This was the last trip in Norway, who knows for how long.
Coming home from Longyear, I had one day of break for unpacking, washing clothes, getting Uni things in order. The next day (06-20), we flew to Stavanger and actually walked from the airport to the city, which took us 3 or 4 hours, also because we made breaks and took pictures of the nice landscape. In the afternoon, our couch surfing host picked us up from the city centre and took us to his amazing flat, a 30 min walk away from from the city centre.
On 06-21, we explored the city, visited the oil museum.
On 06-22, we went to Preikestolen, maybe one of the most famous touristy sites in Norway. And as it was a Sunday, there was an awful amount of tourists everywhere. Nevertheless it was great view up there - the last time I was here, we saw the fjord for 5 min, after 1h25min of waiting for the clouds to go away.
On 06-23, we intended to go to Kjerag, but ended up not going for different reasons. There has to be something new for the next visit.
On 06-24, we took the train home.
Home to Oslo.
Oslo, home for one more night.
Then it's going to Austria....
My two semesters in Oslo are over now.
Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts
2014.06.17 - a glacial walk
At 9.30, we were picked up by our guide - it was just the two of us and the guide, a girl from Canada. We walked up the hill, another cosy Sunday walk up, next to the glacier right next to the city. On the way, we almost stepped onto a female Ptarmigan, we just saw her head sticking out of the snow. On the top we shared snacks and made ice cream (fresh snow with cranberry syrup). We built a snowman, snow angels, and found fossils, and had beautiful weather (snow fall and no wind at all).
At 15.30, we arrived home and had a two course meal before we celebrated our last evening in Longyearcity with a cider.
At 15.30, we arrived home and had a two course meal before we celebrated our last evening in Longyearcity with a cider.
2014.06.16 - Easy day
Today, we did not have booked a tour. But after yesterday's walks, that's just right. So we got more time to look for the arctic fox (we didn't see it a second time) and visit the museum, look around in the rest of the city and write post cards. After checking out the menu at at Mary-Ann's Polarrygg where they serve all kinds of meat that is locally available for mainland prices we went to the "Russian" restaurant and had some delicious burgers. In the "evening" we met a phd student from unis for a chat and a drink. So we are connecting to the locals and we start being recognised by people on the street ;) so after 4 days you are almost a local here.
Situations of the day:
Religion wars are like adults fighting about who has the cooler imaginary friend
Jesus was the first reported zombie
You should only eat zombie steak well done, otherwise it could jump up and try to eat your face
We know why it is forbidden to burry people in Svalbard.... Point a: you can't burry then deep enough so the can return to easily out of they graves if they become a zombie. Point b: if they would be a vampire they would have two whole months where they can walk around without being stopped by sunlight.
In reality people here do not carry their rifles around all the time because of polar bears. It is because of the zombies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Situations of the day:
Religion wars are like adults fighting about who has the cooler imaginary friend
Jesus was the first reported zombie
You should only eat zombie steak well done, otherwise it could jump up and try to eat your face
We know why it is forbidden to burry people in Svalbard.... Point a: you can't burry then deep enough so the can return to easily out of they graves if they become a zombie. Point b: if they would be a vampire they would have two whole months where they can walk around without being stopped by sunlight.
In reality people here do not carry their rifles around all the time because of polar bears. It is because of the zombies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2014.06.15 - an arctic challenge
That was the name of the plan for today- an arctic challenge: taking the kayaks to the other side of the Adventfjord and walk up to the Hiort-mountain (950m). But due to strong wind, we could not do anymore the kayaking and thus had to walk up another mountain named Nordenskiöld (1050). So, we, a group of 12 walked up there. Easy Sunday walk for an Austrian. The occasional snow storms and the strong wind did not bother us that much. Our guide was a friendly Russian called Vladimir, and as the Russian guide yesterday (in Pyramiden), a good guide in Svalbard is a Russian guy with a gun. Always trust the Russian guy with the gun. (Keyword: polar bears. No, we have not seen one so far.). Landscape: no words.
We came home around 16.00.
There were plans to re-do the kayaking part of the hike, so we agreed that our guides would call us if it's possible. But no, the wind came back, no kayaking. On the way outside, we ran across a South African guy who turned out to be tour organiser and needed big fancy camera equipment. He said he's not really good in landscape photography and showed us his 7D with a 10-22 lens. He said: go and play with it. Just wow. At least 5000 Eur lent for the afternoon. That's why we spent the time from 18.30 til 23.00 outside, made adequate pictures, and also saw an arctic fox.
