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Saturday

Norway In A Nutshell – Is it worth it?

Hello friends |

I late had the joy of doing the Kingdom of Norway inwards a Nutshell tour on my agency from Oslo to Bergen.  It was recommended inwards Lonely Planet every bit a bang-up agency to larn into Fjord dry soil , thus I paid the hefty fee attached to the tour in addition to fix out. 


I’ll live honest , though… I was frustrated trying to volume this.  The website is a flake clunky in addition to confusing.  Eventually I worked out that you lot tin volume extra nights in addition to form out your ain accommodation , which I highly recommend.  I’ll larn to that inwards a infinitesimal though.

What tin you lot facial expression from the tour?

Firstly , I usage the term ‘tour’ loosely.  It is arranged through a fellowship called Fjord Tours , but it’s to a greater extent than of a roundabout agency to larn from Oslo to Bergen.  I know you lot tin hit other tours every bit good , but I mean value the Oslo-Bergen is the most popular. 

Secondly , I don’t mean value it’s slow to larn a bad sight of Norway. Have you lot seen this country?  It’s a photographer’s dream.  Any tour , prepare trip , boat ride – anything – that you lot hit volition live breathtakingly beautiful in addition to create top degree photographs.  So – is it worth it?

Choo-chooing through lush , light-green forests on the train


THE FIRST LEG
The get-go leg of the trip is the longest one.  You larn on a prepare (early!) from Oslo in addition to it takes you lot upwards to Myrdal.  You larn assigned seats for this role of the journeying , but you lot definitely desire to live on the left side inwards the administration of travel.  Both sides offering first-class views , but at that spot is to a greater extent than to encounter on the left.  We were lucky that some seats were empty inwards our wagon in addition to nosotros could flit betwixt both sides during the journey.

The get-go hr or thus , you’re only coasting through suburban/industrial Oslo , thus there’s non every bit good much to see. If you’re exhausted from getting upwards thus early on , you lot tin conduct maintain a nap hither without feeling every bit good guilty.

After this , things larn a flake interesting!  You’ll start whizzing yesteryear beautiful , lush light-green landscapes in addition to larn a existent sense of beingness inwards the forest.  Depending on the fourth dimension of twelvemonth you lot move (I went inwards May) things volition facial expression a flake dissimilar , though. 

My favourite role of the journeying came only afterward the lush greenery passed by.  Quite speedily , the landscape turned into a snowy desert , punctuated yesteryear little lakes in addition to pockets of sand.  If you’re a Star Wars fan – similar me – you’ll desire to conduct maintain your photographic boob tube camera create for this part!  Finse , the highest signal higher upwards body of body of water flat on the trip , is where they filmed the scenes on Hoth , the H2O ice planet.  We were lucky that nosotros had 20-ish minutes to hop exterior in addition to explore hither , in addition to it’s definitely worth braving the cold.  It’s beautiful.

Soon you’ll discovery yourself at Myrdal , in addition to you’ll outflow off in addition to alter for the FlÃ¥m railway.  Even if it’s summertime , you’re a fair agency higher upwards body of body of water flat at nowadays , in addition to it’s worth bringing a sweater to article of apparel spell you lot hold off for the train.

Approaching the snowy dry soil close Finse - what a contrast to the forest!


THE SECOND LEG
From Myrdal , you lot larn on board the FlÃ¥m Railway.  This is touted every bit an incredibly steep railway , but don’t facial expression a rollercoaster experience similar I did!  Most of the steep bits are through tunnel , thus you’re inwards full darkness.  No seats are assigned for this leg , in addition to I’d recommend finding a spot on the left side inwards the administration of travel.  There are a twain of amazing views out the correct side for the get-go flake , but i of those you lot larn fourth dimension for a photo-op exterior the train.

The FlÃ¥m Railway is quite a brusk journeying (only almost an hour) , in addition to you’re going thus speedily it’s non worth taking pictures for the most part.  I’d advise sitting dorsum in addition to enjoying the trip to FlÃ¥m!

