, minke whales, fin whales, dolphins, and killer whales.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Flip Flop Flap.
Sparkle shook paws with Flip Flop Flap the Playful Penguin. They both received one silver mole!
@ Norwegian Sea Coastline "It says here that Norway’s capital wasn’t always called Oslo. When it was founded in 1040, its name was originally spelt Ânslo or Áslo. However, in 1624, after a great fire destroyed large parts of the city, it was moved and rebuilt. So the capital city's name was changed to Christiania after the ruling monarch, King Christian IV." "When did it become Oslo?" queried Tigger. "Well, first the name changed to start with a K instead of C-H, adopted at the end of the 19th century. Then in 1925 the city expanded to include the original 11th century village and was renamed Oslo. Phew! Today it ranks number one of all European cities in terms of quality of life." Norwegian Sea Coastline One can easily get lost in their thoughts while gazing out onto the waters of the Norwegian Sea. It's easy to picture Viking ships sailing throughout and wonder what it would be like to be aboard one of them.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Tigger.
Sparkle shook paws with Tigger the Tiger. They both received one silver mole!
@ Northern Norway Flora "Quiz time, Catalina! What invention did Norway give the world that has remained practically unchanged in almost a hundred years?" "Goodness! Er ... something to do with skiing? Skating? Swimming?" ventured Catalina. "It was actually the cheese slice!" replied Sparkle. "It was invented way back in 1925 by Thor Bjørklund." Northern Norway Flora The cloudberry is a fruit native to cold climates. These are just beginning to flower and will develop into a delicious amber-colored berry, similar to a blackberry.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Catalina.
Sparkle shook paws with Catalina the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
@ Hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) "Hey, Crowley, it says here, 'Norway's oil and gas industry has powered the economy, but it doesn't power the nation's homes. Around 98% of Norway's domestic power usage is drawn from hydroelectric power plants.'" "That's good going, isn't it, Sparkle?" Hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) is one of Norway's most visited and photographed locations. It towers 604 meters above the Lysefjord.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Crowley.
Sparkle shook paws with Crowley the Brown Owl. They both received one silver mole!
@ How Far From Norway? "Hey, Sparkle, did you know Norway has a volcano?" queried Rusty. "It's called the Beerenberg—oh, Sparkle, do come out from under your coach seat! It's not on the mainland but on the way to Greenland. It's 7,306 feet (2,227 m) high." How Far From Norway? These signs are always fun for the traveler to see no matter where they wander. World travelers can reminisce about their recent vacation to a place on a signpost or daydream about a place they hope to visit in the future.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Rusty.
Sparkle shook paws with Rusty the Brown Rustic Rabbit. They both received one silver mole!
@ Idyllic Norwegian Fjord Sparkle and Abby stopped at a confectioner's to buy Norwegian chocolate for pets back home. "This one looks lovely, Abby," remarked Sparkle. "Freia Melkesjokolade Firkløver—hakkede hasselnøte. So we know it's milk chocolate, and taking the pictures and text together, it's called Four Leaf Clover with hacked hazelnuts!" "I think "chopped" hazelnuts would be more accurate, Sparkle!" "Yes, that's what I meant!" Idyllic Norwegian Fjord Fjord cruises are very abundant and an excellent way to immerse oneself in the spectacular beauty of the fjords of Norway.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Abby.
Sparkle shook paws with Abby the Black Lovable Labrador. They both received one silver mole!
@ Vøringsfossen Waterfall, Hardanger, Norway Skye was carefully studying the map of Norway. "Well, fancy that, Sparkle! Kirkenes is farther east than all of Finland! It's just 9 miles (15 km) from the Russian border. It says in our tour guide that the Russian influence makes it a very interesting and bilingual place." Vøringsfossen Waterfall, Hardanger, Norway Vøringsfossen Waterfall has a fall of 182 meters and cascades down from the Hardangervidda mountain plateau down into the Måbødalen valley. This waterfall is considered to be one of the most beautiful and is a popular place to visit in the Hardangerfjord region.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Skye.
Sparkle shook paws with Skye the Blue Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
@ Bryggen, Bergen, Norway "Look at this in our tour brochure, Sparkle! 'Andøya Space is a rocket launch site, rocket range and spaceport on Andøya island.'" "Wow, sounds exciting, whisper!" Bryggen, Bergen, Norway The historic harbour area of Bergen, and one of Northern Europe’s oldest port cities. In 1350 the Hanseatic League established a “Hanseatic Office” in Bergen. These German merchants lived and worked in these long narrow rows of houses that face the harbour. The rows of houses are separated by narrow wooden passages that run parallel to the dock.
