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@ Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
Frodo begins his tour of "Norway". Wrap up warm!
Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
This old farm homestead, typical of many found in Oslo, Norway countrysides is one of 160 buildings on display at one of the world's oldest and largest open-air museums, the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. This open-air museum focuses on the time period from 1500 until the present time but also has a stave church from 1200. Indoor exhibits feature Norwegian folk costumes, folk art, church art, toys, and Sami culture.

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@ Mosfjell, Birkeland, Norway
"Quiz time, Choose a name! 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 Choose a name.
"It was actually the cheese slice!" replied Frodo. "It was invented way back in 1925 by Thor Bjørklund."
Mosfjell, Birkeland, Norway
A scenic sunset brings a day of adventuring through Mosfjell, Birkeland, Norway to a close. Rest up because there will be more spectacular places to see tomorrow!

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@ Rural Norwegian Landscape
"Next quiz question, Alex!" announced Frodo. "What is unusual about the Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King's Guard?"
"I don't know, Frodo. Is he very young to have been appointed, or something?"
"Ooh, you're almost there! He's actually a Scottish penguin!" responded Frodo. "Brigadier Sir Nils Olav has held the title since 2005, but the involvement goes back to 1972 when the regiment adopted a penguin from Edinburgh Zoo."

Rural Norwegian Landscape
Time to bundle up! The horses are hitched to the sleigh and pets will get to experience a real sleigh ride through the wintry Norwegian rural landscape.

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@ Colorful Shops, Bergen, Norway
"You know the author Roald Dahl, DaiDai?" remarked Frodo. "He was born in Wales, but his parents were Norwegian."
"I didn't know that, Frodo!" said DaiDai. "I always enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
"Well, it says in our tour guide that he may have taken inspiration for the book from the Norwegian Freia chocolate factory. However, the BBC have claimed he was inspired by Cadbury running tasting tests at his school in Derbyshire. Who knows?"
Colorful Shops, Bergen, Norway
Colorful wooden shops beckon travelers to stop by and see what goodies they can't live without. The bright yellow one is a souvenir shop. Every pet needs to visit that one.

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@ Ice Sculptures, Kirkenes, 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, Frodo?" observed Fox.
Frodo 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 Fox a square of delicious Freia Melkesjokolade.
Ice Sculptures, Kirkenes, Norway
The famous Snow Hotel in Kirkenes is built with fresh snow every winter and is a popular tourist attraction. How do you stay warm in there? You are just going to have to do a little research to find out the answer to that question and any others you may have.

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@ Frozen Fjord, Norway
"'Norway is the world's most successful nation at the Winter Olympic Games'," read out Frodo from the itinerary. "'Despite having only around 5 million residents, Norway has won more medals than any other country in Olympic history'."
"And there's me tumbling head over paws on that icy path this morning!" remarked Népomucène Bibliophilus.
Frozen Fjord, Norway
The ice is beginning to break up signifying that the winter's grip on the land is loosening. The ice and snow will soon melt, giving way to the many fjord cruises that immerse travelers in the spectacular beauty that is Norway's famous fjords.

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@ Lofoten Fishing Village
"You know the author Roald Dahl, Daisy Lee?" remarked Frodo. "He was born in Wales, but his parents were Norwegian."
"I didn't know that, Frodo!" said Daisy Lee. "I always enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."
"Well, it says in our tour guide that he may have taken inspiration for the book from the Norwegian Freia chocolate factory. However, the BBC have claimed he was inspired by Cadbury running tasting tests at his school in Derbyshire. Who knows?"
Lofoten Fishing Village
Many rugged fishing villages can be found among the picturesque Lofoten Islands of Norway. They are a popular destination for both professional and recreational fishermen.

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@ Soaring Sunset
"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 jingle.
"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."
Soaring Sunset
Two large aquatic birds soar serenely in the sunset in Bergen, Norway.

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@ Foggy Fjord, Norway
"What Norwegian Christmas tradition centres around Bjørnøya, or Bear Island, Wawatay?" asked Frodo.
"I don't know, Frodo!"
"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."
Foggy Fjord, Norway
This idyllic little fog-enshrouded village welcomes a boat into the fjord. I'm sure the travelers will receive a warm nordic welcome.

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@ Røldal, Norway
"English as spoken today is full of linguistic leftovers from a time when elaborately-decorated helmets were the dernier cri," read out Frodo from the brochure. "That means the Vikings, Lady Jane!"
"I know. So what words do we owe to the Vikings, Frodo?"
Frodo frowned at the list. "Well, for a start, víking meant an expedition overseas, and a vikingr was someone who went on one of these expeditions."
Røldal, Norway
No matter what your idea of fun is, Røldal offers something for you to do. Attractions include skiing, hiking, and sightseeing. If you are a history buff, there are plenty of interesting places to explore.

