Ilona Goanos: First: Thank you for the beautiful postcard. I really, really appreciate this, and I keep it as a bookmark in one of my very favorite of books!
Second: I am bookmarking this page. Your narrative is so lively and your pictures are beautiful. Your lucky guy, husband, looks like a handsome, friendly guy.
The scenery - - please don't feel you need to quite with today's posting. We could see more and more and . . .
Thank you so very much for your generosity in sharing!
Aw thanks, Armand. I did cut things short because the post was getting too long-my longest yet, especially with all the pics. I wanted to write about our experience while it was all still fresh. Thank you for being such an engaged and friendly reader/commenter.
PS I'm really shocked about how quickly you got the postcard.
Ilona Goanos: Substack has the foibles and faults of a human-made platform. But one thing I love, is the dear and worthwhile persons Substack has connected me with.
YOU are a delightful person, who has compassion, who is gifted with the camera, and who writes vivid prose. I love to read your stuff, and I treasure the growing friendship with persons like YOU.
Armand, thanks for your compliment. I am friendly, but no longer as handsome as I once was. Last year, I was on a sunset cruise here at the Jersey Shore and a woman about half my age said on the dance floor, "I wish I knew you in your prime." Ouch!
Loved traveling with you and your husband. How wonderful (in my opinion, being 50% Danish heritage via paternal grandparents) to find out you're Danish! Thanks for taking us with you, sister!
Yes, the fish was delicious in Norway. All the countries, really. Yes, we were on a 10 day journey through those countries. Sorry, I missed your question earlier.
My grandmother had always told us that we were English, Swedish and Dutch. But as with you, DNA tests can bring surprises. Yes, a tiny amount of Swedish (the name) and a smidgeon of Dutch (despite the fact that there were Dutch names in the lineage. A good percentage of English. But the surprise? A whole lot of Scotch and Irish...and wait for it. My biggest percentage is "Franco-Prussian". Apparently my Mom's last name was not Dutch - it was German. I am going to speculate that my Michigan grandparents found it safer to be Dutch than German. Both my folks were in Italy during WWII - fighting Germans, so...
The moral is that family stories are often convenient myths. And inconvenient stuff is left out.
I think back then you could easily hide your background because there was no vehicle for people to check stuff out. I never thought too hard about my nationality, with two parents straight off the boat. What was there to question? Technology reveals the truth now, and my husband has an amazing story from his Ancestry findings, but that is his story to tell.
My mother's father was forced to be in Hitler's army. I don't have too many details on that, but he did come home alive to his farm and family of 5 young children. Both of my parents were traumatized by that war.
Iceland won't charge you change fees if you decide to stay for a while during a layover. They want the tourism dollars! I may go back there and check it out. Thanks for reading!
Your reflections on not feeling connected to your German heritage resonated with me. I've also struggled with feeling disconnected from my cultural roots. Your journey of self-discovery through travel is inspiring – it reminds me that our identities are complex and ever-evolving.
I love what you said...that our identities are complex and ever-evolving. I think our lives are a process of discovering different parts of ourselves, if we continue to move forward. Since my parents died, I am dipping my toe back in the German waters. I have picked up studying the language (my first language) and connecting with family there.
It sounds fascinating! I think a lot about the female architype and how there is so much more to character than we think. I look forward to reading more about it here as you learn! I miss you, too, fellow Aries gentle warrior.
Ilona, I loved this! I am an armchair traveler and you did an excellent job of helping me picture these countries. I felt the same way when I found out I had more German than the Scottish heritage I had always thought I had. I'm actually mostly "just plain" English, with touches of a lot of other areas...including some very interesting ones. According to my son, you can upgrade a 23 and Me account and they will tell you when they find DNA from Vikings and other ancient peoples. I haven't done it, but that's wild!
I actually started with a 23 and Me account years ago, to understand my health better. I sort of abandoned it when they had that big lawsuit. I'll have to check that out.
I'm glad I'm sending you a bit of entertainment while you recuperate. I know it must feel isolating while the rest of the world keeps on. Thinking of you always, dear friend!
What a charming account of this invigorating trip. I’m so glad you guys had the get up and go to do this. I’m very inspired and I want to go there too.
We went for 10 days and that seemed about the right length of time. ChatGPT planned the whole thing out and made it so easy and inexpensive to do. Hope you guys are on an upswing now. Please update me!
What a great travel recap! My dad was 100% Norwegian, and I'm eager to get to Norway to explore my heritage & find some fellow Djuvik's.
That'd be awesome! But you're going to Greece first. Sorry.
Ilona Goanos: First: Thank you for the beautiful postcard. I really, really appreciate this, and I keep it as a bookmark in one of my very favorite of books!
Second: I am bookmarking this page. Your narrative is so lively and your pictures are beautiful. Your lucky guy, husband, looks like a handsome, friendly guy.
The scenery - - please don't feel you need to quite with today's posting. We could see more and more and . . .
Thank you so very much for your generosity in sharing!
Ilona Goanos: You are one of my very favorites!