Kjosfossen Waterfall - a halt on the Flåm railway

THE THIRD LEG
Once you lot become far inwards FlÃ¥m , it’s fourth dimension to larn on a boat through the Aurlandsfjord to Gudvangen.  The boat ride takes a trivial over 2 hours , in addition to it’s a bang-up fourth dimension to conduct maintain lots of pictures of the dramatic scenery.   You’re going to desire to stand upwards exterior for this flake of the journeying in addition to marvel at the cliffs , the beautiful H2O in addition to the trivial villages in addition to boathouses dotted around the place.  It’s unreal , in addition to a perfect agency to experience the magic of the fjords , peculiarly if this is your get-go fourth dimension seeing them.   You’ll larn to cruise through the UNESCO-listed Nærøfjord , which is consistently listed every bit a must-see inwards Norwegian tourist brochures.

It powerfulness live mutual depression temperature in addition to windy hither , thus definitely choose a sweater in addition to a rainjacket , thus you’re non tempted to sit down inside.  There are lots of mutual porpoises swimming inwards the H2O hither , thus continue an oculus out for them , too! 


UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord from the ferry



THE FOURTH LEG
From Gudvangen you lot outflow on a bus.  Both sides of the double-decker are pretty spectacular at dissimilar points of the journeying , thus you’re inwards for a bang-up sight no thing where you lot sit down , but I recommend the left again.  The right-hand side seats seem to conduct maintain the wages at get-go , but sitting on the left-hand side gives amend views of the valley afterward the get-go one-half an hour.   There’s a department amongst a serial of spectacular hairpin bends that I loved , but definitely felt similar a double-decker shouldn’t live doing!

THE FIFTH LEG
The double-decker volition conduct maintain you lot to Voss , where you lot receive the 5th in addition to lastly leg of the trip.  You’ll larn dorsum on a prepare in addition to caput right away into Bergen.  There are assigned seats for this role of the journeying , but hope that you’re sitting on the right-hand side!  The views are actually spectacular in addition to underrated for this role of the trip , I think.  It’s some other brusk leg – alone an hr or thus – in addition to you’ll discovery yourself inwards beautiful Bergen!  If you lot similar , you lot tin larn dinner inwards Bergen in addition to and thus conduct maintain the overnight prepare dorsum into Oslo.

The beautiful UNESCO-listed laneways of Bryggen inwards Bergen


Phew!  So there’s a breakdown of the journeying itself.  Now , it is expensive to hit the tour , peculiarly when you lot consider it’s alone a one-day trip.  I chose to mass the tour out a trivial flake yesteryear adding an overnight halt inwards FlÃ¥m… I definitely recommend adding an overnight stay!  If you’re doing it on a budget , endeavor your luck at finding accommodation on AirBnB earlier you lot volume inwards amongst the hotels they recommend , which are all on the pricey side.   However , you lot hit larn a complimentary FJORDCARD when you lot volume the tour , which gives you lot a discount on some hotels , every bit good every bit AVIS machine hire.

FlÃ¥m , where I stayed , also has a youth hostel in addition to a campground , where you lot tin pitch a tent for around 200NOK.   If you’re either , a) stingy or , b) looking for something a flake to a greater extent than scenic , you lot tin walk for almost an hr inwards whatever administration in addition to pitch a tent.  The camping ground laws inwards Kingdom of Norway are extremely unloosen – you lot only request to live 150m away from a edifice , away from drinking H2O in addition to non on cultivated/farmland.  We hiked upwards to a waterfall that overlooked FlÃ¥m in addition to flora it to live a near-perfect campsite.

Our campsite upwards on top of Flåm

I actually loved the Kingdom of Norway In Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Nutshell , but it had its downsides.  It did experience really touristy , at times the bus/train/boat felt really crowded , fifty-fifty though nosotros were at that spot earlier summertime started.  In high summertime , I’m certain the carry is fifty-fifty to a greater extent than crowded , in addition to you lot powerfulness conduct maintain to volume farther inwards advance.

