That means that the population of the general area of Stavanger is similar to the population of the greater area of my hometown, Gainesville, Georgia.
And population is not all they have in common.
Right off the square in Gainesville, is a tall obelisk. Perched on the top is a (relatively) small chicken.
This is because Gainesville, Georgia is the Chicken Capital of the World. For reals.
Years ago, there was a gentleman named Jesse Jewell who made up ways to preserve and pack poultry on an assembly line, forever negating the need to go out back and behead the evening meal. (You're welcome.)
About once a year, some enterprising pack of teens steals the chicken. Mayhem ensues, at least until it's recovered.
And as one can imagine, before Norway tapped into its the mother lode of oil, the sea provided the basis for much of the economy.
Now, Stavanger is called "The Petroleum Capital of Norway," but once it was all about the ocean.
Hence, the giant statue of the shrimp in the harbor, which I think is more proportional to its base than the chicken.
The giant shrimp statue is situated at the most inland point of the harbor in the center of town, which serves not just as the geographical center, but also the social center of Stavanger. On sunny days, the cafes lining one side become packed with people soaking up the rays with a pint of beer. On weekdays, Husband goes to his office on the far side of the water. And the "downtown" is built around it.
Yesterday, Lillie and I went on a walk around the harbor. Though she grew up in Atlanta, she really was a homebody. But now that we don't have a backyard, she has to take her breaks on walks.
So, I am trying to acclimate her to city life and all that entails, for instance people, cars and swans.
Posts
