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Leg 6 (Stavanger to Trondheim)
I'm starting to discover that Europe is kicking America's ass as far as customer service on airplanes goes... Although I just had a short flight from Trondheim to Stavanger, a meal was still provided (I recommended flying SAS)...
Once I arrived at the airport, a little afraid I wouldn't recognize Marte's mom, Elisabeth, since I'd never met her - but I guess the pictures were pretty accurate - we knew each other at once... just glad that I didn't wander around looking like an idiot.
Walking around Trondheim
After dropping off my things, Elisabeth and I went to lunch in an older part of town. We then went on to Nidaros Cathedral (started in 1031 AD), but it was closed for a funeral... will go back tomorrow for the English tour.
Time to Relax... on a Sailboat!
So after a few days of lots of activity in Stavanger, it was so nice to just relax with Elisabeth until Knut got home from work... since the weather wasn't so miserable (they kept apologizing, but seriously, 60 degrees and cloudy still felt great compared to NC's scorching hot summer), they took me on their sailboat. We went around Munkholmen (used to be a prison, like Alkatraz, but is now a monastary)... not much wind. They had actually sailed across the Atlantic to the Carribean - not sure how I would handle 21 days straight without seeing land, but I'd give it a try.
Food
Salmon
Places
Trondheim
Nidarosdomen (Nidaros Cathedral)
Monkholmen
After a great time on the island, we made our way back to Stavanger to catch the ferry to Tau... making our way to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), located in Lysefjord int he Ryfylke region.
The hike up was short, but felt like a great workout... and once I reached the top - I was completely satisfied! The view was absolutely amazing... and since I was feeling a little adventurous (or, some might say crazy), I thought it would be fun to sit on the edge... now that i look back at the pictures... I don't know what I was thinking. A german definitely shouted out "Du Spinnst!" (You're crazy)... It was totally worth it, and I think I would have regretted not doing it.
Next time I am here (oh yes, there will be a next time), I'll need to be a LOT crazier to go to Kjeragbolten - a boulder wedged into the crack of a mountain - Also located in Lysefjord, but almost twice as high as Preikestolen...
On the way back down, we thought it would be nice to cool off from the freakishly hot weather (ok, freakishly hot for Norwegians = 80 degrees and no humidity), in a fresh mountain spring.... Lise called it refreshing - I call that a euphemism for cold as shit. I thought the North Sea was cold... I might as well have just plunged into a pool filled with ice. All I could think about were my field hockey days when I'd have to sit in an ice bath to help my legs - at least I had a reason for doing that (and, only had to go waste deep)... But, as with everything else I've done so far - completely worth it!
Food
Dinner - Fiskekake (Fish cakes - traditional meal for those nights you don't want to put any effort into dinner), potatoes (of course), and broccoli.
Places
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
Tau
Breakfast
I could REALLY get used to eating a Norwegian breakfast every day...and especially with the view Ihad! We enjoyed egg (med. boiled) on rolls - various toppings of salami (called trønderfår since it is from the Trøndelag region) - hvitost (a soft, white cheese), brown goats cheese (a personal favorite), kaviar (more like a spread with a salty taste), fresh raspberries, coffee, and OJ.
It's Just Like Riding a Bike (but only if you remember how...)
So I had a pretty humbling experience hopping on a bike for the first time in... oh... 15 years? I guess where I come from, you never really HAD to shift, or ride super narrow lines, or avoid people. After a bit I got the hang of it, and was able to make my way without too much trouble...
Lise and I met her friend, Maren, and her little girl, Nora, at a park, and then went on to Gåmle Stavanger (the old part) on the bikes...The narrow streets and old white houses were so charming... but I can't say I will ever look at cobblestones the same (you definitely feel every divot on the bike). We locked the bikes up and got some ice cream and did some people watching (my favorite activity)... It was really a great way (although a little painful) to spend the day!
After Lise and I spent the day in Stavanger, David drove us to his parents' summer house on an island off the coast... Just getting there was interesting, as we had to drive beneath the fjords to reach the island. We stopped and picked up some fresh crabs and shrimp (literally, fresh off the boat).... The small country roads were fabulous, especially when cows and sheep blocked the way - I felt like I should have been in England! The landscape was incredibly green and lush, and very hilly - right next to the ocean... incredibly beautiful. We arrived at the Selands' home, where I can't even begin to describe the view they have.... the cabin is nestled in a peaceful inlet with a view to kill for - overlooking sheer rock walls, and the water that just goes on forever.