Two of my favourite bits of the trip were the get-go in addition to lastly leg , which are on the train. If you’re actually pushing the limits of your budget , the prepare is a fantastic compromise.  If you lot volume to a greater extent than than a solar daytime inwards advance for the Oslo-Bergen prepare , you lot tin larn the minipris (small price) , which is almost 399NOK , every bit opposed to 1600NOK for the Nutshell tour.  The prepare journeying solitary is however incredibly beautiful.

Finse - a halt on the Oslo-Bergen train 


Have you lot e'er done Kingdom of Norway inwards a Nutshell?  Got whatever other suggestions or anything to add?
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Tuesday

After the British Museum: itineraries for touring historic Sicily

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | There are merely a few days left to see the British Museum's electrical flow exhibition Sicily: Culture together with Conquest (closes 14th August 2016). If you've visited the museum's exhibit , or are planning to see this calendar week , together with disclose yourself tempted yesteryear the thought of Sicilian go , I've come upwards up with some ideas for itineraries , below.

The exhibition is a expert introduction to the history of the remarkable Italian isle , with photos together with exhibits to whet the appetite for travel. It concentrates to a greater extent than oft than non on ii phases of the island's long together with varied history: the Greeks together with the Normans. These are alone ii of the exterior cultures which cause got occupied Sicily , hence it's non a consummate overview , but given the wealth of history together with the museum's express infinite , it's a fair choice. There are brief illustrations of other phases of history , including the concluding exhibit , a epitome of the Madonna together with Child yesteryear Antonello da Messina (from the National Gallery).

Exihibits predominantly come upwards from the British Museum itself , from the archaeological museums inwards Siracusa together with Palermo , together with from Agrigento together with Gela. The Cappella Palatina inwards Palermo features inwards the cast of large together with detailed photographs.

If you lot even hence cause got fourth dimension left afterward seeing the exhibition , upstairs inwards Room xc you'll disclose a large collection of Francis Towne's Italian watercolours; to a greater extent than oft than non depicting Rome together with the surrounding surface area (this gratis exhibition likewise closes on 14th August).
Agrigento

Sicily historical itineraries


If you've seen the exhibition together with are laid upwards to intend most a vacation inwards Sicily , hither are some ideas for itineraries which follow on from the British Museum's displays:

Greek itinerary

This curt Greek itinerary tin terminate endure joined onto the Norman itinerary below to give an overview of these ii eras - every bit good every bit seeing some of Sicily's finest sights. It's easiest to hire a machine to tour Sicily , but if you're patient together with conception merely about omnibus together with prepare timetables , it's possible to meet the isle yesteryear populace carry - this is what I've ever done. Palermo is the best aerodrome to purpose for this tour , though Catania is likewise viable for an extended itinerary.

Selinunte - i of Sicily's less-known treasures , this Greek site yesteryear the bounding main is large together with evocative. It was destroyed inwards a Carthaginian siege; Sicily's history of conquest is real evident here. It's a large site hence I'd advise staying nearby. Selinunte is reached yesteryear local omnibus from Castelvetrano , which is on the island's rails together with omnibus network. Salemi buses run from Palermo to Castelvetrano , together with they likewise operate the local service to SelinunteLumia buses connect Castelvetrano with Agrigento.

Ruins of Selinunte
 Agrigento - the Valley of the Temples is rightly famous; this must endure i of the most impressive archaeological sites inwards the world. The hillside town together with the museum (which contains some of the exhibits featured inwards the British Museum exhibition) are likewise worth visiting; staying at to the lowest degree i black volition give you lot the best adventure of enjoying the town - ii nights volition permit for a to a greater extent than leisurely exploration. Agrigento is most ii hours yesteryear prepare from Palermo - though if you lot cause got fourth dimension , you lot tin terminate extend your tour to Siracusa inwards the south-eastern corner of the island.

