with a cold and a raspy voice, I went to the Olivais Health Centre!
with the European Health Insurance Card? best see your registry here...
(fortunately I was and even had an assigned doctor!)
could even get an appointment, it was just a matter of waiting a few hours...
but, once again, I did not meet the doctor...
he was 2 hours late when someone came to tell us he was just arriving...
and 2 hour later I left and the gentleman hadn't arrived yet!
he was probably doing a few extra hours in his private clinic...
with a service like this, those who can end up escaping the Public System!
and only the poor and retired are left, and they don't protest that much...
the system worsens and disappears... and the doctors keep making money!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
essential China
saturday night, on the 9th of last month, we took the Air China plane
and arrived at 6h in the morning, 10h later, to Beijing, ready to sleep!!
we slept a bit and still used the afternoon by going to the Temple of Heaven
located in a garden filled with older people playing, singing, dancing...
before we went for dinner and to meet the group and the guide for the tour
monday we woke up early to go to the impressive Great Wall
built by mandate of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China
back to Beijing, we went to the Silk Street market (how stressing)!
and in the evening we still went to Wangfujing and the snack market
tuesday we went through Tiananmen Square straight to the Forbidden City
we spent the morning and had lunch together before climbing Jingshan Park
where we would have had a fantastic view, if not for the permanent fog!
afterwards we went north just the 2 towards the Drum and Bell Towers
where we went in, almost by chance, to the Nanluonguxiang hutong!
in the evening we still managed to go to the olimpic area (nice lights)
and we still went to Qianmen before going to sleep
wednesday, 12h, we were at the Summer Palace up to lunch time (very nice)
and came back to the centre to get the train to Shanghai (12h trip)
thursday, arriving early to Shanghai we left the bags at the hotel before lunch
we took a tour around the city and ended up in the Bund taking pictures
before we got soaking wet with the sudden torrential rain!!
friday we left early towards the Yuyuan Gardens and surrounding Bazaar
the garden is very picturesque with statues decorating the roofs and walls
and close by we visited the City God Temple (taoist)
before the day ended with the chinese acrobats show,
we still passed by the Shanghai Museum (and we though it would be quick)
still saw a kid taking a crap in the subway (into a plastic bag, of course),
and went again to the Bund to take more pictures and eat some chestnuts!
saturday, we crossed over to Pudong and went up the World Finantial Center
we spent the rest of the afternoon on the train towards Xi'an (10h trip)
sunday, 16th, we left our bags at the hotel and walked to the centre
where a fantastic and varied dumpling banquet was awaiting us
after that we went to the Southern City Gate and climbed the walls
where we spent a few hours walking and watching people in the gardens
(lots of people exercising and playing ping-pong!)
and, finally, we visited the Mosque and had dinner in the muslim quarter
monday we left in the morning by bus to see the Terracotta Army!
not only was it fantastic seeing al those statues (still under excavation)
but it is impressive that this is only a small part of the tomb
of Qin Shihuang (the same that built the Great Wall)!!
after coming back, we spent the rest of the afternoon in Shu Yuan Men
tuesday morning we took the plane (the only one in the tour) to Chengdu
after the check-in, we went for a tour of the teahouses
and there was still time to go to the Baihuatan Park before the Ópera
wednesday, 19th, was a full day, starting with the Giant Pandas!!
after many many pictures of this laid back animal (and the Red Vermelho),
we continued to Leshan to see the Giant Buddha (1h in the staircase)
and all the surrounding area, filled with temples and buddhist monasteries
and after continued to Emei Shan where we spent the night in a temple!!
the next day (after dumplings from the bag, at breakfast),
we went to the top of the mountain (and fortunately the fog was going away)!
on the way we saw the ingenious tibetan macaques harassing the tourists
that afternoon we did not do much, after all we also needed a rest!!
friday, we left by bus to Chongqing (6h always honking, very stressful!!)
where we dined and strolled around before taking President 6 in the Yangtze
saturday morning we docked in Fengdu where we visited the "netherworld"!
