Where Did I Put My Galoshes

It's raining outside but not one person is carrying an umbrella. That can only mean one thing: Norwegians have become so accustomed to this drippy weather than they no longer think about it. For us hiking-anxious Americans, however, three days of non-stop rain gets our vote for lousy. But, we can't stay cooped in our van forever so, no matter how hard the downpour, we need to venture out. "Hats? Check -- Gloves? Check -- Fleece? Check -- Gortex? Check."

I suppose after spending our Winter, during America's worst Noreastern blizzard, taking in the rays of the South Pacific sun, it's only fitting that we should be bundling up here when America's East is experiencing Summer.

"I've never seen it hail in June before. You don't suppose we're in for one of those endless weather patterns?" Perhaps we are but we're the only ones who haven't heard the official report. Everyone out there seems to have accepted this endless wet stuff. We, on the other hand, pull aside the curtains every morning with hopeful eyes. "Maybe that sound is just thousands of lady bugs dancing on the high top."

There are a hundred things you can do when it rains. We thought of two: visit the Trondheim University Library and log into Netscape or pull our hood draw strings and see the town. I admit, the first of these isn't very ambitious for two world travelers, die-hards who shouldn't be daunted by few raindrops. But when internet access is available we feel that an hour or two (or three) can't hurt. (Besides, it was dry in the library.)

This particular library was very nice and it struck me as we climbed the steps of this old building that aside from mountains, volcanos, fjords and glaciers on this trip, we've also seen a lot of libraries. Perhaps we should compile a directory - the best and the worst. Here in Trondheim we have stumbled upon one of the most striking, the Trondheim Public Library. From the entrance is a small bridge over which you see excavated Viking graves set into a sunken wood-planked floor. A cozy restaurant sits to the left and the library itself has an airy feeling with its modern maple furniture, chess board tables and a circular staircase to other floors.

The other buildings in Trondheim are striking as well. The Gothic and Roman architecture of Nidaros Cathedral circa 1070 reminded me of the Notre Dame in Paris with it's intricately carved biblical statues and circular stained glass windows dominating the front. The old town bridge, the old 18th century wharfs even the old timber houses lining the waterfront were a sightseers paradise.

We didn't let the weather dampen our visit to Trondheim, but we could sure go for some of that blue sky we see in all the brochures pictures. ("Air brushed, it could be air-brushed.")

We just thought of one more thing you can do in the rain. "What time does the movie start?"