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!
lördag 13 juni 2009
Kristiansund
Since I am off for 5 days in a row I decided to make good use of my time and went to Kristiansund yesterday. First, we tried – without any success- to open a bank account in the morning. At least I didn’t have to walk to the bus stop that way… the bus went for about an hour and half way was the same way we take with the guests to the Atlantic Road. Which makes it even more difficult to understand why someone books a tour for 63 Euro instead of taking the local bus hihi
It was nice to see some other place and stroll around for a day. It took me a while to understand the city since I went completely unprepared and the tourist information is at the other side of town than where the ferry arrives… but after looking at some shops I started the sightseeing tour. Kristiansund exists out of 4 islands whereby one is the newest part with all the shops and a mall. This part is rather modern since it was destroyed during WWII. I walked over to the old part of town with houses from the 18th century and a viewpoint over all islands. From there I took a boat which belongs to the “world’s oldest public transport company in uninterrupted operation”. Hmm… I guess it sounds like they have nothing else to offer and I kind of agree since it was more about the atmosphere than about sights. I skipped the third island since there is only one Art Nouveau Church and went to the fishing island. There is a Klippfiskmuseum I really wanted to see, but of course it only opens next week. However, it was a nice part of town as well since they are repairing the big ships over there and it was nice mixture in the harbor of shiny white expensive sailing boats and lovely wooden boats.
At the end I supported my country-to-live and went shopping at h&m. It’s always the same there… I think I do not need to go in since they are everywhere with the same clothes in strange sizes and at the end I get two t-shirts for almost nothing. And talking about t-shirts: I don’t get why t-shirts out of biological cotton have to have the strangest pictures on it! And why is there only one motif each season?! Anyway, the Norwegian summer sale has just begun! (Fia – jag hoppas att du läser det här!!)
It was nice to see some other place and stroll around for a day. It took me a while to understand the city since I went completely unprepared and the tourist information is at the other side of town than where the ferry arrives… but after looking at some shops I started the sightseeing tour. Kristiansund exists out of 4 islands whereby one is the newest part with all the shops and a mall. This part is rather modern since it was destroyed during WWII. I walked over to the old part of town with houses from the 18th century and a viewpoint over all islands. From there I took a boat which belongs to the “world’s oldest public transport company in uninterrupted operation”. Hmm… I guess it sounds like they have nothing else to offer and I kind of agree since it was more about the atmosphere than about sights. I skipped the third island since there is only one Art Nouveau Church and went to the fishing island. There is a Klippfiskmuseum I really wanted to see, but of course it only opens next week. However, it was a nice part of town as well since they are repairing the big ships over there and it was nice mixture in the harbor of shiny white expensive sailing boats and lovely wooden boats.
At the end I supported my country-to-live and went shopping at h&m. It’s always the same there… I think I do not need to go in since they are everywhere with the same clothes in strange sizes and at the end I get two t-shirts for almost nothing. And talking about t-shirts: I don’t get why t-shirts out of biological cotton have to have the strangest pictures on it! And why is there only one motif each season?! Anyway, the Norwegian summer sale has just begun! (Fia – jag hoppas att du läser det här!!)
Cross your fingers that I am working more next week!
torsdag 11 juni 2009
Trondheim
Remember that I wanted to go to Trondheim? It has been on my mind for the past 4 years and now I finally made it! Well… as a guide! The guideservice over there doesn’t have enough German guides so 4 of us went last Friday and guided the city tour whereby 3 of us had never been there before! Of course we prepared and everything went well, but it’s still kind of funny to show people around in a city which you only know from maps and the guidebook ;-) now the plan is to go back soon and look at those things I really wanna see.
I have also been guiding the famous Trollstigen again and the Atlantic Road – which I still hate!
