While you read this, I’ll be in Lillisand, Norway, visiting the home of my mother’s ancestors (her grandfather, Severin Gustav Simonsen) was born in Lillesand (I think) in 1859 and immigrated to Chicago in 1881.
This has been a longtime dream that’s suddenly coming true. I’ll be traveling with my sister and cousin, both of whom are genealogy buffs. My mother’s aunt Alma (Severin’s daughter, a first-generation American) journeyed back to Norway in 1920. She kept a diary of the four months that she was there (crossing the Atlantic in a steamer could not have been fun so she probably stayed as long as possible). My cousin and sister have been keep to retrace some of her steps and I get to tag along. Thank goodness we get to fly!
We have that diary (which my cousin has faithfully copied, along with photos) and we’re going to visit some of the sights that she saw.
Well, I thought you’d be able to read the first page, but it looks pretty blurry to me. The most interesting passage on this page reads, “To make my going away more exiting about fourteen of the Amici girls, who had gathered at the station, showered me with loads of rice making everybody think I was a bride. Of course in a few seconds about 50 to 75 spectators had gathered to see the bride (?) and wondered which one was the groom.” My Aunt Alma traveled to Norway alone (she must have been fiesty) and never married.
We’ll visit Oslo and Bergen, as well as Lillesand. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on some real Norwegian wool.
The first page reads with no difficulty at all… here’s hoping you decide to post the rest, I’d love to know what happened!!!
Oh, the yarn shops you’ll see! Jelly, I am!
No trouble with reading the page.
Have fun Ann, sure had fun with you in Alaska !!
This first page is an enticement to read her entire journal. You see, my great-grandparents emigrated from Olso in February 1882. They, along with three small children, her brother and his Father arrived in Chicago, also.
Their homeplace is just across the fjord from Oslo, a twenty minute ferry ride from Oslo.
Color me envious 🙂
Hilsen
Gerry
What a fantastic opportunity,. I hope you enjoy every minute.
I was just in Oslo two weeks ago! I visited two yarn stores there, Husfliden on the lower floor of the department store Glasmasinet and Pickles which sells their own yarns.
More info here:
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/nordic-knitters/2884971/1-25
How exciting! I hope you find some wonderful yarn. I had no problem reading the diary page. I clicked on it and it embiggened so I could read it clearly. What a brave lady to travel that far alone.
How exciting for you Ann. Please take lots of pictures while your there including some of the fellow knitters you are bound to meet.