At 2.00, after Argentina won the World Cup game, and all together 13.5 hours outside and walking - good night.
Zitate des Tages:
- Unser Sommerurlaub. Schneeweißer Strand, Blick aufs Meer, keine Gelsen.
- Schade, die Arbeit am Nordkapp wär schon nett gewesen, so weit im Süden...
- Quasi tropisch!
- Uh, ein Mensch!
- Ohne Gewehr. Quasi ein Selbstmörder.
We came home around 16.00.
There were plans to re-do the kayaking part of the hike, so we agreed that our guides would call us if it's possible. But no, the wind came back, no kayaking. On the way outside, we ran across a South African guy who turned out to be tour organiser and needed big fancy camera equipment. He said he's not really good in landscape photography and showed us his 7D with a 10-22 lens. He said: go and play with it. Just wow. At least 5000 Eur lent for the afternoon. That's why we spent the time from 18.30 til 23.00 outside, made adequate pictures, and also saw an arctic fox.
At 2.00, after Argentina won the World Cup game, and all together 13.5 hours outside and walking - good night.
Zitate des Tages:
- Unser Sommerurlaub. Schneeweißer Strand, Blick aufs Meer, keine Gelsen.
- Schade, die Arbeit am Nordkapp wär schon nett gewesen, so weit im Süden...
- Quasi tropisch!
- Uh, ein Mensch!
- Ohne Gewehr. Quasi ein Selbstmörder.
2014.06.14 - Pyramiden
After no night but good sleep (at least for me) and breakfast, we entered the Polargirl (a boat) to a trip into the Billefjorden at 9 in the morning. First we got to Skansbukta, where a trapper station is located. Pyramiden is a Russian settlement that was abandoned in 1998, it was used for coal mining. The settlement had 1200 inhabitants at some point and was used for showing the west how awesome communism is. But apparently communism didn't work out that well and so there is the northernmost cinema, gym, etc, there. Next up was a bird cliff and the Nordenskiöld glacier - landscape and wildlife wise: look at the pictures! No words fitting. At 20.00, we were back in the guest house and while we had our delicious dinner, the floor was still moving...
2014.06.13 - Winter is coming - Longyearbyen/Svalbard
Finally, another trip to another part of the world.
At the airport, we had to show our passport, we were leaving the Schengen area. So, yeah, three hours straight to the north. Far away. The flight over the southern part of Svalbard was beautiful, mountains, snow, glaciers.
Already months before, I tried to find a couch surfing host for us, but nobody wanted to have us. So we booked the 'cheapest' hostel/guesthouse, so at least we knew for sure we didn't have to sleep under a bridge. Shortly after we arrived, however, after we had paid for everything, one of many many requests was answered, we could stay. Whatever.
The city - the 'northernmost city of the world' - has about 2000 residents, the whole island about 2500. There are more skidoos than people, and more polar bears than skidoos. Maybe we will see one in the next 5 days.
One (or several?) of those residents seem to be professional photographers who just sat down in a restaurant, where we allowed ourselves to eat a reindeer burger, after long consideration. And he just put a camera there which costs maybe 30.000 USD. He probably saw all the wildlife of the island..
We walked around in Longyear 'downtown', and within 2 hours we saw already most of the city, went to the beach, and are slowly starting to adapt to the occasional snow showers and the cool breeze from the glacier. We just came home from a walk to an abandoned mine - we would have guessed its around 19.00, but no, it was 22.30. The next night will be in Oslo again.
The weather around 10 in the afternoon (!) was a bit cloudy. At midnight we went outside for a walk, and - wow. Clear blue sky and warming sun at midnight.
At the airport, we had to show our passport, we were leaving the Schengen area. So, yeah, three hours straight to the north. Far away. The flight over the southern part of Svalbard was beautiful, mountains, snow, glaciers.
Already months before, I tried to find a couch surfing host for us, but nobody wanted to have us. So we booked the 'cheapest' hostel/guesthouse, so at least we knew for sure we didn't have to sleep under a bridge. Shortly after we arrived, however, after we had paid for everything, one of many many requests was answered, we could stay. Whatever.