And Christoph has been here! We met in Molde on Saturday and he got to experience that I am really living in the middle of nowhere for a few days. On Sunday we went hiking onto a hill (618 m) behind our house. You’ve got a great view over the fjord and the farms around here. And it is obviously a base for paragliding! I want to fly as well!!!! On Monday we went to Molde by bus and went hiking there as well. This time it was just about 400 m above sea level. It was actually sunny all those days he was here!
Now we’re at home again and it seems like it won’t change for the next few days. Somehow, I assumed I would be really busy this summer, but I start realizing the only thing that keeps me busy is hiking! Which is not too bad, but the dream about the Norwegian salary starts to disappear :-( We’ll see… at least we got our provisional "personnummer" and we can now try to fight our way through Norwegian bureaucracy to open a bank account.
onsdag 3 juni 2009
Snowy Fairytale
Right now I can’t see the hills just a few miles away since it is so foggy and raining like crazy. When we drove to work this morning the peaks of the mountains were covered in new snow. I always promise my guests that the snow will have disappeared in July, but honestly, I doubt it at that point. I had a guided tour this morning and we came back to the harbor one hour early since people for some strange reason didn’t want to stay at the viewpoint for half an hour – enjoying the hail instead of the view.
In general I am feeling more and more comfortable guiding and it is fun! Last Sunday we went to Trollstigen again and I guided bilingual in English and German. It takes even more concentration but therefore I do not have to come up with so many topics since I have to tell everything twice. Yesterday I guided a city walk in Ålesund which went also fine and people are usually more interested in my personal life than in the history of the city. I guess it is hard to imagine for some people (especially at that age!) that one just moves from one country to another.
Now I am sitting at home waiting for a call re tmrw – we usually get to know between 2 pm and 9 pm if we’re working the next day! This is so against my culture!!!! But I am getting kind of used to it and there is not so much to do anyway.
Kram
In general I am feeling more and more comfortable guiding and it is fun! Last Sunday we went to Trollstigen again and I guided bilingual in English and German. It takes even more concentration but therefore I do not have to come up with so many topics since I have to tell everything twice. Yesterday I guided a city walk in Ålesund which went also fine and people are usually more interested in my personal life than in the history of the city. I guess it is hard to imagine for some people (especially at that age!) that one just moves from one country to another.
Now I am sitting at home waiting for a call re tmrw – we usually get to know between 2 pm and 9 pm if we’re working the next day! This is so against my culture!!!! But I am getting kind of used to it and there is not so much to do anyway.
Kram
torsdag 28 maj 2009
Molde
Since we cancelled our trip to Trondhem for now I decided not go to Molde this morning. Just didn’t feel like staying at home all day again. I walked to the next bus stop which took me about 45 minutes (I walked fast!). When the bus arrived a bunch of small schoolchildren was on it. I decided of course to sit a bit in the back, but after 2 minutes the teacher asked the driver if he is sure about sth. – I didn’t hear the other part of the discussion, but then he took out his guitar. For the next 30 minutes they were now singing songs – everything from kids’ songs to “Smoke on the Water” and “Mamma Mia”. The parts that were too difficult in the English songs were just sung by the teacher and the kids were clapping their hands in the meantime. 3 old ladies were sitting in the middle and a boy (maybe 10 or 11) moved from the last row to the front and whistled. When they got off the driver did not stop at the normal stop where you’re right on the street or in the grass when you get off, but he stopped on a parking lot on the other side so that they could get out without paying attention to other cars. You see - after 3 years in Scandinavia I am still amazed by those things!! Close to a culture shock! So, luckily on the way back home the driver told the teenagers to turn down their mobiles.
Besides, I enjoyed a day by myself in a city!! I had a cheeseburger at Burger King and went into at least 3 bookshops! I had a nice coffee on a roof terrace and collected some more brochures at the tourist information :-)
After 3 hours I took the bus back to Eide which is a 30 minute drive and then walked home again where my flatmate met me 500 meters from home by car and by chance. So, it was a lot of walking for a day in the city – but def. worth it!