Siracusa -  a non bad metropolis intermission goal inwards its ain correct , Siracusa has a history every bit an of import Greek metropolis , an archaeological zone , together with an first-class museum. It adds quite a chip of extra go to this itinerary , hence if you're planning a curt vacation , you lot could consider leaving the town for a futurity trip. To attain Siracusa from Agrigento , you lot tin terminate grab a omnibus to Catania aerodrome together with and hence alter to a omnibus for Siracusa - or grab a prepare to Siracusa from Catania station. Heading from Siracusa dorsum due north , the easiest alternative for populace carry is in all probability a omnibus (Interbus) from Siracusa to Palermo , where you lot tin terminate proceed the tour into Norman Sicily.

Norman Itinerary

Following on from the Greek tour inwards a higher house , this itinerary on Sicily's northern coast allows you lot to meet fine architecture , museums together with mosaics - every bit good every bit enjoying metropolis life , Sicilian street nutrient together with a intermission yesteryear the seaside.

Palermo cathedral
Palermo -  a expert base of operations for a span of days or to a greater extent than , Sicily's uppercase is the best house to sense Greek together with Arab Sicily. Important sights include the Palatine Chapel inwards Palazzo dei Normanni , the Cathedral (don't fille a tour upwards to the roof) together with the mosaics inwards the church building of La Martorana. Palermo's archaeological museum has been unopen for years for restoration , but does host exhibitions; when opened upwards it's good worth visiting.

Monreale - a curt omnibus ride from the centre of Palermo , Monreale's Norman cathedral , cloisters together with golden mosaics are with the wonders of Norman Sicily.

Cefalù- a lovely seaside town where you lot tin terminate relax on the beach , explore the quondam town centre , climb upwards to hillside ruins together with admire some to a greater extent than amazing mosaics inwards the town's Norman cathedral. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 expert house to bask some vacation atmosphere afterward Sicily's museums together with ruins. Just a hr yesteryear prepare from Palermo. To larn to Palermo aerodrome , grab the prepare dorsum to Palermo , together with and hence the airport bus from the station.


Sicily's other historical highlights

Agrigento Ephebe , Archaeological Museum Agrigento
To larn an insight into the other eras of Sicily's history , a circuit merely about the island's coastline takes the visitor through some remarkable sights. It would makes sense to permit at to the lowest degree iii weeks for a to a greater extent than consummate tour - or separate the isle upwards together with see to a greater extent than than i time , seeing the eastern one-half of the isle (flying into Catania airport) together with the western one-half (Palermo airport) separately. Sicily is a actually rich together with varied goal which definitely repays multiple visits. Highlights include:

MoziaErice and the Egadi islands - Sicily's western coast has ruins together with artefacts of the Phoenician occupants of Sicily , every bit good every bit the interesting Egadi islands , the site of the bounding main battles which gave Rome govern over Sicily.

Taormina - Sicily's most pop resort , Taormina doesn't cause got expert museums , but its Greco-Roman house is spectacular. Important to Greeks , Romans together with and hence to tourists from the 19th century onwards , Taormina contains a lot of Sicily's history inwards i modest picturesque town. Taormina's on the island's eastern coast , non far from historic Catania.

Lipari - The Aeolian islands were strategically located on ancient bounding main routes , together with Lipari was a well-off isle inwards Greek times. The archaeological museum has an first-class collection of Greek vases together with of terra cotta masks.

Baroque towns - Sicily's Baroque towns , rebuilt afterward an earthquake inwards 1693 , offering an attractive contrast to the island's ancient archaeology. They give an insight into to a greater extent than recent Sicilian history , are attractive places to remain , together with are increasingly pop every bit vacation destinations cheers for the Sicilian TV detective Inspector MontalbanoRagusa is i of the best destinations , along with ScicliNoto and Modica , famous for its chocolate.




Marble altar-decoration , ninth century , Archaeological Museum Agrigento (featured inwards the British Museum exhibition)



Head of telamon , Agrigento Archaeological Museum
Admiring the mosaic of Roger II existence crowned yesteryear Christ , La Martorana , Palermo



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Rome inwards 2012 (at 2765 years of age)

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | The 21st Apr is Rome's official birthday. Founded , according to long-standing legend , inwards 753BC , the urban heart is forthwith two ,765 years old.

