K is for Kristiansand in ABC Wednesday

Why should I make a post about Kristiansand in this series when I am born and bred in Bergen? There are very good reasons for this:

• It is Norway's filth largest city with about 80.000 inhabitants.
• It was founded by the Danish-Norwegian King Christian IV. ("Kristian Kvart") in 1641
  
• It is beautifully situated in the best part of Summer Norway.
• I once lived and worked there.
• I now have a daughter living and working there.

The panorama picture above shows only part of the city. The picture is dominated by a hill on a peninsula called Odderøya. It was once a Naval Fort and served as a training camp for coastal defence artillery until 1997. After that it has been most famous as the site for the Quart Musical Festival ("Quarten").

The map shows more or less the same, but now with the sea at the bottom. To the right in the map is the Eastern harbour and mainly residential areas, while to the left is the Western harbour with the older part of the city - Kvadraturen. This part of the city was more or less laid down by the king himself with all the streets in in a square pattern.

The main shopping street in Kvadraturen in Kristiansand is called "Markens gate", or locally "Markens". This is just a small part of it. The picture was taken in the beginning of May 2008.

There are also quiet residential areas in Kvadraturen. This is from one of the streets leading up to Kristiansand Domkirke (The Cathedral in Kristiansand).

The church dates from 1884 (the one before was destroyed by fire) and is one of the largest in Norway as it has a capacity of 1500 seated - initially 2000 seated and 1000 standing.

Kristiansand has also its own ship, the full-rigged ship "Sørlandet", one of the three large sailing ships left in Norway. She dates from 1927 - and beautiful she is (for a picture of her at sea, look here).

It you enter Kristiansand in your own vessel, chances are that you will moor in this area, beside Christiansholm Festning (The Fortress of Christiansholm) which dates back to 1672

But Kristiansand has more: It has Norway's largest and best known zoological and amusement park, Dyreparken i Kristiansand ( Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park). There you might meet someone like this. The picture is courtesy my youngest daughter.

Kristiansand is also a communication centre with airport and ferries to Denmark (formerly also to England). The main route is European Route E18, which according to Wikipedia:

European route E18 runs from Craigavon in the United Kingdom to Saint Petersburg in Russia, passing through Norway, Sweden, and Finland. It is about 1,890 km (1,174 mi) in length.

Such mighty bridges can of course be seen from the sea level - we are in a boat-concious area after all.

And where there is a sea there is a bird...


Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.

For more, you can log on via a Mr Linky enabled site

Odd one out

There is a difference here somewhere. I can't quite put my finger on it...

Please visit Katney's Kaboodle for more about Odd Shots!

Gothic in Oslo in Monochrome Monday

A bit spooky...

The Monochrome Monday concept came from Aileni at LOOSE ENDS

Mini-daffodil in Today's Flowers

The daffodils don't bloom quite of themselves just yet around here, but I found this mini-version on public display in Bergen yesterday.

PS The Today's flowers meme is hosted by LUIZ SANTILLI JR. . Please visit and enjoy.

Rhododendron praecox

Found today in the City Park ("Byparken") in Bergen.

El Periódico 27-3-2009

Graffiti Torrents 3-27-2009

Transition DVD
Fr8 graffiti scene - 2008 - Full DVD - 2.78 GB
Download (Torrent)
________________________________________

Aeroholics Graffiti Magazines Megapack
367 magazines - 12.7 GB - PDF
Download (Torrent)

The Rhododendrons have arrived

My favourite flowers have started to show themselves off in parks:

Rhododendron thomsonii

Rhododendron fulgens

The pictures were taken almost two weeks ago at the Arboretum and Botanical Garden - no doubt about it - spring has come to Norway! Or at least our part of it...

Watching the Sky

PS Please visit Sky Watch Friday's own site for more.

The J got a POTD!

One more day with my head in the clouds: My J-post to ABC Wednesday got a Post of the Day from the well-known Australian journalist and super-blogger David McMahon. Thank you very much indeed, David! You have made my day - once again!

Now I just have to continue blogging.

Si ves algo, di algo... chivato

[via]

Reefer Madness (USA 2007)

Reefer.Madness.DOCU.DVDRip.XviD-iAPULA
Fr8s documentary, interviews with King 157, Fatso etc..
DVDRip - 700 mb - 2007 - USA - iAPULA release
Download (Torrent - Grafftorrents.com)

J is for Joy in Photography AND in Blogging

I usually have decided on what letter to use for ABC Wednesday several days in advance. However, J proved to be an unexpectedly difficult letter to work with. Nothing seemed to fit. So I did what I usually do in such circumstances - I grabbed the camera bag and went for a walk. At first I was not in the mood for photography at all (photography is a "mood" thing for me). That is, until I found the subject above. Something was sticking its tongue out at me! Joyfully I crept close and snapped it with my 17-70mm lens. Perfect. No cropping needed.