and spent the rest of the day enjoying the landscape and resting!
at night we still heard some chinese karaoke (1h was our limit)
the next day we went finally into Yangtze's 3 gorges
there we went, always surrounded by numerous cargo ships,
first Qutang (most impressive before the dam...)
then Wu where we left in Badong to visit the Shen Nong river
beautiful but completely different (before was much nicer!)
still that night we arrived at the Dam and went down the ship locks
monday, the 24th, we left the boat early and got a took a bus (5h trip)
to Wushan, where we got the train to Guilin (arround 15h)
tuesday morning we still got a bus (1 more hour) to Yangshuo,
were we had breakfast, still before doing the check-in!!
we did an orientation walk through the city and went up a hill
in the afternoon we went with the group to a local farmers' market
where we saw the local specialties (among which were snake, frogs and dog)
on the way to a ride in river Lijang (close to the picture in the 20 Yuans bill)
where we walked around the local farmers' fields and villages
in the evening, after dinner, we went to see the Impressions Sanjie Liu
an impressive show with too many participants!!
the next day was all spent on a bike, in the outskirts of Yangshuo...
we went past many rice fields, locals ploughing the land with Buffalos,
we took a swim in the Yulong river and some went rafting in the rapids
before we went for lunch at the house of a local farmer (very good!)
afterwards, we still went up the Moon Hill before going back to town,
back through the field, where we visited some farmer' houses
thursday we started the morning with a trip to the town's market,
(again impressive due to the animals there: dog and cat)
before a chinese cooking lesson in a local restaurant
in the afternoon we took again the night train towards Hong Kong
friday we arrived at Hong Kong after lunch (took a while, in the border!!)
the hotel was right in the mega populated area of Mong Kok
and we still took a peek in the markets in the Jordan area before dark,
when the popular Symphony of Lights started (what a disappointment...)
saturday, 30th, we spent the day in Macau (1h away by boat)
from the Harbour, we went to Kun Iam Tong temple and then to Guia,
where we went around the garden and visited the Lighthouse
afterwards we went to the Leal Senado and had lunch in the area
afterwards we went to the other side of the peninsula, to the A-Ma temple
and came walking to the centre through the Mandarin House (realy nice!)
towards the famous St Paul ruins (just a façade...)
we still went past the Lou Lim Ieoc garden before going back to the Harbour
back to Hong Kong, we still went up the long Escalator
and went to the bars' and shops' area of the Soho
sunday, the last day in Hong Kong, we left early to the Kowloon garden
and after some people watching, we kept going to Victória Peak
back down, we crossed the Hong Kong Park before going back to the Hotel
to get the taxi to the airport and the plane to Beijing,
from where we got the plane back to Frankfurt and back home!
this was a fantastic trip, both for the country and for the cultural shock!
and the tour was excellent both for the guides and for the group!
undoubtedly experiences to repeat (tours with G and trips to the orient)
and arrived at 6h in the morning, 10h later, to Beijing, ready to sleep!!
we slept a bit and still used the afternoon by going to the Temple of Heaven
located in a garden filled with older people playing, singing, dancing...
before we went for dinner and to meet the group and the guide for the tour
monday we woke up early to go to the impressive Great Wall
built by mandate of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China
back to Beijing, we went to the Silk Street market (how stressing)!
and in the evening we still went to Wangfujing and the snack market
tuesday we went through Tiananmen Square straight to the Forbidden City
we spent the morning and had lunch together before climbing Jingshan Park
where we would have had a fantastic view, if not for the permanent fog!
afterwards we went north just the 2 towards the Drum and Bell Towers
where we went in, almost by chance, to the Nanluonguxiang hutong!
in the evening we still managed to go to the olimpic area (nice lights)
and we still went to Qianmen before going to sleep
wednesday, 12h, we were at the Summer Palace up to lunch time (very nice)
and came back to the centre to get the train to Shanghai (12h trip)
thursday, arriving early to Shanghai we left the bags at the hotel before lunch
we took a tour around the city and ended up in the Bund taking pictures
before we got soaking wet with the sudden torrential rain!!