I direct hold merely returned from a calendar week inwards Rome together with noticed roughly large changes from the fourth dimension , 10 years agone , when I lived inwards the city. It is however an amazing identify , amongst ancient history on every corner. There seemed to hold out to a greater extent than cars on the streets , which tin give the axe exclusively hold out a bad matter inwards a urban heart already notorious for its traffic chaos. There were also fewer scooters inwards utilization , though perchance that was a effect of the bad conditions during my see , together with many to a greater extent than bicycles.

Most noticeably , the urban heart has perish to a greater extent than modern together with - similar the residue of Italy - vastly to a greater extent than expensive. I had booked my trip to coincide amongst the Settimana della Cultura , when Italy's province monuments together with museums are opened to the populace gratis of charge. But fifty-fifty this countrywide first wasn't plenty to drib the cost of visiting the Forum , Colosseum together with Palatine from €12. Perhaps that's non bad value , considering the importance of the 3 combined sites together with the cost of their upkeep. But I retrieve amongst nostalgia the days when I would accept a curt cutting domicile through the middle of the Forum , which was opened upwards gratis of charge. Now it is opened upwards exclusively from a duad of entrances at a high cost , this historic catch of the urban heart is no longer an integrated go of Rome , merely roughly other tourist sight. (And the enclosed site forthwith agency a long detour for pedestrians).

The Ludovisi Throne inwards Palazzo Altemps
One of the major differences inwards Rome is the form of tourism. Of course of report in that location were e'er tour groups inwards Rome. But inwards 2012 the proportion of tourists visiting every bit go of a grouping seemed to me much larger. At the original sights , the Forum , Colosseum together with Vatican Museums , in that location were huge queues , amongst independent tourists queueing for every bit much every bit 40 minutes to gain admittance , piece large tour groups were ushered past. (For the Forum together with Colosseum , I would highly recommend purchasing a Roma Pass for fast-track admission). Meanwhile , Rome's other wonderful museums , off the tour-groups' itineraries , were nearly empty despite the treasures they incorporate together with despite the offering of gratis admission. While it was squeamish to encounter marvels similar the Ara Pacis amongst no crowds , it was also real sorry to think of these sights beingness overlooked , together with perchance underfunded , due to the changing nature of tourism. On a sidenote I was curious to encounter tourists queueing to pay the reduced cost of €8 to encounter contemporary exhibitions at MAXXI , piece all the town's unique heritage museums were free.

I used to think that key Rome was large plenty to absorb whatever publish of tourists , but that was earlier together with thence many of those tourists were inwards groups of twenty-plus people. And amongst the increment inwards cruising holidays , the daily influx volition increase. I came to the decision that present , to see the large sights is a necessary but arduous experience. But in i trial you lot direct hold competed amongst the crowds for the day-trip destinations , you lot tin give the axe bask the city's other attractions at your leisure. Take the fourth dimension to wander through the lanes of the centro storico , see the smaller (and cheaper) museums , search for out-of-the-way antiquities together with you lot volition direct hold a much to a greater extent than enriching experience.

Puntarelle together with fiori di zucca inwards the market
Rome has been spending money. The dilapidated towers together with picturesque creeper which adorned roughly of the centro storico's petty lanes direct hold gone , to hold out replaced amongst restored masonry together with bland facades. H5N1 duad of my personal favourite spots had lost much of their charm. It was genuinely a relief to encounter the Tritone outpouring inwards Piazza Barberini looking much every bit it has e'er done. Big restorations are however underway elsewhere , together with piece roughly of these are welcome , I suspect roughly of the Italian fondness for over-reconstruction is also at play.

Another large alter is digital photography. Everywhere I went , tourists were photographing away amongst indiscriminate abandon. In St. Peter's in that location was no-one praying , no-one consulting guidebooks , no-one fifty-fifty  standing together with looking around. Just a body of body of water of illuminated LCD screens held upwards inwards the air. Italian teenagers were queueing to rub a statue's holy toe , every bit ever , but forthwith they were filming themselves together with presumably planning to stick the sense on Facebook. It's real dissimilar approach to travel. The weirdest matter I saw was a Russian adult woman groping the statue of the Dying Gaul inwards the Capitoline Museums , piece her fellow took a photograph of the act.

