Welcome to Norway!
Jumping for Joy! (On top marble roof of the National Opera)
Breakfast was hosted at The Fragrance of the Heart Café.
Maintaining harmony sometimes requires you to keep your balance!
In front of the Nobel Peace Centre, symbol of Peace in this Peace-capital of the world.
The run up to the Holmenkollen starts...
There is only one way from here!
And that is up!
(which also happens to be uphill in this case).
It's a bit of a stretch up to the top, but it is worth it for the view you see when you get there.
The Eternal Peace flame burns with a fire, like the fire within each one of our hearts, yearning for peace, individual and universal.
...flames climbing upwards towards the skies.
A Sami drum, awaiting to be struck...
...to accompany the traditional Sami yoik (a type of folk-singing, which may be likened to invocational yoddling).
Lara, an ambassador of the Sami people, introduced us to his people's culture and spiritualilty, based on the oneness of all peoples and tremendous respect for Mother Earth.
All smiles after the ceremony!
Holmenkollen, the world-famous Oslo Ski Jump!
We got special permission to go up through the back entrance, which meant climbing some 255 steps. You could see to the bottom from under your feet, an experience that led some runners to take the lift down :)
Inside the jump tower...
This is our wonderful guide, who is a tremendously kind, enthusiastic and giving person!
Somehow our team captain ended up in this kind of situation.
...a flying fox down the Holmenkollen! One way to experience what the ski jumpers are up to...
And the Peace Torch got a ride unlike any other!
...and a view to remember for a lifetime...
Fritjof Nansen, famed explorer saw the specacle from his station next to the Ski Museum.
We never knew the history of skiing could be so fascinating...
The local friendly moose attracted quite a crowd.
Roald Amundsens equipment and only surviving dog from his exhibition as first man to the South Pole...
A really nice meeting! Thank you so much for the hospitality!
…a picture with beloved Moroccan-born TV-personality Nadia Hasnaoui..
A final picture on top of the tower ended our short journey through Norway. Again a big "Thank You" to all our organisers and hosts!
