Days 1-2, Tues.-Wed., May 31-June 1: Flying to Oslo. Inedible food on Swiss Int'l Airlines overnight flight from LA to Zurich. Very little sleep for either of us. Long, long, LONG walk at the Zurich Airport from where we disembarked at Terminal E to Terminal A, Gate 85, from which our flight to Oslo was to take off, and our large carry-ons terribly weighed us down. Some mitigation was provided by "Sky Metro" (a tram which is more like a subway train running what seemed like several miles between the terminals), escalators and moving sidewalks, but it was still a trek. We had only a 50-min. connecting time between the 2 flights and the security lines seemed interminable, but to our astonishment we got through the whole rigmarole in about 10 minutes, thanks to Swiss efficiency. Don't know whether they are regularly prepared to hold intra-Europe flights for intercontinental passengers delayed for one or another reason, but all the airport personnel told us not to worry about missing our flight. We made it in plenty of time, thanks to the early arrival in Zurich of our flight from Los Angeles and the late arrival of the plane we were to board for Oslo--it was apparently delayed coming in from Nice.
Landing at wee Oslo Airport just after 7pm, our next hurdle was to find the car rental agency--and yes, they were still open, bless their hearts! After completing the paperwork, we then had to locate the car itself--another endless walk! The teeny-weeny Suzuki in a strange metallic vermillion color was NOT a diesel, contrary to our reservation, but when you arrive at the car rental agency very late on the day before a major holiday, I guess you gotta take what you can get! (They told us that regular gasoline wasn't much more expensive than diesel fuel, and they were right.) Then it was on to figuring out how to fit our enormous suitcases into a tiny car with a barely existing trunk (we inserted them through the opening between the trunk and the cabin, resting them slantwise against the folded-down back seats); getting the car started (no ignition key!); finding our way out of the parking lot (no visible exit!); then threading our way around the 7 roundabouts to our hotel using the considerably-less-than-clear directions Rob had printed out from Google.
We made one wrong turn, but quickly righted ourselves, and at last arrived at the Scandic Oslo Airport hotel. The little parking lot was nearly empty, we appropriated a cart for loading up all our luggage and carry-ons, and after a quick stop at the front desk to check in, took all our belongings in 1 fell swoop into the elevator and up to our small but very modern 4th floor room.
True to what the hotel had told us before we left home, their dining room was still serving dinner when we came down to hunt up something to eat. There were only a few people eating in there and the bartender invited us to sit anywhere we liked. We sat ourselves down at one of the larger tables. We easily found something to order from the menu, and the food arrived attractively presented on the plates.
My dinner was marvelous, can't remember when I've had a fresher or better prepared piece of salmon. Rob had spareribs & a baked potato, the latter which wasn't completely done, so he didn't eat most of it. I, however, appropriated the divine creme fraiche he got with his potato & nearly polished it off by smearing it on my little boiled new potatoes. Rob ordered a spectacular dessert for himself, a brownie garnished with tiny candies & fruits plus a caramel sauce--a proper birthday treat (today is his 74th birthday!). We told our waiter that we hope all our subsequent meals in Norway are as good as this one!
This young waiter was very chatty & charming, with excellent, nearly un-accented English. He told us he was born in Sweden, spent 12 years in London & now lives here in Norway because he loves being able to get so close to nature. He was going up the coast of northern Norway to look at whales for the long holiday (it's Whitsuntide right now, & most Norwegians will probably take the holiday right through the weekend)--he thought there would be orcas up there at this time of the year.
Right now it's about 59 degrees here & partly cloudy. It's supposed to rain tomorrow on the trip up to Balestrand, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that the forecast was overly pessimistic. The sun has not yet set at 10pm--those white nights are starting already!