friday we left early towards the Yuyuan Gardens and surrounding Bazaar
the garden is very picturesque with statues decorating the roofs and walls
and close by we visited the City God Temple (taoist)
before the day ended with the chinese acrobats show,
we still passed by the Shanghai Museum (and we though it would be quick)
still saw a kid taking a crap in the subway (into a plastic bag, of course),
and went again to the Bund to take more pictures and eat some chestnuts!
saturday, we crossed over to Pudong and went up the World Finantial Center
we spent the rest of the afternoon on the train towards Xi'an (10h trip)
sunday, 16th, we left our bags at the hotel and walked to the centre
where a fantastic and varied dumpling banquet was awaiting us
after that we went to the Southern City Gate and climbed the walls
where we spent a few hours walking and watching people in the gardens
(lots of people exercising and playing ping-pong!)
and, finally, we visited the Mosque and had dinner in the muslim quarter
monday we left in the morning by bus to see the Terracotta Army!
not only was it fantastic seeing al those statues (still under excavation)
but it is impressive that this is only a small part of the tomb
of Qin Shihuang (the same that built the Great Wall)!!
after coming back, we spent the rest of the afternoon in Shu Yuan Men
tuesday morning we took the plane (the only one in the tour) to Chengdu
after the check-in, we went for a tour of the teahouses
and there was still time to go to the Baihuatan Park before the Ópera
wednesday, 19th, was a full day, starting with the Giant Pandas!!
after many many pictures of this laid back animal (and the Red Vermelho),
we continued to Leshan to see the Giant Buddha (1h in the staircase)
and all the surrounding area, filled with temples and buddhist monasteries
and after continued to Emei Shan where we spent the night in a temple!!
the next day (after dumplings from the bag, at breakfast),
we went to the top of the mountain (and fortunately the fog was going away)!
on the way we saw the ingenious tibetan macaques harassing the tourists
that afternoon we did not do much, after all we also needed a rest!!
friday, we left by bus to Chongqing (6h always honking, very stressful!!)
where we dined and strolled around before taking President 6 in the Yangtze
saturday morning we docked in Fengdu where we visited the "netherworld"!
and spent the rest of the day enjoying the landscape and resting!
at night we still heard some chinese karaoke (1h was our limit)
the next day we went finally into Yangtze's 3 gorges
there we went, always surrounded by numerous cargo ships,
first Qutang (most impressive before the dam...)
then Wu where we left in Badong to visit the Shen Nong river
beautiful but completely different (before was much nicer!)
still that night we arrived at the Dam and went down the ship locks
monday, the 24th, we left the boat early and got a took a bus (5h trip)
to Wushan, where we got the train to Guilin (arround 15h)
tuesday morning we still got a bus (1 more hour) to Yangshuo,
were we had breakfast, still before doing the check-in!!
we did an orientation walk through the city and went up a hill
in the afternoon we went with the group to a local farmers' market
where we saw the local specialties (among which were snake, frogs and dog)
on the way to a ride in river Lijang (close to the picture in the 20 Yuans bill)
where we walked around the local farmers' fields and villages
in the evening, after dinner, we went to see the Impressions Sanjie Liu
an impressive show with too many participants!!
the next day was all spent on a bike, in the outskirts of Yangshuo...
we went past many rice fields, locals ploughing the land with Buffalos,
we took a swim in the Yulong river and some went rafting in the rapids
before we went for lunch at the house of a local farmer (very good!)
afterwards, we still went up the Moon Hill before going back to town,
back through the field, where we visited some farmer' houses
thursday we started the morning with a trip to the town's market,
(again impressive due to the animals there: dog and cat)
before a chinese cooking lesson in a local restaurant
in the afternoon we took again the night train towards Hong Kong
friday we arrived at Hong Kong after lunch (took a while, in the border!!)
the hotel was right in the mega populated area of Mong Kok
and we still took a peek in the markets in the Jordan area before dark,
when the popular Symphony of Lights started (what a disappointment...)
