Don’t push me ‘cause I’m close to the EDGE
The day has arrived! From the port of Civitavecchia we boarded the Celebrity Edge cruise ship for our 40 days and 40 nights adventure from Italy to Australia. We have a stateroom with an “infinite” veranda that extends from the rest of the room. The main dining...
Ciao Roma
With one day available in Rome, we did a quick taster (quite literally) of everything: Pizza, gelato, the Trevi fountain, the Spanish steps, drive by of the Colosseum and many other sights in Rome.
Off to Rome
Stavanger to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Rome, Fiumicino airport to Roma Termini and finally to our hotel. By then the sun had set and it was bedtime.
Off to Rome
Stavanger to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Rome, Fiumicino airport to Roma Termini and finally to our hotel. By then the sun had set and it was bedtime.
One more day to go before takeoff
Final packing done, making sure we stay under the limit for the flight home from Seoul, checking in for the flight to Rome tomorrow, goodbye to the cats.
More of the same
Applying for visas, thinking about what to pack, having dinner with family.
Unpack, wash, pack, repeat
I checked out how our house and my cats are doing. One is still holding a grudge after that vet visit a couple months ago. I had to borrow this picture since she’s hiding out under the stairs sending me yellow glaring stares and hisses that don’t make for a good...
Pit stop in Stavanger
Thanks to the SAS MC credit card we were able to accrue enough miles to get us home to Stavanger in style. I forgot to mention yesterday that the maid in the house in LA surprised Terry in his birthday suit before we left! I don’t know who was more embarrassed. Back...
Vi syns Amerika er greit igjen
It was sad to leave Terry’s friends and their adorable kids as we drove off to LAX. It’s been four awesome weeks in this “greit” country that I’ve loved since childhood. Such a diverse nation yet still that American essence that unites the states. At the airport, our...
Fun with friends and shopping
Today, we headed to Petco, Ross, Target and all those cheap American shops to browse endless aisles of fun stuff we can’t find at home. Some of which is absolutely ridiculous (see picture). I bought some stuff for my kids, eh, cats, (no, not the costumes in the...
Dinner and a movie?
Not just dinner and a movie, but dinner IN the movies! We visited the IPIC theater in Westwood to see the newly released Killers of the Flower Moon. 3,5 hours of Leonardo DiCaprio? Don’t mind if I do. Especially in this theater with its fully reclined seats, plush...
Red eyes, dry skin
Today was mostly a haze from beginning to end. We landed with the red eye flight and I fully understand the meaning of that now. After a few hours of sleep on the flight my eyes were so tired and my skin so tight and dry and I was freezing. It felt as if my skin was a...
Mahalo Hawai’i
Our last day on the Big Island had arrived. Yes, it is called “the big island”. What it’s really called? Hawai’i. But that’s what the state is called. Yes. See the confusion? That’s why everyone calls it the Big Island. Because it’s the biggest of the Hawaiian...
Resort day
A full day at the resort. I wasn’t going to set a toe outside the resort but make everything out of what was offered right here. I managed to get Terry up early to join me for yoga class on the beach. With the view and sound of the ocean it was easy to find stillness...
We got leid
Moving on to our next location, we gathered our belongings and grabbed with us some famous Kona coffee beans and a ukulele to bring home. We handed in our Dodge Challenger that carried us around the island for the last couple of days and checked in at the Fairmont...
Welcome to the jungle
After a long day of volcanoes yesterday, we went on a jungle drive today around the North side of the Island and to Hilo. We visited Waipi’o valley lookout, caves made by lava, Akaka falls (pictured), and before visiting Hilo for a perfect Japanese dinner, we swam in...
See you later, crater
Early up for a long day of touring in our rental. Packed our bags with snacks and clothes (it rains a lot on this island apparently). We started along the south coast of the island and stopped by a black sand beach with sea turtles. We saw several of them frolicking...
