Monday, March 2, 2009

Arrival

I will post some pictures here shortly, but I just wanted to update saying that we arrived safely in Oslo today around noon local time after three long, but uneventful plane flights with little sleep. The most exciting thing that happened was when I forgot to take off my belt before going through the metal detector at the Amsterdam airport. Let's just say the Dutch could teach the American TSA a thing or two about doing a pat down. I felt like the security official and I should share a cigarette when he was finished with me...but alas, I posed no threat and we moved on.

Norway is a gorgeous winter wonderland at the moment. We were greeted by three kind and hospitable Rotarians from the Vinger and Kongsvinger clubs and had lunch at a roadside restaurant before enjoying a beautiful drive through the countryside to Kongsvinger where we met our host families. Tonight, we rest and spend time getting to know our new families, and tomorrow we will visit Kongsvinger fortress, a local forestry operation, and attend a Rotary meeting in the evening. More stories and pics to come...

2 comments:

  1. Ah yes – Amsterdam airport. I’ve been through there a few times and on my last trip through I had a similar experience with security. The only reason we didn’t have a cigarette is because it was a no-smoking area. Transatlantic flights are never fun unless you are one of the lucky ones who can sleep on an airplane. Gjovik is at N60 deg. 37’05.14” North, so I assume that you are experiencing some really short days. It was a nice balmy 17 deg F this morning in western Kentucky:-( I take note that as I write this that it is 38 deg F in East Central Norway.

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  2. Yes, the weather was a balmy 2 degrees Centigrade, so about 36. The snow is melting and it causes a thick, wet fog over the land. It's beautiful, but it limits the view.

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