Last week it was 90 F here. Today not so much. High will be 19 C and breezy in the water. . 

As we get off the ship, we see the performing arts centre … the “Waves” building….inside the waves go right down to the floor. 

In Kristiansand there were 3 fires in the 1800 which destroyed half the city. The  new buildings after that had to be made only of brick… no wood. We drove by the part that was not burnt so are all made of wood. They were all painted white which indicated that they were rich…. They were painted from that  brought from sailors that had gone  afar. 

The city was founded 1641 by King Kristian of Denmark and named after himself. 

At the beach apparently they have palm trees …… that are brought in each year for the winter. 

Population of Norway is 5 M. There is no such thing as “private” property in Norway even though you own it. Anyone can go anywhere except you need to get permission for hunting. The law is called the “Freedom to Roam” which means you are free to go anywhere. At the amusement park there is a pirate’s treasure chest for pacifiers when it’s time the children get rid of them. 

Lillesand

Lillesand (means smallest beach and really is tiny) was built before Kristiansand. It was in existence before 1600s when they traded for roof tiles, with Holland. 1 tile cost 1 lobster. There were lots shipyards here until steel ship building came about. 

 

Fake windows… some are covered with plywood. When asked when the owner was going to replace them with glass, he said “whenever I can afford them”. 

In Norway, everyone gets 5 vacation weeks paid per year (taken from pay)…. no taxes in June. If you are over 60 you get 6 weeks. Official retirement age is 67. Paying into retirement is mandatory. Free education incl university for tuition not living expensive but there is support for living away from home. 

All admissions to hospital are free…. You can choose which hospital incl transportation to get there. You can also change doctors up to 2x per year. After the you pay the first $360 for physio and extra stuff, the rest is free. Wheelchairs …..anything prescribed, is free. Royalty uses the same hospitals and schools as everyone else.   Dental is not covered unless there is peridontal disease…. is. 

Free maternity, ultrasound,etc. Sick pay if you cannot work during maternity. You get 100% pay for 49 weeks off after birth or 80% for 59 weeks. The mother gets 6 weeks  off after delivery but then it can be divided between parents. 

Life expectancy is 83/84 years for both. 

Oil taxes goes into a fund for future. Only 3% can be used for government. 2 trillion in the fund now. Norway was one if the poorest nations to one of the richest. 

We then get a boat ride back into the city/harbour. 

2/3 of the people own their own boats. 

The “Bumblebee”…..is for laying cables and pipes for gas and electrical on the ocean’s floor. It goes onto the World’s largest ship, the “Pioneering Spirit”. 

New homes cannot be built closer to the sea than 100 metres. Old cabins can remain. 

Flag must come down at sundown, up at sunrise, never to remain up at night.  Ones that can remain up have no “cross” but are just a long narrow streamer. 

23,000,000 Norwegian krona 3,400,000 CAD for little house with man standing in front (no picture)

Heather is the national flower… purple blooms at end of summer. 

The boat ride took us along beautiful stunning coastline dotted with so many “summer” homes. See below.

Tunnel to island is very steep… Max 60 kms/hr 

3 tall ships remain…. Schools to learn how to be a sailor. When we returned to the dock in Kristiansand, the Royal yacht was parked in front of the “Waves” (performing arts) and the “Silo”(art museum).