Sunday, July 15, 2012

Swiss deliciousness: Luzern




Rigi. Trains. Hiking. Mountains. Misty morning. WILDFLOWERS.


Hillsides ringing with cow bells and squeals of sheer delight.


Gondola. 


Boat.


Whilst boating.

"Sarah! We've just been chatting away! We almost missed seeing that castle! 
Oh, wait. Here come three more."



Luzern. Nussstengel. People watching. Bridges.


Best. Vacation. Ever.




Swiss deliciousness: Zurich


Switzerland: Day One


Breakfast. Boats. Bratwurst. 


Long lost exchange student reunion.


Walked 15 miles. 


Wandered into the middle of the Zurich Pride parade while hunting for a cold beer.


Chocolate covered strawberries. 3 visits to Lake Zurich. First sunburn of 2012.


New friends. Moroccan dinner. Perfect falafel. 


Swarm of starving swans and a sumptuous sunset.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Mandal, mosquitoes, and a thousand cups of coffee.


We made the most of our last three days in Norway.
Sars and I drove South to Mandal and met up with Lars. 


Mandal. Graveyard. Beach. Exploring. Cabin.

 We made a huge, colorful salad for lunch.
(Much to the pleasure of Rachael and Sarah and the prolonged hunger of Lars)



Tiny hike. German bunkers. Spelunking. Exploration. Trees. Trees. Trees.


Before we left for Høvåg, Lars invited us over for middag, where we met his dad, Øivind.
Who, by the way, is just as hilarious and crazy as his son.

"Lars is a handsome man. Ahh...I mean a handy man. A handsome handy man...just like his dad!"
-Øivind

Sarah and I, once again, throughly enjoyed ourselves.


Next day we hosted dinner at Tullen and Johan's and had a mini YWAM Norway/New Orleans reunion.

Roasted red pepper soup. Balsamic eggplant. Eclairs. 


Our new friends, Dave and Ingunn, took us fishing.


 We didn't catch anything. 
Beaver fell asleep.


Late that evening, we braved the mosquito clouds and hiked into the forest. 

We had a hard time finding our way.
Our last mossy, trail-less hike in Norway.








***

Suddenly it was time to leave. Sarah and I fought back tears all the last day.
We drove to Lillesand and ate a mournful little picnic. 


But, seriously, who can be sad when you are saturated with sunshine, beaches, and cake?


Beaver drove out from Mandal and played with us.


Kristiansand. 25 degrees. Full sun. Boating. Concert. Ice-cream. Walks. Woods.


The evening ended with a haircut and waffle making in the kitchen.

And coffee.


Sarah and I sat in Oslo airport and sulked for seven hours as we waited for our flight to Zurich. 


However, Oyvind from the hills the hills of Nepal, met up with us on his layover. 
As we were visiting, Øivind of Mandal also spotted us on the way to his flight. 

How cozy is that?
Small world.


And so we said a teary goodbye to beloved Norway. 
We will surely be back.


Onward to Switzerland!

Chums


Our last Norwegian church service. I translated to Sarah. 
It was hilarious.


Sadly, my language comprehension finally came together, right before moving away. 
A little late. I'll just have visit Norway more often.


When you are together with your best friend, there is no end to the silliness.

Late evening walks. Reading aloud. Hiking in pajamas.
Late-night kitchen scissor haircuts. Stopping to smell ALL the roses.


Sarah and I skinny dipped (behind the church) in a fjord full of jellyfish.
Scarves make great towels.


"I just need to write my biography.
 I will think it will be a best seller, and I'm only 26.
 Then we can live off the royalties in our fish taco truck,
while beautifying Christian communities.

-Sars


I mean, seriously folks, I scored on a travel buddy.

Sarah Richardson, you are fabulous.