Gamle Bybro, the Bryggen and an unexpected journey.

I was explaining to a friend today about how Jim and I miss things when we go to cities. In Bergen we couldn't find the old Wharf; in Oslo we missed quite a lot, and we even managed to lose the Eiffel Tower in Paris once, so it shouldn't be a surprise that on our first trip to Trondheim we couldn't find Gamle Bybro and Bryggen (the Old Bridge & the Wharf).

As Grampa was with us we decided to take him into Trondheim and show him around (and not just IKEA!). 

After a couple of wrong turns, we found the Old Bridge, and then beautiful old timber buildings along the wharf. 

We were really lucky as the weather was beautiful (it had been very rainy in Norway for weeks before we arrived) and the kids were able to run around and make lots of noise - if you know our kids, then you know this is a Good Thing!

We then looped back around and went to see Nidaros Cathedral - the mostly northerly gothic cathedral. The kids then found the old cannons, so whilst Jim retraced him steps to find his phone, they were happily blowing things up, shouting Kaboom!

Now something you may not know about Trondheim is that it's the technological centre of Norway, and the city provides free Wifi, which is great when waiting outside yet another outdoor shop for Jim!

IKEA came next, and with full tummies and car boot, empty bladders and wallets we headed home, only to face another Stengt sign, but this one came with a diversion sign and a Man! A slight map hiccup, a detour around a housing estate (very nice too), back to the man to ask for directions, we found the diversion route which, instead of following the river valley, took us up and up and up over the mountains, past farms, beautiful pasture lands and waterfalls before finally winding its way back to the river valley.

The next time we headed to Trondheim, Grampa stayed home - I think the last loop in IKEA almost finished him off!

Arrivals

We arrived here on Monday, well technically Tuesday, following what was fairly a straight forward journey (if you include the HUGE amount of tourists on the road.....oh wait that's us too and the obligatory search at security) until 10 minutes before the gate number at Gatwick was called. The flight was delayed. Not by much - 20 minutes, but when you consider that the flight would now arrive at 11.50pm and we'd arranged to collect a hire car, it was enough to cause mild concern.

The kids, I think, were quite happy as they finally managed to play the big connect 4 set in the children's area, but Jim and I were getting more tense with each passing moment (well me really. Jim was going to sleep on the plane & I had to stay awake & look after Maisie and Ned, and also had been told to STAY AWAKE on the drive!).

The flight was called, and we boarded and we left about an hour later than scheduled, but the pilot put his foot down, or whatever pilots do, and we arrived half an hour later than planned. Although given the car hire situation it didn't really help matters, so Jim scooted through immigration on his own to get the car rather than waiting for the bags with us.

So 20 minutes later, 4 hold bags gathered, 2 pajama clad children, 3 adults, 7 carry on bags and one plastic carrier bag we were crammed into the hire car and off we set.  Only to fail at the first hurdle! The main road to Trondheim, the E6, was closed. Properly. Barriers across the road, big flashing red lights closed. Stengt.

After a brief few minutes heading along the road in the wrong direction, we turned around and following a short discussion (ahem), we went back to the garage at the airport and obtained directions.  We set off again in the wrong direction, but ended up in the right direction (if you see what I mean). Turns out one of the main tunnels was closed, so we had to go over the top!

The rest of our journey was uneventful, and we finally arrived home at 2.30 Tuesday morning. Shattered, but happy.

The one question remained, why don't Norwegians use diversion signs?

Packing

As we don't have mains water in Norway, or indeed a washing machine, we have to bring all the bedding and towels home with us, so since April it has been washed and vacuum packed and sat in our bedroom in an IKEA bag, to which we had added random items that are coming with us.

Jim then started packing the non clothing items about 3 weeks ago and then got out the other bags to take.  So our bedroom has been sort of like an obstacle course!

Today we have finally finished packing, well apart from toiletries and food for the journey.

We bought a bag weighing device which is invaluable, so each bag has been packed and weighed. Then re packed and weighed. Then re packed. Then weighed again, and in some cases re packed and weighed. Again.

There are 3 adults and 2 children travelling.

We have 4 hold bags (each weighing just under 20kg), and 2 suitcases, 1 hold-all, 3 rucksacks as carry on, plus another one when Jim's dad arrives tomorrow! Not to mention the inevitable Boots carrier bag from the airport!

Oh my god!

And the thing is, it's all essential. 

On the plus side when we come home we'll only have 2 hold bags......