Favor is such a beautiful thing. I still can’t believe I got to travel around Norway and Sweden with my mom. I’m sorry, that is just too cool! We had such a good time! As it turns out Scandinavia is WAY more expensive than any place I’ve been. For both of us to stay in a hostel it would cost almost as much as a decent hotel in the States. No thanks. So aside from one night in a hostel and two nights on a train, we stayed at peoples homes through a site called airbnb.com. Similar to couch surfing, but you’re actually paying for a room, not just a free spot on a couch. The first place we stayed was in Gothenburg, Sweden. We were hosted by the sweetest girl who gave us full access to her cute little Ikea decorated home. My mom lived in Gothenburg when she was a teenager so we had fun exploring the same streets that she used to explore. Our next destination was Bergen and there we stepped into a higher level of favor. The lady who’s home we were staying at was out of town so she gave us the keys and told us to make ourselves at home. Upon arriving in Bergen we found ourselves walking up the cutest path and into the coziest house that there ever was with a beautiful view of the North Sea. The owner had just left earlier that morning so we walked into a fire going and pancakes on the counter. I’m telling you, favor is wonderful.
I have to give my mom some major credit. She is a trooper! Guys, I am not an easy person to travel with and having been on my own for over two months has only made matters worse. I never really know where I’m going but wherever it is I want to get there fast. And then once I get there I probably won’t want to stay very long cause I’ll be ready for the next thing- whatever that may be. Then there’s my mom and she is…well, not the fastest of people. Not that she can’t move fast cause she totally can, she just knows how to really enjoy beauty and all its little details. Literally, all of them. Like the lines on the floor giving the whole house a rustic feel, and the star hanging in the hall just waiting for someone to place a candle inside so it can illuminate the darkness and bring a sparkling light. These are things I never would have noticed. Not in a million years. But I actually think these little details are crucial, especially when traveling. If you don’t notice the detail and take in the richness then it all gets boring pretty quickly. Like castles for example. I have visited so many castles while on this trip and after a while it starts to loose its spark. A castle is a castle is a castle, but castle with a marble staircase that spirals upward towards a ceiling that is decorated with magical paintings that are dripping with history and all being held up by stone pillars that have been standing for hundreds of years- that is something entirely different. But if we do not notice the detail then that same castle is only a castle.
Back to Norway- that country is seriously doing something right. We came across the most friendly and most beautiful people that there ever was. Literally every single person in that country is gorgeous. On Sunday’s everything closes down (literally, everything) practically forcing people to get outside and be productive. The entire town of Bergen was outside on Sunday either walking, running or hiking. AND all they eat is dairy and bread. Seriously, I love their ways. On our last full day we planned to take a day train from Bergen to Oslo. However, my great last minute booking skills gave way and we were stuck having to take a night train (the second of our journey. I told you, my mom’s a trooper). So anyway, that gave us another full day in Bergen with no agenda. The weather in Bergen is completely unpredictable. It is actually the sister city to Seattle and these sisters certainly love rain. However, The Lord lavished even more favor on us and we ended up having the most beautiful day. We went into town with the intention of doing a short hike up a mountain over the city. Four hours later we found ourselves with a 360 degree view that totally blew our minds. The North Sea on one side, and endless mountains on the other. Norway is amazing. Hiking up we really had no idea where we were going we just wanted to get high. Seeing as neither of us could read the Norwegian signs we just kept walking in the general direction of where we wanted to go-up. About mid-hike we came to an area where the path split 3 ways. In the middle was this:
If you’re looking for a sign, this is it! Simple and humorous, yet profound. I mean really, how often do we get stuck somewhere cause we don’t know where to go next? Sometimes ya just gotta go with your gut and see what happens. Like I always say, why not?
And now I am in Germany with one of the coolest cats around. I am staying with Kathi, a girl I met in the States 8 years ago and we’ve kept in touch via Facebook (praise God for social media). She mostly remembers me cause we had the same shirt- instant connection. We were destined to meet again:) We’ve spent the last few days sitting on trains, visiting shopping malls, and eating proper German food. It’s been so good! Then next week I am off to the Netherlands to see Gillian, my sweet sweet Irish friend from Harvest School. So much glory awaits! Oh how I love favor.