Western Europe Wiggle

A 82-day adventure by Glen Read more

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Day 33
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at 3:44 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 720 m
Spain El Goloso 40.54667, -3.6916740°32’48” N 3°41’30” W
Madrid - conference
September 2, 2015 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Attended and presented at a conference on AI applications. Appropriately held at this building dedicated to Alan Turing at the Escuela Politécnica Superior. Felt very empty, but semester might not have started yet.

The central quad area where we had lunch was a very fancy/interesting building design and had solar panels on the roof, neat! I later learned that Spain requires all new buildings to have solar panels, and has over 40% renewable electricity.

At one of the conference meals I had my first ham and ham sandwich. They do love their pork here.

University grounds were nice, with new and older buildings and some nice park areas.Read more
Ham and ham - what can go wrong lol :) - Michelle
9/7/15Reply
TravelerHaha, it was actually kinda weird. Needed something non-pig based
9/7/15Reply
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Day 36
Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 8:49 AM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 644 m
Spain Plaza de Neptuno 40.415, -3.6933340°24’54” N 3°41’36” W
1
Madrid - last bit
September 5, 2015 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
After the conference I went to the Prado museum, during the free two hours before it closes. There was a bit of a line...
Luckily they let us in quickly, as fast as they could x-ray our bags and metal-detect us. It was like the airport! They are serious about their no-photos policy here too!

Got to see lots of Picassos, a Rembrandt, and a replica Mona Lisa painted by one of Leonardo's students while the original was being painted. So I'll know what I should be able to see when I'm standing behind a huge crowd at the Louvre.

Last night back in the hostel, then off at 9am though almost deserted streets (I guess being up all night means sleeping in) onto a train going up to 300km/h through the Spanish countryside (mostly very dry) to Barcelona!Read more
:D
9/7/15Reply
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Day 36
Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 1:44 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 30 m
Spain Dreta de l'Eixample 41.39667, 2.1766741°23’48” N 2°10’36” E
Barcelona - arrival
September 5, 2015 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Arrived in Barcelona, and it already seems nice. Little fountains/parks are on many streets and there was a small pond right by the train station (#1). I particularly like that instead of just streets they have wide avenues with trees/grass, (separated) bike lanes, walking space, bus/taxi lanes, and car lanes (#2).
My hostel here looks fine but not as nice as my last one (#3).
Wandered around and came across Barcelona's Arc de Triomf (#4). Why even go to Paris now? :P
Near the Arc there was a street performance/competition of some sort. Perhaps this was traditional Spanish dancing (#5)? I didn't know what the announcer was saying so who knows!
Near the beach I came across what looks to me like a post-apocalyptic version of the Beehive (#6).
Barcelona is a bit cooler than Madrid (whew) but it has a fairly persistent smell of sewerage in many places (eww).Read more
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Day 36
Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 7:24 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Spain Plaça dels Voluntaris Olímpics 41.385, 2.1966741°23’6” N 2°11’48” E
Barcelona - beach
September 5, 2015 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Made it to the beach by around 8 pm on my first day here. It wasn't too busy - felt like most people had left for the day (although it was still light and the water was warm).
The beach felt sorta like Manly beach in Sydney - very built up with shops and likely packed during the day. I later found out the beaches in the city are completely man made for the Olympics in 1992. It also has marinas filled with fancy yachts, and a few supercars, for good measure.Read more
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Day 37
Sunday, September 6, 2015 at 3:13 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Spain MUHBA Temple d'August 41.38333, 2.1766741°22’60” N 2°10’36” E
2
Barcelona - history & food
September 6, 2015 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Did the usual history walking tour, this time featuring the Barcelona cathedral (#1, note the little angels above the door, each is unique), a quiet square with a chapel damaged by bombing in the Spanish civil war (#2) which I didn't know much about before this tour: Spain was suffering under a fascist dictator from just before WW2 until he died in the mid 70's.
Barcelona is proud of its (dangerous) tradition of making human pyramids, so we saw some modern art depicting the height of the tallest (#3). Wow.
Finished off the day with a sangria de cava (sangria made with the local version of champagne) and paella (seafood risotto), both Barcelona specialties, and another trip to the beach.Read more
Oh god kill it before it awakens and eats your face :| -Vel
9/13/15Reply
Traveler It's scary-looking seafood but I think it was well dead by the time it got to me p:
9/13/15Reply
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Day 38
Monday, September 7, 2015 at 5:30 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 36 m
Spain Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família 41.40333, 2.17541°24’12” N 2°10’30” E
Barcelona - Sagrada Familia
September 7, 2015 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Wow. I've been to a few cathedrals already but this one was spectacular. Definitely the highlight of Barcelona for me. It is what happens when you let a slightly crazy genius modern artist (Gaudi) design a cathedral. Started in 1882, it's still under construction, estimated completion 2026, funded by tickets of tourists going inside.
Amazing use of light and unique, interesting designs everywhere!
Make sure to book tickets a few days in advance - I wasn't able to go up the towers because I didn't.Read more
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Day 39
Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 1:08 PM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 4 m
Spain Barcelona–El Prat Airport 41.29754, 2.083641°17’51” N 2°5’1” E
Barcelona - bye!
September 8, 2015 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Heading to Oslo!
Just a last look at those nice big subway cars with AC and working mobile network, and wide avenues with separated lanes - London, get on Spain's level!
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Day 40
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at 1:34 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Norway Hotel THON CECIL 59.91333, 10.73559°54’48” N 10°44’6” E
Oslo - city wandering
September 9, 2015 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Oslo (and surrounding country) is beautiful!

