Thursday, December 6, 2007

A touch of rain...

Put on a raincoat! Maybe some rain pants too. Wellingtons wouldn't go astray. Find that super strength umbrella too. You'll need it!
Well OK, I wasn't quite so well prepared, but I did at least have a raincoat and a small collapsable umbrella. But then again, in Australia we don't have this thing known as rain.

So by the time I'd walked into the city on my way to work, my legs and feet were already well on their way to saturation. And then I made a big mistake. I did that which one just does not do, at least not in a rainy flooding town. Yes my friends, I did, I walked along close to the roadside. And as can be expected got completely soaked down my left hand side by a passing car. And then I realised I had left my wallet at home. So i turned around. And promptly got soaked down my right hand side by another passing car.

Yes, well I've now got it - Bergen is a rainy place, and you get wet no matter how much goretex you have between yourself and the elements! I just haven't quite got the handle on how to deal with it on a day to day basis. And another thing I haven't quite got yet, is how to dress with any sort of style in this chilly snowy/rainy weather! There go the Norwegians, beautiful and stylish; their blond hair flowing out from under their beanies, the cheeks flushed, radient yet comfortable in their jackets, luxurious scarves draped around their necks, elegant gloves adorning their hands, skipping along the icy paths on their way to work and school. And here comes the Australian, clomping along in his boots that look more at home in the mountains, his jeans, wet and muddy around the bottom, his two size too big red raincoat hanging off his shoulders (and looking much like a skirt if I draw in the stretchy elastic thing around the waiste), his home made crocheted beanie with it's practical ear flaps poking out from under his raincoat hood (which for some stupid reason was designed to come only halfway over my head!), slipping and sliding, his arms windmilling to keep his balance on the icy paths. The Norwegians watch on in slight disbelief - is he a street performer putting on some comedy act in a funny costume? Ohh ok, he's Australian, that's alright. They're a little bit strange from down their.