Monday, April 20, 2015

Velkommen Til Poulsbo (Welcome to Poulsbo)

Poulsbo was settled by Norwegian fisherman about 150 years ago.  It has now grown to a whopping population of 10,000, and probably very few real Norwegians left among them.  But the town still strongly reflects its Norwegian heritage and it plays it up big time.  It's good for tourism.



 
It's so cute!  I can't believe I get to live here.

I live just a few blocks away from downtown and that charming white church on the hill.  I can hear the church bells as clear as -- well, as clear as a bell! -- when I'm working in my garden.  I often walk downtown to get a latte or an ice cream, or to meet up with friends.

There are no commercial fishermen working out of the Poulsbo marina now.  These days, it's all sail boats, yachts and a few houseboats.  With all the boats coming and going in the summer, there is more traffic in the Bay than on the streets.
 
The boats are beautiful and I also enjoy watching sea kayaks gliding along, hardly making a ripple.  It looks so calm, quiet and peaceful, but I'm not brave enough to try it myself.  There's something about rolling over a kayak in extremely cold water that I don't find very appealing. Not that they roll much in such calm water, but it could happen, especially with a klutz like me in the boat.  I'll just stick to dry land and admire the kayaks from afar, thank you very much.
 
So, that's Poulsbo.  I like showing you around my neighborhood.  So next time, something about Kitsap Peninsula.