Heading south we went to Verens Ende at Faerder National Park. This is a picturesque old lighthouse on the west coast of the Oslo Fjord.Most of the Faerder NP is protected sea but we could walk along the shore. Gorgeous weather today made this a perfect outing.We even watched this jellyfish pulsate around the coast.This beach and marina looked like The Perfect Lunch Spot!The Vestfold County Museum in Tonsberg had an amazing recovered Viking ship as well as a replica seen through the window. It also told of the whaling history of this area.This is a Blue Whale – the largest animal ever known to live on earth. Massive!Tonsberg is Norway’s oldest town and we visited the remains of the Castle. This structure seems typically Norwegian – we have seen many similar ones in the countryside.A replica of the Viking Gokstad Ship is underway in downtown Sandefjord. It all begins with the perfect tree, aged to perfection before it is split to size with the same tools the Vikings would have used.You can see some planks slit in the foreground and the size of this operation to reconstruct a replica of the Gokstad Ship. Four Viking Ships have been found in this area of the West Olso Fjord (Vestfold) and they are proud of this sea heritage.Borre NP preserves Viking Burial Mounds and is overseen by this Rune Stone. The carvings have been painted to make them more visible.Midgard Viking Center is next to Borre NP. Besides an interesting museum they have recreated a Viking Long House area through these gates.This long house is based on archeology finds to similar dimensions and what is known about the construction.The details similar to the Stave churches which were built later.A staff person dressed as a Viking told us some history and kept the long house warm with an expertly built fire. The more important you were the closer to the fire you sat. A long house was for community, government, and religious activities.The columns all tell different stories. The Vikings as warriors with their shields that went on long voyages and conquests.And they all reported to The Red Maiden…
