Earlier this month I posted a photo on the blog in a post describing our stop in Oslo while on a Baltic Cruise. The photo is of a birchpark woven item I now know to be properly referred to as a packsack.
As part of of the post I mentioned I saw these around Oslo and really wanted to buy one, but couldn't find a place that sold them. I requested that if anyone had information about where I could get one could they let me know. I then jokingly suggested that if nothing else, perhaps my mother could make one for me.
I then forgot all about it.
Yesterday I received an e-mail from The Mother. Unbeknowst to me, she had been experimenting with different ways to make the packsack and wanted to know my preference regarding it. She also wanted more information about what it is and where exactly it comes from.
I did some research and found that it is best known among the Sami people, an indigenous group who live in the far north of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Further research revealed that there is a man in Northern Minnesota who works with birchbark and knows how to make these things.
The Mother has already contacted this individual. He has a book that will be published in October that describes birchpark plaiting. He is sending The Mother some birchbark so she can practice splitting it and working with it. He will next be giving a class on plaiting in March, which The Mother intends to take. And has even invited her up to Northern Minnesota next June when the harvesting of the birchbark happens so she can learn that process as well.
It was just a simple request!
...but few braved the water because it was freezing cold! We were not among the hearty souls who went for a dip. 
And followed the many trails that meander through the exhibits... 
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, 30 August, we slowly sailed up the Oslofjord into the city of Oslo, Norway.
The ship was docked at the piers directly opposite Oslo Radhus (Town Hall). So we were in a great spot for going into the city on our own for a meander and some sightseeing.
It was just past 7:30 am when we began our walk through the town. The few people who were already out and about were either cruise ship passengers such as us or hurrying through the chilly morning air on their way to work.
The ferry to Bygdoy Island, opposite the fjord from city center, starts running at 8:45 am. So we caught the first ferry to the island and walked up the hill to Vikingskipshuset (Viking Ship Museum.)
The pride of the museum is the Gol Stave Church, built in the 12th century. It is a beauty to behold.
The museum also includes traditional houses used by the Sami, the Nordic tribe near in the far north of Norway, Sweden and Finland best known for their reindeer. Nomads who follow the herds, their houses must be easy to put up, take down and move with them. I was astounded at how much they resemble the tepees used by the Plains Indians in the United States...
We were also amazed they had taken the time and effort to move rather enormous structures such as thisa apartment building dating back to 1920's Oslo...
Gdansk was founded in 997 and is an important port city in Poland. Approximately 90% of the city was destroyed during World War II. Originally they had thought to leave it as a memorial to the many who died. But instead they rebuilt it. In fact, the buildings are closer to what they were originally since they used the originally plans and pictures and did not include the various additions and upgrades added in the later years before the war.
