9/2/02 Alesund, norway (Phill)
I left Oslo this morning on the train I was supposed to catch yesterday. I am kinda rushing a little bit butnot like I was last week. I have to be in Helsinki for the 9th to get my Russian Visa in time for the 16th (when my friends arrive from America). Anwyay, norway is famous for one big thing: Fjords! Alot of toursts go to Bergen because its the easiest way, but after chatting with some people I found out that Alesund is far more untouched. So I jumped on a few fancy trains (nicest trains Ive ever been on) and got here this afternoon. Problem is that the hostel is closed! Dont worry I called ahead, theyll open tonight but I have a few horus to kill. Just walking around this tiny wee town is great, its postcard scenery all around. Georgous, tomorrow I`ll hike up one of the mountains for the best view. Then the following day i pass though Trondheim (medevil town) on my way to the arctic circle. Yup, Arctic Circle. Heres little me with my tiny backpack of shorts and tshirts and I`m heading past the snowcapped peaks here and off to colder days. Should be good. I actually do have a bit of a cold recently but the sniffling keeps me warm!
The plan is to go as far north as Narvik which is pretty blooming far. Oslo is actually closer to Rome than Narvik and I\ll be above both Sweden and Finland
. Its defiantely the Arctic. Since I was in the Antarctic region in south NZ this ought to be similar? Anyway, then a long 18 hour train to Stockholm.