Making New Friends

Today we traveled from Flam back to Oslo. We started on the Flamsbana or Flam Railway which takes us up from Flam to  the station at Myrdal where we can connect to the train to Oslo. It is a sort of scenic train, private line, and so of course more expensive.

On the Flamsbana

To tell the truth, other than being the only way out of Flam for us, I found the ride from Myrdal to Oslo more scenic. Giving the journal writer a break seems to be good idea, so this entry will be short.
The highlight of the day was meeting Jiri and Debbie who live n the Czech Republic. Debbie is from Georgia originally, but has been living in the Czech Rebublic for 12 years. Jiri grew up there. We just started conversing on the Flamsbana, while we maneuvered around each other for a few pictures, one side of the train to the other. We continued to talk at the station in Myrdal, while waiting for the Oslo train, which arrived late. Our seats were in the same rail car and we talked several times during the almost 5 hour journey. The last time we talked for over an hour, passing the time, until I got a little queasy. I realized that while I was standing talking to them that my eyes were catching all the fast motion going by out the window. It did not agree with me at all.

From the Oslo Train

Anyway, we exchanged info, and they have invited us to spend a night in their home, instead of our hotel, that we had planned in Kutna Hora. We both like the idea and are going to look at canceling our reservation. We feel that we have just made some good friends.
In Oslo, we found our hotel, and then head out to visit the Norwegian Resistance Museum. It tells the story of the resistance movement in Norway during WWII. From there we walk to city hall and take a walking tour of Oslo. It provides some interesting facts about Oslo, but to me was less interesting than the tour we took in Bergen.

Grumpy Smoking Balloon Clown

In fact, I stopped short of finishing it, as I still wasn’t feeling 100%, and waited for Carol on the main drag. While there, I got to see grumpy, smoking balloon clowns, gypsies trying to sell magazines for money, street musicians playing American music and reggae, along with people watching as the crowds went by. When Carol returns, we go back too the hotel, have their included light meal, which is a full dinner, and that is the end of a long day.
Expenses
Train from Flam to Oslo 1398 NOK
Walked 3.5 Miles