But what it is, you may well ask? Look at the picture beneath and guess again. Still no cropping.

Here I had taken a step or two backwards to include a bit more of this wooden monster. A sort of angled eye had appeared.

Still no clue? Look beneath again.


A quite ordinary cable drum, but of fairly large dimension. And a picture I have obviously cropped for effect.

That is the Joy of Photography and Blogging: There is always something to be found that can be used for both if only you keep the mind open and the finger on the button. And of course, carry a camera.


Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.

For more, you can log on via a Mr Linky enabled site

Graffiti News Report: Paris Subway Station Louvres-Rivoli (1992)

Graffiti @ Station Louvres-Rivoli
Uploaded by Audiomicid

Tats Cru : The Mural Kings

Tats.Cru.The.Murals.Kings.XviD.MP3.MVGroup.org.avi

Arts, Culture Documentary published by Others in 2009 - English narration

"TATS CRU: THE MURAL KINGS", is a feature length graffiti documentary, that details the story of the world famous TATS CRU; a group of Bronx-based professional muralists whose work in aerosol has changed the perception of Graffiti as art. The film follows the world famous TATS CRU as they produce their mural for The Graffiti Hall of Fame in Harlem and prepare to uphold their title of "The Mural Kings." Inter-cut with exclusive interviews detailing the journey that started twenty-five years ago, as three Bronx teenagers began their artistic careers by creating subway graffiti. "TATS CRU: THE MURAL KINGS" features rare archival footage, never before seen photographs, a behind the scenes look at the entire mural production process, marketing campaigns for Hip-Hop artists Fat Joe, Big Pun, Nas, Nelly, JLo, Missy Elliot, and much more, along with exclusive in-depth interviews with: -TATS CRU MEMBERS - BIO, BG183, NICER, SEN2, and the twins HOW & NOSM"

Download (Torrent - 895 mb)

A bucket full of - Odd Shots?

Have you ever been up a tree?

Please visit Katney's Kaboodle for more about Odd Shots!

The tram is coming in Monochrome Monday

MOVE!!

The Monochrome Monday concept came from Aileni at LOOSE ENDS

Please, sit down

Please, sit down and take the weight off your weary feet. Enjoy the spring. There is no haste.

Solidaridad Estudiantes - Libertad Detenidos

Grises? ahora tocan los Mossos

Mañana 18 de Marzo - Barcelona


Medio día 18 de Marzo - Barcelona


Noche 18 de Marzo - Barcelona

Sky Watch on Crete

The famous Venetian lighthouse in Hania, on the island of Crete, Greece.

PS Please visit Sky Watch Friday's own site for more.

Post of the day to Greek Icons

I'll be walking on clouds today: My pictures have received Post of the Day mentions from the well-known Australian journalist and super-blogger David McMahon. A top contender yesterday for my "stiff Norwegian", and winner of Post of the Day today for my post on the icons in a small Greek Chapel. Thank you very much indeed, David!

PS I must admit to my share of pride: A quick search revealed that I have been mentioned 16 times - and five of them among the winners.

A great inspiration for me to continue blogging.

I is for Icon in ABC Wednesday

Last autumn we visited the Greek island of Rodos (Rhodos, Rhodes). Like many other tourists we joined some of the guided tours that the tour operator had on offer. One of them went into the mountains where we should see something or other.

I wandered a little bit off by myself and found a small chapel nearby. It was open, so I entered - and found this:

A tiny, whitewashed, beautiful, little chapel filled with a large amount of icons. Wikipedia has this to say about icons:

An icon (from Greek εἰκών, eikōn, "image") is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Orthodox Christianity. More broadly the term is used in a wide number of contexts for an image, picture, or representation; it is a sign or likeness that stands for an object by signifying or representing it either concretely or by analogy, as in semiotics; by extension

And furthermore:

In Eastern Christianity and other icon-painting Christian traditions, the icon is generally a flat panel painting depicting a holy being or object such as Jesus, Mary, saints, angels, or the cross. Icons may also be cast in metal, carved in stone, embroidered on cloth, done in mosaic or fresco work, printed on paper or metal, etc.

On every wall there were neatly arranged small icons. I was the only tourist who went in, so I used the opportunity to take some photos. I may be non-religious myself, but I never use flash-light in other peoples sacred places without being expressively told to do so. It is called respect. However the door was open, there was light from the window and the walls were white. No problem to get decent pictures with ISO 1600 and 1/125 seconds exposure.

But look below for yourself:


And the chapel itself? Whitewashed and maintained in the most impressive manner.



Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.

For more, you can log on via a Mr Linky enabled site