Aw thanks, Armand. I did cut things short because the post was getting too long-my longest yet, especially with all the pics. I wanted to write about our experience while it was all still fresh. Thank you for being such an engaged and friendly reader/commenter.
PS I'm really shocked about how quickly you got the postcard.
Ilona Goanos: Substack has the foibles and faults of a human-made platform. But one thing I love, is the dear and worthwhile persons Substack has connected me with.
YOU are a delightful person, who has compassion, who is gifted with the camera, and who writes vivid prose. I love to read your stuff, and I treasure the growing friendship with persons like YOU.
Armand, thanks for your compliment. I am friendly, but no longer as handsome as I once was. Last year, I was on a sunset cruise here at the Jersey Shore and a woman about half my age said on the dance floor, "I wish I knew you in your prime." Ouch!
Loved traveling with you and your husband. How wonderful (in my opinion, being 50% Danish heritage via paternal grandparents) to find out you're Danish! Thanks for taking us with you, sister!
Thanks for coming along!
Sounds like you had a great trip and all of Scandinavia off the bucket list in what - about a week?
Amazing.
Are you going to explore the eastern european part of the heritage next?
Yes, I am! I would like to go to Berlin and then go to Poland. We'll see. Are you from Germany?
Yes, I am and have been many places in Europe.
I used to fly to Norway (Bordoe) to get Salmon and bring booze
Yes, the fish was delicious in Norway. All the countries, really. Yes, we were on a 10 day journey through those countries. Sorry, I missed your question earlier.
Nice trip. Nice review!
My grandmother had always told us that we were English, Swedish and Dutch. But as with you, DNA tests can bring surprises. Yes, a tiny amount of Swedish (the name) and a smidgeon of Dutch (despite the fact that there were Dutch names in the lineage. A good percentage of English. But the surprise? A whole lot of Scotch and Irish...and wait for it. My biggest percentage is "Franco-Prussian". Apparently my Mom's last name was not Dutch - it was German. I am going to speculate that my Michigan grandparents found it safer to be Dutch than German. Both my folks were in Italy during WWII - fighting Germans, so...
The moral is that family stories are often convenient myths. And inconvenient stuff is left out.
I think back then you could easily hide your background because there was no vehicle for people to check stuff out. I never thought too hard about my nationality, with two parents straight off the boat. What was there to question? Technology reveals the truth now, and my husband has an amazing story from his Ancestry findings, but that is his story to tell.
My mother's father was forced to be in Hitler's army. I don't have too many details on that, but he did come home alive to his farm and family of 5 young children. Both of my parents were traumatized by that war.
Haha- ‘people, it’s cold in Iceland in August.’ That made me laugh!
After reading about your trip, I have now put Scandinavia on my travel bucket list! (With a jacket for a stop in Iceland, of course!)
Iceland won't charge you change fees if you decide to stay for a while during a layover. They want the tourism dollars! I may go back there and check it out. Thanks for reading!
Your reflections on not feeling connected to your German heritage resonated with me. I've also struggled with feeling disconnected from my cultural roots. Your journey of self-discovery through travel is inspiring – it reminds me that our identities are complex and ever-evolving.
I love what you said...that our identities are complex and ever-evolving. I think our lives are a process of discovering different parts of ourselves, if we continue to move forward. Since my parents died, I am dipping my toe back in the German waters. I have picked up studying the language (my first language) and connecting with family there.
I really appreciate your thoughtful comment!
Sounds like a wonderful trip!
Thanks Carol! It truly was.
Somehow it doesn’t surprise me that you are
the descendant of a Swedish Viking! ❤️
I'm excited to learn more about the Viking women. They sound so fierce and unfuckable! Thank you for your kind comment 🤍 Miss you.
It sounds fascinating! I think a lot about the female architype and how there is so much more to character than we think. I look forward to reading more about it here as you learn! I miss you, too, fellow Aries gentle warrior.
Ilona, I loved this! I am an armchair traveler and you did an excellent job of helping me picture these countries. I felt the same way when I found out I had more German than the Scottish heritage I had always thought I had. I'm actually mostly "just plain" English, with touches of a lot of other areas...including some very interesting ones. According to my son, you can upgrade a 23 and Me account and they will tell you when they find DNA from Vikings and other ancient peoples. I haven't done it, but that's wild!
I actually started with a 23 and Me account years ago, to understand my health better. I sort of abandoned it when they had that big lawsuit. I'll have to check that out.
I'm glad I'm sending you a bit of entertainment while you recuperate. I know it must feel isolating while the rest of the world keeps on. Thinking of you always, dear friend!
What a charming account of this invigorating trip. I’m so glad you guys had the get up and go to do this. I’m very inspired and I want to go there too.
We went for 10 days and that seemed about the right length of time. ChatGPT planned the whole thing out and made it so easy and inexpensive to do. Hope you guys are on an upswing now. Please update me!
I was looking forward to your travelogue, Ilona, and you did not disappoint! Sounds like a fascinating adventure.
Thanks Paulette! I left out a lot, but I hope you felt inspired :)
I did! And you did a great job of highlighting and capturing some moments.