Sunday 18 April 2010

Icelandic Roulette

Well, here we are in Oslo, in a little akward situation: We do not know how many passengers will make it. Many Norwegians try to reach Oslo by car and train - will they be in time? For most of the others the situation is hopeless, coming in from London or Paris simply doesn't work. So we scan the pier and are happy for every single traveller who arrives. And, believe it or not, when we have to cast the lines no less than 92 guests are enjoying a very quiet departure. And there's still the chance to pick up some more in Stockholm the day after tomorrow.
Those who are leaving us are taken care of - big, comfy busses are organized to take them either to Copenhagen or even Calais. Certainly a bus is better now than a train, you have a seat and your luggage is with you all the time. It is a farewell under strange circumstances, but it has a great bottomline: Everybody wants to come back, sooner or later. That's the spirit!
So we try to make the best out of it, fill the coming days with a lot of lectures and spoil our guests. And for those of you who couldn't make it: We are truly sorry, nature has indeed rained (ashes) on our parade, once again we learn that not everything is predictable and that we are left to accept what our planet does of its own accord. We do hope you will make it another time!
So, this is only a short entry, not much seen in Oslo. More will follow.