Entries from August 2007 ↓

Bus to the airport in Trondheim went through Hell again. Yes it is a real town name in Norway. The bus goes through a 4km tunnel - called the Hell Tunnel, I expected to see Cerberus but did not.
Hotel in Trondheim was a nightmare as it had a bar underneath that did not close until 4am every morning. Do not use the Thon hotel, if you do go there.

A wasp flew into my curry last night and I managed to scoop it out, but it crawled for 5 seconds then curled up and died. I think all the salt in the food must have killed it, otherwise it was the curry blocking up its spiracles…?

Climbed up 172 stairs to the top of a cathedral in Trondheim, first exercise (apart from walking) that I’ve done for ages.

Mum’s not going to Iceland - I am! Should be interesting.

Short trip from Sundsvall to here on the train, ready for a trip back into Norway.
Apparently this town’s lake has a contender to Loch Ness - its own monster. You can go on a five hour tour around the lake, to see spots where it has been sighted.

Had a nice Thai meal, that the Rough Guide said was the best Thai in Sweden. It doesn’t quite match up to the Thai in Witney, however.

Four star hotel in Sundsvall, Sweden:
Meal and beers in an English themed pub - Fish and chips with Czech and Belgian beer.

How’s that? Can you do better?

And I did relish washing my shirts in the 4* hotel’s marble sink before I left.

Writing temporarily from Gävle, Sweden - as my trains got delayed and I now have a couple of hours to kick about and find some food and a drink. The electricity in the station I changed at went out, so had to sit in a train for an hour, while they fixed it (paid the bill). All good.

Well, all good apart from the fact that Gävle must either be:

- the centre for putrified cabbage soup, or
- the dumping point for trains

The station stank. Oh yes - and a Swedish lady changed from her denim mini-skirt into some jeans - in the station, in front of about five people. Oh, the hardship.

I find myself in quite a nice little town in Sweden. There’s a bear/wolf park nearby which I can’t get to, in the time I have left. Maybe some other day….

I walked into the restaurant/bar and I know how a cowboy from out of town feels, when the music stops playing and everybody looks at you!!!

Heading further north, maybe making the Arctic circle before going to Finland, before my train ticket runs out.

I’m feeling very detatched from everything that’s going on around me at the moment. Not having a home anymore and travelling day to day is quite strange.

Oslo - central Oslo is dreadful, pretty much. So many beggars, bums and alcoholics.
Stockholm -very busy, but if you wander into the old-town (Gamla Stan) it’s very nice.

Oh yes, I’m also wearing Björn Borg’s pants.

Hmmm, don’t think I’ll do another six hour train journey again, without reserving a seat. I normally do, but the site I use to check times didn’t state I had to. Pretty hot in Sweden today, the shower I had when I got to the hotel was lush.

I’m very full of food at the moment. I had a massive pizza for lunch, served by the lovely Nina! And now I’ve just had meatballs. Oh yes - had a big breakfast as well.

Off to Stockholm, Sweden, tomorrow. I tried to get to Bergen in Norway, from Oslo, but couldn’t find any cheap places to stay. No way I’m paying £150 for one night in a hotel. So I will try and get back into Norway, a bit further north after I’ve been to Stockholm.

Off to Oslo, Norway today.

A very pretty train-trip from Gothenburg to Oslo. Tunnels, rivers and skirting around lakes. I don’t know why people would want to do such trips overnight.