England - "Almost the Home Stretch"

            The next morning was kind of a blur.  I had spent the entire evening repacking my belongings,  tidying up and making my final plans for Manchester.  I slept the entire car ride to catch up on sleep a bit.  The nice neighbors dropped me next to a train station and I was off to Piccadilly (the town center).

It was much colder than Northamptonshire.
To say it was freezing wasn't exaggerating.

I killed some time and stayed warm at a local coffee shop while I waited for my new host to get off work.

      He was really kind and full of great ideas.  That night we went to curry mile for some indian food and the University of Manchester for a beer and cider tasting. Have you ever had scrumpy?  ... Cider without the carbonation?  I hadn't. The bit I got tasted like sour sunscreen.  I'm sure it was just that brand....?   :/

      That night was a lot of fun!  Although, I feel like I climbed back into my shell that day.  The outgoing me all the sudden became the shy/quiet me.  I'm really not sure why.  Maybe I was complacent about going home.  Thinking about the week and a half to come and my flight back home.  The flight that as soon as I booked; I felt slightly trapped.  Trapped because I felt like I would get stuck back home.  I felt that one responsibility would turn into five and five would turn into twenty-five until the black hole sucked me in.

      I had to tell myself to stop being foolish and just be happy for the wonderful experiences that so gratefully came my way.

      I was happy.  I was slightly shy.  I was cold but optimistic about it.

In the morning I woke up to "pancakes". (He is German.)  Some sweet, some salty.
They were wonderful!

This is the view from the couch I was sleeping on.

       The sun finally came out.  I was overjoyed! ... even though everything was frozen outside.  The weather seemed so ironic and serene to me.  There was a quietness that came with the brisk air.  For most of the world this is probably normal experience.  
        
       Remember, I'm spoiled from sunny Los Angeles, California.  We're lucky if we get gloom on Christmas day!  I enjoyed bundling up in my scarf and hat from Norway..

...and my new WARM genuine leather and fur gloves that I scored for 8 quid, roughly 12 USD.
(Yes, those are the actual keys to the apartment!)

      The week was one awesome event after the other! We went to a CS barhop meet that included dancing and a lot of really friendly people.  I even made a friend who I later had coffee with in town.             

       Each day was a new adventure!  It was nice to get out. Especially after waiting inside for the rain and flooding to pass for a week in Northamptonshire.

       It was nice not to feel too much like a burden for a change.  I had a weekly bus pass and I felt pretty self sufficient.  

It had been a while since I had seen trash religiously on public transport.
I guess it made me feel at home... in a bad way.

        Finally, it was the day I was waiting for.  It was the reason or excuse I needed to end up in Manchester!  Yeasayer was playing at the university and tickets were unbelievably inexpensive!  I invited some CSers to join in the online forum but no one took up the offer.  

         I was going alone and I was determined to have a great time.  I got there early so I decided to have an irish coffee. At the coffee shop I met someone who was up for buying a ticket and going to the show with me. 

     The show was nothing short of amazing. They were playing a pretty small stage.  On top of that there were only about five people in the room when I showed up.  Was this real?  How could I be so fortunate?  I went into a little bit of shock.  Then, I just smiled and said to myself, "Yeah, this is my life right now and it's awesome."  The whole show I had a giant smile like a little kid who was about to meet big bird.

      The venue eventually got kind of crowded but I already had my spot saved.

      Here's a clip:  (Excuse the shaking etc.  I was paying attention to the band not the camera.  After all, I didn't go to the show for the camera.  :p)





       As I was leaving the venue I couldn't help but re-notice the vinyl albums they had for sale.  They were more than I wanted to spend and.... would it if in my backpack without getting crushed?  Would I have to ship it home?  Well, those are the thoughts I had before the show.

       The only thought I had when exiting the show was more like, "I'm going to get an album signed by the band... right now.  It's going to happen." (Those of you who know me in person know I'm usually very laid back, "go-with-the-flow"ish and low maintenance.) This was about conquering fear and proving to myself I can do anything.  Plus, the night was already going so well it was bound to happen.  

       I went next door to the ATM paid a fee for pulling out cash and bought the album.  I marched back up the stairs where the band should have been just to be stopped in my tracks by security.  I wasn't going to be pushy and I wasn't.  I wasn't going to give up either.  I went back down to the merch table and talked to the guy who sold me the album.  He told me that Yeasayer was definitely up there and they would probably be pretty likely to sign my album. I went back up to security just to be told that they had left the building. I don't want to call them liars.......buuuuut............ they were still in the building.