While enjoying your Saga, you met whisper.
Sparkle shook paws with whisper the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Andoya, Vesteralen, Norway Oh look ... you won a pet! Andoya, Vesteralen, Norway Andøya is as far north as you can get in Nordland and Vesterålen and is the 10th largest island in Norway. Andøya sits on the edge of the very deep ocean, no other place in Norway can make this claim. Just south of Andenes, the administrative center is Andøya Space Center, where they launch rockets and satellites.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Sylvantra.
Sparkle shook paws with Sylvantra the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
Sylvantra gave you 1 "Blushing Skies Butterfly (Fluttering)" size 10
@ Ålesund Harbour, Norway. "It explains here that Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist who bequeathed his wealth to create the Nobel awards," remarked Sparkle. "So why did he choose Norway to be the Peace Prize venue?" "No one knows, Sophia!" said Sparkle. Ålesund Harbour, Norway. Ålesund is a lovely small port in Norway. The city is known for its art in Nouveau Architecture. Ålesund is the 13th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 66,258.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Sophia.
Sparkle shook paws with Sophia the Snowcat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Suitor Waterfall, Geirangerfjord, Norway "What Norwegian Christmas tradition centres around Bjørnøya, or Bear Island, Kiki?" asked Sparkle. "I don't know, Sparkle!" "Every Christmas the nine staff at its meteorological station, Herwighamna, undertake a broadcast on the radio, as one of the many far out places in Norway. It says here that amateur radio enthusiasts occasionally conduct DXpeditions on the island during the summer months." Suitor Waterfall, Geirangerfjord, Norway Are you ready for an exhilarating excursion? Then this kayak trip with an experienced guide will be perfect. You will paddle the Geirangerfjord until you reach the place where there are not one, but two, majestic waterfalls, one of which is the Suitor Waterfall, On the opposite side of the fjord is the Seven Sisters Waterfall. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the amazing beauty of the Geirangerfjord.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Kiki.
Sparkle shook paws with Kiki the Gibby. They both received one silver mole!
@ Fiske, Norway "It says in our tour guide that no-one knows exactly how long Norway's coastline is! They just know it's very long!" "Well, it depends what size, you know, ruler they use, doesn't it, Sparkle?" observed Elvis. Sparkle sniffed disdainfully. "They don't crawl all round the coast with a six-inch ruler, do they? I expect it's all done electronically." Sensing argument, he quickly offered Elvis a square of delicious Freia Melkesjokolade. Fiske, Norway Fiske is a locality in Rogaland, Norway, 33 miles south of Oslo. Fiske means, to fish, in Norwegian. Mist rises from one of the many waterways that dot the area.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Elvis.
Sparkle shook paws with Elvis the Hound Dog. They both received one silver mole!
@ Spotted Nutcracker "Would you like to share my elevenses, HappyCheerling?" invited Sparkle, when he encountered his friend in the park. "It's called Kvikk Lunsj—it means Quick Lunch!" Unwrapping the chocolate wafer bar, he broke it in half, and offered it to HappyCheerling. "Thank you, Sparkle!" said HappyCheerling, taking the proffered sample. "Mmm, that's very nice indeed!" "Apparently it's customary when you go skiing here in Norway to take a Kvikk Lunsj along with a thermos of hot chocolate and an orange!" Spotted Nutcracker One of many birds you may spot around Norway. Pine seeds/nuts are the most important food source. Nutcracker couples stay together for life and both parents feed the babies and teach them how to store extra food.
While enjoying your Saga, you met HappyCheerling.
Sparkle shook paws with HappyCheerling the Starlight Cheerling. They both received one silver mole!
@ Kristiansand Container Port "What Norwegian Christmas tradition centres around Bjørnøya, or Bear Island, Corgalicious?" asked Sparkle. "I don't know, Sparkle!" "Every Christmas the nine staff at its meteorological station, Herwighamna, undertake a broadcast on the radio, as one of the many far out places in Norway. It says here that amateur radio enthusiasts occasionally conduct DXpeditions on the island during the summer months." Kristiansand Container Port This colourful scene shows the Port of Kristiansand, one of Norway's largest and most important container terminals, located in the south of the country. The terminal is located in the very heart of the city centre of Kristiansand, and is open 24/7, 365 days a year, handling containers being transported to key European markets and worldwide. It is southern Norway`s most important transportation hub. In 2020 the port handled nearly 50,000 containers.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Corgalicious.