saturday, 30th, we spent the day in Macau (1h away by boat)
from the Harbour, we went to Kun Iam Tong temple and then to Guia,
where we went around the garden and visited the Lighthouse
afterwards we went to the Leal Senado and had lunch in the area
afterwards we went to the other side of the peninsula, to the A-Ma temple
and came walking to the centre through the Mandarin House (realy nice!)
towards the famous St Paul ruins (just a façade...)
we still went past the Lou Lim Ieoc garden before going back to the Harbour
back to Hong Kong, we still went up the long Escalator
and went to the bars' and shops' area of the Soho
sunday, the last day in Hong Kong, we left early to the Kowloon garden
and after some people watching, we kept going to Victória Peak
back down, we crossed the Hong Kong Park before going back to the Hotel
to get the taxi to the airport and the plane to Beijing,
from where we got the plane back to Frankfurt and back home!
this was a fantastic trip, both for the country and for the cultural shock!
and the tour was excellent both for the guides and for the group!
undoubtedly experiences to repeat (tours with G and trips to the orient)
Friday, September 23, 2011
aimlesscreativity going live
and that's it, after some time of experimentin in the market,
here is the official "publication" of aimlesscreativity...
let's give it some 5s and positive reviews!!!
here is the official "publication" of aimlesscreativity...
let's give it some 5s and positive reviews!!!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
back from Barcelona
we got the plane on friday and went straight to the hotel,
and had something for dinner before going to bed...
it was funny to notice the diference - dinners up to 1h00!!
saturday we walked from Plaça d'Espanya to Plaça de Catalunya,
where we went in the area of Las Ramblas and Barri Gótic,
where the Cathedral is (very interesting cloister)
afterwards we went through the typical narrow streets,
and went through the old gates in the roman walls
we still went in the Santa Maria del Mar (big and spacious church)
and went towards the see and Barceloneta, where we had lunch
we proceeded to the imponent Hotel W building
and the came back inside (without cable car, the line was huge)
again entering the Ramblas through Plaça Colón
we still went to the La Boqueria Market in the way to the hotel...
the dinner was a fantastic surprise (we went back the following night)
in Pura Brasa, maybe the best coal grill I ever tasted!
on sunday we decided to start in Park Güell
afterwards (always with public transportation) Sant Pau Hospital
and, after lunch, the Sagrada Família (really impressive)
we went back to the Plaça d'Espanya area still in day light, before dinner
to take some photos from the top of Arenas
on monday we went straight to La Pedrera in the morning
and were again impressed with the architecture...
afterwards passed by Casa Batló (smaller, we only saw it from the outside)
and caught the subway in Plaça de Catalunya back to the hotel
to get towals and everything needed for the afternoon on the beach!!!
it was funny to notice it's so close to the city (accessible by subway):
lots of people come after work for a dive or playing some volley
but we missed the celebrations in the Magical Fountain of Montjuic
on tuesday, before catching the plane back, we went up Montjuic
where we saw the Olimpic Stadium and the Communications Tower
and far away the Montjuic Castle and the Poble Espanyol
the visit was really cool both due to the city and the sun and warmth...
with some luck, when we came back, the weather was also sunny!
and had something for dinner before going to bed...
it was funny to notice the diference - dinners up to 1h00!!
saturday we walked from Plaça d'Espanya to Plaça de Catalunya,
where we went in the area of Las Ramblas and Barri Gótic,
where the Cathedral is (very interesting cloister)
afterwards we went through the typical narrow streets,
and went through the old gates in the roman walls
we still went in the Santa Maria del Mar (big and spacious church)
and went towards the see and Barceloneta, where we had lunch
we proceeded to the imponent Hotel W building
and the came back inside (without cable car, the line was huge)
again entering the Ramblas through Plaça Colón
we still went to the La Boqueria Market in the way to the hotel...
the dinner was a fantastic surprise (we went back the following night)
in Pura Brasa, maybe the best coal grill I ever tasted!