       I accepted and respected what they said even though it wasn't true; and moved on to the next solution. If they *had* left the building they would be in the tour bus right? But which tour bus was theirs?  I felt like a hopeless Britney Spears fan.  Oh well, this wasn't Britney Spears and it wasn't really about being a fanatic either.

       After poking around trying to figure out if there was anyone in the buses I finally found a driver who told me which bus was Yeasayer's.   It was the black one.  I waited patiently while it started to sprinkle.  I didn't have anything to protect the album. Was this going to work?   I tested my patience just a little.  About 20 minutes later the same guy from the merch table came to the bus.  He said it would be a while until they came down.

         I'll stop boring you.... but just after that the guy finished packing his table into the bus, grabbed a permanent marker and took the album up to the band to be signed.

Victory was mine!
I guess I decided it looked better upside down when I got home.
I'll stick to my gut.  :p

    I was happy.  I was in a great mood.  I had an incredible night.

< --  Post concert goofy face.

 

     The following night was a Tuesday.  Which only meant one thing. We were going to a céilidh also at the university!  I know what you're thinking.  What in the world is a "céilidh"?!!   

   This is the scene I thought of:









    It was more like this:



     Really confusing and really a blast!  


     Although, wiki has this to say about it: 

     "Céilidhs facilitated courting and prospects of marriage for young people and, although discos and nightclubs have displaced céilidhs to a considerable extent, they are still an important and popular social outlet in rural parts of Ireland and Scotland, especially in the Gaelic-speaking regions. Céilidhs are sometimes held on a smaller scale in private or public houses, for example in remote rural hinterlands and during busy festivals. It is common for some clubs and institutions such as sports clubs, schools and universities and even employers to arrange céilidhs on a regular or at least annual basis. The formality of these can vary. Some mix modern pop music with a Scottish country dancing band and dress codes range from compulsory highland dress to informal. Knowledge and use of the basic dance steps is not always strictly necessary, and dances often alternate with songs, poetry recitals, story telling and other types of "party pieces"."


      The next day would be a day of packing and traveling.  I was sad to leave Manchester.  I also figured I had already done every awesome thing there is to do in town.  There can't be that much more to keep my expectations up as high!   

      I'll tell you about the home stretch of the trip soon.  It's another five rad days!  Stay tuned!

997 KM - Sweden, Denmark, Germany.....

Way ta' spoil the story!

After staying another unplanned week in Gothenburg I knew it was now very much time to go! 

I spent the day on the town.  Mostly watching people during a week day. What they do, how they live etc..  Since I was staying out of town this was one of my first opportunities to do this.

 < Hanging out in the avenue... waiting.  I'm getting used to people staring at me as they walk by.

Some fashion for ya'. Haha! >









Then, I headed back to central station.  I stayed up all night on the computer.  (Since they have outlets and free wifi!) I waited for the early morning then took a nap. My original plan was to hitchhike to Stockholm. I received an email the night before explaining that my ride from Stockholm to Germany was canceled due to automotive technical difficulties.

It was now time for me to decide what to do next.  Since I hadn't really slept I decided to grab a bus ticket and sleep on the bus.  It was a long enough ride that I got some sleep.  I woke up in Malmlö, Sweden.  It was just in time to catch the bridge to Denmark!  What a cool bridge it was too!

Leaving Malmö. These are fields of sunflowers and... daisies, maybe?

In the round-about.  As my high school photo teacher Brehm would say... these are "fall colors".

He would be upset that the horizon isn't straight.  haha! Notice the wind power in the middle of the ocean?!

When I got to Copenhagen I still had no plan. I got off the bus and started walking........................................................................

I encountered "elevator music" for the first time!

Passed central station...

Eventually I found a youth hostel.  I used their plugs, free wifi and free toilets again!  :D  Then I was lucky enough to find another CouchSurfer in Copenhagen in the same situation as me.  He didn't have a place to stay and was headed for Germany.  I probably could have found a place.  In fact, I had an offer for a place to stay the next time I checked.  I decided to camp out in the park with him.  He had been backpacking for 3+ years.  So, we waited a little bit and then headed towards the park we designated for the night.  Along the way we found a football (soccer) field that seemed perfect. We scoped it out. It was a high school so decided to camp out there. Plus, there was a roof with benches.  In case it rained, this was perfect!  Since it was Saturday night there shouldn't have been anyone around at all.

