Hi!
4 more days and the farewell tour to most of the harbours is done! :-)
Last monday I was working in Ålesund and did a very nice tour out to some islands where you visit a lighthouse and get the best svele (sth. like made with sourcreme and sugar!) in the whole region. From there I was sent the same evening to Geiranger to guide there the next day. Down there is one of my favourite tours, but unfortunately it was so foggy that you could hardly see anything, but it was nice to be there once again anyway. Besides, I have never stayed overnight somewhere before and already complained about it. So, I even got that one sorted out and... not only one night, but two nights since I was sent directly to Trondheim from Geiranger! It has always been nice to go up to Trondheim since it is a real city!! Unfortunately, we didn't really have time this time since we arrived at 1 am and had to hurry up after the guiding to catch the bus home. Oh and to give you an idea about the time I spent for 7 hours work in total: We left the house on onday morning at 5 am, I was back in Molde at 3 pm (working for 3 hours in between), went to Geiranger at 6:45 and arrived at midnight. Then I was working the next morning until 11:15, but had to wait until 6 for the other guides to go to Trondheim. It took us 7 hours to get there and then 5,5 hours the next day to get home. :-)
Well, now there are only two more boats for me coming to Molde - our "home Harbour" and that's it.
Yesterday I was guiding for the "Queen Mary 2" in Ålesund. I had a couple from my hometown on one of my tours which was really funny.
Tonight I am goingt o the movies with one of my flatmates and before going to visit another guide who promised us some cloudberries! :-)
See you soon!!
Kram
fredag 14 augusti 2009
torsdag 6 augusti 2009
12 days to go...
It’s been a while, but I am still sitting in Norway…
Last Friday Babsi and me went to Storaas (close to Trondhem) for a festival. It was really laid back with not too many people. Music wise there was everything I like: Punk, Hard Rock, Rock, Ska and African music. So a really nice mixture and some new bands were discovered! My favorite band of the day was the “Mad Caddies”! We then stayed in a tent on a campsite to not too far from the festival close to a sea with a great view the next morning. Unfortunately, our tent was a bit too cheap and everything inside got a bit wet – well, I guess that’s usually part of a festival anyway.
The next night we stayed in a hut on another campsite closer to Trondhem because we were guiding there the next day. So, we got actually paid for the trip which is not too bad after all. In Trondhem was the so-called St. Olavs Festival which takes place once a year and is to celebrate the brutal Christianization of Norway! Well, they would most probably rephrase this, but it’s actually true. St. Olav christianized Norway around 1000 and there was only the chance to be baptized or to be killed, but it says in the brochure that the Norwegians are so happy that he brought new values to the country! Well, and of course some miracles happened with his body after his death so that he was declared a saint. Anyhow, there was a nice Middle Ages market (and concerts - e.g. Oliver Mtukudzi - I would have loved to see, but had neither the time nor the money to stay on).
Since then we’ve been guiding every now and then. On Tuesday we went to Olden again to guide a hiking tour to the glacier there. On the way our car broke down and they had to send a taxi to get us there on time. VIP!!! And… I had a Swedish bus driver from Tjörn with a bus from Västtrafik that day! I thought it was cool and he was so easy to understand! So, you see if I am already in total excitement about a bus from Gbg I am really longing home…
So, everything is going its way here, but Christoph and me have booked out flights for the next 3 months now. I am leaving Gbg on the 2nd of September and we’re going to China on the 8th (from Frankfurt) - in between I will visit a friend in England I haven’t seen for 9 years. Christoph and me are then coming back at the end of October from Indonesia via Kuala Lumpur and London. I thought I can continue this blog here to keep you updated during that trip as well.
Take care!
Bettyxxx
Last Friday Babsi and me went to Storaas (close to Trondhem) for a festival. It was really laid back with not too many people. Music wise there was everything I like: Punk, Hard Rock, Rock, Ska and African music. So a really nice mixture and some new bands were discovered! My favorite band of the day was the “Mad Caddies”! We then stayed in a tent on a campsite to not too far from the festival close to a sea with a great view the next morning. Unfortunately, our tent was a bit too cheap and everything inside got a bit wet – well, I guess that’s usually part of a festival anyway.
