It was a good job Aimi forced Kai to pick us up early. 2 miles towards the airport she realised she had forgotten her phone and we had to loop back to get it.
Today was a full day of travel, even though we only had 2 flights of about an hour each. Aimi likes to get to the airport early and mill around. Normally I avoid shopping like a key avoids a lock after a heavy night out drinking. I’ll go in, but only with some concentration. I wanted some sunglasses and hopefully, as it was duty free, they would be cheaper. Of course, this is a complete myth. I’d actually bought a pair of SuperDry glasses a couple weeks ago so I found the same pair at the airport and checked my bank. They were £5 more here! Luckily, eagle eyed Aimi spotted a deal in JD sports so I indignantly bought some there.
Arriving early we had time for a nice breakfast while waiting for the gate to be announced. Because we were too lazy to get up, we used our phones to zoom in on the departures board. Now I see why Aimi’s phone costs £400 more than mine!
A packed plane ride later we arrived in Schipol, Amsterdam. I remember from our family trip to Tanzania we passed through here and the staff all got around the huge airport using push-along scooters. Great idea! Well now they have one better. Self driving wheelchairs! You literally sit in them and select the gate on the screen and off it trundles. A bit like the flag waving men walking ahead of the automobile when it was new, this little robot gives out occasional inoffensive beeps to warn of its approach. I was very tempted to give it a go, but as I’ve still got a useful leg (singular) and the other is not perfect but still functioning, I left them for more needy folk.
Boarding our next plane it was only about 1/3rd occupied. I asked if I could move to a seat with more legroom and was politely looked up and down before being told that, “for the balance of the plane…” it was important that everyone sat in their assigned seats… thanks!
Norway appeared out the window and greeted us with clear skies, beautiful clear oceans and hundreds of rocky islands. Other than being unsure of its own location, Bergen airport is very modern and beautifully finished with a neatly integrated train station. It makes me embarrassed about the rattly dirty old infrastructure in the UK.
After a short walk in circles trying to find the rental car pick up point, we discovered our Toyota Rav4 for the week. This thing is massive compared to the Kia Ceed. Being brand new, it basically drives itself. I think this is because it’s too anxious to let you do it. The panic beeps are incessant! Rental cars used to be made of tougher stuff. This one gives an anxious beep even before it opens the boot. Want to turn it on? Better have your foot on the brake or you’ll get another beep. Beeps when it reverses. Beeps when you drive forwards. Beeps… so many beeps. After a while, some of them started coming from me.
Arriving at our hotel for the night we were knackered so, other than being distracted by giant pin ball and shuffle board, we had dinner and went to bed. I had briefly taken a walk up to the gym on the top floor, but this was hotter than a sauna so I took my photo and left.
