Hanne-ut-i-verden

More pics from the G8 demo.

2007-06-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

A police officer got hurt and needs help from his colleagues..
Stop talking - act now!
The radicals chopped pieces of stones from the street..
Me and Dani- peace

G8 Demonstration

2007-06-03T09:01:00.000-07:00

Dani prepared for anything...
Gute Nacht G8... and police on the bridge, of course..
A demonstrant interviewed
The rebells ;) or not so much, really..
This road was crammed with police cars. Crazy!

I was at the G8 Demonstration in Rostock and damn it was crazy. It wasn't unexpected, but it was still a bit scary to see radicals dressed in black throwing stones and bottles at the police, and the police answering with water canons. The city was chaotic, but fortunately it was safe by the stage where the appeals and concerts were, so my friends and I stood there most of the time. I did manage to take some photos, though. More photos from the demonstration in the next post!

I wrote a letter to the Vice-President of the USA.. and the President..

2007-04-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

I am probably not the only one who is in despair over America, the Americans and the freakin' American politics. I decided to write a letter to the Vice-president, so I at least feel that I have done something good in this sick, screwed up world. Not that it will help. This is the most fucked-up country in the world, and at the same time the most powerful country. If this countinues I see no hope for the future.

Dear Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush,

This is not something I enjoy writing, but this can not pass in silence anymore.

I am not sure if you are aware of the fact that the world is laughing at the great U.S of A, we have no respect for you anymore whatsoever. You lost that respect quite a few years ago, and the next president will have a gigantic job ahead of him trying to fix the image of your country.
I could be aiming at the war in Iraq or the war in Afghanistan, but that is old news. Obviously the incident at Virginia Tech yesterday is my concern this time. How many more innocent people have to die untill you realize that your politics on guns and arms are screwed up? Do you really believe that the more people carrying guns, the safer your country is?? Is not this incident and the other numerous episodes with weapons in the USA the answer of the opposite?? How about if you would actually FORBID weapons to the common public?? I don't know about you, but I would not have liked my mentally ill neighbour walking around with a gun or ten (nor my 2 year old brother for that matter). And it seems like there are quite a few mentally ill people in America... No offence, but with your politics you are raising a whole people with sick, sick minds and opinions. And these sick minds will be (and are) the most powerful people in the world, playing world police and with power to execute whatever they might desire. I think it is sad, that the country who once was looked upon as the land of possibilities now is the laugh of the world."The American dream" is over, and we pity you.
I do, however, want you to know that we are grieving with you for the loss of more than 30 students at Virginia tech. I do not know if the worst part is that it will happen again or that this whole incident could have been avoided by You Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush.
Yours sincerely,
Hanne Espolin Johnson, Norwegian student.

Auf Wiedersehen, Eusebio!!

2007-04-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

Our friend Eusebio left for Spain, and this is the last dinner together. Great spot, never been there before. The restaurant is called Weinsteinkeller (I think), and it's mideval style. No cutlery, you eat with your hands! And it's ok to burp and behave a bit "mideval". Here you can try "Viking blood" or other mideval specialities.. And the food was great! A must, if you're ever in Stralsund :)
Hasta luego, Eusebio! Stay in touch!!

Hungry!!!!

John and Eusebio

Lolo

St.Patricks Day and my birthday!

2007-04-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

We're all taking "a Maris

Lolo, me, Sofia and Pia
The slow satanist, me and the couple

The late update has nothing to do with having my hands full down here in Germany, I must simply admit that I've been max lazy lately and haven't felt like it.. But here comes some pics from St.Paddy's day.

We thought we had seen it all here in Stralsund, but obviously not. We ended up (by chance) in an IRISH PUB I didn't even know existed in this town! It was great, and we spent the night talking to a couple who own a restaurant in the city centre, a german guy who thought he was irish and a slow satanist.. A great mix of people you normally wouldn't spend time with, that's for sure. We missed Maris, our latvian friend so much, so we all decided to "take a Maris" on this pic. To all of you who don't know what "a Maris" is I need to give some background info. Maris tends to have a problem keeping his eyes open on pictures.. It's chronic and absolutely hilarious.. So we all went for "a Maris" except from the german guy who thought he was Irish.. If you look closely, the slow satanist behind me actually is joining on taking "a Maris"! FANTASTIC.. Oh, and turning 25 wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.. It went quite well, and I had loads of fun with Pia, Sofia and Lolo and the weird bunch at Bengunn :)