The next night we stayed in a hut on another campsite closer to Trondhem because we were guiding there the next day. So, we got actually paid for the trip which is not too bad after all. In Trondhem was the so-called St. Olavs Festival which takes place once a year and is to celebrate the brutal Christianization of Norway! Well, they would most probably rephrase this, but it’s actually true. St. Olav christianized Norway around 1000 and there was only the chance to be baptized or to be killed, but it says in the brochure that the Norwegians are so happy that he brought new values to the country! Well, and of course some miracles happened with his body after his death so that he was declared a saint. Anyhow, there was a nice Middle Ages market (and concerts - e.g. Oliver Mtukudzi - I would have loved to see, but had neither the time nor the money to stay on).
Since then we’ve been guiding every now and then. On Tuesday we went to Olden again to guide a hiking tour to the glacier there. On the way our car broke down and they had to send a taxi to get us there on time. VIP!!! And… I had a Swedish bus driver from Tjörn with a bus from Västtrafik that day! I thought it was cool and he was so easy to understand! So, you see if I am already in total excitement about a bus from Gbg I am really longing home…
So, everything is going its way here, but Christoph and me have booked out flights for the next 3 months now. I am leaving Gbg on the 2nd of September and we’re going to China on the 8th (from Frankfurt) - in between I will visit a friend in England I haven’t seen for 9 years. Christoph and me are then coming back at the end of October from Indonesia via Kuala Lumpur and London. I thought I can continue this blog here to keep you updated during that trip as well.
Take care!
Bettyxxx
onsdag 22 juli 2009
söndag 19 juli 2009
jazz
Hi again,
the last week has been pretty busy – partly because of work, partly because of the Molde Jazz Festival.
Since my boss got more ships in Ålesund, we’ve been mainly working there the last week – 4 times out of 6. This used to be one of my favourite tours especially since I only guided the city walk there so far and that is really a lovely tour. Well, the last week that has changed a bit and I guided some tours which seem rather useless to me and then it is of course more difficult to find some motivation.
The last 4 days we’ve been off and there was the Jazz Festival at the same time in Molde. On Wednesday after work we went to listen to the first concert – of course just outside the fence with some illegal beer-drinking and a yummy Bolognese-baguette. On Thursday we went to listen to Timbuktu at the same spot, just without the beer, but the same food! On Friday the same two of us who went together the other days went to a little island just outside Molde first. There is a little fishing village reconstructed, but since you had to pay extra for a guided tour, the museologist (hihi) decided that it is as well worth just hanging out on the island and get a glance through the windows… it’s really beautiful out there though! In the evening we went to our old spot and listened to Leonard Cohen, but got a bit bored after an hour and went to see the rich people down at the fjord trying to organize their parking lots for their boats instead.
Today we went to a huge island north from here to look at some rock paintings. It was hard to find the right spot since they advertising those painting in a brochure, but then there are no signs whatsoever… but we didn’t give up and were successful at the end. At a diving station we had waffles before we went back to our village.
Tomorrow, we’ll get to guide at the Briksdalsbreen again which is the glacier I have been once before. So, I am looking forward to that! On Wednesday we might guide in Kristiansund where I have only been by myself by now – but actually it would be fun to prepare sth else again and get to guide at some other place.
I still like the guiding itself a lot, but I am sooooo happy when this is over and I will start counting days instead of weeks very soon!
Miss you guys!
Betty
the last week has been pretty busy – partly because of work, partly because of the Molde Jazz Festival.
Since my boss got more ships in Ålesund, we’ve been mainly working there the last week – 4 times out of 6. This used to be one of my favourite tours especially since I only guided the city walk there so far and that is really a lovely tour. Well, the last week that has changed a bit and I guided some tours which seem rather useless to me and then it is of course more difficult to find some motivation.
The last 4 days we’ve been off and there was the Jazz Festival at the same time in Molde. On Wednesday after work we went to listen to the first concert – of course just outside the fence with some illegal beer-drinking and a yummy Bolognese-baguette. On Thursday we went to listen to Timbuktu at the same spot, just without the beer, but the same food! On Friday the same two of us who went together the other days went to a little island just outside Molde first. There is a little fishing village reconstructed, but since you had to pay extra for a guided tour, the museologist (hihi) decided that it is as well worth just hanging out on the island and get a glance through the windows… it’s really beautiful out there though! In the evening we went to our old spot and listened to Leonard Cohen, but got a bit bored after an hour and went to see the rich people down at the fjord trying to organize their parking lots for their boats instead.
Today we went to a huge island north from here to look at some rock paintings. It was hard to find the right spot since they advertising those painting in a brochure, but then there are no signs whatsoever… but we didn’t give up and were successful at the end. At a diving station we had waffles before we went back to our village.
