Tuesday, August 31, 2004 we stayed at Days In , Saugus 999 Broadway (781) 233-1800. The room cost $130 and that let us keep our car in their garage!

Wednesday, September 1 we flew via American Airlines from Boston to London (Heathrow). We stayed at the Royal Norfolk which is near Paddington Station. Thursday we walked around London some. Then we took the bus to Stanstead Airport and from there we went to the Bushel & Sack Hotel via their shuttle. We wanted to stay near Stanstead because our flight the next morning was very early.

On Friday, September 3 we flew from Stanstead Airport , outside of London to Torp Airport outside of Oslo . From Torp we went to Oslo via a bus. In Oslo we spent two nights at the Best Western Anker Hotel. We toured Oslo City Hall , the Viking Ship Museum , and the Folk Museum .

Sunday morning we took the train to Bergen which is on the western edge of Norway . This train ride and all our others were via the Scanrail Pass which allowed 10 days of travel in a two month period. We spent two nights at the Scandic Hotel Bergen City . Bergen was a special city to us because it is so quaint. We took a funicular ride for a very good view of the city.

We started the Norway in a Nutshell journey on Tuesday. We went via train from Bergen to Voss, bus to Gudvangen, and ferry to Auland . We arrived in Auland mid afternoon and stayed overnight there. Next morning we took the bus to Flam, scenic train to Myrdal, then regular train back to Oslo .

This time in Oslo we stayed one night at the Ti Rainbow Hotel Frogner. The next morning (Thursday) we looked at the Sculptures in Frogner Park and then visited the Oslo National Museum . Early afternoon we left for Goteborg , Sweden .

Thursday night in Goteborg , we stayed at the Hotel Opera. The next morning we walked much of Goteborg . In the afternoon we took the train to Stockholm .

The first night (Friday, Sept 10) in Stockholm we stayed in the Lord Nelson Hotel in the Gamla Stan section of town. The second night was spent at the Hotel Terminus (a Best Western) close to the train station. While in Stockholm we spent a lot of time in Gamla Stan and also enjoyed a ferry cruise among the islands.

On Sunday, September 12 we took the train to Kalmar where we stayed in the Frimurare Hotel. This was the fanciest hotel of the vacation. We enjoyed walking around Kalmar Harbor and visited Kalmar Castle .

Monday, September 13 we took the train to Copenhagen where we stayed five nights in the Absalon Hotel. The first day in Copenhagen we went to the City Hall and climbed the tower for great views. We toured Rosenborg Castle which has been called Denmark 's Versaille. We walked by Amalienborg Palace which is the queen's residence. Adjacent to this palace is a similar dwelling for her son and family. Next we walked to the Resistance Museum which portrayed Denmark 's somewhat modest approach to resistance during WWII. Then we continued the walk to the Little Mermaid. From there we took the bus to Tivoli , spent a few hours, and finally collapsed back at the hotel.

Tuesday we took the train to Odense to visit the Hans Christian Andersen Museum . We then took another train to Roskilde where we saw replicas of Norse boats. Wednesday we spent in Copenhagen again. We went to the Museum of Fine Art, Christiania, and Our Savior's Church. I gave my knees a rest and did not climb the church's tower. Sandy did climb part way up, but strong wind prevented a climb to the top. Thursday we trained again and stopped in Humlebaek for the Louisiana Modern Art Museum, continued on to Helsingnor to see Kronberg (Hamlet's) Castle, and continued once again to Hillerod to see Frederiksborg Castle . Friday we stayed in Copenhagen again. Sandy did two flea markets - I joined her on the second one. We also went to a Cistern Glass Art exhibit – modernistic glass art in former underground water storage cisterns..

Saturday Sept. 18 we flew from Copenhagen to Stanstead Airport outside of London . That night we stayed in Stanstead . The next day we took the bus to London where we stayed at the Regent Palace (in Piccadilly Circus ) both Sunday and Monday nights. We saw the Lion King on Sunday afternoon and the Phantom of the Opera on Monday night. While in London we did a lot of walking to help us feel at home and also visited the National Gallery.

Tuesday Sept 21 we flew via American Airlines from Heathrow in London to Boston .