Pictures from Germany

2007-03-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

Stayed a few days with Anna Lena in Bardowick, just outside Lüneburg and not too far from Hamburg. Had a great time, and hope it won't be long till we see us again :)

Pictures from London

2007-03-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but for some reason there are loads of Volkswagen T2's in the UK. I love it! Most of the pictures are taken at Portobello Road in Notting Hill. The last picture of Raj and I :)

Pictures from Plymouth and Exeter

2007-03-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

Claus with my headlight! Got to love that headlight... The rest of the pictures are taken in Exeter, a good looking city with loads of old buildings.

Pictures from Bristol

2007-03-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Bjoern, Claus and Matthias trying to find their way around in Bristol. Bristol was ok. I especially liked the colourful houses :)

Pictures from Cardiff

2007-03-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

The first picture taken at Cardiff Castle. Went to a jazzconcert with Giancarlo, the Italian I stayed with in Cardiff. Photos of Giancarlo and John Etheridge, the guitarist. The last picture is of the Milennium Stadium during the Carling Cup finals between Arsenal and Chelsey. Great atmosphere, Insane British...

More pictures from Salzburg

2007-03-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

The statue of Mozart, the pride of Salzburg. And the backpackers! We shared room with this german guy who kind of looks like Ewan McGregor when he smiles.. Don't remember his name, though.. But he's half english so I guess they could be related in some way!

Pictures from the city of The Sound of Music- Salzburg!

2007-03-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

Some images of Salzburgs famous Sound of Music places. The one of me on the bridge.. Not sure if I'm streching or trying to copy one of the scenes from The Sound of Music.. hehe. The castle is huge, and the beautiful city is surrounded by a magnificent scenery. Defenitely a city you want to go back to.. Oh yes.. And it's not only known for The Sound of Music, it's also the birthtown of Mozart for those who are interested ;) More pictures in the next post..

Partypictures from Rapoldsberg

2007-03-14T10:19:00.000-07:00

The first picture is in the restaurant at Rapoldsberg. Beer and the famous "Schnaps" for the guests! And one is never enough... "Mum", Thomas and Daniel. The rest of the pictures is taken the last night, and we all had a bit too much to drink.. Getting up the next morning was hard.. And still we keep doing it.. What the heck is wrong with people!

Pictures from Mühlbach am Hochkönig

2007-03-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

Went skiing with Daniel for a few days in the Alps. We lived at Rapoldsberg which is run by Thomas and his mum. Great place, and great people! Skiing was so much fun, and we had the best weather one can ever dream of! In the next post, some party pictures from Rapoldsberg ;)
Check out their web page if you feel like going skiing or hiking in Austria. I guarantee you great service and a good time! Check out the link to Rapoldsberg under links on the right side on the top of the page!!

More pictures from Innsbruck

2007-03-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

Ingo (the guy whose couch I surfed in Innsbruck) and I are testing his waterpipe. Great fun! Pia is posing on one picture.. Innsbruck is THE city for exploring ;) haha..

Pictures from Innsbruck, Austria

2007-03-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

The first picture is taken at an Irish pub.. And 1 second before this picture was taken you could see that guy's entire but!! Pia was stunned and shocked, as you can see..
Innsbruck is a lovely city who also deserves more pictures in the next post ;)

More pictures from Liechtenstein

2007-03-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

Just had to add a picture of Pia and the fantastic duvet cover!! You got to love that colour!

Pictures from Liechtenstein

2007-03-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

The first two pictures of the family who's couch we surfed in Vaduz. Great people. Hope to see them again in the future. They really were patient with our very poor german...And their 5-year old Noah was so adorable :) Liechtenstein has a great scenery. So great, that I in fact have to upload some more in the next post ;)

Pictures from Bern

2007-03-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

Lived with Onna in Bern as well (that's where she studies). Also met Pia there, and we managed to go sightseeing one day. Took a tram up to a hill where we had a view of the city. A bit foggy, but it's Bern in the background..Think it was a nice city. Didn't get to see too much of it, though, so I will probably have to go back.. Oh yes, and that statue is the childeating man.. Creepy...

