Norway!!!! Day 1, Oslo

I have so many posts to catch up on about Ireland, but first I want to talk about our spring break trip to Norway! I knew that I wanted to travel somewhere different for spring break, and when I learned about a friend living in Norway, that was where I had to go. It was an amazing experience and blast! The country is beautiful, and even though it was the trip of multiple mistakes and mess ups, it was still amazing. :) We mainly stayed in Oslo, except for the one day we went to Sweden. Here are the pictures from our first day!

Coming into Norway! 

The Nobel Peace Center

Oslo's Harbour 

Trolls! These little guys are all over Norway... 

The City Hall

The City Hall

This is where they give out the Nobel Peace Prize. 

This room is so huge! 

Oslo Harbour from City Hall

 Me in front of the City Hall building

The Parliament Building 

At the Akershus Fortress

The Akershus Fortress

Me in front of the Royal Palace

On the palace grounds, with Oslo behind me

The Royal Palace 

These were all the sights we saw in the first day. We also went to the National Museum to see the painting "The Scream." That was really neat as well! :) All in all, it was a gorgeous first day in Norway. 

The Top 10 Compassion Blog Posts

Hey everyone! So, I am a member of the Compassion International Street Team, and one of my "orders" is to write up my top ten favorite Compassion Blog Posts. So here it goes!

1) My absolutely favorite article is one that introduced me to Our Compassion and the Virtual Letter Writing club. Virtual Letter Writing Club 

Featured Friday: Neuschwanstein Castle

If you are looking for fairytale castle, none can beat Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle. This is the castle that inspired Walt Disney to create his Cinderella castle. You can't find a castle more "fairytale" than that!

Quick Facts:

Where: Fussen, Bavaria, Germany

Website: www.neuschwanstein.de

What Is It: This castle is a fairytale surrounded by mystical forests in the alpine region of Bavaria. It is steeped in legend, as the castle is only half finished, due to the fact that Mad King Ludwig died before it could be completed. The rooms that are finished, however, are amazing. The throne room is elegant, fanciful, and exactly what you would imagine a king to posses. This is one of my favorite places in Europe. If you have ever wanted to step into a fairytale, this is the castle to visit.

Time Tip: Go to the castles early in the morning. Ticket lines can get unbearably long and tours often sell out early in the afternoon. You can only enter the castle by tour. After your tour walk to Mary's Bridge (Marienbrücke) for a spectacular view of the castle.

Click here to view these pictures larger

Featured Friday: The Matterhorn

Who knew a mountain could be so amazing? :) And yes, it looks just like Disneyland!

Quick Facts:
Where? Zermatt, Switzerland is the town below the Matterhorn mountain. It is the major jumping off point for all Matterhorn climbers, sightseers, hikers, etc.

Website: www.zermatt.ch

What is it: The Matterhorn mountain itself is an amazing testament to God and His creative glory. Majestically overlooking the quaint town of Zermatt, the Matterhorn is a craggy, snowy, adventure waiting to be conquered. While only the most serious mountain climbers tackle its peak, even those us who prefer not to hike can enjoy this mountain. Simply jump on one of the many lifts and let it whisk you to the top of many surrounding mountains. The Matterhorn is one incredible mountain. I hope everyone gets the opportunity to see this mountain in person.

Warning: Zermatt (and the rest of Switzerland, for that matter) is extremely expensive. Riding the lifts will set you back a few hundred dollars. However, it is worth it! The experience of those mountains is amazing, so don't let the price deter you. It is worth every penny.

Now, for the pictures!

The train that takes us to Zermatt

No vehicles are allowed in Zermatt, so everyone travels by horses or small motorized golf carts and mopeds. 

The interior of The Matterhorn Museum 

The Matterhorn 

The Rothorn gondola that takes you up the mountain. 

These are the way up to the perfect Matterhorn viewpoint for those of us who don't want to hike! :) 

A really neat sign at the top of the view point. 

There is a goat parade in Zermatt twice a day as the goats are moved from upper pastures to lower pastures and then back again.