The city - the 'northernmost city of the world' - has about 2000 residents, the whole island about 2500. There are more skidoos than people, and more polar bears than skidoos. Maybe we will see one in the next 5 days.
One (or several?) of those residents seem to be professional photographers who just sat down in a restaurant, where we allowed ourselves to eat a reindeer burger, after long consideration. And he just put a camera there which costs maybe 30.000 USD. He probably saw all the wildlife of the island..
We walked around in Longyear 'downtown', and within 2 hours we saw already most of the city, went to the beach, and are slowly starting to adapt to the occasional snow showers and the cool breeze from the glacier. We just came home from a walk to an abandoned mine - we would have guessed its around 19.00, but no, it was 22.30. The next night will be in Oslo again.
The weather around 10 in the afternoon (!) was a bit cloudy. At midnight we went outside for a walk, and - wow. Clear blue sky and warming sun at midnight.
2014.03.23 - Oslo Voices Sørlands-tour
Oslo Voices, my choir at the moment, traveled again. This time, we had a concert in the church of Kristiansand, took part in the mass in the church of Arendal, and had another concert there. A full week end with a nice glimpse on how the Sørland of Norway looks like.
It didn't really help though that I was and still am a bit sick... (Germs from Dublin?)
It didn't really help though that I was and still am a bit sick... (Germs from Dublin?)
2014.01.19 - ski
What a wonderful time here, in Winter. The possibility to go out just for one or two hours and go cross-country skiing. Just taking the bus for two stations, and to ski along the Sognsvann-lake. And on the way back, who knows, to see a deer.
2014.01.03 - back to Oslo
On this last day, we walked to the university nearby- this can be done by skis in winter! The university is modern, walkways between buildings are heated, and, as I learned later, they have a cafeteria with daylight tempered light, to have more energy during the day.
As a finale of the trip, we went into the Ishavskatedralen (Arctic cathedral).
Then, it was again exciting to get back to the airport. Not because it is so far away (the normal bus goes directly from the home to the airport!) but because I had forgotten my passport at home in Oslo; so this was my first flight without a passport!! But it was no problem.
These five days resulted in 2668 pictures, eg of the northern lights. The result of the postproduction can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXTVqF3f02o
As a finale of the trip, we went into the Ishavskatedralen (Arctic cathedral).
Then, it was again exciting to get back to the airport. Not because it is so far away (the normal bus goes directly from the home to the airport!) but because I had forgotten my passport at home in Oslo; so this was my first flight without a passport!! But it was no problem.
These five days resulted in 2668 pictures, eg of the northern lights. The result of the postproduction can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXTVqF3f02o
2014.01.02 - The Polar Museum
Our first stop was the Polar Museum in the middle of the city. A really well done exhibition about the Norwegians and their mostly successful attempts to become national heroes by exploring the north. We did not have breakfast this morning as our next station was Egon and its pizza buffet. Unlimited pizza for 105kr. After a long time there, we took a tour to Giæverbukta, the western centre of the city, and found out there is nothing of interest. So, we headed home to relax a bit. Then, around 23.00, we left on foot to the very north of the island for the daily hunt of the northern light. At the very top, we stayed for a couple of hours but saw 'just' smaller ones, nothing compared to the ones the day before. But at least, we were at the northernmost point of the northernmost city I've ever been too!
2014.01.01 - Aurora
The day started with seeing the Viennese New Years Concert. Nice to think about home, actually.. We went to the city centre, walked around a bit in the city centre. Prestevann, a lake in the proximity of the city was our next destination. We came home with the intention to warm up and going to bed early. This plan did not work because we had to gaze at the northern light for around an hour. Again, wow. Wow.
2013.12.31 - Beginning the new year
Somehow, me stayed up for a bit too long. During breakfast, a norwegian play on tv ('Boeing boeing') caused us to come just at around 14.00 into the city. We went to one of the two arctic expositions, Polaria, with seals and all kind of arctic knowledge and stories. Afterwards, we went up to Fjellheisen, the gondola up the mountain in the east of the city. From there, we had a wonderful view both on the golden city of Tromsø and on the other side on the stars. Then, we took the last bus home (10pm-ish) to warm up a bit. At midnight, we went in front of the houses to see the fireworks. A few minutes after midnight, in addition to the colours of the rockets, a northern light appeared. What a start in the new year. After that, good time, right?, we had dinner and went out again to have the first of several northern lights photo sessions. My camera got a software update to automatically make pictures every few seconds. The result of that hopefully will be a time lapse video.