Boy were we wrong! Around midnight we were woken up by flashlights and teenage boys wondering why were were sleeping at their school.  I thought to myself, "Self, why are THEY here completely inebriated and giving US a hard time?"  Then I realized they were just little bored kids who wanted someone to entertain them.  After circling around us a few times, going into the forest etc,  they decided they really wanted to talk with us.  I did my best to entertain them and keep them tame at the same time.  The last thing I wanted was to get attacked by four, drunk, 15 year old boys! So I offered them the last of my belove-ed kladdkaka cookies from Sweden and attempted to say funny Danish phrases for them.  After an hour or so of this they finally left.

The next (early) morning we were woken up by barking dogs and strange people.  The idea was to see museums and such.  I really just wanted to walk around town solo.  That's what I did.

Yes, it must have a balcony with a view. ... It does? Okay so where do I sign?

Parliament: I was told anyone can enter at any time to sit in.

  Some lady even brought chickens in one time to protest...?

It was quite a beautiful sunny day at the botanical garden!

It was necessary to get a Danish in Denmark.  Yes, it was delicious!

I just loved the architecture!

I LOVE this about Europe! This was also in the botanical garden.

After spending the day in town my fellow CouchSurfer and I met back up to hitchhike to Germany.  I still wasn't sure where I was going at this point.  Hitchhiking at night isn't the easiest, obviously.

I was told that the Germans love this sign in Sweden and Norway.  Apparently the Danish like it too.  :p

We still managed to make it to Nykobing, the southern tip of Denmark and found a cozy place to sleep.

It's really amazingly refreshing that people just open up their houses to people in need!  For this reason I love hitchhiking and living "on the road".  Taking my chances and learning to trust people again.  Even when it comes to sleeping in a park.

In the morning the sweet couple that picked us up from who-knows-where, Denmark fed us until our bellies were full and offered to drive us the rest of the way to the ferry. 35 km out of their way times two...maybe? From there it was time to try to hitch a ride ONTO the ferry so we wouldn't have to pay. (It's free if you're in a car.)  After trying to hitch for two hours while waiting for the next ferry I decided it was worth my while to pay the 100 danish kronor to get to Germany in daylight.  This meant I would be hitchhiking from Rostock to Hamburg solo.  I was up for the challenge and some peace and quiet!  :p

From Rostock I immediately found a hitch off the ferry.  They got me to the main highway.  I tried a perfect spot off the highway with no success.  After awhile you can kind of tell if people are going to stop in a spot or not. The sun was starting to go down but I had found another sweet spot to pitch my tent in case I didn't find a ride.

I then decided to hitch off the AutoBahn! Nice.  I didn't realize the speed limit was 130 KM/Hr until I was good and ON the highway.  I had just finished crossing a bridge when a car pulled over.  AWESOME! This was a cool guy who said his car broke down.  He was already five hours late on his trip and figured what's another hour.  Haha! Also awesome!  He used to hitchhike himself and just wanted to help.

It was my first hours in Germany.  All I could see in the distance was rolling hills, plush green fields, big rolls of straw and windmills: both new and old.   I even saw this array of solar panels in rows creating a soft wave with a gorgeous blue and purple sunset reflecting off of them.  Just behind those was an ultra modern white windmill.  To me it was a welcome into a mesmerizing country. Even though it was just down the street from the last it was a completely new invigorating experience.  I was happy to be there! 

My ride got me to the correct freeway for my path. There he found a rest area. He then asked for my ride to the next gas station.  Success! The first person he asked agreed!

I took some photos while he was scoring me a ride!

Purdy!

This second guy was on his way home from work in Rostock.  He was driving a sweet benz and wearing a stylish suit.  He was an insurance broker, a very cool insurance broker.

We got to the next gas station.  The sun was down.  I HAD to get to the next spot. This one wasn't suitable to stay in.  This is when my "shy" kicked back in.  I much rather "thumb" because I don't have to approach strangers that way.  Oi vey! This was not the time for my "shy" to kick in!

After an hour or so I finally decided it was stay there all night or ASK EVERY ONE!