The day ended with me sending long e-mails to our friends in Los Angeles & Italy, & with repacking my luggage for sensible traveling--not to suit TSA which requires that all liquids & gels that don't fit into a single quart plastic bag be packed into one's checked luggage. I had also packed socks & undies into my carry-ons in case the suitcases didn't arrive promptly. I discovered that a bottle of oily nail strengthener had leaked all over my other cosmetics packed into the same bag, so they all had to be de-greased, as well as the plastic bag they were stored in. I didn't fall into bed till after 1am. I was exhausted, but was so wired up I could not get to sleep. Or maybe it was the surfeit of caffeine in the marvelous coffee they served at the restaurant for dinner tonight! Anyway, it was the end of 2 very long & stressful travel days.
Landing at wee Oslo Airport just after 7pm, our next hurdle was to find the car rental agency--and yes, they were still open, bless their hearts! After completing the paperwork, we then had to locate the car itself--another endless walk! The teeny-weeny Suzuki in a strange metallic vermillion color was NOT a diesel, contrary to our reservation, but when you arrive at the car rental agency very late on the day before a major holiday, I guess you gotta take what you can get! (They told us that regular gasoline wasn't much more expensive than diesel fuel, and they were right.) Then it was on to figuring out how to fit our enormous suitcases into a tiny car with a barely existing trunk (we inserted them through the opening between the trunk and the cabin, resting them slantwise against the folded-down back seats); getting the car started (no ignition key!); finding our way out of the parking lot (no visible exit!); then threading our way around the 7 roundabouts to our hotel using the considerably-less-than-clear directions Rob had printed out from Google.
We made one wrong turn, but quickly righted ourselves, and at last arrived at the Scandic Oslo Airport hotel. The little parking lot was nearly empty, we appropriated a cart for loading up all our luggage and carry-ons, and after a quick stop at the front desk to check in, took all our belongings in 1 fell swoop into the elevator and up to our small but very modern 4th floor room.
True to what the hotel had told us before we left home, their dining room was still serving dinner when we came down to hunt up something to eat. There were only a few people eating in there and the bartender invited us to sit anywhere we liked. We sat ourselves down at one of the larger tables. We easily found something to order from the menu, and the food arrived attractively presented on the plates.
My dinner was marvelous, can't remember when I've had a fresher or better prepared piece of salmon. Rob had spareribs & a baked potato, the latter which wasn't completely done, so he didn't eat most of it. I, however, appropriated the divine creme fraiche he got with his potato & nearly polished it off by smearing it on my little boiled new potatoes. Rob ordered a spectacular dessert for himself, a brownie garnished with tiny candies & fruits plus a caramel sauce--a proper birthday treat (today is his 74th birthday!). We told our waiter that we hope all our subsequent meals in Norway are as good as this one!
This young waiter was very chatty & charming, with excellent, nearly un-accented English. He told us he was born in Sweden, spent 12 years in London & now lives here in Norway because he loves being able to get so close to nature. He was going up the coast of northern Norway to look at whales for the long holiday (it's Whitsuntide right now, & most Norwegians will probably take the holiday right through the weekend)--he thought there would be orcas up there at this time of the year.
Right now it's about 59 degrees here & partly cloudy. It's supposed to rain tomorrow on the trip up to Balestrand, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that the forecast was overly pessimistic. The sun has not yet set at 10pm--those white nights are starting already!
The day ended with me sending long e-mails to our friends in Los Angeles & Italy, & with repacking my luggage for sensible traveling--not to suit TSA which requires that all liquids & gels that don't fit into a single quart plastic bag be packed into one's checked luggage. I had also packed socks & undies into my carry-ons in case the suitcases didn't arrive promptly. I discovered that a bottle of oily nail strengthener had leaked all over my other cosmetics packed into the same bag, so they all had to be de-greased, as well as the plastic bag they were stored in. I didn't fall into bed till after 1am. I was exhausted, but was so wired up I could not get to sleep. Or maybe it was the surfeit of caffeine in the marvelous coffee they served at the restaurant for dinner tonight! Anyway, it was the end of 2 very long & stressful travel days.
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