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@ Jotunheimen Mountains, Norway
"Did you know that Norway has a 120-mile land border with Russia, slider?"
slider pondered. "I didn't know that, Frodo! Aren't Sweden and Finland sort of in the way?"
"Look at the map here. It's at Kirkenes. It says here that it's very common for Norwegians to cross over into Russia to buy cheaper fuel for their cars, while Russians cross over to Norway to buy better quality goods in Kirkenes."
Jotunheimen Mountains, Norway
Once upon a time, according to Norse mythology, Jotunheimen was the place where the Jötunn – the trolls – lived. These were feared as superhuman, similar in power to gods but more chaotic in nature and best avoided. “Giant” or "Troll" are common synonyms for Jötunn. It is also used in Scandinavian folklore and popular culture. The word is related to modern Scandinavian words for magic or sorcery. Prepare yourself to be spellbound as soon as you set foot here.

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@ Norwegian Fjord Rainbow
"Would you like to share my elevenses, Whymsical Mysti?" invited Frodo, 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 Whymsical Mysti.
"Thank you, Frodo!" said Whymsical Mysti, 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!"
Norwegian Fjord Rainbow
They say treasure is to be found at the end of the rainbow. That is definitely true here in Norway where they have an abundance of some of the most spectacular scenic fjord views. Norway truly is a treasure for the eyes.

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@ Trolltunga, Norway
"Next quiz question, Aki!" announced Frodo. "What is unusual about the Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King's Guard?"
"I don't know, Frodo. Is he very young to have been appointed, or something?"
"Ooh, you're almost there! He's actually a Scottish penguin!" responded Frodo. "Brigadier Sir Nils Olav has held the title since 2005, but the involvement goes back to 1972 when the regiment adopted a penguin from Edinburgh Zoo."

Trolltunga, Norway
Trolltunga (Troll Tongue) is a very popular tourist attraction, rapidly increasing in popularity since 2010 with more than 80,000 hikers completing the very challenging 27 kilometer (17 mile) hike, which takes more than ten hours, over rough terrain, to complete.

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@ Piggy Bank
"Next quiz question, Esmeralda!" announced Frodo. "What is unusual about the Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian King's Guard?"
"I don't know, Frodo. Is he very young to have been appointed, or something?"
"Ooh, you're almost there! He's actually a Scottish penguin!" responded Frodo. "Brigadier Sir Nils Olav has held the title since 2005, but the involvement goes back to 1972 when the regiment adopted a penguin from Edinburgh Zoo."

Piggy Bank
Piggy banks are usually associated with good luck. Perhaps this sweet little piggy bank painted with the Norwegian Flag will help the owner save.

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@ The Trolls Road
Oh look ... you won a pet!
The Trolls Road
The Trollstigen or Trolls Road is a very windy road that travels up steep mountainsides in Rauma, a municipality in Norway. The road was opened on 31st July 1936 by the then King of Norway Haakon VII. Each of the bends has its own name, most are named after the foreman who led the work crews for that section.

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@ Village On Fjord, Norway
"'Tromsø has The Arctic University, which is the northernmost university in the world, with 16,000 students,'" read out Angel from the brochure.
"They also have the Northern Lights Observatory in Tromsø, don't they, Frodo?" remarked Angel. "That must be a cool place to work!"
Village On Fjord, Norway
Norway has over 1,700 named fjords, and there are many small villages with colourful houses dotted along many of the fjords. Norway is the second-largest exporter of fish and seafood so people want to live as close to the water as possible.

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@ Sognefjord, Norway
" 'Norway is the name of the country in English,'" read out Frodo. " 'In Norwegian, the country is called Norge. In the lesser-used nynorsk variety of Norwegian, the spelling is Noreg. In fact, the full name of the country is the Kingdom of Norway. In Norwegian, this is written as Kongeriket Norge, or Kongeriket Noreg in nynorsk. Meanwhile, the Norwegian language is known in Norway as norsk.' Got that, Beast?"
"Got it, Frodo!" replied Beast. "When I used to collect stamps when I was young, I remember the Norwegian ones had 'Norge' printed on them."
Sognefjord, Norway
In the Sognefjord area of Norway you will enjoy many picturesque vistas. The Sognefjord is Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, According to UNESCO, the landscape around the fjord is among the most scenically outstanding in the world, which is why it has a place on the World Heritage List.

