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Published: October 18th 2007
Hello, hello
From backpacker to cruiser - sheer luck! The best way for us (and cheapest, interestingly enough) was to get on a cruise ship to make our way to Lofoten islands - the best place in the north to see some of the spectacular fjords that are Norway. So, we jumped on the boat, paying student deck space price and found a cosy corner to curl up and sleep. What we had never anticipated was that we had free access to everything the other cruisers had, from laundry (of which we were in desperate need!) to sauna and outdoor jacuzzi!!! Who would have thought that budget travellers could sit outside in a jacuzzi on a cruise ship taking in the passing Fjords as a local magazine interviewed us! In fact, the magazine interview is a true story, and I have no idea why they picked us or where they came from, but it was great fun!
Then we were off to explore the islands, and having flexibility and me with a deflated foam, decided to rent a car for the duration. Being the responsible adults we are, we camped out in some church parking lot until the morning
Travellin in style!
and even with a sauna on board and Fjords on the horizon!when the car rental was open and, once acquiring the car proceeded to do doughnuts in the nearby parking lot before hitting up the tire swing until we were all slightly queasy and laughing hysterically.
So, in the same responsible fashion we explored the island for several days. We managed to get caught in more than a few rain storms that literally rocked the car like a small cradle all night! Of course, the car took a bit of a beating as well, I tried my hand at a stick shift for the first official time, we played bumper cars with a local in a parking lot and even lodged the car on a bank at one point, providing us with a great opportunity to meet some of the locals who helped us get our car on all four wheels again ;0) We got a taste of the local spirit while conversing with him - an incredibly large and brute man with a few strong teeth that stuck out while he explained the island to us. I endearingly named him toothy and we learned that he was a local farmer and had a great love of the land, and
was so happy that we were there in rainy season and not in the summer months like most tourists, as we were to discover the true Norway. So, like he said, about 90% of the time there is a thick fog a a fair bit of rain, but it is fresh and beautiful and I truly fell in love with the country. Dried fish and all.
Best of all though, was the viking museum... a true taste of the past and another shining moment for the kids in us to come out! We tromped around the museum trying on the ancient wear and dreaming of days long gone. Inbetween we filled our days with hiking and just taking in the beauty around every bend, over each bridge and emerging from every tunnel.
In the end, John and I had slightly different itineraries for our route out of Norway - I wanted to go south, hitchhiking via Sweden and John was set on west to see the western Fjords on another cruise ship... so we split ways for a short duration, with a plan to meet at the bottom of Sweden or in Denmark. Imagine my luck when I
The Fjords
... need I say more?! took off with the tent and met up with a German girl I had seen for a few fleeting moments in the viking museum toilet... she happened to be driving south, back to Germany, so I was completely astounded when she agreed to take me with! Imagine such luck... she had what I like to call our castle, a three person tent with a covered entrance, loads of quilts and a trunk full of fresh fruit and vegetables from her mothers garden at home... and so the adventures of Sweden were born!
More soon...
Trish xxx
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