I decided to ask everyone.  About five cars into it, score!, I found a ride! This guy didn't speak much English but he was going basically all the way to Hamburg.  He told me I could sleep if I wanted but I was pretty awake at this point.  A few silent hours went by and my exit had arrived!

...Wait?!!?!  It was a TRUCK STOP?!! Holy Moses! This wasn't good. THERE WERE NO CARS! Just trucks!!! I used the loo asked the two cars that passed, paced around a bit, then decided this WASN'T GOING TO CUT IT!  Ahh!!! I DEFINITELY couldn't sleep here!!!!!!  I looked at a map inside the store but I had no idea where I was.  I had a feeling that I got dropped off too late and I needed to go the opposite way on the freeway.

I started walking.  First I had to walk sort of back on the freeway.  Then I realized any cars there weren't going to stop! They were going to Bremmen or Cologne.  Not good!  I then took the next little exit which came to a "T".  Left or right?  Right: Some street which I *thought* may lead the correct way but I had no idea.  Left: info and a tunnel under the freeway at night.  

My first instinct was to go right.  I thought, and thought, and thought.  Then I decided to go left.  At least to the left there was another gas station and some lights.  Maybe a hotel?

I walked through the bridge. Just on the other side was the place with the lights.  It was a hotel!  It was open and so was the bar!  I was relieved!

My first beer in Germany!

I asked reception if they had a password for the wifi.  They explained they didn't but they did have computers available.  Alright!!! That's what I needed!! This way I could figure out where I was!!! Yipee!!!

A few minutes of chit chat on FB, some map-looking-at and I was in business.... kind of.  I just needed to get there.  When I came out from the "business center" where the computer was the bar had closed.  I went up to pay for my delicious "Paulaner" and started talking with the sweet girl at the bar.  She looked very German to me.  In fact, she was Polish.  After chatting and telling her my story about hitchhiking that day she offered to give me a ride into town in about 30 mins.!   Double Yipeee!!!!  Now I was "in business"!

It was a Sunday night.  She dropped me off where she thought I would be able to figure something out for the night.  Man, I hope she never has to do that for herself.  It was the worst part of town!  No one was around!  It was dirty and dark. Ugh!  I walked and walked, and walked some more.

Eventually, I found someone outside talking! Yay! It was a hostel! Yay! Free electricity and wifi! Yay!  I spent the entire night and morning chatting with my mom and updating my blog.  When the morning came I was exhausted but it was time to figure something else out.  The hostel check in wasn't until 3 pm.  I walked uphill toward some pretty buildings in hope of.... some thing. 

The first cool building turned out to be central station.  There wasn't even a place to sit there!  I walked back out and followed the foot traffic.  They were all going toward..... An outside SHOPPING MALL! Great.  I continued on to find an indoor shopping mall.  I was sitting on a bench there, finally warm and starting to doze off when I realized that would be a bad idea.  I woke myself up sharpened my eyes and thought...        I.... saw.... tents outside?  Okay.  Now I was delusional!

I didn't have my glasses on so I got up and walked out the door.  I was delirious but not delusional!

"Occupy Hamburg"

A total blessing after being awake for almost 48 hours!

I waited a while for someone to pop out of a tent so I could ask them to camp out.  I waited and waited.  Finally a face that looked like it might be part of the "movement".  Sure enough it was!

I now had a home and a reason for carrying my tent for the last 2+ months! I set up my tent and basically slept for two days straight minus two bathroom trips and one meal. 

All right!! This is me occupying Hamburg! Way to stick it to the man! LOL

I looked very charming when I finally woke up!

It was time for me to move to my next home. I had found a new place to occupy in Hamburg.  This one had a roof and a shower!! :)

"CockTrail" 'Twas on the way to my new home!

I met my new host.  Her place smelled like 1,000 roses and fruits.  I smelled like crap! Haha!  I took a shower and we went to check out her new neighborhood together.

First time smoking in a bar and first Jagermeister in Germany!

I spent a few days with her and enjoyed her company.  She had a huge smile and was a wonderful cook.  It was just nice to hang out and bond a bit with a girl.  (Thanks Anna... lalala)

I had planned only to stay there one or two nights.  That quickly became three almost four nights even though my plans to meet up with two out of town friends in Hamburg failed.

My plan was now to head to Essen/Cologne!  Stay tuned!  You're now only three days behind! ;) Congrats!!