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@ Troll Tongue
"'Arguably the best way to enjoy the Norwegian coastline – if you don't have your own boat that is – is by taking the full Hurtigruten voyage on the Coastal Steamer from Bergen to Kirkenes and back again. On the 12-day voyage you'll get up close to some of the country's most iconic scenery with 34 ports of call northbound and 33 on southbound sailings'," read out Frodo from the tour brochure.
Choose a name pondered. "It's been fabulous touring the parts we've managed to do by boat, Frodo. I vote we come back another time when we can afford our own private boat!"
Troll Tongue
Trolltunga, Troll Tongue is a rock formation situated in Ullensvang Municipality, Vestland County, Norway. The cliff juts out horizontally about 700 metres (2,300 ft) above Ringedalsvatnet lake. This has become a very popular hiking area in recent years.

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@ Old Town, Bergen
"'Tromsø has The Arctic University, which is the northernmost university in the world, with 16,000 students,'" read out George from the brochure.
"They also have the Northern Lights Observatory in Tromsø, don't they, Frodo?" remarked George. "That must be a cool place to work!"
Old Town, Bergen
Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway and was the first capital city, in 1299 Oslo became the capital. Bergen was founded by King Olave Kyrre in 1070 and became a major trading and seafaring port. The very first buildings in Bergen were situated at Bryggen (the dock).

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@ Snowy Road, Norway
Tony was carefully studying the map of Norway. "Well, fancy that, Frodo! 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."
Snowy Road, Norway
The snowplows have just been through so the roads are clear... for now. The well-prepared pet knows to make sure they have emergency supplies in their vehicle anytime they leave home in the winter as the weather can change quickly.

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@ Storseisundet Bridge, Norway
" 'Norway is the name of the country in English,'" read out Frodo. " 'In Norwegian, the country is called Norge. In the lesser-used nynorsk variety of Norwegian, the spelling is Noreg. In fact, the full name of the country is the Kingdom of Norway. In Norwegian, this is written as Kongeriket Norge, or Kongeriket Noreg in nynorsk. Meanwhile, the Norwegian language is known in Norway as norsk.' Got that, moo moo?"
"Got it, Frodo!" replied moo moo. "When I used to collect stamps when I was young, I remember the Norwegian ones had 'Norge' printed on them."
Storseisundet Bridge, Norway
The Storseisundet Bridge is a cantilever bridge and the longest of the eight bridges that make up the Atlanterhavsveien or the Atlantic Ocean Road. The bridge is 260 metres (850 ft) long and with a maximum clearance to the sea of 23 metres (75 ft). It was opened on 7 July 1989.

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@ Houses in Winter, Norway
"Did you know that Norway has a 120-mile land border with Russia, Tiara Maxwell?"
Tiara Maxwell pondered. "I didn't know that, Frodo! Aren't Sweden and Finland sort of in the way?"
"Look at the map here. It's at Kirkenes. It says here that it's very common for Norwegians to cross over into Russia to buy cheaper fuel for their cars, while Russians cross over to Norway to buy better quality goods in Kirkenes."
Houses in Winter, Norway
The owners of these little row houses are making sure that even in winter there are vibrant colors to contrast the predominant winter hues of whites and grays.

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@ Norwegian Autumn
"Hey, Paxton, 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, Frodo!" responded Paxton.
Norwegian Autumn
The sounds of gently trickling water are the only sounds heard during a moment of no traffic on the quaint stone bridge. Take this peaceful moment to feast on the autumnal beauty of Norway as well.

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@ Snowy Trek
"Hey, Finley, 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, Frodo?"
Snowy Trek
If you love hiking through the snow you will find it aplenty here in Norway. Some pets have already struck out on their winter adventure and have left a trail to follow.

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@ Flåmsbana, Norway
As Frodo's tour of "Norway" comes to an end, he receives a seasonally appropriate gift!
Sleeping Winter Grass
I am tired after a long year of growing and putting forth vibrant green colours and making seeds. Now is my time to rest and gain back strength for when spring comes again. Even in this form, I add texture to the landscape and a touch of subdued yet warm colour.
Flåmsbana, Norway
Even though the population is around 400, the tiny town of Flåmsbana receives over 450,000 visitors every year! The main attraction to the area is the Flam Line, a railway route between Flåmsbana and Myrdal which is not only one of the steepest railway routes but is also undeniably one of the most magnificent train journeys in the world. The town harbor also offers approximately 160 cruises every year, taking passengers through the spectacular fjords and the encircling waterfalls.
Frodo has completed his tour of "Norway"! Your Scandinavian tour is now over, but PnF will hold a new event again soon!