Mindanao Advice

After a year in Southern Spain with almost no rain, it was funny to suddenly be in the middle of winter rain, even though it was midsummer. But adapting to a new reality is easy, especially when good people surround you.

My husband and I have decided to spend the summer in Norway. Since I have always been fascinated with the fjords, we are starting our Norwegian tour in a cottage near one of them. It took us about four and a half hours by plane from Málaga, Spain, to Trondheim in the middle of Norway. It was a journey from sunny 34 degrees to 8 degrees Celsius, from sun to heavy rain, but we were well-prepared.

From Trondheim, we took a bus to Betna, a bus stop in Halsa in Møre og Romsdal. The ride took about three and a half hours. We were driving mostly through the rain, but suddenly, the sun appeared briefly. I could see there was still some snow on the top of the mountains. It was very green in the narrow valleys; the rivers ran fast, and the other passengers, mostly locals, were quiet.

Norway’s unique combination of wild, clean nature, silent people, and the highest living standard in the world makes it a favorite of mine. I love it as much as I love Spain. It’s fantastic to have the best of both worlds.

In Betna, an old friend of my husband was waiting in his car, and he took us to his place nearby, where a welcoming cottage was waiting for us. It was cold and rainy, but one of my childhood dreams became a reality. I was in the middle of a Norwegian fjord landscape and smiling in the rain. 🙂