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Home , Dalen Hotel, Hardanger, Hardangerfjord, Heddal, Heddal Stave Church, Sandefjord

2018 Donor Tour to June 29 – July 7, 2018

Friday, June 29 Depart US Evening departure on Delta # 162 at 7:30 pm.

Saturday, June 30 Arrive D Arrive at 10:50 am, and depart for Bergen at 12:00. Arrive Bergen at 1:40 pm, and transfer to your hotel.

Before dinner, you will be met by the hotel’s owner, Mr. Alexander Grieg, who will share some of his family stories, and explain his relation to Edvard Grieg.

Next year, 2018, is the 150th anniversary of Edvard Grieg’s composition of his famous A-minor concert, Opus XVI. In honor of that, they are creating an exhibition at the hotel about this period of Grieg’s life, the first exhibition of its kind.

Mr. Grieg will personally present the exhibition to the group. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to taste of their Opus XVI wine, made of Barbera grapes from Piedmonte, Italy.

Welcome dinner at the hotel this evening. Opus XVI, Edvard Grieg Heritage Hotel, in superior rooms – opening April, 2018. www.opusxvi.no

Sunday, July 1 Bergen B Begin this morning with a guided walking tour of Bergen, then transfer to Troldhaugen for a tour of Grieg’s former home and attend a recital in Troldhaugen’s concert hall. Remainder of day at leisure. Lunch and dinner on your own. Opus XVI, Edvard Grieg Heritage Hotel

Monday, July 2 Bergen – B, L, D This morning visit the Oleana Factory for a tour and some shopping.

Continue driving along the , stopping for a visit and lunch at Steinstø Fruit Farm. Late afternoon arrival at the beautiful Hotel .

Local entertainment before dinner. A private dinner with a special Chef’s Choice menu will be served in the wine cellar. www.hotel-ullensvang.com Overnight in superior -view rooms. Hotel Ullensvang, Lofthus Hotel Ullensvang was established by Hans in 1846, and has been in the same family throughout the years, with the 5th generation now assisting with its operation. It’s situated on the shore of the Hardangerfjord, and features a varity of ammenities including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sauna, and jacuzzi.

The location and view of the fjord and mountains has been inspirational for many people over the years. Edvard Grieg composed many of his best works here including: The String Quartet in G minor, opus 27 / The Mountain Thrall, opus 32 / Album for Mandssang (The Album for Male Voices), opus 30 / part of “Peer Gynt”. Large sections of the Holberg Suite were also composed in Lofthus.

Nancy Tuesday, July 3 Hardanger – B, L Drive via , visit the Hardanger Nature Center and stop at the famous Bundt Vøringfoss waterfall. Travel across , through , to

- Oslo. Lunch stop enroute. Dinner on own.

Visitnorway.com/Vigeland Overnight at Hotel Continental in superior rooms. www.hotelcontinental.no

Wednesday, July 4 Oslo B Day for group activities for Independence Day. A request has been made to attend an event at the US Embassy. Overnight at Hotel Continental.

- Thursday, July 5 Oslo – Canal cruise – Dalen B, L, D museet Morning departure for Telemark.

\ Tour of in (below, right), which dates back to

BONO 1250.

Continue to Lunde, and board the M/S (below), departing at 1:05 pm. Enjoy lunch on board as you cruise through the historic . Arrive Dalen at 5:50 pm. Short walk to the , dinner and overnight. www.dalenhotel.no

Telemark Canal The canal was mostly hand-dug by 500 men in total, and its two parts were opened in 1861 and 1892. It improved transport for people and goods, and resulted in prosperity to the region. It operates today much

like it did then, and now is popular with tourists and locals who travel by

Visitnorway.com

historic boat, leisure boat, kayaks and canoes, and bicycle. -

Berge Johan

Dalen Hotel The idea for a hotel in Dalen came with the expansion of the Telemark Canal in 1892. Through a series of staircase locks, the canal from to Norsjø was extended to reach , with the small town of Dalen as its new endpoint. The canal was referred to as the "eighth wonder" upon its completion, and the waterway saw heavy traffic.

The initiative to build a luxury hotel in Dalen was taken by Skien businessman Hans Larsen along with his two associates, merchants Lars Rød and Anton Hansen from Skien and respectively. The men commissioned local Porsgrunn architect Haldor Larsen Børve to build the hotel. After its opening in 1894, the hotel drew royal guests from all over Europe, playing host to the likes of King Oscar II of , Kaiser Wilhelm II of , King Leopold II of Belgium, King Haakon VII of Norway and his family, and several members of the British aristocracy.

During the occupation of Norway in World War II, Dalen Hotel was used as a resort for Nazi officers. Most of the building's interior was stripped out and sold for parts, and the building fell into disrepair due to lack of proper maintenance. After the war, the building was bought by singer and evangelist Aage Samuelsen with the intent of restoring the hotel to its former glory. Though Samuelsen failed to raise the necessary funds to renovate the building, he gave the hotel significant press exposure, and towards the end of the 1980s restoration efforts began in earnest. The hotel was reopened once the remodeling finished in 1992. In 2000, the hotel was honored with the Europa Nostra award for outstanding conservation.

Friday, July 6 Telemark B, D Breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure for group activities with

Telemark area representatives, if desired. Transfer to hotel in for overnight. Dinner and overnight at Scandic Hotel Sandefjord.

Saturday, July 7 Depart Sandefjord/Extend stay Early transfer to Sandefjord Torp airport. Depart on KLM at 6:20 am, arriving Amsterdam at 7:50 am. Change planes and depart on Delta at 10:30 am, arriving MSP at 12:30 pm.

Tour includes: . Seven nights’ accommodation in specified hotels, in Brodie/visitrjukan.com Ian superior or deluxe rooms. . Breakfast daily, 3 lunches and 3 dinners as indicated. (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner). . Bergen walking tour with local guide. . Visit to Troldhaugen, including tour of home and recital. . Entrance to Hardanger Nature Center. . Entrance and tour of . . Arrival transfer in Bergen, departure transfer in Sandefjord, all transporation as specified in intinerary. . Special group arrangements:  Wine tasting and Grieg exhibition presetation;  Tour of Oleana factory with coffee and roll;  Tour of Steinstø fruit farm;  Private presentation of Hotel Ullensvang’s history by an Utne family member;  Private dinner in wine cellar at Hotel Ullensvang;  Private musical performance at Hotel Ullensvang;  Prrangements in Oslo for July 4th celebration, possibly at US Embassy;  Cruise on Telemark Canal. . Services of a Borton Overseas staff member while touring. . Basic travel insurance that includes trip delay, baggage and baggage delay, emergency medical and dental expenses, emergency medical evacation/repatriation, AD &D, and travel assistance. (An upgrade to complete travel insurance coverage which includes trip cancellation coverage is available for a supplement of $322 per person. If you would like to upgrade, please indicate this on your reservation form)

620 W. 58th St., Minneapolis MN 55419 612-822-4640 / 800-843-0602 [email protected] www.bortonoverseas.com