on sunday we decided to start in Park Güell
afterwards (always with public transportation) Sant Pau Hospital
and, after lunch, the Sagrada Família (really impressive)
we went back to the Plaça d'Espanya area still in day light, before dinner
to take some photos from the top of Arenas
on monday we went straight to La Pedrera in the morning
and were again impressed with the architecture...
afterwards passed by Casa Batló (smaller, we only saw it from the outside)
and caught the subway in Plaça de Catalunya back to the hotel
to get towals and everything needed for the afternoon on the beach!!!
it was funny to notice it's so close to the city (accessible by subway):
lots of people come after work for a dive or playing some volley
but we missed the celebrations in the Magical Fountain of Montjuic
on tuesday, before catching the plane back, we went up Montjuic
where we saw the Olimpic Stadium and the Communications Tower
and far away the Montjuic Castle and the Poble Espanyol
the visit was really cool both due to the city and the sun and warmth...
with some luck, when we came back, the weather was also sunny!
treasure hunt
it happened 2 weeks ago but it's captured here...
a really fun day, even if we were really wet,
looking for the treasure under torrential rain...
http://esoc-th2011.blogspot.com/
a really fun day, even if we were really wet,
looking for the treasure under torrential rain...
http://esoc-th2011.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
tropical Germany
10 minutes ago the sky was blue and the sun was shining...
now it is thundering and raining torrentially,
looks like it's night and we can barely see the building in front of us...
said the american coleague:
- this really looks like hurricane season!
now it is thundering and raining torrentially,
looks like it's night and we can barely see the building in front of us...
said the american coleague:
- this really looks like hurricane season!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
countdown to China!
the vaccination is under way (at an average of one per week:
hepatite, febre tifóide, carraça, difeteria, tétano...),
a viagem e o voo estão marcados (vamos lá ver com é a Air China...),
o visto está pedido (vamos buscar na próxima semana)
e a lista de material a levar está a ser compilada!!
hepatite, febre tifóide, carraça, difeteria, tétano...),
a viagem e o voo estão marcados (vamos lá ver com é a Air China...),
o visto está pedido (vamos buscar na próxima semana)
e a lista de material a levar está a ser compilada!!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
back to school!
one week of classes in Southampton doesn't hurt anyone...
especially when it's in the middle of two weekends in London!!
especially when it's in the middle of two weekends in London!!
Monday, June 27, 2011
enlgish version (slowly) available!
I decided to translate my blog....
all the new posts, after this one...
and mainly the old ones about travelling, which I will slowly translate!
aqui encontram a ver~ao original em português!
all the new posts, after this one...
and mainly the old ones about travelling, which I will slowly translate!
aqui encontram a ver~ao original em português!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Aschaffenburg
today, between periods of sun and torrential rain (hurray for summer),
we decided to go for a day trip to Aschaffenburg...
by car it took us some 30 to 40 minutes to arrive
after lunch, we went to the Schloss Johannisburg by the Main
we went by the river shore to the Pompejanum and came back to the centre
we went "shopping" (or we actually took shelter from the torrential rain)
visited the Stiftsbasilika and afterwards went to the Schöntal Park,
before we came back home, under another nice batch of rain!!
it's a nice trip for a day (of real summer?)
we decided to go for a day trip to Aschaffenburg...
by car it took us some 30 to 40 minutes to arrive
after lunch, we went to the Schloss Johannisburg by the Main
we went by the river shore to the Pompejanum and came back to the centre
we went "shopping" (or we actually took shelter from the torrential rain)
visited the Stiftsbasilika and afterwards went to the Schöntal Park,
before we came back home, under another nice batch of rain!!
it's a nice trip for a day (of real summer?)
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
cryosat 2
it's really cool to have worked in such a mission!!!
