Vroom - vroom. I heard the sound before I actually saw the two young guys and their RC cars.

They seemed to be having good fun out in the woods!

"Meconopsis grandis" seen today :)

I guess you (or I) must be nearly blind, if we don`t see this sign, saying EYE:)

For months I have been struggling with infections, and I have been at this building before, and will have to go back. "Things take time", but yesterday I was lucky to have a doctor who, without me asking, sent a message to this department. So hopefully the new medicine will help for the time being, and the doctors e-mail will get things moving a little faster.

Otherwise I carry my sun glasses, but rain and +11 is not what I call summer.

Anyway, I have had an ok and very relaxed day!

Hope you had the same!

Some people have some serious work to do before their boat is in tip-top condition.

A clear message, seen at the Geo-Park.

We don`t have a tube station or an underground here in Stavanger.

But when I saw the sign "Kings Cross" my thoughts went straight to London.

Anyway this is part of the "Salvation Army"`s building, close to the Bus Terminal.

They do lots of good work for people who need help, and I guess that is all over the world, since it is an international organization.

Stavanger is a very busy port, with lots of ships coming and going.

In the summer there are lots of cruise ships which are like huge hotels.

And we of course have plenty of vessels visiting that are connected to the oil industry.

This is "Maersk Attender".

Modern house style.

It is a busy time at the university in Stavanger, lots to read and revise before the exams.

This is Maria (from Odda) who is giving her friend and fellow student Ingvild (from Oslo) a shoulder massage. They were studying Human Resources, or perhaps to be more precise, management and social science.

Best of luck to both of you!!

This little chapel near to Sola beach was built by a Norwegian missionary who worked for many years in China. Later this became a part of a Christian center called "Strandleiren".

Probably the most "sporty" statue in town.

It is just outside Stavanger Stadium (The old home of the Viking football team).

I have never stopped to look at it before, but it must have been decorated on our national day, so this time I saw it very differently and it made me stop and take a closer look.

Anyway, it was put up in 1958 and was made by Magne Vigrestad in memory of all the Norwegian sportsmen who lost their lives during the second world war.

I sometimes wonder how we in Norway would have coped if it was not for the young Swedish people who are here working.

This is JESPER EDSJÖ, from Gothenburg in Sweden. When he applied for work he got 7 positive answers! Not bad!:)

Well he will soon be working in Austria, a leader for walking tours in the Alps.

He has his sport education as well as being a travel agent. In the winter he will work as a ski instructor in Austria

Thanks for the help in the shop!

Best of luck with new challenges Jesper!

The evenings are light here up in the north.

I love it in May when the green is fresh and bright!

This is the family Jaatun from Sandnes, who were up early this morning to celebrate our National Day in Stavanger. I am sure they have had a nice day, even with some rain and a temperature of only +10C to +12C.

I can't really manage to get just one photo to tell you how the day has been, so therefore I am perhaps cheating, but I have added a couple of links, one from our biggest local newspaper, follow the arrow to the right and you will see 19 photos from the parade. http://www.aftenbladet.no/lokalt/Yrende-folkeliv-i-og-utenfor-Folketoget-2810645.html

And a YouTube film with our National anthem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhhStVKawbk

Norwegian students and Norwegian companies have celebrated all over the world, some at the ambassadors residence or at Norwegian schools.

Mummy, in todays photo came from Brooklyn.

I later found out that there are 170 nationalities in Stavanger. The city had an international celebration in a park today, with international food, music, games and speeches, also from the mayor who is about to leave for another job after 16 years in politics for Stavanger.

An image to show that there are preparations to do both here in a restaurant, and in thousands of homes for the BIG day tomorrow...

A modified view of the "Geo Park".

Soon all of the "allowed" graffiti will be cleaned away. We are heading towards election time here, and some of the politicians are more than happy to suddenly involve themselves in anything that they think will earn them some "browny points". The future of the geo park is one of the hot topics here, and of course, there are plenty of browny points for the taking.

http://www.aftenbladet.no/lokalt/stavanger/Ap-utfordrer-til-dugnadsduell-2808990.html?xtor=RSS-2

A wonderful splash of colors (outside The Canning Museum) in the area called Old Stavanger.

Friday the 13 th. ...... and the BLOGGING system did not work! But perhaps the comments on my last few postings will be back soon?

Anyway, today I will post a photo taken at the market place yesterday afternoon.

I guess this is the way to relax.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

New housing for the birds.

An early evening outside The Norwegian Petroleum Museum.

The Fire Brigade has a very good rescue team! I have seen them in action!

Here they come, with the sirens on!

This time it was a man out in a canoe who ended up in the water and who could not swim. Luckily he was wearing a life vest, and was picked up by the rescue team!!

This is MAX, who is only 12 weeks old, and has "moved" from Halden to his new owner in Stavanger. He was sleeping much of the time when I saw him, outside a cafe with his owner.

Cute little dog!

I have been to the "Rogaland Teater", our local theatre, to a very nice "Open day and sale of costumes"
This is Kristine Aanestad, from Klepp, but has been living in Stavanger for several years. She found more than the hat.... Actually, she found some nice outfits that had this Jackie Onassis style!

Our city bridge, connecting the centre of the city to the nearby islands.

Details from a boat at the harbor.

Modern style.

The best cappuccino I have had for a long time!:)

This is from "Bacchus".

More streetart .

Perhaps it has been here for some time, but I have not noticed it before I passed it on my bike.

Yesterday I had the pleasure to visit and see this beautiful ship, an Italian beauty from the Masarati factory. The couple/owners are living there full time, it is their home with plenty of space both inside and out on several decks. I learned that this is the biggest privately owned ship in Norway (several similar or larger ships are owned by Norwegian companies).

The man who you see doing some maintenance work on the boat (if you enlarge the photo), has been working as a captain for many years and had his own company too. Beautiful design, and I really liked all the woodwork, cherrytree etc. I wish the couple and their dog a safe and nice journey to Lisbon /Portugal, perhaps later in the summer.