Another “Gorgeous day coming our way”. Quoted from our cruise Entertainment director (Every Morning). And it was. Oslo is again just lovely with, for the first time this trip – Hills!! Even mountains!! Water everywhere and green forests (Norwegian of course – Beetles……..Norwegian wood---get it??) Boats are going everywhere, and used for all sorts off reasons, transportation, fun or business. The most yachts we have seen. Very interesting place with 90% of electricity from hydro power yet they produce gas and oil which is sold to surrounding neighbours. Norwegians have the 2nd highest skin cancers occurrence in the world, amazing since they have only very small summer.
Tim headed off to a business meeting whilst Sam, Andy & I head off on a water cruise up the Fjords. Oh…..did I say Andy…..oh well yes he was meant to be joining us but when a tall American girl strolled passed us, somehow our communication wires got totally scrambled, and he went to say a QUICK hi – and he couldn’t find the boat after that>>>>>>>>umm, sure,….. must have been all the static coming from the blonde hair.
He missed out at Sam & I found it really interesting. Many of the islands are made up of tiny ‘Tent Houses’ (originally tents but now made of wood). Each island is allowed to paint their houses certain colours – e.g. yellow, blue red for one island and green orange and pink for the other. This makes it a very colourful place Other islands have Summer houses or sometime permanent houses. All really cute with the gutters and window frames painted on colour, the very peaked roofs(snow)another and walls maybe On the water front each house has a ‘bath house’ (like in Brighton beach) also painted in matching colours to the house (sort of mini replica) and each differently to its neighbours. You can look up the hillside and see which house matches which bath house as they will have the same painting design. ..So Cute.
At some parts is reminds us of the Perth river area as the water movement is similar to our river and a similar green as well. At one stage, a blonde moment, I announced “2#@# and #@$#^!!!!! Our ship is leaving” Sammy had huge laugh as it was some other ship just passing us by. I did look like ours>>>>>sort of.
We pull into shore and there is our long lost Son & Brother – not looking sheepish at all. Not sure how is was, but we seemed to have lost him?????????
Meeting up with Tim we have the pleasure of catching up with John, Annie Moore’s brother, who has lived in Oslo for the past 16 years. Last time we saw him was at Max & Sara wedding. We have beer, catch up on the news and wonder around the harbour. He entrusted Andrew to drive his bike around to the ship ahead of us (don’t know why he was keen to get back to the ship so fast?) and leave the key with the check in officer. As we approached it was obvious the bike was not locked up and guy at the gate has know nothing about any key……oh dear that boys in trouble…. Just as his name was about to become mud John put his hand in his pocket and pulled out his key (he forgot to give it to Andy)…phew thank goodness! Farewells and back on the boat.
Andy has gone awol and we believe that he is preparing a birthday party for Julia who turns 17 today. Sam has dinner with us and then we head to the show. Sam heads to the crows nest (bar) as she has a regular gathering with a variety of young folk in the Crows nest. I think the Brazilians are kind enough to buy her the odd drink or 6 and she is always last in bed and last the get out of it. Every evening we return to our cabin to find the steward has arrange a towel in the shape of an animal. Tonight was a gibbon hanging from a coat hanger. So "Toodle loo" as was used at the end of every announcement.
