This is an account of a rather odd three weeks spent in various countries in Europe in the summer of 2000. As with the other travel notes on line here, it is meant mostly as a record of our own memories and reflects our own peculiar priorities, but others might find it amusing or even useful. We spent a few days in Oslo, a few more in Bergen, a couple in Amsterdam, and a week in Barcelona. This strange itinerary was the result of combining conference travel, research, leisure, and stopovers facilitated by choice of airlines.
Books consulted for this trip include Frommer's and Fodor's guides to Scandinavia (2000 editions), Frommer's Amsterdam (1997 edition), the Rough Guide to Barcelona (1998 edition), Time Out Barcelona (2000 edition), as well as various reference works on the culture and art of Norway, the Netherlands, and Spain.
The text totals about 20,000 words, split up into days. Notes were taken on site with an upgraded Newton 2000 and portable keyboard, and finalized later using a PowerBook and working here and there in between trying to catch up at work and at home. Minimal HTML conversion was done by hand. There are no pictures. For ease of text transmission in different formats, I have left all accents off French words; hopefully, this will not confuse anyone.
Here are the individual day links.
July 1: arrival in Oslo, Hotel Norrona, Karl Johans Gate, harbour, Akershus Slott, Aker Brygge.
July 2: Bygdoy peninsula, Viking Ships Museum, Kon-Tiki museum, Munch Museum, Brasserie 45, Frognerparken, Vigeland sculptures.
July 3: National Gallery, harbour, Aker Brygge.
July 4: Train ride from Oslo to Bergen, Grand Hotel Terminus, conference reception at Schotstuene.
July 5: Conference, Bergen centre, harbour, fishmarket, Bryggen, Bergen Aquarium.
July 6: Conference, Rasmus Meyer collection, Sternersen Collection, Bergen Museum of art, conference banquet on Mount Floyen.
July 7: Leprosy Museum, walk around Bergen, Speisekroken.
July 8: Conference excursion, Norway in a nutshell: Voss, Naeroyfjorden, Aurlandfjorden, Flam, Myrdal, Bergen, Pasta Sentralen.
July 9: flight to Amsterdam, Vondelpark hostel, Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank Huis, Puri Mas.
July 10: Rijksmuseum, walking around Amsterdam, Tempo Doeloe.
July 11: Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art, Bojo.
July 12: Walking around central Amsterdam, Pancake Bakery, flight to Barcelona, Citadines Hotel Ramblas, Gardunya.
July 13: La Boqueria, Mansana de la Discordia, Centro Asturiano, La Pedrera.
July 14: Picasso Museum, Moll de la Fusta, Barceloneta, Can Ros, cable car, Montjuic, Miro museum, Horchateria Sirvent, Raval, Ramblas.
July 15: Catedral, City History Museum, Palau Reial, Metro, lunch with local friends, La Dolce Herminia.
July 16: old city, Parc de la Ciutadella, Modernist Art Museum, Port Olimpic, Paco Alcalde, Parc Guell, Passeig de Gracia, Gracia, Nou Candanchu.
July 17: Sagrada Familia, Maritime Museum, La Llotja, shopping expeditions, Can Lluis.
July 18: Music museum, Tapies Foundation, CCCB, Silenus, Horchateria Sirvent, Raval, La Boqueria, old city, Bar Celta La Pulperia.