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMAAW0T1PG_index_0.html
http://ecosfera.publico.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1499697
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMAAW0T1PG_index_0.html
http://ecosfera.publico.pt/noticia.aspx?id=1499697
Monday, June 20, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
trip to the land of the vikings
friday night we took the plane to Oslo, and headed straight for the hotel!
on saturday we had breakfast in one of the many Deli de Luca
and afterwards went past towards the Domkirke, passed the Opera building
and the headed towards the Akershus Fortress were we took a stroll.
we went back into the city, passing by the Parliament bulding
and stopped at Karl Johans Gate for lunch, with a view of the Royal Palace
afterwards, we went through the Royal Palace's gardens to the Bogstadveien,
towards the Frogner Park, where all the Vigeland Park sculptures are
after enjoying the view, we went to spend the rest of the day in Aker Brygge
eating ice-cream, taking some sun and watching the sea at the Oslo Fjord
on sunday we left towards the Margaretakyrkan and the Trefoldighetskirken
afterwads, we crosssed the Karl Johans Gate again, past the National Theatre
and went to take a peak at the City Hall building and the Nobel Peace Center.
close by, we took the boat to the area of the Viking Ship Museum
after a stroll through the museum area, we came back to Aker Brygge,
where once again we enjoyed the sun and watched the boats and the sea
monday we left early by train in the Bergen line towards Myrdal
crossing the spectacular Hardangervidda plane (with snow and everything)!
in Myrdal, we took the Flåmsbana (impressive engineering work)!
and spent the remainder of the day at the end of the fjord, in Flåm,
were there is nothing else to do except enjoying the fantastic landscape
on the next day we woke up with the Sognefjord in our bedroom window!
and stayed in the sunlight, while we waited for the train.
we wend back up in the Flamsbana towards Myrdal (back to the snow)
and there we took the train to Bergen, to complete the journey!
arriving in mid afternoon, we went to the typical Pepes for a pizza for lunch
(at 5 pm, when many noruwegians were already having their dinner)!
afterwards we went to the Johaneskirken in a typical wooden houses' area,
went past the Bergen Museum and the Botanical Garden
and came down to the Lille Lungegårdsvannet before going back to the hotel
we left in the morning towards the Market and the Tourism Centre
and stopped at the harbour for breakfast in the sun,
afterwards we too the Fløibanen to the viewpoint over the city
from where, after meeting a Troll, we came back down
into the typical wooden houses area in the harbour
we kept going to the Bergenhus Fortress where we had lunch
afterwards we came back to the central area with the wooden houses,
that we crossed to the Aquarium and the surrounding gardened area
and wentto the hotel through the harbour, on the oposite side of the fortress
thursday we still took a stroll through the city before shipping out,
we went to the Cross Church and the Bergen Cathedral
and came back to the Market where we had fresh seafood for lunch.
and finally we went to the peer where we took the Hurtigruten ship
and where a mega buffet with all kinds of seafood was awaiting us!!
it was well worth it, I hear it was a fantastic birthday!
after a nigh of still adapting to the noise and ship motion,
we had breakfast in Ålesund and, during the first half of the day,
went through the Storfjorden heading towards the Geirangerfjorden
while the mist layer above the water would slowly disappear
and the mountains would grow and close in towards the ship!
we finally landed in the town of Geiranger
to come back by bus, through the several viewpoints in the area.
we boarded the ship back in Ålesund, but not without having before gone
to the top of the Aksla for a spectacular view of the town and the atlantic
almost at the sunset!
saturday we arrived to Trondheim in the morning, where we left the ship
and, after leaving our stuff at the hotel, next to the train station and the peer,
we went into the town, passing through the pedestrian street of Nordre Gate
we went to the Market Square and from there to the Nidaros Cathedral
after having lunch by the Nidelva we went up to the Kristiansten Fortress,
past the Old Bridge and the old wooden warehouses
and after one more icecream in the sun we came back to the hotel,
first stopping at the train station to buy a certain ticket...
sunday was a long day back, spent in transportation...
it started early leaving Trondheim for the train trip (7 hours),
through landscapes filled with snowy mountains and endless lakes,
in the middle we had 4 hours of waiting at the airoport (very boring)...
and finally we arrived in Darmstadt in the evening, ready to go sleeping!
it was a fantastic trip filled with grand landscapes,
and always lucky to have the sun and warm weather following us!!
