It was a long day in the car today to make it to Trondheim. We’re only five hours now from home and at this point, considering how much we’ve traveled, it feels like we’re in our own backyard. We have been on more ferries and through more tunnels and over more bridges these past ten days than I’m sure I’ve been in a lifetime. We took the “scenic” route down the coast today, which added a lot of time to the journey but it was worth it. The fall colors are really at their peak and everywhere we drove was just gorgeous with all the contrasting evergreens and bright yellow birch leaves. We had very little rain today too, but even with overcast skies and it was still jaw dropping gorgeous. I love this country.
I feel like Norway is similar to that elephant in the old story about the six men that each felt a different part of the elephant’s body. The one that felt his tail was sure he was like a snake, the one that felt his legs was sure he was like a tree, etc. We have seen so many sides to Norway that it’s hard to wrap up all our impressions in just one description of the place as there are so many different facets to this country - not just in landscape, but in lifestyle and “feel” (the food is all pretty much the same though.) Each city is special in its own way too and I could easily live in many of them but we’re glad we live where we do, not just because it’s a beautiful place, but because all our family is here – and I guess that’s why many people live where they do. It’s been such a great opportunity to get out and see so much of the land, and now it feels great that we are going home.
We had a big night out tonight in Trondheim – we went to the Ikea store. We bought (hopefully) a year’s supply of napkins and candles, as they are so much a part of the ambiance of life here and they are not at all cheap to buy in Ålesund. Our van has room for much more, but I’m afraid our house is maxed out and at this point, so anything I buy has to go in the garage. I’m so thankful our van held up during this trip – it is such a great vehicle and it’s gotten incredible gas mileage. Kory held up well too – driving the entire 2,300+ kilometers (about 1,400 miles in total), and Kaleb did well to keep us all entertained. We so love road trips. I’m positive that’s the American in us, because I’m pretty sure that Norwegians would take a road trip somewhere and then sit for hours or days drinking coffee and eating a bit before they would get back in their car again. Unlike us where we just drive and drive day in and day out and eat in the car on the way. Kory thought today was a good mix of both cultures though as we hurried up and arrived at the end of the road, then had to sit and wait for the ferry, then we sat on the ferry for 20-60 minutes while we crossed a fjord and he could have a cup of coffee while someone else was at the wheel, then we hurried up and got to our next destination and did the same thing – over and over. So it was the perfect way to be an American (in a hurry to get everywhere), yet enjoying the Norwegian style of travel wherein a stop for a cup of coffee is necessary every hour or so (and taking that essential time to relax). Kory got lots of coffee today, but it took over ten hours of traveling to get it.
Kaleb kept asking today how many “clicks” until we are in Trondheim. Since the measurement for distance here is in kilometers, some Europeans use the word “click” to refer to the same. Kory has decided that “We’ll be there in 46 clicks,” is more appropriately used when referring to the number of photos he expects I’ll be taking between any two given points. (Some we stop for, others we don’t – see photo.) But I must say, if we’ve now traveled over 2,000 kilometers, I’m pretty sure I haven’t taken that many photos… but when doing the conversions to miles, well, I might be pretty close.
I feel like Norway is similar to that elephant in the old story about the six men that each felt a different part of the elephant’s body. The one that felt his tail was sure he was like a snake, the one that felt his legs was sure he was like a tree, etc. We have seen so many sides to Norway that it’s hard to wrap up all our impressions in just one description of the place as there are so many different facets to this country - not just in landscape, but in lifestyle and “feel” (the food is all pretty much the same though.) Each city is special in its own way too and I could easily live in many of them but we’re glad we live where we do, not just because it’s a beautiful place, but because all our family is here – and I guess that’s why many people live where they do. It’s been such a great opportunity to get out and see so much of the land, and now it feels great that we are going home.
We had a big night out tonight in Trondheim – we went to the Ikea store. We bought (hopefully) a year’s supply of napkins and candles, as they are so much a part of the ambiance of life here and they are not at all cheap to buy in Ålesund. Our van has room for much more, but I’m afraid our house is maxed out and at this point, so anything I buy has to go in the garage. I’m so thankful our van held up during this trip – it is such a great vehicle and it’s gotten incredible gas mileage. Kory held up well too – driving the entire 2,300+ kilometers (about 1,400 miles in total), and Kaleb did well to keep us all entertained. We so love road trips. I’m positive that’s the American in us, because I’m pretty sure that Norwegians would take a road trip somewhere and then sit for hours or days drinking coffee and eating a bit before they would get back in their car again. Unlike us where we just drive and drive day in and day out and eat in the car on the way. Kory thought today was a good mix of both cultures though as we hurried up and arrived at the end of the road, then had to sit and wait for the ferry, then we sat on the ferry for 20-60 minutes while we crossed a fjord and he could have a cup of coffee while someone else was at the wheel, then we hurried up and got to our next destination and did the same thing – over and over. So it was the perfect way to be an American (in a hurry to get everywhere), yet enjoying the Norwegian style of travel wherein a stop for a cup of coffee is necessary every hour or so (and taking that essential time to relax). Kory got lots of coffee today, but it took over ten hours of traveling to get it.
Kaleb kept asking today how many “clicks” until we are in Trondheim. Since the measurement for distance here is in kilometers, some Europeans use the word “click” to refer to the same. Kory has decided that “We’ll be there in 46 clicks,” is more appropriately used when referring to the number of photos he expects I’ll be taking between any two given points. (Some we stop for, others we don’t – see photo.) But I must say, if we’ve now traveled over 2,000 kilometers, I’m pretty sure I haven’t taken that many photos… but when doing the conversions to miles, well, I might be pretty close.
