a white Christmas!

Like last year, we're having a white Christmas! It's magical.

høst i Norge

I missed Norway - and especially Trondheim - so in the first break of university, I went on a small Norway roundtrip from Oslo to Trondheim to Bergen (by plane) and back to Oslo (by train). That train ride was stunning, but also the rest of the week was lovely. It was so good to talk Norwegian again, to see old and new friends and visit old and new favorite places. I hardly took any photos, but I did take some at one of my new favorite places in Trondheim: Fairytale Cupcakes.

introduction week

Groningen. After my own lovely Erasmus experiences in Trondheim, I decided to join ESN Groningen. Best decision ever - the introduction week that just ended was the best of all weeks I've lived in Groningen, which is a little over 2 years now.

two days in Lëtzebuerg

Luxembourg. Although this country (and city) isn't more than a 2,5 hour drive from my parents' house, neither of us had properly been here before, so we sort of last-minute decided to go on a little road trip. I especially liked:

- the language. One second it sounds like German, the next second like French, but it's neither of them.
- MUDAM Contemporary Art Museum.
- the hot chocolate-on-a-spoon we got in a cute wooden café right next to the royal palace.
- the old part of the city
- and the Postman Pat-like views on our way home again.

Haldern festival

Haldern. For years, this cute little (awesome) festival right across the border from our hometown has been organized, but neither Bernie or I had been there before. We made it in less than an hour (!) and except for that, I was blown away by some other things, too:

- THE LAKE. Haldern is a small town with lots of fields and cows, and this pretty lake not far from the festival camp.
- I ran into a bunch of Slovenian girls I had a highschool exchange with years ago (!).
- Spongebob chocolate isn't only pretty, but tastes good as well.
- and basically everything being so pretty and cute and Beach House's awesome gig.

(Not much fun: I had to leave early because of a throat infection. That, combined with Germans not serving water without gas and the festival not allowing own water bottles at the festival area, made it some quite crappy days.)

when in Vienna

- make sure to visit the classical, touristic spots
- and make sure to eat a Sachertorte (!)
- visit the Hundertwasserhaus (and museum - it's one of the awesomest I've visited)
- visit the MuseumsQuartier and a museum or two - I really enjoyed MUMOK
- eat Austrian food (like kaiserschmarrn ❤), f.ex. at Café Einstein
- and visit the Palmenhaus. It's a little warm in there (obviously), but so pretty and so worth it.

a midweek in Vienna

Vienna. A city that never really called my name, but now that I'm here I'm having the best time. It might be because of the fact I'm together with so many of my favorite people from the Norwegian summer school last year, but it might also just be because of Vienna. There are so many pretty buildings here and so much delicious food.

(Also a first: not bringing my proper camera, but only my fisheye, when traveling. I'm not sure what I think about that yet.)

barefoot

Zutendaal. My mom and I drove an hour south, to Belgium, to walk a so-called 'barefoot path'. It's the first one in Belgium ánd the first time I do something like this and it definitely is a lot of fun! Simply to walk through the forest and feel all different textures. It did require some proper foot-cleaning afterwards, but it was so worth it.

poffertjes, music and de Affaire

Nijmegen. My favorite thing about the Netherlands in summer definitely are all the free festivals. My favorite? De Affaire, without a doubt. It's a weekly (or well, 5 days) festival with great artists and this year the weather forecast even was GREAT, so I figured I'd crash at my friend Yolanda's place for the complete weekend. I had the best of days and not so secretly fell completely in love with I Am Oak. Just listen to it (and the whole cd).

i was on a boat

And now I am home, my exchange adventure is over. 6 months flew by.

3 days in Oslo

Oslo. Before taking the boat to Germany (and home), my parents and I had 3 days in Oslo. It was their first time in the city, so we were good tourists - but also made sure to not miss the World Championship game from the Netherlands against Denmark. We won! And we

- enjoyed Vigelandsparken while the sun sort of set, which is still quite late;
- ate kanelbullar from United Bakeries;
- stayed and walked a lot around in Frogner - it's so pretty there!;
- loved Slottsparken.

And although it isn't Trondheim, I did fall a little in love with Oslo again. One day, one day I'll live there.

Trondheim - Oslo

We drove almost 500 kilometers today, in a little over 7 hours. I cried for the first hour or two, didn't want to leave my beloved Trondheim behind, but right now I'm happy to be in Oslo and get to explore this city for a bit again. And: happy to go home.