Tour of Norway (Hamar)

various Norwegian web-sites | May 10, 2005 | self

[franksolich]

Hamar is a city of circa 27,000, about 800 miles south of Gamvik and Berlevag (way up there between Hammerfest and Vardo, in case anyone is interested), or about 90 miles directly north of the capital of Norway, Oslo.

I do not mean to be offensive, but of all the places I have (thus far) seen of Norway, Hamar seems a rather bleak, sterile, soulless place; it reminds me very much of the "artists' city" of Santa Fe, New Mexico--an "arty" place for the Birkenstock and Ben & Jerry's ice cream crowd.....and little else.

Which is a pity, because Hamar actually has a history; it was an ancient capital of Norway, with a mint and a cathedral, but one finds no information about such things on the internet.

The first 20 pages of a Google "search" for "Hamar" consisted wholly of hotel listings and advertisements; no other information of any value.

Hamar is located on the apparently scenic Lake Mjosa--one says "apparently," because there are no pictures of Lake Mjosa on all those web-sites for hotels in Hamar.

Besides being an ancient capital of Norway, Hamar was also the capital of Norway April 9-11, 1940, after the Germans invaded Norway and occupied Oslo, for the next two months chasing King Olav V all the way up to near Hammerfest, after which he went into temporary exile.

Again, my apologies if I have slandered Hamar--and anyone is free to set the record straight, but looking at Hamar from only the internet, well, it seems such a barren and sterile place to be.



The railway station in Hamar, circa 1895-1905; get used to this photograph, because apparently the railway station in Hamar is a favorite thing for photographers to photograph, and parts of it show up in just about every photograph of Hamar, bits-and-pieces of it on the edges of photographs of other sights.





























An American institution in Hamar.



Apparently, the concert hall in Hamar.



A church in Hamar, also visible in the background or on the edges of other photographs.



A parking lot in Hamar.



A news-stand in Hamar.



A fountain in Hamar.



A bar and hotel in Hamar.



Women in Hamar.



Dog show in Hamar.



Neighborhood in Hamar.



New construction in Hamar.



I have no idea what this is, but in Nebraska, it would be called a "grain elevator," where freshly-harvested wheat is stored before being made into flour.



Either a telephone company, or a television station, in Hamar.



The power plant in Hamar.



The inevitable home of us all; the cemetery in Hamar.

[franksolich]

Another of the "tour of Norway" series, the city of Hamar.

Again, I do not mean to be offensive, but having "seen" Hamar only on the internet, it strikes me as a particularly depressing place, sterile and barren; it might as well be in Sweden, rather than Norway.

If anyone has any photographs of Hamar that show "life," "spirit," "animation," "soul," "history," "meaning," or "purpose" of Hamar--and surely it is NOT a dead city--please post them for our illumination.

[franksolich]

Ping for the Norway ping list.



I've been busy all day, watching the criminal activity--a big "scam," a really big "scam" in DUmmieland.

I hope to get to Bergen (part 2) and Tonsberg soon, and also have Halden, Hammerfest, Haugesund, Hermansverk, Holmestrund, Holmsbu, Honningsvag, Horten, and Hvaler on the "schedule."

[Eurotwit]

Hey...What about Hasvik :-)

Good morning btw..

Hamar is probably mostly notable for being fairly close to Lillehammer of the 1994 Winter Olympics. I believe it hosted some events like some Hockey games and speedskating.

Anyways, I was amused to see Hammerfest and Hasvik because that is the area in which I grew up (moved down south when I was about 10).

I actually grew up in and even smaller village close to Hasvik on the Soroya.

At the moment I live fairly close to Hvaler though. Lovely area in summertime.

Anyways, have a great day.

Cheers.