BUCKET LIST TRAVEL

After three months of working in Kristiansand I had my heart set on spending a few days in Bergen but before getting to Bergen I was rewarded with a full day in Stavanger. A blend of beaches, culture, and mountains Stavanger is often associated with the title "oil city" because offshore oil was discovered here back in 1969. The fourth largest city in Norway, Stavanger attracts visitors from around the globe. A guided walk or hop on, hop off bus tour is a good way to tour Stavanger. If an escorted tour doesn't appeal to you there are many attractions to visit. Start with the Norwegian Petroleum Museum and than check out "Old Stavanger" a mix of of the 18th, 19th, and early 20th century. The Mosvangen Park is a good spot to relax and enjoy the greenery. Other popular attractions are the Canning Museum. Stavanger Maritime Museum, Stavanger Cathedral, Norwegian Emigration Centre and the Iron Age Farm. An interesting side excursion is the Utstein Monastery ...

Kristiansand, NORWAY When I arrived in Norway at the beginning of June to start my summer job at a vacation farm in Kristiansand I had no idea what was in store for me. The Norwegian farmer who owned the farm put me up in a small house that he once lived in with his wife and son. I couldn't believe that I was given a whole house to myself but within a week I felt that I earned the perk of living in that cozy Norwegian house. Each morning I was up by 7:00 am to have breakfast and start my workday. I worked seven days a week with no days off but  I didn't mind, after all I was in beautiful NORWAY surrounded by the sea. People from around NORWAY came to the farm on a mini vacation. There were cabins to rent on the premises and a lake nearby for boating and swimming. I had plenty of chickens, cows, goats, and pigs to take care of in addition to all the other tasks that keep a farm running. Often I would take guests on tours of the farm and help host the picni...

                                                       N O R W A Y Back when I was in performing arts school one of my classmates sang a beautiful song from an operetta called "Song of Norway."  At that time I never imagined myself going to Norway but a couple of years later "Norway" was beckoning  to me and I knew I just had to go there. I went to the local library and checked out a book called "International Job Guide." I was thrilled when I found a listing of temporary jobs in Norway. I applied with an organization in Oslo and a few weeks later a farmer from Kristiansand contacted me about a three month position working on his farm resort. I would work about 40 hours a week and in exchange I would get to live in a beautiful house near the sea with my own room, have home cooked meals and get paid a weekly salary. How could I ref...

North America's M E X I C O is an enchanting country full of wonders. There are archeological sites, beautiful beaches, desert landscapes, jungle settings, and mighty mountains not to mention mouth-watering cuisine and great tequila. This is the country that gets lots of college students during their spring break hanging out at the beach and honeymoon couples enjoying a romantic vacation. Whether you come here to explore the excitement of Mexico City or swing in a hammock at one of the popular beach resorts.  MEXICO is synonymous with vacation. So where do you head first? Well if the beach is on your mind "Cancun" is a very good choice. Here the waters are turquoise and the sun as warm as fresh made tortillas. Cancun is full of hotels and resorts that stand in front of the Caribbean Sea. Just be certain to wear lots of sunscreen because it's very easy to get sunburned the first few days (I can attest to this having gotten sunburned the day after I arrived in Cancu...

                                                                       M O N A C O        When American actress Grace Kelly attended the Cannes Film Festival in 1955 she probably never thought she'd meet Prince Rainer of Monaco, fall in love and get married but like a Hollywood love story the beauty got her prince and her marriage to the prince in 1956 was a world wide event. Monaco's tourism boomed after the marriage of Prince Rainer and Grace Kelly. Visitors still flock to the small but grand Monaco to enjoy its attractions. Monaco a relic of medieval Europe is the second smallest country in the world with a population of about 35,000. Monaco sits on the French Mediterranean coast near Nice and is roughly 499 acres in size. The big attraction is the Monte-Carlo Casin...

With summer in full swing most people dream of being at the beach to enjoy surfing, swimming, and lots of blue sunny skies. The small country of MALTA is a blend of beautiful beaches, idyllic towns, rocky terrain and desert. Malta consists of three main islands which are all worth visiting. Summers in Malta can be dry, long, and hot but a swim in the Mediterranean Sea will soon make you forgot about the heat.  Popular Malta Beaches: Armier Bay Golden Bay Mellieha Bay Paradise Bay Ramla Bay There are countless options for lodging in MALTA which consist of apartment rentals, hostels, hotels, and guesthouses. Things to do in Malta: The capital city of Valletta is loaded with history and has lots of things to do and see. Mdina has narrow winding streets and lots of medieval charm. Gozo is a lovely island surrounded by beaches. The Megalithic Temples are a popular attraction. Food in Malta: The Maltese like to eat soups, fish, stewed rabbit, olives, pasta, she...

                          K  E  N  Y  A Kenya's beauty and diversity has drawn thousands of tourists to view its wonders. Covering an area of 224,960 square miles on the eastern coast of Africa Kenya's main attraction is its remarkable abundance of wildlife. More than six million acres of Kenya's land have been set aside by the government for game reserves and parks. Tsavo National Park in southern Kenya is home to buffalo, cheetah, elephants, leopards, lions, and rhinoceroses. Not to be missed is Amboseli National Park with the stunning Mt Kilimanjaro as its backdrop. Although there are countless things to do and see in Kenya's it's the world famous  s afari that captivates people from far and near. A typical safari includes time on the plains, the highlands, around the mountains, and beautiful Lake Victoria. Some people prefer comfortable lodging while on a safar i while others prefer r...