-- my goodness, Aurora Borealis, wow.
Prosit!
-- my goodness, Aurora Borealis, wow.
Prosit!
2013.12.30 - Darkness in Tromsø
Cosy breakfast, going to the city, walking around the city, seeing the Hurtigruten ship "Nord Lys", and wishing to go all the way from Bergen to the North with it, one day, when I have more money. The city center is really cosy! Nice Christmas decoration and cosy atmosphere. They don't use salt here in Norway for the streets, just a bit of gravel was lying around. So, partly, we slipped around more than we went. However, we went over the bridge to have a look at the famous iceberg-like cathedral, which really looks nice. We walked around in that area and decided to take the cable car in one of the next days. Then we went to a coffee and had it comfy for a bit.
Dinner followed, two episodes of How I Met Your Mother in TV, and a walk outside, of course equipped with the camera. At 2.30, we came back home, having seen a glimpse of a northern light for approximatively one minute!
From 10.00 until 13.00 it was so-to-say day, but it was just brighter than the other 21 hours of the day, far from normal daylight luminosity. Those 21 hours are surprisingly not really dark, the lights of the city are reflected by the clouds and -we don't know why!- make it so bright that it's possible to read easily, also at 2 in the morning in the outskirts of the city (where we stay).
Tromsø is really nice!
Dinner followed, two episodes of How I Met Your Mother in TV, and a walk outside, of course equipped with the camera. At 2.30, we came back home, having seen a glimpse of a northern light for approximatively one minute!
From 10.00 until 13.00 it was so-to-say day, but it was just brighter than the other 21 hours of the day, far from normal daylight luminosity. Those 21 hours are surprisingly not really dark, the lights of the city are reflected by the clouds and -we don't know why!- make it so bright that it's possible to read easily, also at 2 in the morning in the outskirts of the city (where we stay).
Tromsø is really nice!
2013.12.29 - Tromsø
The master thesis and exam is done, it feels right to travel again.
Taking the flight to Tromsø, a city at almost 70 degrees up in the North, populated by 80.000 people. Here, at this time of the year it is dark. No sun, so I have read.
I was accompanied by a colleague from the Uni in Oslo.
Taking the bus directly from the airport to the student home (Ørndalen). The selection of this place was interesting and quite risky: in October and November, I desperately tried to find a couch surfing place in Tromsø for those five days, but no matter how many hosts I wrote, nobody would answer with a positive response. Youth hostels as well, all closed. So as a last possibility, I wrote into the Facebook group of international students in Tromsø, if someone could help me. And yes, a wonderful German person said I could use her apartment - without her being here! So, we really went to that apartment, found the key in the post box, and had an apartment all for us! After the stay in Tromsø, we are going to meet in Oslo where she is going to stay for a couple of days at my place.
In the evening we had a walk around the area (north east of the island). Beautiful. So much snow! The pictures talk for themselves. So peaceful and quiet!
Taking the flight to Tromsø, a city at almost 70 degrees up in the North, populated by 80.000 people. Here, at this time of the year it is dark. No sun, so I have read.
I was accompanied by a colleague from the Uni in Oslo.
Taking the bus directly from the airport to the student home (Ørndalen). The selection of this place was interesting and quite risky: in October and November, I desperately tried to find a couch surfing place in Tromsø for those five days, but no matter how many hosts I wrote, nobody would answer with a positive response. Youth hostels as well, all closed. So as a last possibility, I wrote into the Facebook group of international students in Tromsø, if someone could help me. And yes, a wonderful German person said I could use her apartment - without her being here! So, we really went to that apartment, found the key in the post box, and had an apartment all for us! After the stay in Tromsø, we are going to meet in Oslo where she is going to stay for a couple of days at my place.
In the evening we had a walk around the area (north east of the island). Beautiful. So much snow! The pictures talk for themselves. So peaceful and quiet!