Besides, I enjoyed a day by myself in a city!! I had a cheeseburger at Burger King and went into at least 3 bookshops! I had a nice coffee on a roof terrace and collected some more brochures at the tourist information :-)
After 3 hours I took the bus back to Eide which is a 30 minute drive and then walked home again where my flatmate met me 500 meters from home by car and by chance. So, it was a lot of walking for a day in the city – but def. worth it!
guiding
Yesterday I had my 3rd and 4th tour – this time in English. In the morning I guided those lovely English ladies (and their husbands) on a city tour in Molde. Since it took a while to get everyone onto the bus there was no time to show them the actual city ;-). We went to the open-air museum where schoolchildren showed dances and they could visit old houses with turf roofs. The children get time off from school to dance for the tourists! After that we went up a mountain where one has a nice view over the city and the mountain range on the other side of the fjord. Luckily, it stopped raining up there.
After returning to the harbour we went to Åndalsnes which is a bit more than an hours drive. It was the same ship that was there in the afternoon and some of the guests from the morning tour were on by bus in the afternoon as well. We went to see the Trollwall and the famous Trollstigen. The Wall is the highest vertical wall in Europe. The Trollstigen is a steep mountain road with 11 hairpin curves and a waterfall which falls 300 meters. It’s a nice trip where people are more interested in what they’re seeing than in what I’m saying and you can tell them a bit about trolls.
After returning to the harbour we went to Åndalsnes which is a bit more than an hours drive. It was the same ship that was there in the afternoon and some of the guests from the morning tour were on by bus in the afternoon as well. We went to see the Trollwall and the famous Trollstigen. The Wall is the highest vertical wall in Europe. The Trollstigen is a steep mountain road with 11 hairpin curves and a waterfall which falls 300 meters. It’s a nice trip where people are more interested in what they’re seeing than in what I’m saying and you can tell them a bit about trolls.
måndag 25 maj 2009
Still bored...
Hej!
By now I have guided for the first time and it went pretty okay. Last Thursday I guided one German group in the morning and one in the afternoon on the Atlantic Street (where the bridge ends in heaven…). I guess I could have told them more, but as usual I explained one thing with two sentences while others managed to fill 5 minutes with the same story. The people were happy and I got as much tip as the others, so I guess it was alright. The second tour felt already better and now I have read a bit more about Norway and the region in general, so that I can go more into detail next time and it is material I can use on almost every tour from now on.
By now I have guided for the first time and it went pretty okay. Last Thursday I guided one German group in the morning and one in the afternoon on the Atlantic Street (where the bridge ends in heaven…). I guess I could have told them more, but as usual I explained one thing with two sentences while others managed to fill 5 minutes with the same story. The people were happy and I got as much tip as the others, so I guess it was alright. The second tour felt already better and now I have read a bit more about Norway and the region in general, so that I can go more into detail next time and it is material I can use on almost every tour from now on.
On Friday I went for a training to the famous Geiranger Fjord, Dalsnibba and Trollstigen. It is really amazing and I am looking forward to the first tour over there. There is still so much snow and one part is a summer skiing place.
Besides I am still waiting for the stress to begin. I guess I should have come here at least one week later…
This morning we left the house at 5 am to go to Ålesund for some tours. When we arrived there at 7.30 we saw the big ship at the wrong place in the harbour and were making fun of the captain who had missed the dock. Well, 10 minutes later it turned out that the captain had decided that it was too windy (hmm… we noticed hardly any wind and compared to Gbg there was no wind what so ever!) and that he would not stop in that nice little town at all!!! So, we took a walk for an hour – at 8 in the mornings! - and went back home.
Tomorrow are only tours in Italian, French and Spanish, so I’m hoping for some guiding on Wednesday.
I might go to Trondheim on Thursday and Friday for some “vacation”.
Kram
Hugs
Besos
/Betty
P.S.
Lille: ja, das ist bzw. war der Stuhl!
Selma: Believe me – I would have loved to join you! You should have tried the “Uppswinget” though… it’s really cool! Next time… without all those men who are only good at winning chocolate!
