On top of the world.

We love lighthouses, so we were excited to be able to climb two while we were in Norway. Turns out they’re pretty much exactly the same as those we have here in the States.

The first one we visited was out on the flat coast not so far from where we were staying. This is the Lista Lighthouse, just up the road from the alpaca farm I showed you in the last Norway post.

Clouds added to the drama of the site.

Long ago there used to be three lighthouses here, and you can see where they were when you’re standing up top of the one remaining.

You can see where the other two lighthouses once stood, all 3 close together.

The view from the top, in every direction, was pretty stunning.

Looking inland toward farm country.

And, as usual, I didn’t want to go back down.

The view along the coast.

But on the ground were interesting things too, particular those things left over from World War Two. There were a couple bunkers with views of the ocean, and a display discussing the damage plastics are causing in our oceans.

A bunker window looks out over the ocean and the display built out of plastics pulled from the sea.

And there was this thing.

We suppose someone sat in the seat and signaled ships with this.

We spent a good amount of time examining this, with it’s tractor like seat and apparatus complete with a mirror-type thing hanging overhead. We tried to imagine how it had been used. And marveled that it was still there after all these years.

Husband’s picture shows the inverted image of the lighthouse in the glass.

It was a good trip to see a great lighthouse. But we weren’t done.

On another day we took a road trip to the furthest south lighthouse in Norway, at Lindesnes. The terraine there is entirely different than up at Lista.

Kids and adults scramble around on the rocks.

This lighthouse is shorter than Lista, but it sits higher above the sea on a rocky point.

Not so many steps inside to get to the top, but lots of steps just to get to the base of the structure.

There was plenty to see there too, though it was really windy. On the ground there was a circle carved into the stone, with arrows pointing to places around the world, including New York City. You could stand there and face the country you were from. Of course I did.

The sun was headed down for the day by the time we got to the top.

We didn’t have a lot of time there, but we enjoyed it so much. By the time we came down we were hungry, so we stopped along the way home at a wonderful restaurant that served Thai food.

Yummy food.

I had to use Google Translate to figure out the menu, written in Norwegian describing Thai dishes. Luckily what I finally picked was excellent!

We saw so much on these road trips, so much more than what I’ve shown you. And I haven’t even taken you to the churches we visited or out in the boat

We saw beautiful churches, but that’s for another post.

Time is getting short, as I’m preparing for my next trip…but maybe, just maybe I’ll at least get those churches posted before I leave.

You just never know.

Can’t stop looking at that view.

image from the internet clipart

Growing up there was a band program in our school system, but no orchestra. So, though my mom played violin, there wasn’t an option for any of us to play strings. And, truthfully, I never really had a hankering for the violin.

No, the sound I really enjoyed the few times I heard an orchestra play was the cello. That deep rich sound pulled at my heart. As a kid I thought maybe someday I’d learn to play one.

And now it’s fifty plus years later and I’ve never even touched a cello, which is why I decided to put “Find someone willing to teach me how to make a sound on a cello.” on the list.

Last week I talked to our local music store. They have cello teachers and will rent me a cello. Lessons are $25 to $35 dollars each. Renting the cello is $50 a month, a three month minimum.

I need to think about whether I want to expand my original idea of sitting with someone for a one time experience into three months of cello lessons.

My goal was to just experience what it was like to cradle a cello and pull a bow across the strings. I never thought I’d want to really learn how to play – it was more an experiential thing.

So…should I just put the word out and see if anyone knows of anyone who’d be willing to let me hug their cello? Or should I jump right in and spring for lessons and a cello to (temporarily) adopt for my very own?

I’m not home yet, I wrote this before we left for our trip and scheduled it to pop up while we’re gone. I’ll read your responses from wherever I am, but might not be able to acknowledge them.

I will make a decision when I get back from our trip….but I’m curious…what would be your vote?