Happy Christmas

I just wanted to share some photos of some of the delightful Madonna-and-Child paintings that I took in the Vatican Museum this autumn, – along with the very best wishes for a Happy Christmas for everybody.

Eldrid

The World’s Largest Gingerbread City

During our weekend in Bergen, we also went to see what has become a yearly event, namely the Gingerbread City. It has grown year by year, and is said to be the largest one in the world.

In the beginning it was situated in one of the shopping centers in town, but it soon grew too large for the rooms there.

A special tent is now erected in the middle of the Torgallmenningen square, and the Gingerbread City is built in there every year.

Everyone who wishes to, can contribute to the city.

There are contributions from individuals, from children in kindergardens and schools, and from other people all over town and beyond.

There are lots of fantastic houses set in a mountainous “landscape”, – just like Bergen itself, which lies in between seven mountains.

 

In between the houses there are several model trains, chuffing in and out of tunnels.

I am not sure if the organizers publish beforehand what types of buildings they want, and how many of each. In any case, there is a wide variation of houses,  and even a roundabout, – which every city ought to have.

Every magic city also needs a castle, – or several.

Even though the city is not lacking in transport facilities, Santa uses his own transport, as usual.

Some contributors have not limited themselves to building just one house, but have aimed for a whole street. The one above is a recreation of Hollendergaten.

And here it is in “real life”, – Christmas garlands and all.

Churches were abundant, along with recreations of school buildings and kindergardens, and also of some of the old historical buildings in the city.

There were also examples of modern houses, – and Santa visits them all.

I liked the theater scene with the attentive audience…..

… and also the lonely log cabin in the mountains.

GOD JUL  -  Merry Christmas!

Eldrid