Kona, more Hawaii
Our first flight on Hawaiian airlines and we were amused by their miniature sized tray tables. Landing in Kona, it was obvious that this island is not as commercial as Oahu. We walked from the plane into the airport. Or into? It wasn’t an indoor building. It was a...
Hanauma Bay and Waikiki fireworks
Terry had managed to secure reservations to Hanauma Bay, one of the best snorkeling places on the island. And it held its promise. Not only did we see numerous colorful fish and coral, but a monk seal visited the beach for his afternoon nap. These seals are endangered...
Pearl Harbor and Luau
We trekked west to Pearl Harbor to see the World War II memorial and museums. They made clear that this is not an amusement or an attraction. It is a memorial. The USS Arizona still has hundreds of soldiers interred in its hull after the attack in 1941, including some...
Relaxing
After a fully packed day yesterday and another few coming up, today was a day to chill by the pool and walk around Waikiki. The picture shows the Diamond Head mountain at the end of Waikiki beach.
Polynesian cultural center
We got up early to spend the morning driving around the North shore. We rented a car and put on the Shaka audio guide that told us about everything we saw and where to stop on the North shore. Shark cove was great for snorkeling (but not sharks though). In the...
Walking around Waikiki
We checked out the surrounding area of Waikiki with a free audio guide from Shaka guide (highly recommended). So many old, luxurious, beautiful hotels along the beach and stories about people like King Kamehameha and Duke, the Hawaiian Olympic swimmer. We walked down...
Aloha Hawai’i!
Only a few hours after we laid our heads to rest we got back up again. We didn’t get to try the wine station dispenser at the hotel but it was very cool. (Add it to my wishlist). Bus service was not very reliable but we still made it in good time, which was a good...
More SLO and a slow train ride
We finished our sourdough pancakes and went to bubblegum alley. A narrow side street with walls peppered with bubble gum as far as you can see and as high as you can reach and even higher (some must bring ladders). It was equally fascinating and disgusting. We left...
SLO
3 days in Santa Barbara were over and San Luis Obispo was next. It has once been voted the happiest town in America. Amtrak took us there after a short breakfast at the Goat Cafe right by the tracks. A couple hours later we arrived early to a closed hostel and waited...
Cat therapy
The morning started with a hearty breakfast at Joe’s cafe across from our hotel. Our waitress told us about First Thursday, which is an event where bands and art galleries and other groups come together and have a party in the streets of Santa Barbara. Her dance group...
The zoo and wharf
Using the free bikes at the Santa Barbara hotel we went to the zoo, a place I’d visited 35+ years ago and fed the goats. There was no feeding the goats this time, but I did get to say hi to them although they could not remember me. My favorite animals were the 6...
Santa Barbara and the Funk Zone
We have three days in Santa Barbara lined up next. What a city. So much cozier and more pleasant than Los Angeles and very walkable. Our hotel let us borrow bikes for free to ride up and down the long sandy beaches here. All the stores and restaurants in the Funk Zone...
Denmark?
The Pacific Surfliner took us from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. We met a former presidential candidate on the train. A complete nut job that talked nonstop all the way to Ventura about his family, Jesus, the Philippines, Trump, his ideas for his presidency,...
Venice beach and Santa Monica
We can’t visit LA without having a wander down Venice Beach and visiting Santa Monica pier and Muscle beach. A lot of interesting people (probably attributed to the legalization of cannabis…) and t-shirts and souvenirs. Everything from Hare Krishna drummers to outdoor...
Alien jerky and 50’s diner
Goodbye Vegas, hello Route 66 and LA again. We found Alien beef jerky in Baker. And not just the jerky, but an entire facility that looked like a space machine with aliens, cars and saucers. Even an alien Trump. Right down the road was also the world’s largest...
Vegas, baby
Another day in Vegas, and we packed it with a few hours at the pool, then eating out at Koi before visiting a speakeasy bar called the Lock inside the Cabinet of Curiosities, and ended the evening with Penn and Teller, a great magic show. Well, not quite. We ended...