Sparkle shook paws with Corgalicious the Corgi. They both received one silver mole!
@ Bjørnhollia, Rondane, Norway "More trivia, Sparkle!" announced Choose a name. "What gift does Norway make to Britain every single year?" "Ooh, I know this!" responded Sparkle. "It's a Christmas tree!" "Correct!" said Choose a name. "It's a 65 feet (20 m) tall Norwegian spruce from an Oslo forest, usually about 50 to 60 years old. The cutting ceremony is attended by the British Ambassador and the Mayor of Oslo and after shipping to England is placed prominently in Trafalgar Square. The tree, decorated in a typical Norwegian style with white lights, provides a focal point for the carol-singing festivities that take place on the square throughout the Christmas period. After Twelfth Night the tree is converted into compost." Bjørnhollia, Rondane, Norway Bjørnhollia lies south in the Rondane range. The Rondane is the oldest national park in Norway and is an important habitat for wild reindeer. The Park has ten mountain peaks over 2,000 metres (6,560 ft) and is a very popular place for hikers to visit.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Choose a name.
Sparkle shook paws with Choose a name the Tabby Cat. They both received one silver mole!
@ Torghatten, Norway "Hey, seema, have you seen what the hotel has included in our packed lunch today? It's these packets of Freia Melkehjerte—adorable leaf-thin milk chocolate hearts!" "I'm looking forward to lunch already, Sparkle!" responded seema. Torghatten, Norway A stunning granite dome on the island of Torget in the municipality of Brønnøy. This dome has a natural tunnel that visitors can walk through. The tunnel is 160 metres (520 ft) long, 20 metres (66 ft) wide, and 35 metres (115 ft) high and was formed during the Scandinavian Ice Age.
While enjoying your Saga, you met seema.
Sparkle shook paws with seema the Grey Playful Kitten. They both received one silver mole!
@ Panorama Of Lofoten, Norway Sparkle and Hansi (Icky Bird Who Can't Fly) stopped at a confectioner's to buy Norwegian chocolate for pets back home. "This one looks lovely, Hansi (Icky Bird Who Can't Fly)," remarked Sparkle. "Freia Melkesjokolade Firkløver—hakkede hasselnøte. So we know it's milk chocolate, and taking the pictures and text together, it's called Four Leaf Clover with hacked hazelnuts!" "I think "chopped" hazelnuts would be more accurate, Sparkle!" "Yes, that's what I meant!" Panorama Of Lofoten, Norway Dramatic mountain peaks, sheltered bays, and untouched land make up this archipelago in the county of Nordland, Norway. For more than 1,000 years the islands have been the centre for cod fisheries.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Hansi (Icky Bird Who Can't Fly).
Sparkle shook paws with Hansi (Icky Bird Who Can't Fly) the Playful Penguin. They both received one silver mole!
Hansi (Icky Bird Who Can't Fly) and you found 10 Travel Tokens!
@ Hadsel Bridge, Norway "Quiz time, Thimbl! What invention did Norway give the world that has remained practically unchanged in almost a hundred years?" "Goodness! Er ... something to do with skiing? Skating? Swimming?" ventured Thimbl. "It was actually the cheese slice!" replied Sparkle. "It was invented way back in 1925 by Thor Bjørklund." Hadsel Bridge, Norway The Hadsel Bridge has been in use since 1978 and is one of four bridges built in the 70s to connect the islands to each other. It was initially a toll bridge but is now there is no charge to cross.
While enjoying your Saga, you met Thimbl.
Sparkle shook paws with Thimbl the Midnight Happy Dragon. They both received one silver mole!
@ Souvenir Viking Ship As Sparkle's tour of "Norway" comes to an end, he receives a seasonally appropriate gift! Winter Sky, Day The blue and white sky of winter reminds us of the snow and shadows on the ground. A wonderful backdrop for any winter scene, or any season that calls for a delicate sky. You can fill it with birds and trees can stretch their branches outward. What wonderful scene will you create? Souvenir Viking Ship Don't forget to stop in the gift shop and pick up some souvenirs of your Norwegian travels. There are many to choose from, including this whimsical replica of a viking ship. Sparkle has completed his tour of "Norway"! Your Scandinavian tour is now over, but PnF will hold a new event again soon!
While enjoying your Saga, you met Serena.
Sparkle shook paws with Serena the Blue Beautiful Unicorn. They both received one silver mole!
Sparkle has completed the quest of
