Well with a 4am start I was feeling pretty tired on arrival to my hotel, which I missed by 6 blocks due to me just putting the street into my phone without the number. The hostel is more like a hotel with shared bathrooms but it does have breakfast included.
After a small nap and a shower I set out to go for a walk around the city. It’s hard getting used to using a paper map again since i’ve had a local sim card for the past month and a half.
First stop was Kungsholmen to see the City Hall.
New Years Eve started off packing up and driving back from Åal where the cabin was back to Mjøndalen, a 3.5hr trip. Reasonably uneventful drive with the most exciting thing being the icy road coming down the mountainside.
Sadly I have all but one photo from New Years Eve as I didn’t think to take my camera and my iPhone was useless in the dark. But it was spent eating seafood with Anders’ family which I don’t usually eat seafood, but this stuff was rather mild and tasty. It’s amazing the amount of fireworks a little town lets off and they are so much better than the ones back home. I attempted to take photos but it was just a blur on my phone.
One of the big sports in Norway is cross country skiing, which there is several hundred kilometres of in the mountains. The temperatures were rising from -15 to a nice -2 which is much better for trying to ski.
Literally 10 metres before I was on my ass, and it wouldn’t be the last time. Once we were on the tracks I was told I was doing ok for a first timer. At least the snow on the tracks was nice and soft.
It was a pretty fun experience, although i’m not convinced i’m suited to it. But the hills were fun to go down, uphill not so much, reminds me of mountain biking.The snow off track was about 30-40cm deep. Lunch was pancakes and cheese and bread, I could get used to this!
Saturday night was a great night. We got the see Anders’ brother Mats play jazz in Mjøndalen with his band.
The night was started off with pre-drinks at their friends place. Another day of -15 so we were all rugged up.
The night was an interesting one with Norwegian quizes and lots of drinks. And even found the Smegal doppleganger.
Mats’ band were pretty tight and he is an amazing drummer, only managed to get a few crappy shots on my phone.
The band was a drummer, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and guitar player and they were good. I have a few videos but can’t get the to upload due to the upload limits on the blog.
Xmas eve started off with me still feeling pretty rubbish still. But was a great night and I got a white Christmas! Norwegian’s celebrate xmas on the eve with presents and a big dinner, followed up by 3 days of eating afterwards.
With everyone dressed up headed to Anders’ parents house for the night. A few beers in a we were opening presents and I even managed to Facetime dad back home.
Was a good night with amazing food. The traditional meal was Norwegian Lamb ribs cooked/steamed over berch wood in a pot, together with potatoes and other bits a pieces.
Monday morning was filled with xmas shopping and eating mostly. I managed to not miss breakfast today and went walking around Tromsø looking for gifts. All I had to find was a blues bottle slide, a book on tractors and chocolate. Strangely difficult considering it was xmas season.
But the weather turned good and I decided I would do it on the way home and jumped on the bus to the Cable car up Fjellheisen. Once I got to the top of the 4 minute car ride of 420m to the top station I head upto towards Tromsdalstinden the highest peak in the area visible from the city.
After a day of Snow mobiling, reindeer sledding and dog sledding in -16 I was feeling a bit tired so Saturday was a bit of a quiet day.
Pretty much spent the day chilling at the hotel and eating buffet food.
Day 53
Sunday was a nice clear day that I spent walking around Tromsø and caught the Polaria tour I missed the day before. Wow Polaria was a sad place. A giant tv projector, and a crappy seal tank. I kinda felt bad for the seals the tank was tiny and the seals were all fat.
The water side outside my hotel was amazing. Northfacing and mountain facing it was pretty awesome.
With a 5.15am start, a car ride and a train I got to Oslo Airport on time only for the plane to delayed but it gave me some time to take a few photos and start listening to my new audio book about the history of Marvel Comics.
It was possibly one of the most amazing flights i’ve been on. The country was literally blanketed with snow. The only thing that wasn’t white was cliffs and ice lakes. The colours were incredible out the window. But I started to realise even at 30,000ft the side barely breached the horizon, its going to be dark at midday when I land.
I was hoping to start the morning early by catching a ride into Oslo with Janet on her way to work, but I felt like crap and all the shops don’t open till 10am. Turned out to be a good decision as it started to snow.
Almost missed the train trying to run though the snow (now ice) in -7 deg. But got on just in time and managed to use the time to finish up some of my blog posts that I had to catch up on writing.
With a bit more of an idea of what Oslo was like I grabbed a day bus ticket and started walking. Came across the Dig Dipper record store. Spotted a copy of Jimi Hendrix Blues but couldn’t figure out a way to get a record home on the plane without breaking it.
Monday started off nice and easy with a drive into Oslo in the little Nissian Leaf with both Anders and I wondering it if would make it on the battery left.
First stop was the Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo. Rather impressive jump that sticks up off the mountain and you can see it from the otherside of town.
After the strange sideways elevator you get a pretty impressive / possibly the best view of Oslo central.
They also had a wee museum as well. The ski’s on the left are the ones they use for the jumping. Massive different from the cross country skiis.
Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén