Haugesund

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Haugesund? No, I'd never heard of it either until I found it during one of my travel research days on the Ryanair website.  Just south of Bergen the pictures of it on Google didn't give it away too much. Nether the less it would cost me £35 and would be a fightback after Rhys's swift retaliation when he visited 4 countries as punishment for my sneaky Dublin excursion. It hurt me hard that trip by Rhys and I had to act fast but decided to keep this trip a quiet affair as well.

The flight was as smooth as anything and the views from the window were amazing as we descended over the glacial landscape of southern Norway. In the window I spotted a small airfield and was quite happy that we weren't going to land on that poxy thing...oh, wait, were banking, oh shit were not?! We did! Without doubt the smallest runway I have ever had the misfortune to land on. As we rapidly came in the sea was rising towards us until you could see the individual wave breaks and splashes from the wind. As soon as it felt we were to ditch in the freezing waters the planes undercarriage was met by asphalt and a sudden application of the breaks, an d more breaks. More breaks still and then that wonderful reassuring sound of the air stewardess welcoming you to Haugesund, the local time and temperature and to remain seated and seat belts fastened..."Don't worry, I hadn't taken it off throughout the whole flight", I nervously said to myself. At least Alex found the thing exhilarating.

"...oh, wait, were banking, oh shit were not?! We did!..."

It was december and I just knew Norway was going to be freezing and it being on the North Sea coast surely wasn't going to make things any less harsh. As it turned out the weather wasn't that bad. A nip in the air granted but nothing like a stereotypical Norway in winter. The building s were though however. Timer cabins with smoke coming out of the thin small steel chimneys and slatted window doors that would keep in as much heat as possible and no doubt those pesky mozzies in summer.

The landscape was rugged on the coast and the flora was windswept and coniferous.  The village itself was deserted and quiet but the hostel was warm and friendly although to escape from the hostel owner who had eaten 3 AA duracel batteries and wouldn't stop taking was a different matter.

Our stay was one involving strolling around the village and taking time in drinking our over priced beers. "Saviour it honey, sip honey, sip!" I demanded after finding out it was my round next.