I heart Berlin
This city is amazing. If I could live anywhere in Europe it would be here. Funny to think that had I not booked a flight to Norway out of Berlin I would have never visited this incredible city.
I can't exactly pin point why I love Berlin so much, it just feels like home. The architecture is remarkable, the city is clean and well kept, public transportation is comprehensive and beyond any rail system I've yet to see, the history is vast and well preserved, and still there is something more. Something that just makes you feel comfortable and welcome.
I love Berlin!
Road Trip Crew
The end of the trip, how sad. Here we are waiting for one of the many ferries that is necessary to get practically anywhere on the Norwegian coast.
Fisk!
It's bigger than it looks, I swear! I caught 2 and Elizabeth caught one. When we got back Tine's grandpa sliced them up and fried them on the grill with a little butter and garlic. Yum yum!
Northern Norway
What a shot through the windshield of a moving vehicle! Can't tell where the sky stops and the earth begins.
Norway 3am
How is a person supposed to sleep around here! The sun sets at midnight and rises before three. Crazy stuff.
Orgy Pole in Oslo
The pinnacle of the Orgy Park from which all naked statues originate and spiral around.
Crazy Statue
This statue is one of many strange and unique pieces of naked art at what has come to be known as the "Orgy Park" in Oslo due to lack of a pronouncable English name.
Roar.
This lovely tiger welcomes all to Oslo at the central train station in the city. Watch out there Heids.
Nord Norge
So I'm in northern Norway now. Harstad. Tine's city. It is a cute little fisherman town about six hours by car north of the Arctic Circle. I'm really getting up there, huh?
I drove up here with Tine and a couple of her friends from Zanett's city, Trondheim. It was about a 14 hr drive but we broke it up over a couple of days and went camping along the way. You can camp anywhere here in Norway. We found a little beach on a fjord just off the side of the road and pitched a tent. In no time we had a campfire going and were grilling steaks and spare ribs. And coming from a former vegetarian, it was pretty damn good.
We arrived a couple of hours ago and went to Tine's grandma's place for a fine dinner of Norwegian meatballs and boiled vegetables. Gotta love a home cooked meal. Tonight there is a beer festival going on in the city so that should be fun. Mmmmmmm. Beer.
Tomorrow we are going to a cabin Tine's family has on an island near by. They have a boat and we are going sea fishing. If it is sunny I think we might go for a swim as well. Crazy. I know. Anyways, that is what has been going on. I won't have anymore pictures up until I get back on Tuesday. No time.
$ $ $
Damn is Norway expensive. Word on the street is that Oslo is the second most expensive city in the world, just shy of Tokyo. After spending $26 on a chicken quesadilla at Friday's, I believe it. Not to mention that it cost nearly $50 just to get from the Oslo airport to our hostel. At this rate I'll be broke in no time. Thank goodness I'll be staying with friends for the rest of my trip.
I just arrived in Trondheim this morning and was met by Zanett at the airport. She says hi to all of you out there and says that a possible trip to the States may be in the works. We are going out tomorrow night then are going to a soccer game on Sunday. How fun! I always wanted to go to a game in Europe. They are nuts about soccer over here. Tine flying down to Trondheim on Tuesday then we are all driving up for the weekend to stay at Tine's place. I'm excited. This is going to be a lot of fun. It's great to see these girls again. It's been over 2 years since I have seen them but it feels like nothing has changed.
Norway
So at 11pm last night our plane touched down in Norway at the Oslo airport. Shortly after, the sunset. Yes, that is right. The sun set at 11pm. Crazy stuff and Im in the south right now. Rumor has it that up north where Tine lives (well above the artic circle) it is light 24 hours. How weird.
Another discovery I made is that Norway is incredibly expensive. Im flying solo here in Oslo for 2 more nights before I head up to Trondheim to meet up with Zanett. Good thing too because I'd surely be broke if I didnt have friends to stay with.
Zanett has been a saint. Heids and I were slightly freaking out because our flight arrived so late from Berlin and all the hostels were booked. Apparently the entire city has been taken over by the largest youth soccer tournament in the world, thus leaving us bedless. Nonetheless, Zanett came to our rescue. She called all her friends in Oslo with no avail then started calling hostels on the outskirts of the city with out web address. She was able to find 2 beds on the floor of a huge dorm in a YMCA and reserved them for us. Thank God because we didnt even make it to our hostel until 2am. If it hadnt been for Zanett we would have surely slept in the airport.
Thank you Zanett!