Another 2,174 km! - PART THREE

After hiking around rainy Ålesund for a couple days and hanging out with the cool Czech guy it dawned on me that getting all the way up to Tromsø in time to be back in Stockholm by the 28th of September wasn't really realistic.  It was another 20 hours of straight driving north then many many hours back to Oslo and Tønsberg. To do this hitch hiking was going to take many days.  It was already quite cold where we were and the northern lights probably weren't going to be what I pictured during this time of year.  Plus, I really wanted to go dog sledding and it is still to early in the year for that as well.  In the morning I chatted with my travel companion and shared the bad news.  This now meant that we were going to turn back around, have less time to hang out and not finish the mission after all.  Ugh! I felt like an evil, evil being that morning. Luckily the news was taken quite well and we were off to hitchhike back towards Åndalsnes to catch a train back to Tønsberg in the morning.  It took us all day to get just a short distance out of town.  I think we caught four cars and we weren't even to Åndalsnes.  The good news is we had terrible places to wait for cars.

Here are a couple chronologically:

We had a competition to see who would get the car first.... neither of us did so we moved places. 

We weren't getting picked up by the gas station so we walked the open highway and picked up and dropped off just down the highway.... here.  I was pretty alright camping on that platform but we got a ride.... :/

The last spot was by a.... chicken ranch?  The sun was already going down. 

The last car wasn't just passing by Åndalsnes it was actually going all the way to Oslo.  So instead of getting to Åndalsnes and not having a place to sleep we rode with him all the way to Oslo and kept him awake.  Well.... okay.  I slept a bit in the end.  

We arrived in Oslo around 3 am and were supposed to crash at my buddy's friend's place.  The only problem is that his phone had died.  So.......... I guess we were off to find a place to charge his phone....?  In the US those are very easy to find.  Not so much in Oslo.

While studying the walls for outlets and being totally exhausted a sweet blonde girl who had just come from a concert offered us a place to sleep.  I mean... WHO DOES THAT?! Second time in a row!!! This time from a girl who was staying by herself that night.  We didn't chat much because we were so exhausted but I could just tell her personality by the decorations and belongings in her place and scent. She was someone TOTALLY worth getting to know.  She had a guestbook in the bathroom along with an organ, dainty lace curtains, an awesome CD collection.... just cool beyond belief.  I'm sad we didn't stay there for the weekend as she offered so I could become acquainted with her.  

This is a very terrible, dark picture of the place at 5 am.

In the morning we caught the remainder of our train to Tønsberg, relaxed, unpacked and slept like little babies. Going back "home" was slightly surreal but a nice feeling.  I mean, Tønsberg is now my third home. Kind of strange when you think of it.

The next day I slept in a bit and started repacking my things for Gothenburg.  The plan was to jump on a free (with voucher) ferry from Sandefjord to Strömstad then hitchhike from there to Gothenburg. After finally packing everything and enjoying one last coffee it was about 5 mins too late to get on the ferry.  It was poor planning on my part.  I should have looked up times the night before.....  This now meant I had to take a bus or train back to Oslo and from Oslo to Gothenburg.... and pay for it.  Sounds alright I guess..... except there was a 4 wait in Oslo for the next bus.  This also meant I wasn't going to arrive in Gothenburg until 3 am.  

I REALLY wanted to be able to meet up with my cousin and dance off all the built up emotions from the last month.  I was a bit down compared to when I left Sweden or the US.  It doesn't seem like that would be possible with so much beauty around, but it was true.  I think the weather and other vibes really influenced my state of mind. 

So 4 hours of waiting in my favorite bus terminal was in my future.  I decided to knit and do my best to be cool with the situation.  When I arrived in Gothenburg at 3 am I called my new host (who was expecting me) and got no answer.  It was then that I called my cousin.  GOOD NEWS! She as less than 5 minutes away from me!  So we met up, found someone to pawn Wally onto for a few hours and off to dance we were! The clubs often don't close until 5 or 6 am. The "A team" was back in action and our mission was  about to be accomplished!!!

