Criminal Masterminds

Norge, mit Norge!

Holy crap. This country is amazing. Seriously. Just beautiful. Currently, I'm sitting outside the hostel on the back deck. This deck looks out over a lake with snow-capped mountains behind it. It's a beautiful day; neither too hot nor too cold. Just sweatshirt and jeans weather, which has always been my favorite. This trip has been incredible, and it's kind of hard to believe that it's almost over. Tomorrow we get on the bus to Oslo, have a farewell dinner, then free time in Oslo, go to bed, wake up, pack, and get to the airport by 11. Then lots of traveling home. We spent time in Oslo, Bergen, Lillehammer (where the Olympics were held), Hamar, Kristiansand, and Voss. Today was Sytennde Mai (sp?), which is essentially the Norwegian 4th of July times 10. It was amazing. Something like 75% of the people we saw today were dressed in their traditional Norwegian outfits, called Bounads (sp?) which are very ornately decorated, and have different colors based on where the wearer is from. (yes, I took a million pictures in the least awkward way possible. :p) There were two parades today, a children's parade this morning, so all the little kids are walking up the street with their parents and they're all dressed up and soooooo adorable. Then at about noon we played an outdoor concert for the citizens of Voss, which was amazing. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day, about 70 degrees. I could see the mountains from where I was sitting while we were playing. For the encore, we had the bus driver, Jan Ole, conduct. It was hilarious. Then to get back at Jones, Jan Ole had Jones drive us back to the hostile. Now, don't get me wrong, I love Jones, and I trust him, but this is the man that last week asked what stop signs look like in Norway. So I buckled my seatbelt and felt a little bit better that Jan Ole was sitting right next to him telling him how to drive. Yikes.

So I can't decide if I want to be home or not. I miss all of you, but at the same time all of this is stunningly beautiful. This morning, I woke up, looked out the window, and saw the lake still as glass with the mountains as a backdrop. You can't beat that. It was incredible. So, as I always am on really good vacations, I'm completely torn. *wrinkles nose* oh well. I've had the chance to live my fairy tale, and now it's time for me to wake up and return to the real world. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to come on this trip. I've gotten to know a bunch of new people, and feel a little bit more comfortable in the band. Next year will be a blast.

But I think I'm going to go be social now. (probably not, but it's a good thought)

I will talk to you all later.

Check Facebook for pictures and stories if you're interested. I'll get them up sometime the week I get home.

Love you all and miss you lots,

~Crystal

(to Kara: I'm getting to school at 8ish on Monday. I'll be staying til 1. I work Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri, 2-9, and Sat. 12-8.)

posted by The Clarinet Goddess @ 12:38 PM