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Geilo Ice Music Festival
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Eight of us traveled from UMB to Geilo to visit the Ice Music Festival, this is the world's only ice music festival. Geilo is a beautiful little ski town, although noticeably touristy. It was a wonderful trip but we also learned some key things on the trip. It is important to note that when traveling in Norway it is best not to book ahead online. Either call or wait until you get there. Some of us booked the festival tickets online as well as the hostel and had to pay fees for this. Also since the Ice festival is new, this was its third year, little information is available as to a correct schedule of events. So if you plan to go to the festival only buy day tickets and it is also best to buy on site.
There was lots of snow all over town so we spent the first day skiing/ snowshoeing to town to buy winter gear for those of us less equipped for cold weather and buy some groceries. In the afternoon we attended an ice carving workshop where we got to use some very expensive tools and attempt to make some pretty marks in the ice, although I failed miserably at this. In the evening we attended a 7:00pm concert where we watched some Guatemalans play ice drums and an ice marimba (like a large xylophone). I am pretty sure these guys were freezing since it was their first time seeing snow and they were wearing their traditional outfits! Next was a female singer from sweden with her brother on a xylophone and someone else on percussion. Then we had another larger break before the 12:00am concert, if you ever decide to go the the ice festival bring entertainment for yourself to pass the time between events! We brought beer and snacks and discussed depressing issues of consumerism and limited resources (as conversationalists usually do) At 12:00am we watch a very interesting Sami concert performed by a girl signing and someone on percussion and a type of ice horn. I have included some videos.
On Sunday I skied to the top of one of the Geilo ski hills while my friend snowshoed. The ski hill wasn't very big and so this way we avoided paying for the lift ticket! I only got one run down though.
The next day Afton and I fulfilled our dreams of ice climbing. It didn't last long enough though and we can't wait to do it again. We got two short ice climbs in. We were the guides best customers apparently since we were the first ones to show up that had ever had previous rock climbing experience! It was a lot of fun and I would highly recommend it, but the guide's dogs ate Afton's water bottle.
Many interesting things to do in Geilo, well worth the visit!
Again Afton took many pictures as well, many of which turned out nicer than mine since she has a much better camer. You can check them out at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aftonhalloran/page2/
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