I really couldn't imagine waking up to this every day! After a snack of waffles, we hopped in the boat and rode around the island to a little sandy beach area... then came back to eat the crabs and prawns... then on to bed to rest up for the hike ahead of us at Prekestolen!
Foods
Breakfast - med boiled egg, rolls, kaviar paste, salami, brown goat cheese, raspberries, coffee, OJ
Snack - waffles with homemade raspberry, blackberry currant, and plum jams
Dinner - crabs, shrimp, mayo, guacamole (all eaten on bread)
Places
Gåmle Stavanger
Rennesøy (David's parents' island)
Phrases
Hvar heter du? = What's your name?
Jeg heter... = My Name is (pronounced Yai het-ehr)
øy = Island
David and Lise picked me up at the airport - stopped at the liquor store - good grief it's expensive to drink there! No Two Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's here... cheapest i saw was the equivalent of 30 USD.
Apparently I brought over good weather from the states - but left the excessive heat and humidity (I have to admit I was looking forward to cold and drizzly after a summer of 100+ before you factor in the humidity).
Since the weather was so nice, we ate dinner outside on the porch overlooking the mountains and water - very traditional Norwegian dish of salmon, squash, zucchini, carrots, and potatoes (I will soon learn that potatoes are served with EVERY dinner).
After dinner, we went to the beach of HellstØ.
I made the mistake of saying I was up for anything - which resulted in me taking a brief dip in the North Sea... uhh... yeah, it was cold. However miserable as it was going in (actually not nearly as bad as I had worked it up to be), I'm still really glad I tried it... definitely felt refreshing for the jetlag!
Foods
Dinner - Salmon with squash, zucchini, carrots, and potatoes
Dessert - Raspberries, vanilla cream sauce (I think I could just drink that), and ice cream
Places
HellstØ
Phrases
Værsegod = You're welcome (sounds similar to veh-SHAY-goo)
Skål = Cheers! (Pronounced skahl)
Hvordan har du det? = How are you? (Pronounced as spelled without the "t"- Hvor-DAN hahr du de)
Bare bra = just fine (Pronounced Bah-reh bra)
Leg 1 - RDU to DCA (20. Aug)
Bit of a late start (helps if I actually set the alarm clock) - but made it 15 minutes before boarding. Thank goodness Raleigh has a small airport - took all of 5 minutes to check my bags and get through security... for the first time ever, plane took off on time, and bag was first off the belt.
Leg 2 - Union Station to BWI (and waiting at BWI)
Uneventful train ride... unfortunately my dad freaked out about me missing my flight from BWI so he put me on the train that would get me there at 3 (the flight didn't leave until 8:30pm, and the ticketing counter didn't even open until 5)... so i had some time to kill. Met a man that went to VMI (where Scott went), and his wife went to MBC (where I went). Small world, given the size of my school... Went to a restaurant to grab dinner and spoke to some servicemen on their way to Iraq... some seemed freaked out, others were itching to go... not sure how i would ever feel about that... but it did make me think about my friend Katherine over there. Come back safe!
Leg 3 - BWI to Iceland
First international flight I've ever been on without free alcohol. Boooooo. I was really hoping for a glass of wine to help knock me out. Food was... interesting to say the least. Didn't touch the fluffy pink stuff - I'll wait to experiment when I get to a place with a real kitchen. Did a good job of sleeping the whole way.
Leg 4 - Iceland to Oslo
As comic book guy would say - "Best Flight Ever". I had the entire row to myself, and was able to sprawl out and fall asleep... woke up for breakfast (definitely an improvement from the last meal on iceland air). Arrived in Oslo - again, bag was first off the belt (my good luck must be close to running out)... Does customs exist in Norway? They didn't even look at my passport (I had it stamped in Iceland, but I didn't even have my bag in Iceland)... anyway, had 5 hours to kill, so i decided to bump up my flight and managed to catch the next one out (only had to wait 30 minutes!).
Leg 5 - Oslo to Stavanger (21. Aug)
Yay! 26 hours after leaving Raleigh, I am FINALLY at the first part of my trip... Surprised my friend Lise, so had to wait for her to be able to come pick me up, but totally worth not spending 5 hours in Oslo.
