If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 514

 

 

 

 

 

Ørsta, More og Romsdal, Norway, 1999

 

Two used postcards with views of Ørsta, Norway are shared this week.  We were privileged in 2014 to stay with a cousin who lives in this charming community.  Ørsta is found in the Sunnmøre region of Western Norway in the county of More og Romsdal.  Distributed by Olav Lystad of Ørsta, the card has the number 667.LIX at the lower left corner on the reverse. 

 

My father’s mother, Lil Anna, came from a large family and only a few migrated to America, hence there are many cousins of varying degrees, 2^nd, 3^rd, etc. who still live in Norway and can be found mostly on the western or southern coast.  Eldbjørg and her husband, Hans, were members of a folk dancing group that was on a tour in the United States.  Before they left Norway they contacted me and provided information about where they would be performing with the hope that we could meet in person.  Happily, we were able to watch them dance and also to invite them to our home for a visit the following day before they moved to their next stop.  Luckily, another performance venue was near where my brother lives and he and his family also got to meet and visit with them.  Because my grandmother did not have brothers and sisters living in America my brother and I grew up with only 2 cousins.  Now we have found dozens!

 

 

The museum sign on the side of the building has a map of the farm

Two of the buildings on the museum grounds with sod roofs and grass and even small shrubs growing on top.  The old farmsteads raised the buildings off the ground to prevent rodents from getting into stored items.

 

One of the work rooms in the museum used to teach spinning and weaving

Two of Elbjørg's looms.  She has several looms, at least two at her home and others in storage.  These are set up and students are working on projects.

 

Wreath made from twigs displayed on the side of the museum

 

Ørsta has a population of about 11,000.  It is a beautiful, picturesque fjord hamlet that was part of Volda until it was separated in 1883.  The Brudavoll Farm, part of the Sunnmøre Museum Foundation, is about 3 miles or 5 km from Ørsta.  Eldbjørg is a retired teacher of folk art, mostly weaving, and collects looms.  She volunteers teaching traditional Norwegian weaving at the museum.  The museum grounds also contain several old farm buildings with the traditional sod and grass on the roof. 

 

The main industries include mechanical and furniture manufacturing, fishing, agriculture, and aquaculture.  There is a regional airport that serves several neighboring communities.  Driving through the Eiksund Tunnel, the deepest undersea tunnel at 942 ft or 287 m below the sea surface, was an experience. 

 

 

 

“Light impression of Norway,” undated, ca 1997

 

This second postcard has an aerial view of Ørsta with photo by Per Eide, printed by Hatlehols.  This card has the number 0106 – Ørsta, Norway at the upper left corner on the reverse.

 

For more information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ørsta