Tomorrow, we’ll get to guide at the Briksdalsbreen again which is the glacier I have been once before. So, I am looking forward to that! On Wednesday we might guide in Kristiansund where I have only been by myself by now – but actually it would be fun to prepare sth else again and get to guide at some other place.
I still like the guiding itself a lot, but I am sooooo happy when this is over and I will start counting days instead of weeks very soon!
Miss you guys!
Betty
söndag 5 juli 2009
back online...
Hi everyone!
It’s finally been some busy days, but now I am back online…
I’ve been guiding all around the region the last 2 weeks with a special task yesterday: I was supposed to guide a “private car” which meant that there was a US-American family who hired a taxi to drive around and me as their guide. I was REALLY nervous since they rented the car for 8 hours and nobody knew where they wanted to go, etc. and the only information I got beforehand was that they “are really demanding”. Well – they were the nicest people ever and only wanted to see the most important sights we’re going to with the busses anyway and the tour was over after just 2 hours. So, just an incredible rich family I assume which made the driver and me feel guilty about the tip and the short trip J
Christoph was here the whole last week as well and in between working we drove around and I showed him some of the places where I am usually guiding and of course we went to some other places as well. The first day we went to a huge waterfall and drove up a nice mountain road. The next day we went for a walking safari at Dovrefjell to see some musk oxes that were brought to Norway in the 50s from Greenland. We saw 3 herds and got really close – amazing animals!! From there we drove to Åndalsnes because I had to work the next day and from there we were sent directly to Geiranger. I was guiding a tour to the famous Dalsnibba and Christoph went up there by car. The day after that we were sent to Trondheim and Christoph joined me on a citytour – he even got to carry the sign with my bus number from time to time! So, our little holiday was partly financed through the company ;-) The next day I was off and we put up our tent right next to the Atlantic Road with a view onto the Atlantic Ocean – well, that was at least the idea, but since it was so foggy you couldn’t really see that much. Christoph has left by now.
On Tuesday I might guide an Overland tour which I have to prepare a bit today since I have the feeling that I do not have enough material to speak about for 8 hours yet… I prefer those shorter tours where you can point out stuff, but anyway…
Well, I think that are the news from up here…
Take care! Kramar
It’s finally been some busy days, but now I am back online…
I’ve been guiding all around the region the last 2 weeks with a special task yesterday: I was supposed to guide a “private car” which meant that there was a US-American family who hired a taxi to drive around and me as their guide. I was REALLY nervous since they rented the car for 8 hours and nobody knew where they wanted to go, etc. and the only information I got beforehand was that they “are really demanding”. Well – they were the nicest people ever and only wanted to see the most important sights we’re going to with the busses anyway and the tour was over after just 2 hours. So, just an incredible rich family I assume which made the driver and me feel guilty about the tip and the short trip J
Christoph was here the whole last week as well and in between working we drove around and I showed him some of the places where I am usually guiding and of course we went to some other places as well. The first day we went to a huge waterfall and drove up a nice mountain road. The next day we went for a walking safari at Dovrefjell to see some musk oxes that were brought to Norway in the 50s from Greenland. We saw 3 herds and got really close – amazing animals!! From there we drove to Åndalsnes because I had to work the next day and from there we were sent directly to Geiranger. I was guiding a tour to the famous Dalsnibba and Christoph went up there by car. The day after that we were sent to Trondheim and Christoph joined me on a citytour – he even got to carry the sign with my bus number from time to time! So, our little holiday was partly financed through the company ;-) The next day I was off and we put up our tent right next to the Atlantic Road with a view onto the Atlantic Ocean – well, that was at least the idea, but since it was so foggy you couldn’t really see that much. Christoph has left by now.
On Tuesday I might guide an Overland tour which I have to prepare a bit today since I have the feeling that I do not have enough material to speak about for 8 hours yet… I prefer those shorter tours where you can point out stuff, but anyway…
Well, I think that are the news from up here…
Take care! Kramar
tisdag 23 juni 2009
Finally some work...
Hello again!
Unbelievable, but true… I’ve been working 4 days in a row! That was far more how I expected this job to be – 4 days, 4 different places and of course 4 different groups (two English-speaking and two German-speaking groups).
Last Friday I went to Ålesund to guide a citywalk – one of my favourites! We only had to leave at 10 am which is rather late and the people were very interested and had so many questions. Usually, they are more interested in your personal life and what you’re doing besides guiding and why you’re living abroad, etc., but this group had all those questions about Norwegian life and it felt really nice that I actually could answer most of those questions. Well, sometimes the answer might be true, but are more related to Sweden than to Norway, but who cares?!
