Happy Valentines' Day!

Over breakfast yesterday morning we remembered that it was V-Day, so Sissel lit two pink candles to set the mood :) It isn't really celebrated here, but in recent years stationary stores, post office, flower shops etc. have realized it is another way to make money, so are trying to make it into something. It was clear and sunny, which just makes everything better, and so I put on my 50 layers of clothing and my sunglasses and headed out to my favorite place in Oslo, Vigelandsparken. It is a huge statue park designed by a Norwegian named Gustav Vigeland. The statues all show human relationships and the aging process. I've been there so many times in the cumulative 9 months I've lived here, that all the statues seem like friends. I ate lunch on the stairs of the monolith, enjoying the sunshine.

I walked back to town and did some shopping. At a used clothing store I bought a sweet little girl's bunad (Norwegian costume) for $30. This is the best bargain I've seen in Oslo so far, where my hot coco at a cafe the other day cost $6! I'm hoping it will fit Anya for Norwegian independence day in May. I met Sissel in town for another $6 coco down by the water, overlooking the harbor and Akershus fortress.

I had dinner at the home of some Danish/German/Norwegian friends named Martin and Maria. I met them also when I was studying here, but saw them last 3 or 4 years ago in Portland when they were studying in California. Now they have a darling baby boy named William. We had a wonderful evening together talking about a million different subjects, but a lot about Norwegian politics and culture and the changes that I noticed have taken place over the last 10 years. Oslo now has a 25 percent foreign popluation. You can hear just about every possible language on a walk down the street. I even heard Swahili once! I bet the African immigrants hate the cold. They (Martin the scientist) also told me how baby William has a better chance of marrying one of the three Norwegian princess babies than winning the lottery due to the small population of Norway (4 mill)! I didn't leave until 10:30 pm, and was a bit apprehensive about walking back to Sissel's flat so late, but even at 11 pm on Thursday the streets were full of people, mostly going between bars and cafes. Oh, BTW, I found out why there is so much outdoor seating now - Sissel told me the after the indoor smoking ban was passed into law these places sprung up overnight!

Today I play tourist some more, and this evening will head to the beautiful Norwegian woods for some skiing and fellowship and the 75th anniversary of "Nordmarkskapellet" (the Chapel in the North Woods) on Sunday. The sun is shining again, so I'd better get out there!