Last day in Eigebrekk :( -- First night in Malmo :)

The day started as they have all done in our brief sojourn in Eigebrekk, gently and with tea. Again, Cate went for a swim, this time only with Wibecke. Your correspondent used the time to upload the photos to this account over the frequently-patchy internet connection.

The original plan had been for a short boat trip out to Tregde and then a late breakfast/brunch to tide us over into our afternoon travelling. However, there was a sea-fog in, so we actually had breakfast at the now-normal time of 10:00am.

Marine traffic off Eigebrekk

Then Christina skippered Kermit with Bernt and Tim around the coastline from Eigebrekk to Tregde, then back around the inner-most islands to approach Eigebrekk more from the sea. It was a wonderful little voyage and showed off the district again. The overall effect of visiting this part of Norway is summed up in too-often used words at the moment: "idyllic" and "picturesque". Truly beautiful contryside, made all the more beautiful by the warm hospitality and friendship of our hosts and their country-people. A more relaxing and uplifting weekend visit to Norway simply couldn't be imagined.

Photos of the coast as it passed by between Eigebrekk and Tregde

The less-inhabited islands just off the coast

Panoramic pastiche of Tegde from the sea

Returning to the dock at "Golden Beach"*

After the voyagers returned, we bustled about getting ready to leave and then, in good time, Cate and Tim said sad farewells to Christina and Bernt at Eigesto and climbed into the car to be ferried to the airport by Wibecke. More tearful farewells at the airport. Cate and Tim are both finding it hard to leave this wonderful part of the holiday, Cate especially because of the low likelihood of ever being able to return.

But now separate, exciting parts of the journey are beginning. Cate is returning to Paris (unaccompanied) where she will again stay with Birgit and Eric and where she will be visited by her niece's daughter (grand-niece?), Amanda, an ex-pat Kiwi living in London, who has arranged to visit Paris while Cate is there. Tim is solo-ing to Malmo in Sweden to catch up with the Salminen twins, Vanessa (Nes) and Alexandra (Alex). Tim met Nes when she was a working-holiday-maker in Australia and particularly a barista at the ADFA Cafe some years ago. Visiting Sweden delivers on an undertaking made way back then and reinforced when they met-up again in Paris two years ago.

Your correspondent is travelling with Tim, so entries will be skewed to his adventures until his return to Paris, when they can be updated with details of Cate's adventures.

* The explanation for "Golden Beach" may not have made it onto the blog yet, and your correspondent feels that the Australian readers may take umbrage at the name applied to wooden boathouses on a granite cliff 'beach'. The story goes that when the quay was being built (~1960s), the rock that was split to build walls and footings contained a sparkling mineral (mica?) that caused the water where the chips fell to glitter, like gold. Hence, "Golden Beach".

Tim was met by Vanessa at the Copenhagen airport when he finally emerged from customs. She escorted him to the train for the ride across to Malmo, over the famous Oresundsbron bridge. They jumped off at the first stop (Malmo Central) and then caught a taxi on account of Tim's largish bag.

Alex was waiting at home to welcome them back and Tim to Sweden. There was a short period to freshen up then they all climbed in another taxi to head into town, where Vanessa had organised a surprise for dinner.

Malmo Live (from too close)

Sunset from the 25th floor

Dinner was on the 25th floor of Malmo Live in the Sky Bar restaurant. Even though dinner started at 9:00 pm, it was still light in the sky (the sun was just going down, as the photos show). Tim captured some of the views over Malmo when there was light in the sky and then again once dark fell. Dinner was lovely and the conversation was sparkling. Eventually, after midnight, Tim had to ask to be taken home as it had been a long day!

Two views of the old city

The new city (industrial area) at night

The old city at night

Cate's flight to return to Paris was mostly uneventful. Wibecke had arranged with SAS (the airline) to have Cate met at Oslo airport and assisted to find the relevant departure gate for the trip from Oslo to Paris. The woman who checked us in warned that "assistance" would mean a wheelchair and that Cate musn't take offence at that.

The flight from Kristiansand was delayed (late arrival of the servicing aircraft) and so when Cate did get to Olso, she only had 20 minutes to get to the next flight. Fortunately, the assistance was there and it included a wheelchair, and that meant that she could be sped to the Paris flight. It turns out, that flight was delayed too so there wasn't a huge panic, but the help to get to the plane was much appreciated.

Birgit kindly met Cate at the terminal in Paris and sped her safely home.