Hugs
Besos
/Betty
P.S.
Lille: ja, das ist bzw. war der Stuhl!
Selma: Believe me – I would have loved to join you! You should have tried the “Uppswinget” though… it’s really cool! Next time… without all those men who are only good at winning chocolate!
onsdag 20 maj 2009
söndag 17 maj 2009
Troll Church
Hi again!
It still feels like being on holiday since the season hasn’t really started yet and I am already kind of good prepared J ! The weather has been really nice for almost a week now and I got sunburned twice.
One of my roommates and me went for a hike yesterday to the famous “Troll Church”. We went 4 km up the hills - mainly along a waterfall and through the forest until we reached the timber line. There is still snow up there, but it was really warm! Close to the top of the mountain is the so-called Troll Church which is mainly a grotto with a waterfall inside. It was pitch-black in there and we only had one torch with us so that I had to go by myself to be able to see something at all. I climbed over some rocks in there and walked through water to reach the waterfall at the end of this grotto. I was just happy that the torch lasted till the end because without it it would have been impossible to get out again. It felt a bit like being in one of those adventure books by Enid Blyton and looking for a treasure! We then had a picnic up there and walked down again.
It was a great day out and it was really time to do sth else than sitting at home and be bored!!
It still feels like being on holiday since the season hasn’t really started yet and I am already kind of good prepared J ! The weather has been really nice for almost a week now and I got sunburned twice.
One of my roommates and me went for a hike yesterday to the famous “Troll Church”. We went 4 km up the hills - mainly along a waterfall and through the forest until we reached the timber line. There is still snow up there, but it was really warm! Close to the top of the mountain is the so-called Troll Church which is mainly a grotto with a waterfall inside. It was pitch-black in there and we only had one torch with us so that I had to go by myself to be able to see something at all. I climbed over some rocks in there and walked through water to reach the waterfall at the end of this grotto. I was just happy that the torch lasted till the end because without it it would have been impossible to get out again. It felt a bit like being in one of those adventure books by Enid Blyton and looking for a treasure! We then had a picnic up there and walked down again.
It was a great day out and it was really time to do sth else than sitting at home and be bored!!
fredag 15 maj 2009
Personnummer
Yesterday we were off again and so it was time for some bureaucracy... since the Lensmann is only twice a week in town we had to go and see him to register here. Those of you living in Sweden know the system with the personnummer... now I am waiting to get a this number so that I can open a bank account and get a Norwegian mobile number. I had to take some photos for the thingy and went to a sports shop where a guy with a polaroid took the photos. He pulled down a screen in the changing room and put a chair for me outside this space - he himself almost fell into the rain gear while taking the photo. Oh - and he dreid the photos the old-fashioned way with a dryer. You see - oil doesn't necessarily mean progress :-)
The rest of the day we were sitting outside in the sun! Yes - there was sun in Norway and it was pretty warm! And actually the same today, so I guess I should get dressed! hihi
The rest of the day we were sitting outside in the sun! Yes - there was sun in Norway and it was pretty warm! And actually the same today, so I guess I should get dressed! hihi
Ålesund
Hi everyone!
First of all, I have no idea why you can't comment... I allowed everything, but I will keep on trying :-)
Life in Norway is still very relaxed. The day before yesterday we joined another trip to see one more place and to get an idea of what the "old" guides are talking about. We left the house a 5 am and went to Ålesund which is a 2 hour ride from here including half an hour by ferry. We first went for a guided walk in the city (which is really beautiful!!!) and then on a boat trip for about an hour. After hanging out at the harbour for 2 hours :-( we went to an museum about Art Nouveau. Ålesund burned down in 1904 and was therafter restored in that style. We climbed up a hill (~ 450 steps) to get to a fjellstuga where one has an amazing view over the whole town and the ocean. Finally, we went for a short visit to an open-air museum (I guess one could call it an ecomuseum!) and went home again. Arriving at 9:30 completely tired.
tisdag 12 maj 2009
First Days
Hi!