Stefan is very kindly letting me stay at his apartment, and spending time to show me around parts of the city. Thanks so much!

Today I walked around the city myself, and found lots of greenery, fountains, and pretty buildings. The town hall (#4) is a bit Orwellian (compounded somehow by bells chiming "always look on the bright side of life" when I walked past) but it is saved by the neat wood carvings of Norse mythology around the front (#5). Turns out Odin is fairly accurately represented by Marvel movies but Tor (Thor, #6) is missing his classic goat-drawn chariot (among other things).Read more
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Day 40
Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at 3:00 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Norway Operaen 59.90833, 10.7559°54’30” N 10°45’0” E
Oslo - waterfront wandering
September 9, 2015 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Oslo has a waterfront pier area called Aker Brygge (#1,2) that's very similar to Auckland's viaduct, except fancier! There are even little water features creating streams that run down into the ocean.

Next I visited the castle (#3,4), which isn't the best castle ever but provides some great views back toward the city. Oh, and it was hot and sunny - shorts, t-shirt, and sunglasses weather, nice!

Finally made it around to the opera house (#5,6) which is an interesting, boxy structure and you can walk all around on the roof. More great views over the city!Read more
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Day 41
Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 1:40 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 32 m
Norway Frogner 59.92, 10.7159°55’12” N 10°42’36” E
Oslo - misc
September 10, 2015 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Stefan's apartment is near the intersection of Tors gate (Thor's street) and Odins gate - pretty awesome street names here!
It's also clearly pretty affluent - saw my first Tesla Model S cars (at least 3).
Finally, the Norwegian words consistently amuse me - it's like they took English and added arbitrary letters. This also means I can sorta read bits and pieces of Norwegian (like the signs in #4,5).Read more
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Day 41
Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 2:50 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 38 m
Norway Frogner Park 59.926846, 10.70173959°55’37” N 10°42’6” E
1
Oslo - Frognerparken
September 10, 2015 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
In line with my appreciation of statues elsewhere, the Vigeland statue installation (actually part of Frognerparken) was a highlight of Oslo for me. It's a park with a lot of (mostly human - naked, fair warning!) sculptures in bronze and granite. Some in quite humorous poses (#3).

