Take Two

I’m back from holiday. Here’s a little summary of events (this summary would not have been so detailed if it wasn’t for the notes Nadia did during the trip…):

Sunday 11th: Got up at 7 in the morning to go to Heathrow. Was a bit late leaving due to waiting for Nadia’s brother and sister. They were going directly to Silverstone for the F1 after dropping us off at Heathrow. Nadia’s teddybear was bitten several times by a small plastic hippo while we were waiting to check in.

Arrived in Stavanger and went through customs & passport control. Took picture of Nadia getting Teddy’s passport stamped. Had little time so had to stress a bit to reach the plane onwards to Vigra (we were called up on the PA). Held up in the security check due to Nadia’s graphite drawing pencils.

Finally arrived at Vigra airport. Took the airport bus to Moa bus terminal. Greeted by parents and granddad with partner. Went to McDonalds for a meal (we were starving, and had no better options). Said goodbye to grandad and partner and went back home (ca. 1h 15m driving) to relax when finished eating. Also gave Nadia tour of the house.

Monday 12th: Went to say hi to other grandpa and his partner. Said hi to a couple of friends. Nadia played croquet with a few of my friends. They had fun trying to translate the rules to English (”… and then, when you’re a pirate, you have to touch the other players’ balls…”). Went to visit mate with outdoor heated tub, where group of friends were bathing and drinking beer. Nadia and I didn’t join in.

Tuesday 13th: Went to Volda to get a few things. Visit old “aunts” of my dad, both around ninety years old. Though few old people in Norway speak English, I knew these did. Was surprised they spoke it so well though; they were easily as good as most of my friends (not including English ones…). Picked up cousin and old friend on the way back. Invited cousins over to eat vegan Blaaberpai (blueberry pai). Invited to Vegard to play card/boardgames in the evening. Vegard has no cards, nor boardgames, so taking two decks of cards. Ending up playing Risk which Runar brought. Nadia teamed with Runar but didn’t like his tactics. I won the game; mission was to pummel Runar and Nadia.

Wednesday 14th: Visited uncle Trond and aunt Lillian in evening. Nadia got to see grass roof and goats (unfortunately goats were not on roof, as they have been earlier in the year). On arrival back home Nadia, mom, dad and I play croquet. Dad won.

Thursday 15th: Walk to the centre of OErsta to look at shops and get a few things. Took the bus back, even though it was 30 min late. Invited friends to summerhouse for shrimps, white bread, mayo and beer. Martin don’t like shrimps so he wanted to barbeque, but it starts raining so he just heats his saussages in a hot water instead. We played cardgames (”president” and “hearts”) a while before friends went back home. Nadia and I stayed the night.

Friday 16th: Dad came to summerhouse to pick us up. He also helps us eating the rest of the defrosted shrimps. My brother arrives from working in Oslo. Invited to another aunt + uncle’s house (Tove + Roe) for dinner + coffe & cakes. Played another round of croquet upon arrival back home; I won this one.

Saturday 17th: Went shopping in the morning, then went on the hill “Hovdeaasen”. We went sl-ow-ly and ca-re-fu-lly. Had spinnach and falukorv soup on arrival back home. Followed up with home-made pizza. I went to Sindre’s birthday bbq in the evening. Nadia stayed at home, soaking in the bathtub. When I arrive back home, my parents have unexpectedly returned from summerhouse (they were planning to spend the night) with fresh coalfish, which Nadia and they have eaten.

Sunday 18th: Put on my National suit to show Nadia. Nadia laughs. My parents, Nadia and I go fishing at our summerhouse. Nadia gets a tiny redfish and a coalfish. Dad get a coalfish. Parents went off to visit friends, Nadia and I rented (and watched) “Scary Movie 3″. Somewhere along the way I manage to have a warm bath.

Monday 19th: Picked up prescription and went to pharmacy. Nadia buys “tørrfisk” (dried fish). Sister arrives. I lose terribly at cards. Out with friends in the evening while Nadia is trying to have a bath.

Tuesday 20th: Went on long sightseeing trip with parents and sister. Driving to Sæbø, where we take a ferry. Along the way to Hellesylt we stop to have a look at some huts in a lake created in 1908 by an avalanche damming up a river.

Take ferry from Hellesylt to Geiranger. A spectacular trip through fjords with steep mountains on each side, featuring farms clinging on for dear life and the famous “Seven Sisters” faterfall thrown in for good measure. (You can find several nice pictures here until I manage to put my own online.)

We visit “Flydalsjuvet” and drive to the top of “Dalsnibba”, about 1500 meters above sea level. Nadia and I played around in the snow a bit. We stopped at several other sights but eventually ended up in Stryn where we had dinner at a cafe. On the way home we pass “Hornindalsvatnet” — the deepest lake in Norther Europe (approx 514 meters) and “Stigedalen” (Stig’s valley).

Wednesday 21st: Nadia and I walk to the top of “Helgehornet”. This mountain has a fantastic view, especially for the effort. It’s very easy to climb, particularly so since you can drive much of the way. This page has two webcams showing the view in two different directions from the top of the mountain.

Nadia and mom made stirred strawberry jam. Nadia and I had a walk by the marina in Ørsta.

Thursday 22nd: Went to Ålesund. We visited Atlanterhavsparken, otherwise known as Ålesund aquarium. Nadia wasn’t very impressed, as she’s been to bigger aquariums. Walked around in Ålesund for a bit, eat at expensive restaurant, check out the view from Fjellstua and visit one of my cousins. Also manage to visit uncle Rune and aunt Kristin before going home.

Friday 23rd: Head off to goldsmith to hand in dad’s old gold teeth and other golden bits. Want to have it forged into something else. Chose a pair of manchet buttons + matching tie-pin.

Nadia really likes our dried fish and buys 1kg to take back to London.

I visit friends in the evening.

Saturday 24th: We buy a complete set of Norwegian coins for Nadia. I go to say “hi” to an old friend. Nadia buys honeypot. Grandpa and partner come over for coffe and cakes. Nadia and I pack our suitcases. Dad stung by wasps more than five times at the summer house while emptying the toilet.

Sunday 25th: Driven to Vigra by mom and dad. Take plane (1 hour delayed) to Oslo. Almost run to gate. Arrive back in London flat about 10:30.

I’m going on holiday to Norway, and this time Nadia is coming with me.