2013.10.19 - Tønsberg
Just a quick day trip to Tønsberg. The 'oldest city of Norway'. A friend of mine who had the idea of going there was hoping to see band members of her favorite band 'Seigmon'. We walked around and actually really saw and talked to Alex of this band, well that was luck! Nice cosy city, residence of the king in some old days ... Pictures will follow, sooner or later.
Yeha! The version of my two texts I am due in a week are more or less done, at least I would already dare to send them as they are. I finally started to do corrections on my master thesis. In order to do so, I did it the norwegian way and sent a mail to the chef of the choir and asked if it was possible for me to not come that evening. Imagine that would be the normal way for everything.. Anyway, right now I am on the way to London, next adventure awaits. And afterwards it's master thesis, hopefully the creation of the very last version of it!
And about the photos, be patient ... They have not first priority ;) have a good one.
Yeha! The version of my two texts I am due in a week are more or less done, at least I would already dare to send them as they are. I finally started to do corrections on my master thesis. In order to do so, I did it the norwegian way and sent a mail to the chef of the choir and asked if it was possible for me to not come that evening. Imagine that would be the normal way for everything.. Anyway, right now I am on the way to London, next adventure awaits. And afterwards it's master thesis, hopefully the creation of the very last version of it!
And about the photos, be patient ... They have not first priority ;) have a good one.
2013.10.15 - Bergen
Monday evening, after the choir rehearsal, I took the night train to Bergen. Again, I was lucky. The last week or so, the way between Bergen and Oslo was compromised and no train could come through. A couple of hours before my train left, it was announced that everything is fine again.
The train left perfectly on time at 23.22 and arrived at 06.51. I walked up a random hill, took heaps of pictures and wrote some diary/blogpost/this. The random hill turned out to be the Tøyen hill, where the cable car is going up. So I saved some money and had some fresh air. Win/win.
The stupid thing is, that I booked the journey to Bergen (this week) and to London (next week) before I could know that I would have quite a lot to do for university. For the uni in Oslo, I had to do homework for the norwegian course, but that's not much. For "Introduction into the old norse and celtic culture", I have to write two papers, one for each parts. In my whole life, I have never heard anything about this whole stuff. Additionally, it's all in norwegian. So, it's quite some effort to understand what they want from me and what I have to write. As I also want to finish it, I spent both afternoons in the university here in Bergen, continuing to research and write. Because when it's done, I can deal with my master thesis, and I want to have this bloody thing done, believe me....!!!
I stayed with a Brazilian couchsurfer who is studying in Bergen for two semesters. As I arrived in Bergen at 7.00 in the morning and was productive (hiking&studying) until 18.00. I slept more than 9 hours (9h30) which is very much for me. Probably I missed to see some northern lights that night, but hey.
The next day, I was not really planning to do anything. I was thinking about taking a fjord-tour, but the one that was recommended to me is just being offered from 01jul to 31aug. So, next time. Instead, I walked up the Ulriketoppen, apparently the highest mountain right next to the city, and walked then back home to Oslo again, right into the library, yay! I am so out of shape, my legs trembled when I walked down, my muscles need some more exercise. I think it makes a big difference that I don't have to climb that little hill at home in Austria; it's just a few meters but apparently it keeps the muscles active.
The next and last day, I just had one or two hours before taking the train back home. I went to the Fantoft Stavkirke, the church which was first burned down by a member of the black metal scene. Then, I had a yummy fish'n'chips, enjoyed to sun for a couple of minutes (not a single drop in three days!) and into the train back to my home in Oslo ...
The train left perfectly on time at 23.22 and arrived at 06.51. I walked up a random hill, took heaps of pictures and wrote some diary/blogpost/this. The random hill turned out to be the Tøyen hill, where the cable car is going up. So I saved some money and had some fresh air. Win/win.
The stupid thing is, that I booked the journey to Bergen (this week) and to London (next week) before I could know that I would have quite a lot to do for university. For the uni in Oslo, I had to do homework for the norwegian course, but that's not much. For "Introduction into the old norse and celtic culture", I have to write two papers, one for each parts. In my whole life, I have never heard anything about this whole stuff. Additionally, it's all in norwegian. So, it's quite some effort to understand what they want from me and what I have to write. As I also want to finish it, I spent both afternoons in the university here in Bergen, continuing to research and write. Because when it's done, I can deal with my master thesis, and I want to have this bloody thing done, believe me....!!!
