Saturday, December 24, 2011

Hotel Union Øye, near Geiranger, Norway

The elegant Hotel Union Øye was built in 1891, and has entertained many heads of state since then. In keeping with its Victorian appearance, there are no televisions in the rooms, and no Internet access. The nearby village is also a throwback to calmer days.

A few years after the hotel opened, a maid fell in love with a German military man, a member of Kaiser Wilhelm II's entourage. The man asked his wife in Germany for a divorce, which she refused to grant. In despair, the man committed suicide. Upon learning of his death, the maid, Linda, drowned herself. It seems that the German officer rests in peace, but not Linda; she is heard in the Blue Room, sobbing inconsolably.

The Blue Room is now so popular that reservations must be made at least a year in advance. A plate of onions or garlic is put outside the door of the room to coax Linda into making a visit.

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