velkommen omboard

velkommen omboard

Norweigan Fjords

Copenhagen is absolutely gorgeous.  Although I could just be saying that because right now it is almost 70 degrees and sunny out.  Ridiculous.  But I actually have a computer for once, so maybe I can do a more official blog post.  So, when we last left, we were still in Flåm where we had an adorable room in the most beautiful hostel in existence.  It was set in the valley of the fjords, had keys without keys, just little pieces of plastic that you pushed up next to the keyhole thing, a wonderful kitchen, and our own bathroom (that we shared with two women from Singapore).  Now, these women we lived with were a treat.  Especially one of them, who I now realized we never asked the name of, would not stop talking almost the entire two days.  She even asked to borrow Logan's hairdryer and then proceeded to blow out the circuit.  Yikes.  Anyways, she was so interested in absolutely everything we did--they tried to go on the same hike as we did but OMG would you believe it? there was a dog barking so they had to turn back (I heard this story three times) and they were also very interested into why we were traveling, do a lot of americans travel? they see a lot of americans traveling, you're norweigan? Why on earth would your ancestors have left? Norway is so rich?  Did they follow their husbands over?  Things like that.  VERY amusing, though less so when I am trying to subtly get into bed as she is still talking to me...

Anyways, our only full day in Flåm was spent on the fjords, to Gudvangen and back on a boat.  It was lovely and gorgeous.  Except for the part when a bunch of Asian tourists started throwing bread up into the air so the seagulls would swoop in and eat it all.  It made one very nervous that they were going to be pooped on... But then Gudvanger was great. We did a sundance, played egyptian rats (which is a game like war that usually goes on forever... only I won THREE TIMES in ten minutes... winner), walked around the little viking town they had set up, and explored the town (although it was quite small...). Then we headed back and spent some more quality time in the hostel, as the night life in Flåm is, predictably, non existent.  So instead we watched the series finale of Smallville before going to bed.  Good times.  

So then we woke up early to catch the first train out of Flåm, so we could make an early train to Oslo, so we could catch the ferry to Copenhagen.  Now, one: I cannot believe this all worked out, and two: they use the word ferry here very lightly.  Logan and I were on a hard core CRUISE SHIP.  I kid you not.  It was fabulous.  We sat by a cafe and shared a weinerbrod (I don't make these things up) and a lemon and ginger smootea.  It was delicious, and helped with the seasickness, in the beginning at least.  We also realized that being on this nice cruise ship meant that we would not be eating very much... so we purchased a bottle of champagne for ten dollars and then had some appetizers instead.  And even though we were so excited to be able to be on this boat, we were close to getting sick, as it was rockin like mick jagger.  SO HARD CORE.  So we called it an early night and went back to our bunks to stop our own heads from spinning.  Admittedly the champagne might not have been the best idea...  

But then yesterday morning, we arrived in Copenhagen.  It was partly sunny, which is so much more sun than we had been experiencing in Norway.  So, first we walked to try and find the train station, an endeavor which failed when we discovered we had no Danish money, and then decided, well, what the hell, let's just walk.  So, we walked about two miles with our packs on, and somehow (it's still unclear as to how exactly this happened), found our hostel.  But, we couldn't check in until two thirty, and it was only about eleven, so we immediately headed out again to find The Little Mermaid Statue, the King's Gardens and the castle there, and everything in between.  I think we walked about ten miles yesterday.  Needless to say, we were both very ready to get back to the hostel and cook up some pasta and pesto and mozzarella and peppers... only we realized after grocery shopping and getting all excited that the hostel doesn't have a kitchen.  RUDE.  So, instead, we just cut up the pepper and mozzarella, put one on top of the other, and then smeared pesto on top.  It was a good alternative.  Plus, we had strawberries and juice, so all was well.  Then Logan went to bed and I stayed up talking to a frenchman.  Good night.  So, today we are headed to exchange money, reserve our tickets for Germany, and go to Tivoli Garden) and then... go out for dinner for the first time in forever.  Don't worry--we'll find somewhere cheap.  

Love from Copenhagen,

LPRO and LMRO