Stuen diner and playground
The founders of this kiosk first started selling hot dogs from a police car! Can you believe that? A police car!
I’m not sure if any thieves bought hot dogs there, but plenty of others sure did. They parked the police car for good a long time ago and built a diner over 60 years ago, right here where you’re standing now.
The hot dogs are just as tasty today, but now they sell lots of other delicious treats, and they say the soft serve ice cream is especially good.
Want to try it? Go ahead and check out the menu and dont forget to visit the playground beside.
In the old days, boats had guards that watched out for reefs or other boats.
There was a total of six different guards a day, and the one at night was called the dog watch.
It got its name because everyone was asleep at night except the dogs.
Those who stood the dog watch had to pay extra attention because it was so dark outside.
During World War II, the boats from Ålesund took refugees and soldiers with them to England and the dog watch was very important.
They had to make sure that they were not discovered by the enemy.
We say that those who helped other people to England were heroes.
A hero is a person who does something good and is a role model for others.
Those who stood the dog watch were some of these heroes.
Do you have any heroes?
Sunnmørsposten is a newspaper that is made in Ålesund and in the old days you could only read the news on paper.
Today you can also read newspapers on phones or computers.
You can read about everything that happens every single day all over the world.
Think about that, all over the world!
A newsboy was someone that sold newspapers on the streets.
Many had this as their first paid job.
10-year-old Barney Flaherty from New York was the first real known newsboy.
He started his career in 1833. The boys shouted out some of the news so people would by the papers.
Today there are almost no newsboys or newsgirls left.
Can you think of a reason why?
In the old days families were bigger than they are today.
A family often had a lot of children and the older siblings had to help the parents look after the youngest children.
The statue “Sister and brother” shall remind us about that.
In the old days there were also no TVs, computers or mobile phones.
The children played much more outside and the older siblings had to take care of the younger ones.
They had to comfort and protect them if they started to cry or if someone was mean to them.
There was always something to do outside and they played almost the same games as we play today.
They climbed in trees, picked flowers and played hide and seek.
Do you like to play outside?
The person who made the sculpture, the fisherman boy, also called it ”Fledgling”, which is a seagull flying for the very first time.
In the same way, the word was used for those who travelled to work as fishermen for the first time.
They often got the most boring jobs and when they were on land they had to do the dishes and cook.
The experienced fishermen were always kidding with the young boys.
When you look at the statue you can try to imagine how excited the boy was when he got into the boat for the very first time.
It’s almost like starting at a new school.
You don’t always know how it goes.
Have you ever had this feeling before?
Harald Grytten is a writer and a local historian.
That means he has written many books about Ålesund’s old history.
One day he decided to tell everyone visiting Ålesund the town`s history.
Harald took a stool and walked from street to street, shouting out everything he knew.
More and more people started to get interested in what this man had to say, therefor he is known as the “city wanderer”, and he was even given a medal from the king for his efforts.
After Harald retired others, who learned from him, have taken over telling people about Ålesund’s history.
Do you usually tell others about what you recently have learned?
In Ålesund, fish was sent all over the world, and the herring was the most common fish.
The herring was silver-coloured and was nicknamed “the silver of the sea”.
Fishing gave jobs and lots of money to those who lived in Ålesund.
Previously, it was not so common that women had paid jobs because there was so much housekeeping and many children to take care of.
But, when the herring came to the fjords, everyone had to help, and it was very hard work.
The statue, “the herring wife” was raised to remind us about those hard-working women.
The herring was stored in barrels and boxes of wood with lots of salt between the layers of fish.
Salt preserves the fish, so it can be eaten long after it is packed.
Today fish is packed in plastic or cardboard in large factories.
Have you ever eaten salted herring before?
Joachim Rønneberg was a famous Norwegian resistance fighter during World War II.
That means he was doing secret missions to sabotage the enemy’s plans.
Once, he and several other men snuck into a factory in Rjukan that made special water called ”heavy water», which would be used to make nuclear bombs.
They managed to blow up the factory which delayed the production of heavy water.
Joachim even received medals for his efforts from the King of Norway.
What can you do to make peace in the world?
The sculpture shows a cooper and that is a person who makes barrels of wood.
Aalesund is located by the sea where there are lots of fish and much more than the inhabitants can eat themselves.
The Norwegian fish is very good, and it is sent all around the world.
In the old days, we did not have refrigerators or freezers like we have today.
Therefore, people had to find a way to preserve fish for delivery and started to make barrels of wood.
Today there are almost no coopers left because the fish is packed in plastic or cardboard.
However, alcohol is still stored in barrels.
If you find the statue” Sildekona” you can see a barrel like that and how they packed fish.
You can also visit the Fisheries Museum to learn more.
Have you ever seen a real barrel of tree before?
Ålesund is located by the sea and it often blows storm.
One day in 1885, many fishermen rowed far out to fish and they planned to come home late in the evening.
Suddenly the wind blew up and the fishermen did not come home as planned.
In Aalesund, the wives stood looking towards the wild sea longing and waiting for their beloved men to come back.
This time they never came back.
A total of 33 fishermen died in the storm and 113 children lost their fathers.
The sculpture of the lady is still standing here looking out over the ocean longing and hoping that the men will return.
Do you think they will ever come back?
Gange Rolv was a tribal chief.
That means he was a sort of a boss, almost like a king.
He was a real Viking, just look at his big sword.
He was so big that he could not sit on the horse and therefore he had to walk all the time.
At that time, of course, they didn’t have cars.
Some say that Gange Rolv had a robe that protected him from arrows, spears and swords.
One day he decided to go Viking, which means he travelled from Ålesund all the way to France and robbed everything he found on his way.
In France, he became the Duke of Normandy until he became so old that he died.
I like to play Viking? Do you?
Hooray! We’ve arrived at the playground in Byparken!
Here, you can climb, swing, slide, and run around as much as you want! This playground is the perfect place for fun and adventure right in the heart of the city. The trees around provide shade on warm days, and there are benches where the adults can relax while you play. Maybe you can create an obstacle course or come up with a fun new game? The only limit here is your imagination – have fun! 🎉😊