On Saturday I went back to Trondhem. It was a nice group of British, North Americans and some people from the Netherlands or Belgium. Good mixture for the tip! It went pretty smoothly, considering that it was my second time in the city. We left at 4:30 am and arrived there just before the tour started at 9:30. The advantage of that early tour was that we had time to do some sightseeing for ourselves before going back home. There are some nice old parts where we can’t go in with the buses so we spent the afternoon at those places.
Sunday I guided a tour in Molde again in German. We always visit an open-air museum and the schoolchildren show some Norwegian folkdances. This time the weather was good so that they danced outside and taught some dances to the guests as well - which was fun! It’s a nice museum with houses from the 16th – 19th century and the guides there are really into it.
Yesterday I guided one of my other favorite tours: the tour to the Trollstigen. The group didn’t seem to be into it so much and they were already on their way back home so they’ve seen all the nice parts… but then they woke up when I read out a trollstory (which they already knew, but wanted to hear anyway…) – strange tourists!
Today, I was planning to go hiking, but it has been raining all morning and now it is so foggy that you won’t see anything. Just now I got the confirmation that I am going to Trondheim tomorrow again! Yipie! So, at least I am earning some money these two weeks…
Take care! Kram!
Unbelievable, but true… I’ve been working 4 days in a row! That was far more how I expected this job to be – 4 days, 4 different places and of course 4 different groups (two English-speaking and two German-speaking groups).
Last Friday I went to Ålesund to guide a citywalk – one of my favourites! We only had to leave at 10 am which is rather late and the people were very interested and had so many questions. Usually, they are more interested in your personal life and what you’re doing besides guiding and why you’re living abroad, etc., but this group had all those questions about Norwegian life and it felt really nice that I actually could answer most of those questions. Well, sometimes the answer might be true, but are more related to Sweden than to Norway, but who cares?!
On Saturday I went back to Trondhem. It was a nice group of British, North Americans and some people from the Netherlands or Belgium. Good mixture for the tip! It went pretty smoothly, considering that it was my second time in the city. We left at 4:30 am and arrived there just before the tour started at 9:30. The advantage of that early tour was that we had time to do some sightseeing for ourselves before going back home. There are some nice old parts where we can’t go in with the buses so we spent the afternoon at those places.
Sunday I guided a tour in Molde again in German. We always visit an open-air museum and the schoolchildren show some Norwegian folkdances. This time the weather was good so that they danced outside and taught some dances to the guests as well - which was fun! It’s a nice museum with houses from the 16th – 19th century and the guides there are really into it.
Yesterday I guided one of my other favorite tours: the tour to the Trollstigen. The group didn’t seem to be into it so much and they were already on their way back home so they’ve seen all the nice parts… but then they woke up when I read out a trollstory (which they already knew, but wanted to hear anyway…) – strange tourists!
Today, I was planning to go hiking, but it has been raining all morning and now it is so foggy that you won’t see anything. Just now I got the confirmation that I am going to Trondheim tomorrow again! Yipie! So, at least I am earning some money these two weeks…
Take care! Kram!
tisdag 16 juni 2009
Briksdalsbreen
Since I started to learn for the guiding here and reading about the area I was planning to spend some time at the Jostedal National Park close to Geiranger. It’s a huge National Park with glaciers – the main glacier is the Jostedalsbreen with almost 500 km and there are huge glacier arms falling down from that one. A famous one is the so-called Briksdalsbreen and some ships are offering hiking tours for their groups. Yesterday, I was one of the lucky ones who went there to guide – so once again I guided at a place I’ve never been before, but I got to see sth I wanted to see anyways!! Well, I mainly had to talk on the way to the hiking path which was just a 45 minutes drive and they could walk up themselves. While we were up there we heard the cracking of the glacier three times and saw two small avalanches. It’s amazing that it looses ice a few times a day, but is still huge and the noise is incredible loud. So, I didn’t really mind the 10 hours drive for a 4 hour excursion…
Well, I was hoping to stay there for a night and do some more guiding today, but they only needed French-speaking guides… so I am waiting for the rain to stop and take a 45 min walk to do some shopping.
Take care!
Well, I was hoping to stay there for a night and do some more guiding today, but they only needed French-speaking guides… so I am waiting for the rain to stop and take a 45 min walk to do some shopping.
Take care!
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