When we entered the airport building at 5.30am the next morning, we were surprised how many people were already on the move at this time. This time we had to queue to print out the baggage label and to check in our luggage. Luckily Eva had booked priority check-in, because at the normal check-in the queue had already grown beyond the barrier. This security check also went smoothly. Thanks to a coffee stand right at our gate, we finally had a coffee and a crossaint.
We still had about 1 ½ hours until departure. We took turns stretching our legs and the other looked after the hand luggage. My way led me past a bookshop. While rummaging around, my eyes fell on a children’s book for beginning readers. I thought, ‘Hmm, interesting. I already understand the first page. What’s good for reading beginners can’t be bad for me’. Deciding quickly, I bought the book because it was simply written and not too thick. In short, it was the right reading for the plane.
Here, too, the obligatory photo of the gate before I boarded the plane.
On the plane, an 85-year-old lady and her son sat next to me. She was happy that I was learning Norwegian with the help of a children’s book. I think she was a bit excited, although according to her son she had flown several times before. Anyway, we had a good chat. I was amazed at what I could already say in Norwegian. Well, she made it easy for me. Very simple sentences and when we didn’t know something, her son helped us out with English. And so the time flew by. I didn’t get very far in my children’s book, but the conversation was much more interesting.
When we landed in Evenes, Eva said, “I don’t believe it. We’ve really arrived,” and looked at the plane, beaming. I asked the elderly lady’s son to take a photo of me and Eva so that Eva could believe it. I thanked her and the elderly lady wished us a nice holiday. Who would have thought yesterday that we would arrive in Evenes one day later. Now our short holiday could begin.
In Evenes we split up. Eva took care of the rental car and I took care of our luggage. Since neither was far apart, she could ask me. Until Eva had to ask me for my driving licence, she spoke English. When the staff member (Matthias) noticed that she was speaking German with me, he started speaking German too. It turned out that he was from Germany and had been living and working in Norway for several years.
After we had completed all the formalities, we got the car keys and went in search of our car for the next few days. There was a Suzuki SUV at the car park.
Eva got a shock when she saw the SUV. “Wow, such a big one. It’s a bit big. Isn’t it?”
“It doesn’t bother me. I have an SUV at home too, but if you don’t feel comfortable then go ask if Matthias has something small, but make sure the suitcases fit in.”
“You know my small car at home. I just don’t feel comfortable with such a big car.”
“Well then, you go negotiate with Matthias. I’ll wait here with the luggage. Ok?”
And so Eva went off and then got the cute little car. It was a new car. It still smelled new. A Toyota C-HR Hybrid.
Now we had our vehicle for the next few days. Only my navigation system, which I had brought with me, could only be mounted in a place that was unusual for me. Bottom left. Eva had checked in advance that renting a car with a sat nav is quite expensive. So I took my sat nav with me.
And off we went. I liked driving in Norway, so I drove most of the time.
First destination church in Trondeness.