I'm supposed to stay in Oslo for the weekend. But plans change. Instead, Thomas meets me at the train station and we take a bus to his home in the middle of Telemark County - a rural area of Norway.
I start off the next day at his parent's place in Flatdal. I'm pretty sure that translates into Flat Valley, for the scenic valley here. I get some exercise when we walk up the nearby hill to do some sledding. Walking in the snow up a hill is a challenge, and I need to get a lot better since I'm going to have a 4 hour hike up his friend's mountain in a couple of weeks for some snowboarding. That night its Thomas, Andreas, Richard, John Rene, Marie, Elise, Susana and myself hanging out at Thomas' apartment. The highlight of the evening consists of jumping in the partially frozen lake just outside. Don't ask me exactly how that came to be, but I think its my fault since I said I'd do it if Marie did it. I'm partly sure the alcohol's to blame as well. Most of the group actually went in, and it was less painful than I thought it would be. I learn two things tonight: 1-drinking is very expensive in Norway 2-you cannot drive if you have been drinking at all, so hopefully its a short walk home or you have a designated driver.
I also get to go up the hill to Paul's place the next day and snap a picture of where I am staying from above. Its very quiet and peaceful in this city, if you can even call it a city. The time spent here is mostly relaxing and thinking about which mountains we shall go to for some boarding. More thumbnails ...
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