Pictures from Luzern

2007-03-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

One of the city's two beautiful bridges from the midevals on the two first pictures. The third picture is the reason why I ended up on the couch of Tobias, the couchsurfer whos couch I surfed a couple of nights while in Luzern. Great guy with great flatemates. Had a fantastic stay, and hope to do that again.. Tobias' favourit comicbook writer is called Lewis Trondheim.. And since I'm from Trondheim.. ;) hehe.. It's good being a trønder ;)

Pictures from St.Moritz

2007-03-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

As the interrailer I am I had to take a picture while on the train ;)
St.Moritz was an interesting place, very beautiful scenery, but unfortunately with annoingly rich people.. Who wears pearls and jewelry while skiing anyway?? I'm sure champagne in the slope is nice, but I wouldn't share it with a MAN in a FUR COAT.. Or a woman in a fur coat for that matter... Damn, it's good being poor ;)

Pictures from Domat/Ems in Switzerland

2007-03-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

Domat/Ems is a beautiful little village not too far from Chur. Onna (last picture) grew up there, and her parents still lives in the chalet on the second picture. I had a great 3-4 days with Onna and her parents. Met Onna while travelling in Ireland a couple of years ago. We worked at Kilronan Hostel at Inishmore for a period of time.. She wrote songs, I.. eh.. well, I had a great time anyway..

Austria

2007-02-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

Innsbruck is a lovely city located in Tyrol with wonderful surroundings. I would love to go back sometime and stay with Ingo, my new friend from Austria. Great guy, you just gotta love him! Pia and I went to this Irish Pub (No, it does never get boring!) and met 3 crazy Londoners.. Will hook up with them in London on sunday I suppose :) Innsbruck is probably the most beautiful city
I´ve ever been to. The altstadt was simply beautiful. Yup, will def go back!!

Met up with Daniel in Bischofshofen, and we spent 5 days in a cabin which is run by mother and son Hannelore and Thomas. The cabin is located in Mühlbach am Hochkönig. Great people, and great fun, although I think I´ve had enough SCHNAPS for the next decade. Those austrians know how to drink.. And they know how to get others drunk as well... tihi...
We went skiing for 3 days in FANTASTIC weather, and I think that if I had stayed just a couple of days more they would have sernt me straight to Aare and the World Championship. It´s too close to home, so I got out of there, before they got that far... Thomas was also a ski instructor, and hopefully next time I can give him lessons.. After all, as a true norwegian I am born with skis on! We are told that every easter, so they better not come tell me differently!

The journey continued to Salzburg and the city of the Sound of Music!! I finally realized I´m not alone having seen the great musical with Julie Andrews and the Family Von Trapp. You would think so though. I asked all people I met in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria, and none of them had ever heard of this great musical! Untill Salzburg, which even organize SOUND OF MUSIC TOURS!! AND at the hostel, they showed the movie every night at 20. Gotta love Salzburg. Not only because it´s the city of Sound of Music, but also because of the people, the marvellous altstadt and Mozart of course...

Liechtenstein

2007-02-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

I have been in Liechtenstein!! It´s probably not the most interesting place on earth, being less inhabited than the city of Aalesund (for those of you who know that..), but it is a beautiful country and I´ve been so lucky to get to know a great family there (and I´m pretty sure I saw the prince as well...) Really..

Switzerland

2007-01-31T10:59:00.000-08:00

Spent a few days in Domat/Ems with the parents of a friend of mine. The Swiss Alps are great! Imagine arriving after sunset and you don't have a clue what's around you, and then waking up to sunshine and surrounded by mountains! FANTASTIC!!
Spent a day in Chur, cute little town, and of course I just had to spend some time in St. Moritz with the rich and famous!! I didn't feel like I blended in exactly, among women (and MEN) in fur coats, champagne on ice in the skiing slope and pearl necklaces... Oh well, it was fun, AND it was beautiful!
In Luzern at the moment, my hosts are taking good care of me, feeding me with beer and giving me a place to sleep :) It's good. And Luzern is a really beautiful city. Tomorrow my journey takes me to Bern where I will stay a couple of nights at Onna's place. I'll meet Pia there on friday, and go with her to Liechtenstein and Vaduz!
I also believe that an IRISH PUB awaits me in Bern, so I have a feeling I'll be all right. (Nicht wahr, Onna???) Don't think Pia will mind that either... ;)

Take care, write me e-mails, keep me updated, and should you know anyone in Wales who has a couch available between 18th february- 3rd march, let me know!!!

QUÖLLFRISCH

:D

The World conquerer!! Morgen geht's los!

2007-01-26T09:17:00.000-08:00

So, once again I'm off to conquer the world, and this time I thought I'd go for the Swiss, Austrian and Liechtensteinian (?) Alps. This is my planned route so far:

27.-29.january : Chur (Switzerland)
30.-31.january: Bern (Switzerland)
1.-2. february: Bern
3.-4.february: Vaduz (Liechtenstein) Don't need much time here.. The family I'm gonna live with here said I can see the country in 10 min if I want to! haha
5.-6.february: Innsbruck (Austria)
7.-12. february: Maria Alm (Austria)
12.-14. february: Salzburg (Austria)
15.-16.february: Munich (Germany)
17.february: Essen (Germany)
18. feb-3. March : England and Wales
3.-??. March : Hamburg!!

I will for the first time try Coachsurfing (www.couchsurfing.com) which means I'll stay at different people's places along the way. This way I'll meet natives and get to experience the different cultures in a unique way. I'm looking forward to it ALOT, and hope it will be a great experience!

Bis März and take care! Keep moving and stay in touch! I'll try to update my blog as I go, so check in every now and then.

Erasmus Farewell Party!

2007-01-20T04:11:00.000-08:00

Agne and I

The happy couple, Gosia and Alex and the fantastic food-table with the Käseigel!!

The rock'n'rollers with a fantastic performance!!

Almost all Erasmus students ;)

If you're wondering why I haven't updated my blog in a while there's a very good reason for that. January has been the month from hell, with 6 exams and still one assignment to write. However, the Erasmus Party was a great end of a crappy month of exams! Loads of sangria, beer, wine, entertainment and fun!! And the result you can see from the pics :)

Agne and I arranged the party, which turned out to be a success! Thank GOD many of the Erasmus will still be staying one semester, but sadly some are also leaving.. WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, AND HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON!!
:)

Feliz año nuevo! Frohes neues Jahr! Bonne année! Godt nyttår! Happy new year!

2007-01-01T12:50:00.000-08:00

Celebrated New Years with my friends Lena and Elisabeth. They made fantastic dinner and we celebrated the rest of the evening with music and drinking games before we went out at midnight to watch the fireworks! Fantastic fireworks this year by the way. After midnight and loads of beer we headed into town and Rock City. Twas cool ;)

Happy new year everyone! May it be a year filled with love, friendship, and all things that are good ;) May all your wishes come true! And if they don't there's always next year.. :)

Boxing day party!!

2006-12-27T12:06:00.000-08:00

We survived also this years traditional Boxing Day party. We started at Sture's place with a norwegian vorspiel. Finally people who know how to party!! Great music, great people, loads of alcohol and some snacks :)

NOTHING beats the norwegian way of drinking and celebrating a good time. Who needs snow when you can have fun without. STRALSUND and ERASMUS people, you have so much to learn!!
Some pics might not be very flattering, but hey, twas fun!

This is where I've been in the world. Still many places to see :)

2006-12-27T09:37:00.000-08:00

create your own visited country map
or check our Venice travel guide

Volkswagen T1- The car of my dreams

2006-12-27T02:44:00.000-08:00

Let's grab a guitar and drive through Europe in this baby... Pia found me the Flower Power T1 at Miniature Wonderland in Hamburg. Now, this is a car with personality!

Haggis and Dahls Julebrus

2006-12-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

There is no Christmas without the annual HAGGIS and DAHLS JULEBRUS night at Marianne's place..

Haggis is gooooooood!

Do they know it's christmas time at all??

2006-12-26T09:32:00.000-08:00

I certainly have a hard time realizing it's December and Christmas.. 10 degrees, rain and storm is not everyday business this far north.. It's sad, really, but we've got christmas tree, christmasfood, christmaschocolate and of course the christmas-family-love ;) What more can you wish for?

All my nieces and nephews :) Sverre, Ingrid, Lovise, Vebjørn and Live.

joining the blogmania...

2006-12-26T09:10:00.001-08:00

I'm not a computer person and I never will be. But lately everyone's been talking about blogs and how easy they are to set up. Update your blog and you never need to write another e-mail. Fantastic! At least I thought I'd check it out to see what it is.. I might not stop writing e-mails right away though... Enjoy!
Comments are of course welcomed :)