With the European Summer quickly coming to an end, it was time to step it up and pack 4 destinations in 4 consecutive weekends. Scotland, Norway, Belgium and The Netherlands.
SCOTLAND
This is the second time we've been to Edinburgh, but this time was purely for the festival. I say the festival because during August, the city has about 5 different festivals running at the same time for a number of weeks. The result is a buzzing city, with limitless options on entertainment and a sea of people to watch it all go down.
So with this being so popular, flights were insane, so we looked at other options. We were particularly keen on the train, due to the fact the train travel is just so comfy. But it was not cheap either. So we balanced it out by doing an overnight bus mission on the way up, and the train on the way back. We boarded the bus just before midnight in London and landed in Edinburgh at 7:30am. It was a clear, crisp morning and the streets were quiet. Just enough sunlight that that late drinkers have now passed out somewhere and the rest are still tucked in bed.
We headed straight for our favourite coffee shop, but were even too early for it. Eventually it opened and we got out fix and made us forget about the bus. Next, was to plan what to see and do. We headed to the half-price hut that has a ridiculous amount of tickets for the day at cheap prices. To give you an idea, there would have have been at least 100 shows listed for that day. Shows start around midday and end after midnight. Prices range from 3 pounds to 15. More popular shows sell-out beforehand and don't even make it to the half-price hut. This goes on everyday in Edinburgh for about 3 weeks. A ridiculous amount of entertainment. So we bought tickets to a musical based on 1920's London and an afternoon cabaret show. We had pre-bought tickets to a circus type show called Soap for the evening. Think 8 bathtubs on stage and people moving around on them. A bit abstract but a cool show. The rest of the day was filled in wandering the streets that are filled with people and performers doing their show in whatever space they can find. A very cool atmosphere.
The next day it was repeat with the coffee. However, we focused more on the comedy and street scene for our entertainment. Saw an amazing Canadian guy do a show on the street. Lots of juggling and contorting, but I think his stand out was showmanship. Something that is so obviously lacking in other acts.
We saw some good comedy and some bad stuff too. The good stuff was pretty much a sketch show that ran for about 50 minutes with 4 people. Just a small room, in the bottom of a pub, with about 30 people in the audience. No fee, just give what you feel it was worth at the end. This seems how the fringe started out and was great. We went and saw some comedians who were just starting in their career. About 6 comedians with a 10 minute slot each. Some struggled to last the distance. We also spent some more time on the streets, trying to watch full shows, rather than getting a glimpse as you walk past.
The sketch comedy.
Around 6pm we boarded a train and were back in London by 11pm.
NORWAY
I had been looking forward to this one. A long weekend in a country full of amazing natural beauty and lots of space and not many people. We landed in Norway around 10am on Saturday, jumped in the hire car and started driving. The first hour or so was a bit boring driving up a highway, but then you turn off and it begins.
Lots of water. Water everywhere. If Norway has a drought, the rest of the world will be a barren wasteland. Lakes and waterfalls at every turn.
We pretty much headed from Oslo in the East (near Sweden) to the fjord land in the West of the country. Lots of small villages and red barns. Strange shaped buildings that we eventually worked out were saunas. Nearly every home has one. But the fjords is what we came to see.
Whilst it is famous for the fjords, this has necessitated a ridiculous amount of tunnels. They could build a scenic road for driving around the fjord, but no, lets go straight through this chuck of rock. So along with waterfalls and lakes, Norway has a ridiculous number of tunnels. One was 27 km long. Doing 60kph thanks to the truck in front of you, means instead of a nice scenic drive you have half an hour of following the lights in front of you in a dark dingy tunnel. Not exactly the Norway I came to see or what I needed after a ridiculously early start and 5 hours behind the wheel. Anyway, we found the light at the end of the tunnel and found a campsite. Right up there with some of the most scenic ones we've stayed at.
Pretty impressive.
