Radisson Sas Atlantic Stavanger

I went to Stavanger in june to attend the beach volleyball world tour, but when I got there I 
fund so much else to do that I didnt find the time to watch the volleyball. Its was insane, and 
the best part is that everything is so close that you can do alot in one day. I spendt 10 days there 
and it is without doubt the best vacation I have ever been on.

I live in Amsterdam and ...

... of ice that was up to 2000 m thick. Now the ice has receeded, and the fjord lies like a deep ravine between moutainous valley sides. "

I have included a picture of Fantahalla. This scree is famous and named after some vagabonds who escaped capture from the authorities with their moonshine. The recipe of which has been handed down proudly from generation to generation....of which there are 5 40's in our cabinet! Good heavens.....not sure I have enough Wiking in me ...

Another couple mad train rides from Bergen to Oslo and then over to Stavanger took us to small oil town, from where we would make our way to the beautiful lyseford. The fjord is quite deep, and we came to take the hike up to the Preikestolen, high above the fjord. The hike was great, and though we were soaked by rain upon arriving in Stavanger, it wasn't too bad during the 2 hour trek up.

... and clothes....we look local....so we are spoken to in Norwegian first.....we only have to ask for English and we are obliged. The number of languages that most European's speak puts North American's to shame. Bruce is way ahead.....talking hello's and thankyous and he has his numbers and days downpat.....good for him.

I had an email today about driving lessons. Damn.....I was all for it...but found out we drive a Volvo Stationwagon V-70 ...

... Cultural City of the year. This was the first time a Bocuse d'Or competition has been held outside the gastronomic centre of Lyon and the first ever European championship for individual chefs, and probably also the first time culinary art has been included in a cultural program alongside performing and visual arts. Using locally grown salmon and lamb, 20 of Europe's best and brightest young talent competed over two days to surprise their judges with novel and ...

... Ryanair flights from both Bergen and Stavanger and links up with Airport bus in Haugesund. The ride took me immediately under the fjord through the the longest under-water tunnel in Norway - the 8.9km long Bømlafjord tunnel under the fjord. It is 260.4m under sea level at its deepest. As we emerged on the other side we passed Valen, the home of the modern ...

... sprinkled on top. Just to give you an example of the expensive prices here...a bottle water in Norway is 4 USD!! A Burger King meal is around 16 - 20 USD!! You see, the hostels that we stayed at...included breakfast....and many of them had the same stuff. Such as: bran cereal, yogurt, granola, salami, cheese, goat cheese, jam, crackers, and bread. Oh! Their bread is sooo ...

... everywhere it's in your face (not to be taken literally) and wallpapered across town. Away from the seedy aspects, Amsterdam's picturesque canals and waterside houses are indeed pleasant, we took all this in with a boat trip. One other thing; there are many strange people in Amsterdam and a lot of throat wrenching gargle coughing, could the drugs be related to this at all? So to Hamburg; 'the gateway to Scandinavia'. We stayed in a street in Hamburg which is essentially ...

... week rather than buying 8. Driving on narrow roads - there are lots of narrow and windy roads around Norway. I won't know what to do when I am back in Canada on the wide straight roads! 7. Eating more fish - fish is definitely a staple in the Norwegian diet. I am definitely trying to eat more fish when I can...although the cold, marinated salmon is still difficult to eat! 6. Composting & recycling ...

... we managed to turn business in the country around and along the way maanged to drink a fair amount of beer too! Nights out in Stavanger generally started in wither the 'Irishman' or the Skagen Brygge where we were well known and accepted as locals (having bar tabs set up for us was pretty unusual to be honest!) - managing to survive a night without formaldehyde poisioning from the Norwegian beers (Tau & Rignes) and having enought money to get home via the 'super-kebab' shop ...