After living inwards Venice , it was a huge pleasance to supply to a urban heart amongst cheaper , amend together with to a greater extent than reliable restaurants. These are to a greater extent than expensive than they used to hold out , together with slicker , amongst to a greater extent than unusual menus together with a less leisurely approach to service - but the nutrient is however splendid together with nosotros enjoyed cracking meals at roughly of the same restaurants I direct hold been visiting for 10 years. Local specialities such every bit fried artichoke and pasta cacio e pepe however gain total the menus , together with you lot tin give the axe swallow skillful filling nutrient at reasonable prices.

Mostly , despite the changes , Rome stays the same. The urban heart is however mellow together with beautiful. There are however queues for the best java inwards Rome at Sant'Eustachio , however flowers on Caesar's memorial , however political poems taped to the statue of Pasquino.
House of Augustus , on the Palatine
Among this trip's novel highlights were the Lux inwards Arcana exhibition at the Capitoline Museums - decipher a missive of the alphabet from Michelangelo , report the seals attached to Henry VIII's divorce asking - together with the frescoes inwards Augustus's family on the Palatine hill. One of my favourite moments was inwards the marvellous Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (a well-organised collection of Roman sculptures , mosaics together with wall-paintings). On the top flooring is a remarkable display of Roman interior design; the wall-paintings from several Roman villas. Peering into i  colourful sleeping accommodation , an older Italian lady beckoned me over amongst a "Pssst! Signora!". She wanted to indicate out her favourite icon - "che meraviglia!" - together with informed me that of all the sights inwards the entire the world , this flooring of this museum was for certain the most beautiful. She certainly had a indicate , together with to encounter these sights , gratis of accuse together with amongst exclusively a handful of visitors , was quite remarkable.

My latest tips for Rome , afterwards this trip:

  • Stay long plenty to avoid the crowds together with see Rome's fabulous museums 
  • Take a skillful map together with guidebook together with larn off the beaten track
  • Buy a Roma Pass to minimise queueing at the Forum together with Colosseum
  • Stamp your ticket earlier boarding the Leonardo Express train betwixt Fiumicino Airport together with Stazione Termini - the conductor was the nastiest official I've ever seen inwards Italy , together with was enjoying victimising unusual tourists amongst demands for €50 per caput fines
  • If you're on a budget , see during adjacent year's Settimana della Cultura

I volition hold out adding fresh eating seat together with museum recommendations inwards the close future.
> More nigh Rome



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Monday

May 23: A day in transit & The Island of Moss (Norway)

Hello friends |



Frantic packing , frantic organising together with a hurried breakfast preceded a really brisk walk to Buchanan Bus Station.  Going via the post service utilization , nosotros sent off some OS maps to Craig , feeling he would brand ameliorate utilization of them than nosotros would.  I also sent him my majority of Scottish folklore , filled alongside pressed flowers because I worried they wouldn’t last allow into Australia.



In typical Scottish fashion , it was the showtime twenty-four hours higher upwardly 10 degrees since nosotros arrived , together with nosotros were sweating nether our bags together with coats together with miscellanea.  We jumped on a omnibus , said goodbye to Glasgow together with arrived at the divergence desk at Edinburgh inside the hour.

We’d been worrying virtually getting all our VAT dorsum , but rapidly flora in that place was nil to worry virtually together with they didn’t ask to run across our meticulously packed luggage.  Nicholas organised all the forms (doing what he does best) together with I caught upwardly on people watching.

The flying to Oslo was shorter than flights from Melbourne to Brisbane , together with nosotros were hardly inwards the air earlier the stewardesses started bringing some on-board snacks.  I’m almost sure enough they were nonetheless finishing the rounds when the airplane pilot told us nosotros were virtually to descend for landing.  I could run across the peaks of snow-capped mountains higher upwardly the cloud embrace , but it didn’t hold off similar anybody was climbing them.

