Friday 13 April 2012

I made it!

So, I made it. The plane was a bit late, but that didn't matter too much. I had plenty of time anyway. As we arrived at Gardermoen airport, the clouds lifted and I was able to see Oslo from the sky. I had been talking to a Dutch woman (who looked very Norwegian by the way), who herself had lived in Norway for about 7 years. As we got off the plane, the luggage arrived soon and I then made my way to the car rental place. 

I had decided that I would not speak English if I could in any way help it, so I started off in Norwegian and fortunately the guy behind the desk didn't mind too much about my atrocious accent or my wrong usage of the words. I understood him (kan du gjenta det?) and he understood me. My car is a really nice Toyota Auris and apart from the missing cruise control and many many chips on the outside of the car, I am quite happy with it. 

As I drove into Oslo, it was a bit confusing. First of all I didn't have a map and I hadn't really bothered with printing out a route, so I had to depend solely on my gps. Which have the tendency to not work while in tunnels. And Oslo has a lot of tunnels. In the end I just took an exit and lo and behold: I was nearly there! When I finally managed to park my car and ask in the hotel about where to park, they didn't have any record of me! None whatsoever!! Turned out I needed the hotel 250 meters away. *Sigh*

That hotel was even worse to park my car in front of though, since there were tramlines right in front. So, I drove around, found a parking garage and parked it in there. I got all my stuff out, then walked up to the exit and was completely lost. According to my gps I was less than 400 meters from the hotel, but I couldn't find my way. In the end I asked a lady and she showed me, all the time talking in a mixture of Norwegian and Danish (she was from Denmark). Of course I didn't understood most of what she said, just something about the Norwegian government having enough money for some fancy something or other and nothing else. 

Anyway, I am in my hotel now and haven't once spoken English. I have mixed my limited Norwegian knowledge with Italian (si si), but I have a car and a hotel room. Oh and a map, so I can go explore the center of Oslo tomorrow. Today only a photo of my hotel room, tomorrow I hope a few more photos. 

5 comments:

  1. Sounds like quite an adventure! Dick loves using a GPS, even after we had a crazy time with one in Spain. But I like a good old-fashioned map. I like to study one before I go anywhere, although even that doesn't prevent me getting lost.
    Good for you, though, not speaking English. It must have been very tempting to use it in order to make yourself understood. I'm very proud of you for sticking to your resolution, even when it would have helped.
    Looking forward to more news.
    Luv, K

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  2. I am very, very, very proud of you, speaking Norwegian and find your way! (You always do find your way, one way or another, I know, but still...)

    I hope you will write a lot of stories about your stay. Enjoy!

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  3. I had to re-read that. I thought the other hotel was 250km away. :)

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  4. You are brave and adventurous! Good for you. This is just a pre-visit isn't it? You haven't gone there for good yet have you?

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  5. It all sounds very exciting. Wishing you all the best.

    Hallmark has a Netherlands ornament this year. It is available to club members.
    http://www.hallmark.com/online/product/keepsake-ornaments/2012-dream-online.aspx

    I hope this link works. If not let me know. Go to page 82!

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Any weighty (and not so weighty) comments are welcome!