There's also a big fountain, intricate bridges and gates, and a giant monolith made up of human figures. All awesome!Read more
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Day 41
Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 4:30 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 311 m
Norway Holmenkollen 59.964142, 10.67048759°57’51” N 10°40’14” E
Oslo - Holmenkollen
September 10, 2015 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Quite visible on Oslo's skyline is a huge metal structure on the hill - the ski jump column at Holmenkollen, apparently well known in ski-jumping circles worldwide (I am not in such circles).
Still, it was interesting to see (it's biiig), and provided some nice views over the city (you can go up the column itself, but it was expensive, so I just took photos from the base).Read more
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Day 42
Friday, September 11, 2015 at 3:20 PM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 79 m
Norway Sjømannskolen 59.897815, 10.76239959°53’52” N 10°45’45” E
2
Oslo - Ekebergparken
September 11, 2015 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
On the opposite side of Oslo from Holmenkollen and Frognerparken, there's another statue park, nice!
This one a collection of art from various artists (some famous, some current), set around a hilly lightly forested area. It also has some great views back to the city from the opposite side. My favourites are attached.
Some of the installations did stuff, too. Here's one that was kinda mesmerising in motion: https://goo.gl/photos/Sukh6BiHJzWxtrnF8Read more
I'm pretty sure that's just an exaggerated woman's body...
9/17/15Reply
Traveler Maybe it's art so you make of it what makes sense to you ;) :P
9/17/15Reply
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Day 42
Friday, September 11, 2015 at 5:10 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Norway Kavringen 59.897095, 10.7216159°53’50” N 10°43’18” E
Oslo - "Cruise"
September 11, 2015 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Need a cheapo mode harbour cruise? Take the ferry to nowhere!
Seeing as I had already bought a week-long public transit ticket, I met up with Stefan (who took part of Friday off work, apparently this is normal in Norway!) and jumped on a ferry that visited the islands in a loop. Lots of pretty little islands and expensive holiday homes. Also amazing weather!

Bonus: as we were returning a military boat was coming in to harbour and we cruised really close alongside.

Thanks again to Stefan for having me stay this whole time!Read more
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Day 42
Friday, September 11, 2015 at 10:00 PM
🌙 11 °C
Altitude: 289 m
Norway Voksenlia 59.966708, 10.6528959°58’0” N 10°39’10” E
Oslo - (no) northern lights
September 11, 2015 in Norway ⋅ 🌙 11 °C
No pics, as this was a (maybe) failed attempt to see the northern lights in Oslo.
The Aurora was very strong and had been visible from Oslo in the past few days, but we didn't know where to go to get a view, or what to look for, or how long to wait. Basically we didn't know anything.

So we headed near Holmenkollen to escape the light pollution of the city, wandered to the end of a road, and lurked in the darkness outside some houses, staring at the sky (the people inside might have been worried). I think there were too many nearby trees to get a horizontal-enough viewpoint to see anything, if it was there to be seen.

After waiting a while and moving around, we weren't sure if the faint glow we saw (behind the clouds that eventually moved in) was an Aurora or not. Try again in Bergen (which is closer to the magnetic north pole).Read more
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Day 43
Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 4:20 PM
🌬 6 °C
Altitude: 1,240 m
Norway Finseå 60.605978, 7.50017460°36’22” N 7°30’1” E
Oslo/Bergen - Train
September 12, 2015 in Norway ⋅ 🌬 6 °C
There's a 7 hour train ride between Oslo and Bergen, and I heard it was one of the most beautiful train trips in the world (thanks, Adrian!). Wow, they weren't exaggerating!
Farms, then forested hills and mountains, with a few lakes thrown in for good measure. Eventually we got up high enough that there was snow around, then slowly descended again, often following a river. Just amazing, highly recommended!

