I woke up in a warm bed for the first time since I was in Colorado. It was so nice, such luxury. The little things I am truly grateful for each and every day. A safe place to sleep, two feet, eyes, ears and hands to take me there with food in my belly. Giving thanks is so important.
Yesterday, I finally sent some things home. I sat at the only grocery store, The Joker, for about an hour and a half and saw three different people I had met from this small little community. It is the Sunday hangout spot for ice cream and flowers. It reminds me of a time when life was much more simple, appreciating the little things. I enjoyed watching the families come and go while I packed up 6lbs of stuff to the USA. I had leftover bread and fish from the night before. Bought $1.90 Norwegian cream cheese and enjoyed my time. I saw a familiar face that came over to say hi, Fronos. We talked for a couple of minutes and I asked him about how he acquired his bicycle as a foreigner; he found it in the trash! (Which I totally believe because the gears don’t work and the breaks are busted) I offered to rent it from him for cash or beer but he insisted that I just bring it back before he finished work. How nice of him. He is from Slovakia too. Him and his girlfriend came to Lofoten together to work seasonally. Gosh, how stinking cool.
Today, Unfortunately, the weather has been rainy all day. But if I allowed bad weather to cancel my plans, I would have done nothing the entire time I was here. Yesterday was the first day of sunshine in the two weeks I have been here. The first time my solar phone charger turned on.
The bike ride today was wet and cold but I had a smile on my face after 4 of 23km. I would have gone much farther but uphill against the wind in the rain with no gears is tough stuff.
Despite the shitty, shitty weather…I don’t want to leave here. This country is so beautiful.