Arriving inwards Oslo , nosotros were rapidly checked over past times customs together with sent on our way.  Stig , our host for our rest inwards Moss , was waiting to greet us , looking jovial (and distinctly Santa-like) alongside his white beard.  He together with his married adult woman drove us from the drome , giving us a guided tour of Moss , which is a beautiful niggling town twoscore minutes from Oslo.  They drove us past times the bays together with beaches , where people were barbecuing together with settling inwards for a magical sunset , together with upwardly to their fantastic abode , perched atop the hill.  We were staying inwards the whimsical-looking monochrome annex merely below their solid , which gave sweeping views o the body of body of water together with surrounding foliage.  They gave us hot boller buns , which weren’t different to Easter hot cross buns together with showed us their electrical toilet.


Apparently , everything inwards Kingdom of Norway is electric.  When yous utilization the lavatory – together with I state yous this because it’s thence novel – yous identify a slice of newspaper inwards the metallic (waterless) bowl , create your describe of piece of occupation organisation into the newspaper , thence closed the lid together with press the START button.  This opens the bowl , sucks the filled newspaper downward , together with incinerates it.

“No waste!” said Stig excitedly , every bit Heidi showed us the toilet.

We chatted to the yoke for a patch virtually fine art together with Oslo together with languages.  They both had first-class English linguistic communication , but made me grin when Stig referred to superior technology every bit “brain breaking” (I recollect he meant groundbreaking) together with described Australians every bit an “omelet” because nosotros were such a blend of cultures.



Apparently , everything inwards Kingdom of Norway is electric.  When yous utilization the lavatory – together with I state yous this because it’s thence novel – yous identify a slice of newspaper inwards the metallic (waterless) bowl , create your describe of piece of occupation organisation into the newspaper , thence closed the lid together with press the START button.  This opens the bowl , sucks the filled newspaper downward , together with incinerates it.


“No waste!” said Stig excitedly , every bit Heidi showed us the toilet.

We chatted to the yoke for a patch virtually fine art together with Oslo together with languages.  They both had first-class English linguistic communication , but made me grin when Stig referred to superior technology every bit “brain breaking” (I recollect he meant groundbreaking) together with described Australians every bit an “omelet” because nosotros were such a blend of cultures.


The grocery stores had closed early on because it was a vacation weekend , thence nosotros couldn’t alternative upwardly whatever groceries for dinner.  We weren’t likewise fazed , because nosotros had some soups we’d brought alongside us from Scotland inwards our bags.  Half an hr afterward , Stig came running downward to us alongside a plate total of nutrient , apologizing that the stores were shut.  He handed us a plate of Moose Cakes – rissoles made of moose – together with some homemade bread.  We thanked him profusely , together with Nicholas assured him that , patch I was vegetarian , he was not.  Nicholas hasn’t eaten meat inwards a yr or thence , thence it wasn’t quick to become down.  He said it tasted a fleck similar beef.





It was 8 o’clock but it didn’t hold off similar the Sun was setting whatever fourth dimension shortly , thence nosotros pulled on our mutual coldness conditions gear together with caput downward to the beach to sentinel the sunset.  On our means , nosotros made friends alongside a furry dark together with white truthful cat (he reminded me of Puck , naturally) together with he was quick to befriend us i time to a greater extent than on our means abode an hr later.  His human was merely pulling upwardly every bit nosotros walked past times , together with I was a fleck embarrassed to last caught alongside her truthful cat inwards my hands.





We caput upwardly the loma to our beautiful niggling annex merely after 11pm to repack our bags together with larn our things organised to receive got to Oslo.  It was almost 1am when nosotros settled into the folded out daybed together with looked exterior the windows.  A deadening bluish low-cal was nonetheless streaming through the windows , giving the illusion that dawn was breaking outside.  I read non 2 pages of my majority , together with barbarous asleep.


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