Rather than heading up the fjord on one of the big, noisy boats, we opted for a kayak. We were a bit unimpressed when they showed up half an hour late when we were only renting the kayak for the day and had to have it back by 6pm. But we soon found out why. A laid back Kiwi guy, who should us where they hide the key, and said bring it back when your done. Just don't steal anything. Great. Awesome. Off we headed into the big blue. The fjords are part of the ocean, but this fjord is so narrow it was calm pretty much the whole time. No wind or tide to blow us around.
We paddled for a couple of hours. Stopped for lunch, then turned around and headed home. Stopping whenever our arms got tired or we just wanted to appreciate the place. It was great to have such freedom and felt like you had it to yourself. Except for the odd other kayaker and a couple of cruise ships. We didn't any wildlife apart from a seal a few metres away for about half a second.
This shot is not recommended if you are protective of your camera. Limited flexibilty whilst stuck in a kayak with a skirt, water everywhere including on you after paddling. Worth it though.
The final day we headed back to Oslo. But this time we took the high road through the mountain plateau. A great scenic drive in the Summer. You can tell how much snow this place gets in Winter by the guide posts on the side of the road at about 3 metres tall. It was cool alpine scenery. Lots of villages and ski towns. And one big glacier that we saw from a couple of angles.
We headed back to the airport. Thought we had heaps of time but ended up doing 130 kph down the highway and still only made it to the airport 40 minutes before we were due to depart with our friends Ryanair. Luckily for tiny airports. Norway was great and as I expected. Expensive, lots of big open spaces and amazing scenery.
BELGIUM
We headed back to Belgium for a second time. But this time we headed to Brugge, a smaller city to the North. We used our free Eurostar trip we earned for getting stuck on the train for 3 hours at night, in the middle of Kent, back in February.
A great European city. Old, lots of canals, lots of cafes, lots of tourists. Cyclists everywhere. We had no real plans and were keen on a relaxed weekend after Norway. Agenda consisted of eating, drinking and walking.
Eating was waffles, chocolate and frites (fries with mayonaisse).
Drinking was the beers that are oh so delicious.
And walking, to work up an appetite for either of the above.
Brugge is in the Flemish part of Belgium. A little more like the Dutch to the East rather than the French to the West. Well, they had windmills.
Brugge also houses one of the few Michelangelo statues outside Italy. I wonder if he did anything non-religious.
A friend of mine recently said that Belgium chocolate wasn't as good as Swiss. I say she is thinking to hard. It's all good, I just wish I brought a bigger box-full home.
THE NETHERLANDS
The final part of the 4-pack was Amsterdam. A quick over-night trip. Quite possibly one of the busiest tourist cities we've seen.
The trip didn't start off great. We were wandering around the city centre. Lots of people, same old stores and lots of annoying noisy machines. Not really sure how to describe them. They may have been entertaining in the 30s but now they are not. Like a pianola, but with an electric engine and drums banging and some ugly puppet like things that don't move. And not just one, but one every 20 metres. This wasn't what I was looking for.
So we did what any Dutchie would do, hire some bicycles and head to the suburbs. Amsterdam is a cycling city if there every was one. The closest thing to a hill is the arch bridge over the canal. The canals are endless. Just ride.
We got lost in the suburbs and it was great. People just slowly going about their weekend. A market here, a band playing there. It was great. Not sure why all the tourists were hanging around the city centre.
A great afternoon, doing not a lot. Just enjoying.
Lots of slanty buildings.
Not really captured by the photo. But lots of the skinny buildings are slanted on one side. Not really sure how this happens when they are built up next to each other.
One of the major tourist draw-cards is the red-light district. Obviously for the young males but it was more funny watching the grey nomads being led around in big groups with a tour guide explaining there may be some girls dancing in the window.
The next day, the weather was not so conducive to cycling so we got cultured in the Van Gogh museum. Quite a story. Decided he would become an artist when he was around 30. Only did it for 10 years and then went insane and killed himself. Only really became famous after he died.
Back to the airport. Another delayed Easyjet flight. Home by midnight. 4-pack finished. Can't wait for this weekend when we have nothing to do.
Photos Galore.
