Iceland Norway Sweden Norway Iceland

That's the macro view of my intinerary. So of course, at each stop, everyone wanted to know what I thought of the place/people. This was because at the first stop for my connection in Iceland, I thought everyone looked strikingly alike. So have I come away with the same opinion at the end of the whole thing? Here goes:

We have to consider that I only saw one city in Sweden, many in Norway, and Iceland is small to begin with hehe. Sweden had the largest variety of people in the largest numbers. Response to that from a 'rival' country: well they have the most immigrants. But it was nice to see different kinds of people, not that I felt at all self conscious after having spent a year each in Vermont and South Dakota. It was an interesting mix, and the white people didn't all look alike either, though I was warned to expect that all girls are blond and look the same. But I beg to disagree. In 5 years I've learned to pick up on the differences. Also I have to say that Goteborg was my favourite city: bicycles, trams, the architecture and open atmosphere were awesome for a major city, 180* from the grind of NYC. A la NYC, there's also a huge public park, but it blends in rather than being an oasis in a concrete jungle.

In Norway, thanks again to Aase (LUV YA!) I got to see different sizes of cities/towns. Oslo, Bodo, Porsgrunn, Korgen, large to small in that order. Less of the mix of people but more Japanese-&-cameras. Still I got the feeling sometimes that a coloured person was a bit of a rarity, especially in little Korgen hehe, although there it was probably the combination of stranger AND colour that drew the stares. Interesting that Porsgrunn had this International festival thing going on; one day there was a Middle Eastern or Indian dance troupe, and I somehow got the feeling as if they were somewhat of a curiousity, not part of the community. Of course the people I met were great, easy-going and fun. Oslo had a bit more of the city-bustle, the congestion, and buildings of the "modern city" but parks etc. are never far away. You can always grab a coffee or maybe a 0.6L beer ;-) So Norway was the most beautiful in terms of varying landscapes, fjords, lakes, snow-capped mountains, streams, cows in front of the car, absolutely breathtaking views from aboard my 4 within-Norway flights. The weather was not the best while I was there but that brought its own charm and sometimes bewilderment to the experience. It leaves me something to look forward to when I go back, the Midnight Sun. Best view with feet "on the ground": from atop the jump tower at the Oslo Ski Museum. How do these guys decide to ski down and jump from this thing?!

Back to Iceland. "Back" because it was the first 'taste' I had of what was to come. And I was challenged to trash or uphold my initial observation that they were all alike. Comment on that: but they're all related, of course they look alike! Ok so they don't REALLY all look alike, they just look more similar than one would expect. Can I bullshit or what?! They are less unlike people in the other countries? Ummm...more of them share more features? Enough of this, like they said, alot of THEM think all black people look the same so there! hehehe Iceland was interesting to say the least, around the airport looks like the moon, some of the coast has the most amazing colours, then you will see the brightest green lush grass amidst bare rock. It is a place of contrast, bare cliffs then beautiful waterfalls, near featureless landscapes that are enchanting in their own way: maybe you are waiting for something to happen, maybe it's a calming nothingness.

There is no saying where I enjoyed the most; you simply can't make that kind of call. Each place you visit has unique traits and will hold special memories, they all contribute to the overall experience. Even the socks and sandals...