Bonus: if you buy tickets far enough in advance this train costs only 250 NOK (currently ~$50 NZD).Read more
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Day 43
Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 10:10 PM
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 307 m
Norway Torrfjelldalen 60.39479, 5.3450960°23’41” N 5°20’42” E
Bergen - Night Lights
September 12, 2015 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
After our failed attempt to see the Northern Lights in Oslo, I made another attempt in Bergen. Still knowing nothing about Aurora-seeing techniques, but seeing the forecast was for strong activity and not too cloudy, I decided to go up the nearest hill from my hostel: Mt Fløyen. There was a handy cable car (funicular) up the hill, so I jumped on on a whim (yay, it runs late at night and was just about to leave!). Turns out that this is one of Bergen's top (daytime) attractions, the Fløibanen! (There's a huge line in the day, none at night!)

Even at night the hilltop provided panoramic glowing views over the city. Very nice!
It just so happened that a group of other people going up were also trying to see the Aurora, so I walked with them along some (very tame) hiking tracks to escape the light. It was very nice walking around at night, but no luck once again :'(

Eventually the clouds moved in in force and it started raining, marking the end of my super-lucky-weather streak this trip. We walked back down the hill in the rain (the funicular had finished for the night by then) and it felt like a accurate Bergen experience (it rains about 200/365 days here, totalling 2,250mm per year!).Read more
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Day 44
Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 7:50 PM
🌧 14 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Norway Lille Lungegårdsvannet 60.391568, 5.32520360°23’30” N 5°19’31” E
Bergen - city exploring
September 13, 2015 in Norway ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
Bergen is apparently not important enough for a free walking tour, so I just wandered around town. Lots of small cobbled streets, a few parks, and glimpses between buildings of the small mountains surrounding the city.

The city seems focus around the waterfront (at least from a tourist perspective), including the fishmarket, where salmon (being a local specialty) was actually reasonably-priced (everything else is 2-3x the price here). I bought a little bit for an oddly fancy dinner. There are also some colourful houses (Bryggen) that are a UNESCO heritage site for some reason (this is why a tour is handy).

I also found some new tasty treats - a type of cinnamon bun (skillingsboller/kanelboller) is common here, and I also tried this coconut/custard bun (from 7-eleven, clearly traditional Norwegian fare!).Read more
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Day 45
Monday, September 14, 2015 at 12:50 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 318 m
Norway Storevatnet 60.412117, 5.33395360°24’44” N 5°20’2” E
Bergen - Stoltzekleiven
September 14, 2015 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Having only half a day to spare, and wanting to at least visit the top of a hill in Bergen in daytime, I decided to head up Stoltzekleiven (wearing chinos, oops). It's a steep track mostly made of large varying-sized stone slabs as steps. 908 steps in total, with some amazing views as you get higher up.
I think it took me about 40 mins to climb, but there's an annual race up for which the record is like 8 minutes!
It's common to go from the top along to Mt Fløyen, but I wasn't sure how long that would take and I didn't want to miss my fjord cruise (spoiler!) so I went back down the same path (later found out that's not recommended because it's so steep).Read more
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Day 45
Monday, September 14, 2015 at 3:50 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Norway Straumsbekkena 60.767003, 5.72878860°46’1” N 5°43’44” E
Bergen - Fjords!
September 14, 2015 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
My one extra expense in Bergen was to go on a Fjord cruise. I found one that was relatively cheap (100 NZD) and only took a few hours (some of them are multi-day hike/train/boat endeavours) called "Fjord Cruise to Mostraumen".

It was aboard a speedy catamaran and went to the fjords north of Bergen (not the popular/large Hardangerfjord to the south east), essentially circling the island of Osterøy (worth noting the slightly shorter version of the trip only goes back and forth along one side of the island).

Amazing scenery, of course! Just look at the photos! Also it wasn't as gloomy as some of the photos seem, it was just overcast and my phone camera kept trying to adjust against the bright sky.Read more
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Day 46
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 10:30 AM
🌧 13 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Norway Østbanestasjonen 59.911274, 10.75055959°54’41” N 10°45’2” E
Bergen/Oslo - Night train & stopover
September 15, 2015 in Norway ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
Making the most of my 7 hour train ride back the way I had come (and because I had never done it before), I decided to take a sleeper car in a night train.
It was very nice and cosy, with a 2-bunk cabin to myself, with its own little sink and even chocolates on the bed. Luxury!
Even with the provided earplugs (and my own natural ability to sleep anywhere) it was pretty difficult to get to sleep, possibly because as the track wound through the mountains it felt like I was tipping towards my head or feet all the time.
Definitely a great experience though!

