AUSTIN-MINNEAPOLIS-AMSTERDAM-JULY 20 (MON) AUSTIN-Jenn took us to airport @ 2:30-left @ 6:30. Met up w/OSTBY relatives (Frank & JoAnn-IA, Phyllis-MN, Troy & Christine-CO) in Minn airport-flew Delta-watched 3 movies-couldn’t sleep-Amsterdam.

AMSTERDAM to OSLO, NORWAY-JULY 21 (TUES) Guide Ellen met us-bus took us to Raddison Blu-met up w/rest of group-Martha & Jim (TX), Eldora, Jack, Cindy, Julie & John-VA). Buffet for dinner-not good- very tired.

OSLO to TRYSIL-JULY 22 (WED) Tour of Oslo-Olympic ski jump from ’94-athletespracticing w/rollers on skis-Viking museum (burial ship found preserved in blue clay w/bodies of 2 women). Dinner-cooked our own meat at table on salted hot stones-3 Norwegian relatives joined us. Awake @ 3:30-trouble sleeping.

TRYSIL-July 23 (THURS) Toured town of OSTBY- visited house where great grandpa was born. Wonderful family dinner w/25 Norwegian relatives in village chuch-all could speak some English-most (including guide & bus driver) learned from watching American TV. Ministers are pd by government-church gets money depending on # of people attending-supported by country-not donations.

TRYSIL to LILLEHAMMER-(JULY 24 (FRI)

8/1 (SAT) pd $20-bkft buffet-oldest people at hostel. Met Martha & Jim @ 10:00-zoo tour 3 hrs. Polar bears swam above you-seals did dog tricks for fish-not sure I’ll go to another zoo-animals need to be free. Parted ways-they bought  bus pass -we walked for  hrs. Impressed w/so many bikers (all in reg clothes on upright, comfortable bikes), cars, buses, pedestrians all moving together w/NO accidents or police around-feel safe here. On negative side-way too many smokers & litter. Walking tour-went to top of tallest building, watched world ARCHERY Tournament-curved & compound bows-liked it. Had donuts & coke @ 7-11 & Armand had huge burrito for dinner-continued walking until 9:00 pm. Hostel is quiet-leave for Berlin in morning.