`In search of the perfect photo...`

ÅLESUND & TRONDHEIM (NORWAY)

Following some great weather an enjoyable hiking in and around Åndalsnes, I took the bus west to the coast and stayed in a slightly bigger city, Ålesund. Unfortunately, the warm weather caused the formation of a thick fog, which blanketed both the town and surrounding islands, making it impossible to appreciate this supposedly picturesque town, famous for its 'Art Noveau' style of housing. I spent a few hours wandering around the city before returning to Åndalsnes and then taking a train to Trondheim, where I am currently.

Trondheim is a nice enough place, although the weather is yet to allow me to appreciate this former capital of Norway. Some of the architecture is pretty impressive, but apart from that, it seems just like many of the other cities aorund Norway. My plans are to leave here tomorrow and take the coastal express (Hurtigruten) north to Bodø, which is just south of the Arctic circle.

With pretty much nothing left to do on my last day in Trondheim I spent the majority of the day on the computer, updating my blog and sending various emails. I also had a little more of a wander around the city and had a look at some shops (mainly scouting for semi-decent Norweigan music) but with the poor weather and lack of things to keep me interested, it was a pretty boring day. That night was by far the 'biggest rager' I have had in Scandanavia, with beer prices at the local student pub being about AUD$5 for a pint - the cheapest I have seen in Scandanavia just about. Needless to say I hit it up pretty hard. Met some cool people - some of them friends of Birgitte (my friend from the south of Norway) and others just randoms. Also bumped into Bernhard, who I had met about a week previously in Voss (near Bergen). I spent most of the night kicking a small, plastic oil bottle around the streets, showing people my soccer moves and generally causing chaos. Managed to annoy a whole heap of people and amuse most of the others so that was good. Other activities for the night including riding bikes (I have no idea who owned the bikes).... We didn't even make it into another pub or club because no one could decide where to go. After my makeshift soccer ball had been confiscated by 'security' in the local Hungry Jacks store, I decided to call it a night. Had a lot of fun, caused a ruckass and that kept me satisfied...

Photos 1-3: Colourful buildings in Ålesund, unfortunately enveloped in fog