Norway’s beloved King Harald died on the very day I arrived. He was a deeply popular king, known for championing unity and inclusivity.
Kong Harald helped usher the monarchy into the modern era in some wonderfully unconventional ways. He attended public school and married a commoner—although, if you read the tabloids, you might say the monarchy has become even more modernized. 😉
And here’s a fun fact: Harald was a three-time Olympian, representing Norway in sailing. Even after becoming king, he continued to compete and went on to win a World Championship.
Here in Bergen, I was privileged to witness a beautiful people’s memorial at the Blue Stone in King Olav Square. I have never seen so many flowers gathered in one place in my life. Apparently, the mountain of flowers in Oslo is exponentially larger.
The memorial was especially moving because so many people left personal tributes, including an incredible collection of children’s drawings and artwork (a fraction of it shown below).
Here are a few pictures from this very special moment in Norway.
A note on the Blue Stone (Den blå stein): This 9-meter-long block of Brazilian sodalite rests on a stone base, giving it its distinctive slant. It was gifted to the city of Bergen by Kavli, a local food company, to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
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