Helleren

At Jøssingfjørd in Norway, there is a place where a few houses are comfortably tucked under a strangely shaped cliff. In Norwegian, the word "helleren" is used to describe this formation of rock, and so this place bears the same name. People think these houses are about 200 years old, but there has been some study of this site and it is believed that there is evidence of human habitation going back 7,000 to 8,000 years. And why not live in a place like that? You don't have to spend much time repairing your roof! The houses are now a museum that visitors can go into. You are welcome to sign a guest book, and there are displays that help visitors know more about the site. The living quarters are small, even to Norwegian standards.

If you're ever on the south coast of Norway, you can spend a little time in Jøssingfjørd. You can learn about the sinking of the German ship "Altmark" by the British, and think about the rusting hulk at the bottom of the fjørd. As you continue on the road, you'll probably get the impression that the road is very very narrow, and you'll realize that you're far above the water in just a few moments, thanks to a lot of hairpin curves, with a tunnel or two thrown in.