I stayed with a Brazilian couchsurfer who is studying in Bergen for two semesters. As I arrived in Bergen at 7.00 in the morning and was productive (hiking&studying) until 18.00. I slept more than 9 hours (9h30) which is very much for me. Probably I missed to see some northern lights that night, but hey.
The next day, I was not really planning to do anything. I was thinking about taking a fjord-tour, but the one that was recommended to me is just being offered from 01jul to 31aug. So, next time. Instead, I walked up the Ulriketoppen, apparently the highest mountain right next to the city, and walked then back home to Oslo again, right into the library, yay! I am so out of shape, my legs trembled when I walked down, my muscles need some more exercise. I think it makes a big difference that I don't have to climb that little hill at home in Austria; it's just a few meters but apparently it keeps the muscles active.
The next and last day, I just had one or two hours before taking the train back home. I went to the Fantoft Stavkirke, the church which was first burned down by a member of the black metal scene. Then, I had a yummy fish'n'chips, enjoyed to sun for a couple of minutes (not a single drop in three days!) and into the train back to my home in Oslo ...
2013.10.13 - Trondheim
It's been some day since the last time i wrote something.
The reason for this blogpost is the trip to Trondheim with my new choir, the Oslo Voices. We have rehearsed around a dozen of songs, had a kind of test concert on last monday, and on friday the big day was there, meeting everyone from the choir at the gate, and flying to Trondheim.
I was quite lucky that I had a chance beforehand to have a short trip home to Austria, I would have had to buy a black suit, so I could just bring the one from home.
Anyway. We arrived in Trondheim, took the bus to our rather luxurious hotel (Radisson blu) and directly headed to our first appointment, singing for a relative of a guy in the choir. Then we changed to more comfy stuff and went to have dinner together. I there realised - those are all working people! They have money to spend! But the food was adequately wonderful. Around midnight, I was in bed, of course not without having been out to take some shots of the most important touristic sites.
Next morning - stunning breakfast buffet - rehearsal, concert in the afternoon at the Vår Frue Church. Dinner, sleep, breakfast, and then came the highlight of the week end - we sang in the Nidaros Dome, first a mass of Frank Martin during the service, and then four songs just on ourselves. Wonderful! In the afternoon we had another two concerts in the Vår Frue, but that was not THAT stunning.
Well, and that was it already. Flight back to Oslo and back to university-business.
The next day, as every monday, two lectures and choir rehearsal, now with christmas songs. Happy christmas everyone! It's unavoidable...
In the norwegian class, everyone who is too late has to make an extra homework. Last week, the teacher came too late. She couldn't really do homework, so she did make a carrot cake for us!
Next tour: Bergen, from whose hill I am writing these lines to you.
The reason for this blogpost is the trip to Trondheim with my new choir, the Oslo Voices. We have rehearsed around a dozen of songs, had a kind of test concert on last monday, and on friday the big day was there, meeting everyone from the choir at the gate, and flying to Trondheim.
I was quite lucky that I had a chance beforehand to have a short trip home to Austria, I would have had to buy a black suit, so I could just bring the one from home.
Anyway. We arrived in Trondheim, took the bus to our rather luxurious hotel (Radisson blu) and directly headed to our first appointment, singing for a relative of a guy in the choir. Then we changed to more comfy stuff and went to have dinner together. I there realised - those are all working people! They have money to spend! But the food was adequately wonderful. Around midnight, I was in bed, of course not without having been out to take some shots of the most important touristic sites.
Next morning - stunning breakfast buffet - rehearsal, concert in the afternoon at the Vår Frue Church. Dinner, sleep, breakfast, and then came the highlight of the week end - we sang in the Nidaros Dome, first a mass of Frank Martin during the service, and then four songs just on ourselves. Wonderful! In the afternoon we had another two concerts in the Vår Frue, but that was not THAT stunning.
Well, and that was it already. Flight back to Oslo and back to university-business.
The next day, as every monday, two lectures and choir rehearsal, now with christmas songs. Happy christmas everyone! It's unavoidable...
In the norwegian class, everyone who is too late has to make an extra homework. Last week, the teacher came too late. She couldn't really do homework, so she did make a carrot cake for us!
Next tour: Bergen, from whose hill I am writing these lines to you.
