Nidaros Cathedral
Today we took our first trip to the city center on the bus for the necessities: immigration, bus cards, phone cards, winter coat, housewares, game store, and the library. We did it all!
It was one of those days, but it all turned out ok. It was fun to ride the bus and see many familiar places from when we lived here 12 years ago. It’s a very easy bus ride from our apartment to downtown. Not much has changed, but there are a few updates and I realize that I need to re-orient a few landmarks in my mind to navigate. We walked past Nidaros cathedral and other sights along the way downtown, but we didn’t take time to explore them now. We will have a lot of time in the spring and summer in the sunshine, but we should try to hit the main attractions before the tourist season begins.
Our “waiting for our names to be called” posture.
The Norwegian bureaucracy was better than before and also completely as expected. Turns out we were supposed to make 4 separate appointments, 1 for each of us, at the police station to get our registration cards. I was holding my breath because I expected them to tell us to make new appointments for the kids next week, but after a light scolding they processed us all at the same time. However, then we had to take a number for the tax desk and filled out more forms, so we couldn’t avoid the “take a number” routine that you find everywhere. We are mostly done, I think. Just waiting for verification to come in the mail.
3 of us lost and found our mittens along the way. I bought myself a new pair in the process, along with my warmer winter coat.
The library is a must-have for us. We were 
hoping to find Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in English for Nora, who was reading the book when we left. It’s so big that we decided to just get it at the library instead of hauling it with us. The library still had my account information in the computer from 12 years ago! I just had to change the address and get a fancy new card for their self-serve system. Can you believe
Leaving the library at 3:20pm and it’s so dark!
that Nora found those fairy books here, in English? Anders convinced her that they each need to get a simple book in Norwegian too. I found Pippi Longstockings for Nora. But no Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, they were all checked out from this location. There is a copy at the Moholt location, in our old neighborhood, so we will go there tomorrow to check it out.
We stopped at a coffee shop that we remembered for a much-needed snack and paid about $45 for a 
wrap, salad, piece of cheesecake, yogurt parfait, hot chocolate, and cup of tea. It’s like living in an airport! We could have planned better, I suppose. But when in Norway, enjoy everything and don’t think too much about the prices, or you’ll miss all of the fun.
4:20pm and it is dark, but the city center is lit up beautifully.
We tried to set up a bank account, but the bank closes at 3:30 on Friday. Because OF COURSE it does.
I conducted several, but not all, transactions in Norwegian. Anders tried one too.
The kids slept for about 12 hours last night, so I think we will mostly be adjusted now. Tonight should go fine because we are all tired!
[click on pictures for a larger view]
