There were two ways today could have gone.
We could have stayed in our cosy front room reading books, occasionally looking up to watch the clouds scoot across the mountains and dump their rain on the gingerbread houses of Bryggen.
Or we could rug up, put our waterproof coats on and head off into the Norwegian countryside on a self-service tour called Norway in a Nutshell.
We went the Nutshell.
Norway in a Nutshell is basically a collection of public transport tickets for trains, boats and buses and an itinerary that holds it all together. It takes you up into the mountains on Europe’s highest railway, down to the fjords on the scenic Flam Railroad, and through Aurlandsfjord and into Naeroyfjord on a boat. There are no guides. And not many signs. It’s up to you to get off at the appropriate stops and on to the proper vehicle.
Rather than bore you with the minutia of our day here’s our Norway in a Nutshell. In a nutshell, so to speak. Tunnels – reindeer sausages – snow – English trainspotters – freaky town like something off Northern Exposure – fjords by candlelight – lonely, cold bus stop – rain – rain – rain – home again. All in all, not a bad day.
As I hung up my coat to dry in our house it struck me that the only reason I’d insisted we do the tour because its name reminded me of a scene in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery where Liz Hurley tells Austin Powers ‘That’s you in a nutshell.’ Austin Powers curls up, pretends to scratch the inside of a shell and says ‘No, this is me in a nutshell.’ Makes me laugh just thinking about it.
It occurred to me that I should really try to class up my cultural references. My favourite Swedish troubadour is quoting Ernest Hemingway in his blog. I’m referencing a randy spy with thick glasses and bad teeth.
This is where you'll find everything you need to know about me and my books.