Here are the first news from somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Norway J
After the first three days have been a bit chaotic (as usual, but kind of unnecessary as usual…) I start getting used to my “summer”-life.
Last Friday I left Mölndal at 6 am and arrived here after a long day on the train here at 10.30 pm. On the way I met two friends in Oslo for a few hours – we visited the filmmuseum and had a nice lunch. After that me and my bags (one for clothes, one for cheap food) travelled up north. It was a nice train and busride with great vies over the fjords and mountains which are - high up at least- still covered in snow.
Our house is really in the middle of nowhere… it’s 35 km from the next big busstation and from where the ships arrive (Molde). It’s about 5 km from the next shops (Eide). Saying this you might imagine how I felt after having been stuck here for the first two days without any good information! We’re now 5 people (all Germans) and waiting for a Spanish guy who will arrive on Wednesday.
Last Saturday we went for a short trip to the “Atlanterhavsveien” mainly because the two men wanted to catch our dinner – well, instead of fish we had pasta that night! But this road is also famous for combining several small islands and became “Norway’s construction of the year” in 2005 – so of course we’re taking the tourists there and it gave me the chance to get an idea of it.
Here are the first news from somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Norway J
After the first three days have been a bit chaotic (as usual, but kind of unnecessary as usual…) I start getting used to my “summer”-life.
Last Friday I left Mölndal at 6 am and arrived here after a long day on the train here at 10.30 pm. On the way I met two friends in Oslo for a few hours – we visited the filmmuseum and had a nice lunch. After that me and my bags (one for clothes, one for cheap food) travelled up north. It was a nice train and busride with great vies over the fjords and mountains which are - high up at least- still covered in snow.
Our house is really in the middle of nowhere… it’s 35 km from the next big busstation and from where the ships arrive (Molde). It’s about 5 km from the next shops (Eide). Saying this you might imagine how I felt after having been stuck here for the first two days without any good information! We’re now 5 people (all Germans) and waiting for a Spanish guy who will arrive on Wednesday.
Last Saturday we went for a short trip to the “Atlanterhavsveien” mainly because the two men wanted to catch our dinner – well, instead of fish we had pasta that night! But this road is also famous for combining several small islands and became “Norway’s construction of the year” in 2005 – so of course we’re taking the tourists there and it gave me the chance to get an idea of it.
Last Sunday we were really just sitting at home and trying to study the material for the trips. Which doesn’t really work if you’ve never been there…
Finally (I know it’s only been two days, but still!), we went to Molde early in the morning to join some experienced guides on the trip to this Atlantic Road. I went with one tour in the morning and one in the afternoon and have now the feeling that it won’t be that difficult and that it won’t be so much work to prepare! That feels good! Oh, and when we got up in the morning we saw that it snowed over night! It’s May!! The snow was mainly up in the mountains, but it came down to approx. 400 meter.
Today we’re off again and I ‘m sitting in the kitchen and am trying to convince myself that the heavy rain is pretty cosy! But since the weather changes really quickly here there is still hope!
Tomorrow, I have to get up at 4ish since we’re taking a ferry at 6…but am still looking forward to it: get to see a new city and things are actually happening.
Finally (I know it’s only been two days, but still!), we went to Molde early in the morning to join some experienced guides on the trip to this Atlantic Road. I went with one tour in the morning and one in the afternoon and have now the feeling that it won’t be that difficult and that it won’t be so much work to prepare! That feels good! Oh, and when we got up in the morning we saw that it snowed over night! It’s May!! The snow was mainly up in the mountains, but it came down to approx. 400 meter.
Today we’re off again and I ‘m sitting in the kitchen and am trying to convince myself that the heavy rain is pretty cosy! But since the weather changes really quickly here there is still hope!
Tomorrow, I have to get up at 4ish since we’re taking a ferry at 6…but am still looking forward to it: get to see a new city and things are actually happening.
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