2013.09.21 - Le Grand Macabre
Well, the last few days were diverse.. With a couple of friends I went to the theatre and we saw Den andre mannen, which was in a language I didn't fully understand. We didn't even figure out if it was a bizarre norwegian (bokmål) accent or nynorsk. Next time I will understand more, and next time will be in the main venue in the Nationalteatret.
Also, I went to the opera. Not just from the outside, but also from the inside it's a wonderful building. Le Grand Macabre - well - was macabre but well played and done. Still, very strange and macabre.
Classes are doing fine, I am doing my work.
I started to go swimming everyday, and going to the sauna from time to time, for I knew I normally get a bit sick every autumn. So, what prevents getting sick better than doing that? Right! Wrong. So, I got sick five days before I would be heading home for a week. I decided to stay in bed, and cure the hell out of it. Now I am lying here, and watching Breaking Bad, of course legally as there exists Netflix here in Norway.
Apart from that, nothing really exiting is going on at the moment.
Also, I went to the opera. Not just from the outside, but also from the inside it's a wonderful building. Le Grand Macabre - well - was macabre but well played and done. Still, very strange and macabre.
Classes are doing fine, I am doing my work.
I started to go swimming everyday, and going to the sauna from time to time, for I knew I normally get a bit sick every autumn. So, what prevents getting sick better than doing that? Right! Wrong. So, I got sick five days before I would be heading home for a week. I decided to stay in bed, and cure the hell out of it. Now I am lying here, and watching Breaking Bad, of course legally as there exists Netflix here in Norway.
Apart from that, nothing really exiting is going on at the moment.
2013.09.01 - first trip outside of the city
Well, it was not a big trip. The university organised a trip to a cabin in the woods for around 50 international students. Just one norwegian guy (the organiser) was with us, and 50 internationals.
We took the subway and then a bus to the studenterhytta.no (Yes, apparently has everything it's own website here). We barely were told that soup would be prepared, 6 volunteers were needed, and the same for the dinner ("norwegian style taco"), afterwards was organised a quiz night, and after breakfast we were supposed to tidy everything up. That was all the plan! So, we immediately walked to the nearby lake, I took a swim (warmer than the Sognsvann!), and then we went back for lunch. The area is just as one imagines Oslo surrounding: forests, from time to time a lake, and basically nothing else in view (and - the knowledge that the subway is not really far away). In the evening, our team won the first three rounds of the quiz night, but the fourth round was basically just giving points to the most drunken people. so - "unfortunately" - we lost. But during the game, we got small prices, and we could choose between chocolate and shots. Guess what I chose. Then we wondered about alcohol and left the party to see stars. At 1 am or so, we went to the Sauna (!) where, again, we wondered about alcohol and not very adult Americans.
That evening, I sent the fifth version of my master thesis to my supervisor ("yeeehh"). Now for homework, socialising and enjoying the sun. If i finish the readings (for last monday) in time, I will take a first look into the fitness centre..
Still didn't really meet many Norwegians so far .. maybe I get lucky in the fitness centre...
We took the subway and then a bus to the studenterhytta.no (Yes, apparently has everything it's own website here). We barely were told that soup would be prepared, 6 volunteers were needed, and the same for the dinner ("norwegian style taco"), afterwards was organised a quiz night, and after breakfast we were supposed to tidy everything up. That was all the plan! So, we immediately walked to the nearby lake, I took a swim (warmer than the Sognsvann!), and then we went back for lunch. The area is just as one imagines Oslo surrounding: forests, from time to time a lake, and basically nothing else in view (and - the knowledge that the subway is not really far away). In the evening, our team won the first three rounds of the quiz night, but the fourth round was basically just giving points to the most drunken people. so - "unfortunately" - we lost. But during the game, we got small prices, and we could choose between chocolate and shots. Guess what I chose. Then we wondered about alcohol and left the party to see stars. At 1 am or so, we went to the Sauna (!) where, again, we wondered about alcohol and not very adult Americans.
That evening, I sent the fifth version of my master thesis to my supervisor ("yeeehh"). Now for homework, socialising and enjoying the sun. If i finish the readings (for last monday) in time, I will take a first look into the fitness centre..
Still didn't really meet many Norwegians so far .. maybe I get lucky in the fitness centre...
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