Tag Archives: Greater Tacoma Peace Prize

We’ve Arrived

We arrived safely in this winter wonderland. It is 17 degrees outside and snow covers everything. It is a crisp, dry cold and feels very much like my Minnesota homeland.

We arrived at Oslo Airpot and got bus 28 which took us to the bus stop near our bed and breafast. It was a 45 minute ride and for the last 15 minutes, I was so hot that I had to take off my coat, scarf and sweater and still sweat beaded my face. I felt as if I was going to be very, very sick. Upon our arrival at our bus stop, We then had to lug 2 backpacks, my oversized purse, 3 carry on suitcases and 2 large suitcases up a hill that went for 3 blocks, up,up,up. Did I mention the snow on the roads…lots and lots of snow? I was as white as a ghost, still feeling sick and weak in spite of the fresh air. Niko, in true hero style, carried 2 suitcases and his backpack up the hill about a hundred feet and then come back for my 2 suitcases. He repeated this process over and over until we arrived at the B&B. In spite of this, when I ask Niko if there he is anything he wants to say on the blog, he responds, tell them we all did really, really well travelling together. What a guy!!!

Our accomodations are simple and clean and consist of a double bed, a single bed, one small closet, a place to hang our coats, 1 bedside table, a small bookcase, and a small cupboard and 2 small chairs. Our beds are futons and very comfortable. We’ve managed to unpack and find nooks and craneys to store all our stuff.

Marta is the proprieter and she is full of helpful information and ready to help us with anything we need. Her most helpful bit of information so far is that we should not say hello as we pass people on the street. They will think we are crazy. Unfortuantely, we had already been sharing our greetings with people as we tried to lug ourselves and all of our stuff up the hill. As Niko said, they looked at us as if we had 3 eyes!

It is now 3am, Oslo time and we are cuddled in our very comfortable beds reading and writing, feeling very relaxed and rested and grateful for this journey we are on together.

Our Itinerary

Dear Friends and Family,
Happy Holidays to each of you.
In just a few days we leave for Norway. I cannot believe it is here. We have been preparing for this trip since we found out in April that I had been chosen as the Greater Tacoma Peace Laureate. Part of the award is that they send us to Norway to be in Oslo during the Nobel Peace Prize events. At this time, it is confirmed that we will be able to attend the CNN Press Conference and the Nobel Concert, with Denzel Washington as the host. We are still waiting to find out if we will be able to attend the actual ceremony.
So we are off to 9 amazing days in Oslo, Norway followed by a day and a half in Liverpool, England for the Beatles Tour for Sam’s Christmas gift and then on to Ireland to visit the land of my Maternal Grandmother’s ancestry.
If you would like to follow our adventures, we will be posting to this blog on a regular basis.
I pray that this season is full of gentle, joyful surprises for each of you.
Many Blessings,
Kim
Our Itinerary
December 5th – We arrive in Oslo .

December 6th – 9:00 a.m. – Turid Johannessen, our guide will pick us up at our B & B and take us to the
Nobel Institute, followed by a visit to
Nordmanns-Forbundet (Norse Federation) for lunch/coffee/cake,
www.norseman.no
And then a visit to the Nobel Peace Center
City Hall Plaza (Rådshusplass) www.nobelpeacecenter.org

December 7th – 11:00 a.m. – the Holocaust Museum (HL senteret) www.hlsenteret.no
lunch/meeting/tour with Georg Broch

December 8th – 11:00 a.m. – Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights
Gange Rolvsgate 5, Oslo www.oslocenter.no
Tynlee will escort the Eberts to their appointment with John Bjornebye, Senior Advisor / Ambassador

Dec. 9th – Train Trip to Lilllehammer to meet with Steinar Bryn, Senior Advisor, Nansen Center for Peace and Dialogue
December 10th – 1:00 p.m. – Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony (tentative), followed by CNN Interview
Oslo City Hall

December 11th – 8:00 p.m. – Nobel Concert at Oslo Spekrum

December 12th – 12 noon – Brunch at the home of Kari Nøst-Bergem and family
7:30 p.m. – Christmas Concert – Oslo Domkirke

December 13th – Santa Lucia Day, On our own to explore.
10:00 p.m. – We depart from Oslo to Liverpool

Dec. 14th – Fab 4 Tour in Liverpool
Dec. 15 – Arrive in Ireland and begin to wander