Back in Oslo I had a few hours stopover, and Stefan came over to the station to meet up one last time for breakfast :)
Oslo was showing its true colours, pouring with rain, good time to leave for Stockholm!Read more
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Day 46
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 6:50 PM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Sweden Stadshusparken 59.326889, 18.05500759°19’37” N 18°3’18” E
Stockholm - arrival
September 15, 2015 in Sweden ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
[I'm not dead! Long delay due to no internet in Berlin, plus laziness]

After a rather long night/day of about 11 hours train rides, I arrived in Stockholm!
First impression is a standard modern city trying to cheat its way up the beauty scale (to some effect) by having water everywhere (#1). Not really the super-picturesque place some people had claimed.

After the train I still had enough time/energy to take a quick walk to the Stockholms stadshus (Stockholm City Hall, #2,3), a pretty brick building, right on the edge of the water (#4), and notably where the Nobel Prize banquet is held. Actually (I found out the next day) prettier than the building where the prizes are given out!

Last pic is just a random mini-park / modern art sculpture I happened across.Read more
Whew, I thought you had found a girl and settled down since you stopped updating your travel blog!
10/2/15Reply
Travelerlol, such a likely event
10/7/15Reply
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Day 47
Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 25 m
Sweden Sergels torg 59.329855, 18.06532959°19’47” N 18°3’55” E
Stockholm - exploring
September 16, 2015 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Did a walking tour in the morning, including downtown areas, some nice gardens, and the rather underwhelming Stockholms Konserthaus, where they give out the Nobel Prizes (statue out front was more interesting, #1).

I followed up the tour with Sweden's version of Starbucks: Espresso House (#2,3). Mmmmm, cream and sugar :) There are only about 4 Starbucks shops in Sweden despite the Swedes being some of the top coffee-drinkers per capita in the world. They also have a great concept called "fika": a coffee (or tea) break usually with cake or pastries.

In my wandering I also found a sweet shop with some amazing curly candy. I eventually bought two coconut-covered chocolate things which turned out to be filled with a sorta marshmallow. The shop owner assured me were very traditional but I have forgotten their names so I have no idea if this is true.

Heading south next (#6), across a bridge to the island of Gamla Stan where the old town and palace are located...Read more
They also love knocking off work after fika (which is often around 3 or 4pm)
10/5/15Reply
TravelerSounds like an enlightened society :D
10/7/15Reply
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Day 47
Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 12:40 PM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Sweden Storkyrkan 59.326435, 18.07000859°19’35” N 18°4’12” E
Stockholm - Royal Palace
September 16, 2015 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Happened to arrive at the royal palace just as the changing of the guard was happening. I'd missed (err, not bothered) seeing this in London so I got the Swedish version instead! The palace itself was very grand of course, but I've seen lots of that sort of thing already.

There was some impressive marching band formation movement and they played (among other things) the very traditional Swedish (House Mafia) song "Don't You Worry Child".
My recording of part (sorry for terrible sound): https://goo.gl/photos/Sqs3ww21sZ3wQWer6
Original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y6smkh6c-0Read more
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Day 47
Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at 1:50 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 19 m
Sweden German Church 59.323912, 18.07105559°19’26” N 18°4’16” E
Stockholm - food
September 16, 2015 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The Swedes make some delicious sweet food. They also invented cinnamon buns (kanelbulle), though they mar them with cardamon, and they're everywhere, even mini-packs from the supermarket :D
I think I might get diabetes if I lived here though =/Read more
Nom! -Michelle
10/7/15Reply
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