on saturday we had breakfast in one of the many Deli de Luca
and afterwards went past towards the Domkirke, passed the Opera building
and the headed towards the Akershus Fortress were we took a stroll.
we went back into the city, passing by the Parliament bulding
and stopped at Karl Johans Gate for lunch, with a view of the Royal Palace
afterwards, we went through the Royal Palace's gardens to the Bogstadveien,
towards the Frogner Park, where all the Vigeland Park sculptures are
after enjoying the view, we went to spend the rest of the day in Aker Brygge
eating ice-cream, taking some sun and watching the sea at the Oslo Fjord
on sunday we left towards the Margaretakyrkan and the Trefoldighetskirken
afterwads, we crosssed the Karl Johans Gate again, past the National Theatre
and went to take a peak at the City Hall building and the Nobel Peace Center.
close by, we took the boat to the area of the Viking Ship Museum
after a stroll through the museum area, we came back to Aker Brygge,
where once again we enjoyed the sun and watched the boats and the sea
monday we left early by train in the Bergen line towards Myrdal
crossing the spectacular Hardangervidda plane (with snow and everything)!
in Myrdal, we took the Flåmsbana (impressive engineering work)!
and spent the remainder of the day at the end of the fjord, in Flåm,
were there is nothing else to do except enjoying the fantastic landscape
on the next day we woke up with the Sognefjord in our bedroom window!
and stayed in the sunlight, while we waited for the train.
we wend back up in the Flamsbana towards Myrdal (back to the snow)
and there we took the train to Bergen, to complete the journey!
arriving in mid afternoon, we went to the typical Pepes for a pizza for lunch
(at 5 pm, when many noruwegians were already having their dinner)!
afterwards we went to the Johaneskirken in a typical wooden houses' area,
went past the Bergen Museum and the Botanical Garden
and came down to the Lille Lungegårdsvannet before going back to the hotel
we left in the morning towards the Market and the Tourism Centre
and stopped at the harbour for breakfast in the sun,
afterwards we too the Fløibanen to the viewpoint over the city
from where, after meeting a Troll, we came back down
into the typical wooden houses area in the harbour
we kept going to the Bergenhus Fortress where we had lunch
afterwards we came back to the central area with the wooden houses,
that we crossed to the Aquarium and the surrounding gardened area
and wentto the hotel through the harbour, on the oposite side of the fortress
thursday we still took a stroll through the city before shipping out,
we went to the Cross Church and the Bergen Cathedral
and came back to the Market where we had fresh seafood for lunch.
and finally we went to the peer where we took the Hurtigruten ship
and where a mega buffet with all kinds of seafood was awaiting us!!
it was well worth it, I hear it was a fantastic birthday!
after a nigh of still adapting to the noise and ship motion,
we had breakfast in Ålesund and, during the first half of the day,
went through the Storfjorden heading towards the Geirangerfjorden
while the mist layer above the water would slowly disappear
and the mountains would grow and close in towards the ship!
we finally landed in the town of Geiranger
to come back by bus, through the several viewpoints in the area.
we boarded the ship back in Ålesund, but not without having before gone
to the top of the Aksla for a spectacular view of the town and the atlantic
almost at the sunset!
saturday we arrived to Trondheim in the morning, where we left the ship
and, after leaving our stuff at the hotel, next to the train station and the peer,
we went into the town, passing through the pedestrian street of Nordre Gate
we went to the Market Square and from there to the Nidaros Cathedral
after having lunch by the Nidelva we went up to the Kristiansten Fortress,
past the Old Bridge and the old wooden warehouses
and after one more icecream in the sun we came back to the hotel,
first stopping at the train station to buy a certain ticket...
sunday was a long day back, spent in transportation...
it started early leaving Trondheim for the train trip (7 hours),
through landscapes filled with snowy mountains and endless lakes,
in the middle we had 4 hours of waiting at the airoport (very boring)...
and finally we arrived in Darmstadt in the evening, ready to go sleeping!
it was a fantastic trip filled with grand landscapes,
and always lucky to have the sun and warm weather following us!!
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