Sunset and Climbing

A super sunny and icy week is ahead, which wants to be used.

After a successful ski weekend and the still ongoing super weather, Pia and I were on the road again on Monday. This time without skis, because uphill we are simply faster on foot and also more flexible with the paths. In addition, we could only go out into the fresh air after the lectures, because we are here to study a bit as well. It had been announced sunny weather and below-zero temperatures for the entire week, so after the heavy snowfall on Sunday, all the snow promised to remain for another week. Fløyen was our destination again this time, but we chose a smaller, narrower and less traveled path. It was partly very steep and at these points our thoughts were already wandering into the future when we should go down. But otherwise the path was a nice surprise and had a swing again. Arriving at Lake Skomakerdiket, we actually wanted to take the path to the phenomenal viewpoint that I had discovered yesterday, but we were only on the tracks of children who had gone uphill to go sledding and ended up at a viewpoint. We stayed there for the rest of the trip, enjoyed the view and watched the sun go down. I'm not quite sure, but we might have been at Granbakken, a former ski jumping hill. It was demolished in 1991 and since 2013 there has been a wooden tower from which you can overlook the valley into which Bergen is squeezed. To the west, we could even catch a glimpse of the North Sea behind the islands off the coast. After the sun had disappeared behind the mountains, we walked back down the path. We didn't enjoy the steep sections where we could have fallen. After helplessly sliding down on my feet and even around the curve, Pia wasted no time and slid down on her butt. It was actually quite fun and we were both curious how the Norwegian behind us would handle the spot, but he boringly squeezed himself along the edge to the bushes and trees. We were a little disappointed because the Norwegians always seem to glide over the difficult spots. At least that's how it looks like. 

Here's our route, very funny: we walked on water. https://www.komoot.de/tour/311860972?ref=itd&share_token=aSL5pDv9JK2LetTszUQR2ZfYOmfIKQzdwP1AMPTwZFgCLiFQn8

Unfortunately, on Tuesday we have so much university that we don't have much sunlight left at the moment. But on Wednesday I took advantage of the opportunity again, because, as I said, sunshine and snow are rare in Bergen, and I went up to Løvstakken to explore the slopes. Pia was unfortunately busy with university again. I actually planned to hike to a small lake called Langatjørna, which was below the summit. The first path was wide and cleared and I even spotted the radio antenna of Rundemanen, but I missed the turnoff to the lake and decided to take another path. But I couldn't find the path either. And it happened again that a Norwegian spoke to me. He asked if I wanted to warm my hands by the fire. Maybe they are less afraid of you when you are alone. Or maybe I just look more helpless alone. After a brief conversation about the path, I turned back and tried to find the first one again. I actually found a few tracks, but even without snow, the path must be only a small trail and poorly visible. So I followed the tracks and checked on my phone to make sure I was really on the right track. I was a bit further downhill than the path on the map. That's why I tried to find the path by going cross-country through the snow. After a short distance, I returned to the trail, as progress was really difficult through deep snow and forest. The tracks actually led to the lake after a small detour. But it was still a bit of a stretch. Without snow and ice, it wouldn't have been a problem, but under the given conditions, I finally convinced myself, climbed back down, and followed the path back. Turning around, even if it's reasonable, doesn't feel so masterful, despite having covered a good distance. So I consoled myself with a detour to Gamlehaugen Castle. The sea was frozen and fog crept over the ice. I watched as the shadows grew longer until the air and my body temperature dropped so much that I had to move again and returned home. 

The whole week remained sunny and icy. The building we live in is lined with wood on the inside and cracks loudly from time to time when it tears. Since it wasn't like that at the beginning, I assume that it cannot quite withstand the temperature difference between heated rooms and the cold outside. In any case, it's quite startling. In Norwegian, we have to write our first submission about our eating habits. I now have a list of noodles on which I make a mark when we eat noodles together in the evenings. I emphasize the 'together' because Pia also likes to cook herself a portion for lunch between lectures. I'm curious how full the list will get. We have also tasted a Norwegian specialty in the meantime. A brown goat cheese, called Geitost, which tastes like caramel. Norwegians eat it on bread and waffles. It wasn't really our thing, but as a cheese sauce with noodles it's very tasty. So we don't have to struggle to use it up.