We hung out until the early morning, grabbed Wally (the backpack) and waited for the next set of busses.  I'm sure I smelled horrendous but I was greeted "home" with big hugs and some scrumptious food of some sort... and OF COURSE the famous coffee! :) 

Ma-ma quickly scooped up all of my revolting clothes and washed them in a jiffy.  I'm not sure what she does but my laundry has never been as pristine as when she washes them.  Maybe she washes them with love? ... Like you "cook with love"?  I can't figure it out.  I took a much appreciated shower and finally slept.  We had a delish dinner the next night and I caught up with some peeps on the net then packed the next morning.

The note says "bread for Nicole" so I could make sandwiches and take them with me on my trip.  They saved my gluten free bread. Oh how I love them! They're so, so kind.

The plan was to hitchhike to Stockholm (even though I had a few days to get there) and meet up with another CSer who was on a trip to Germany.

It really should have been a brilliant spot!

By the time I got to my spot the sun was already going down.  I thought, I'm a girl this could work... but there were NO cars in this spot.  Bummer!  So, I hopped back on the bus and went to the closest stop with free wifi.  I didn't know what was going to happen this night but I knew it would work out.

It was then started looking for options on my phone.  I happened to find a group on CouchSurfing for Gothenburg Hitchhikers which had been created less than an hour before.  Maybe they were online?  If they're a hitchhiker maybe they'll understand the situation and let me come by...?  I got an almost immediate response... and BOOM I was in business!  I jumped on a train from central station about 20 minutes out of town and arrived at my new home.

My new host was pretty cool.

.... and so was my cozy room! :)

I think we watched a movie that night then passed out.  The next day my host ran out to do some errands and I was home doing ... something.  I guess it was something useless.  Haha! Oh well.  The following day we went up north so he could do paperwork for his new sailboat.  Déjà vu??? Yeah, kinda. 

I guess there is no pic of his boat.. but I did get some of the harbor.  Too bad this is only 1/8th of the boats there...

Baby starfish anyone?

..being bored towards the end, staring at fish and cloud reflections.. and me I guess...

After finishing the boat festivities we ate at this bar that has free food with purchase of one drink then met up with some friends.  It was a good day. :) 

The next day we went shopping.

.... and watched another cool movie.  In the morning it would be time for me to pack it up again and make a move on.

The plan was now to head to Germany via Copenhagen solo since my ride had to cancel last minute.  How?  I wasn't really sure!  Stay tuned! ;)

Another 2,174 km! - PART ONE

This is a replica of a real viking ship.  They used authentic viking tools and hand carved it for many years.  :)  It lives in Tønsberg. Totally tubular, right?!

It's been quite a while since I caught up on everything going on.  I've managed to stay quite busy!

I'm not even sure where to start.  My spirits were kind of down for almost a week but  I'm feeling good about things right now.  It's 2 am and I'm at another random hostel I'm not paying for.  They are a wonderful resource for internet, warmth and strange people to look at.

So... Last time I wrote I was in Tønsberg, Norway hanging out, right?  Yes. That's what was going on. I was off to the marina because my friend/host in Tønsberg was about to buy a sweet wooden sail boat so we went to check it out and make sure it was still there.... or something.

You can kind of see the boat ... and the ocean. :)

It was a week or so after that I saw a random post on CouchSurfing for someone headed up the coast of  Norway just like I was hoping to do.  So I wrote the person and off I went with my host from Tonsberg.  We ended up hitchhiking from Tonsberg to Kongsberg and met up with the cool driver dude and off to Haukeli we went! Awesome!  Here's a bit of photos:

This does NOT do the water intensity justice!

Pretty cool! This style of painting is specifically from the Telemark County where we were.

I loved their decor! So charming... I mean, I'd be happy to be Santa's helper! ;) 

These are the beautiful people we stayed with, my Tønsberg host and our awesome ride! 

 After Haukeli we headed for Bergen.  Lucky us!

the boring ride there... 

Real life Tonka trucks!  Sa-weeeet!! :D

Gothenburg's umbrella didn't stand a chance against Bergen's wind and rain... haha!!

Bergen is basically like Disneyland.  It has phenomenal fountains and parks and, and, and....  I enjoyed it a lot.  

Old school Bergen!

From Bergen we headed to Førde: 

...another boring one.....

Blah blah...  I don't know what to write.  Its beauty was every where!

We had to stop for road construction. I could think of a worse place to stop. You? 

We made it to freezing Førde! The shoes were only a couple sizes to big. 

So, I've decided to break this post up because there is SO much to cover.   Stay tuned to see what happens after this commercial break!