From the City of Angels to Sin City
So, Disneyland has been taken care of and it’s Las Vegas next. On our way, we stopped by the first McDonald’s. It is no longer serving burgers, but memories. The guy working there just looked at us and sighed when we said we were driving Route 66 to Las Vegas, and...
Another day in Disneyland
This time in California Adventure Park with Cars, Avengers, the Incredibles, grizzly river run and lots more. The water show ONE at the end of the night was amazing. Definitely beats the Bellagio. We did however decide to sit down to eat today after 25 km of walking...
The happiest place on Earth!
The entire day at Disneyland! Non-stop rides, no time to sit down and eat. From 9 in the morning (because there were lines…) until midnight. It was magical! Even Terry liked it more than he thought - after visiting the Indiana Jones ride and Star Wars world. We did...
And we’re off!
Off to Los Angeles! On business class! But this is all pleasure and no business. Terry’s first time! This is so exciting! (Read in a high pitched voice). There were so many buttons to press, so many choices to make for food and drinks, and the seats lie all the way...
Family visit
We had stayed overnight at my best friend’s place and were served homemade pancakes for breakfast. Since we were in Oslo, we took the opportunity to stop by my sister and brother who we won’t see until Christmas. We had coffee, cakes, and fun conversation. In the...
Omg, omg, it’s Ricky Gervais!
We had waited a long time for this day! SAS took us across to Oslo again and Terry was excited to get free wine and snacks in row 1. He thought I was a child ordering gummy snacks and a smoothie. Then it was off to Oslo spektrum to see the one and only Ricky Gervais!...
The one and only Tore
The last day I could attend the literature festival and I went to see Tore Renberg for the n’th time. Very excited to read his new book, which is apparently something completely different. There’s already a signed copy waiting for me at home that my love gave me for...
More literature (signed this time!)
I recruited Terry to Erlend Loe’s fan club a while back when we read “Helvete” together. He has been one of my favorites since my teen years and I savor every new book he releases. Today was the release of his latest and we bought a signed copy! At Loe’s talk he...
Kapittelfestival
The literature festival in Stavanger started today and Terry and I attended a talk about gender equality from a male perspective. I love the Kapittel festival and attending all the interesting talks that makes you think. It’s an extra much needed stimuli now that...
A good chill day
I had some time with my cats and family. Yoga and tv.
Staying at the Viste Inn
We are staying with mom and dad at their “Viste Inn” guest rooms. Normally used exclusively by the Sivertsen children and family. A sudden morning, having to call in to cancel the checkup at the vet since the Black Flash is happy enough and would have more trauma...
Back home
After a good night’s sleep at Trine’s in Oslo, we said goodbye and took the train back home to Stavanger. I don’t have any pictures from today, so just adding another Cyprus cat picture. Because I’ve got loads of those.
Paphos archeological site, ice cream, and flying home
Since we had a late flight, we went to Paphos harbor and checked out the souvenirs and ice cream, and walked around the archeological site with mosaics and houses from ancient times. We got about halfway through before the sun became too hot and it was more tempting...
Wine sampling and cat hunting
Going on a wine tour the last day turned out to be a bad idea. We only regretted that we hadn’t gone earlier so we could have spent the rest of the week drinking bottles we had purchased. Today, we sampled wine but didn’t buy much. At the third winery we also ran into...
Cyprus night
Some of us stayed at the house, some went to the beach and some went to Nicosia for the day. We reconvened in Kouklia at Gabriel’s tavern for their Cyprus night with music, dancing and good food. We even joined in on the dancing and some of us (Terry) impressed with...
Pissouri beach
Half of us went to Pissouri beach, and half to the Avakas gorge, depending on who you wanted adventure and who wanted relaxation. I opted for the beach since I’ve been feeling a bit of cough and congested like half of us here this week unfortunately. Maybe too much...
BIRTHDAY!
You know those people who don’t like to make a big fuss about themselves, be the center of attention, or celebrating birthdays? I’m not one of those. So today we celebrated my birthday extravagantly with a full Barbie theme. Elena had created a super pink brunch by...