Norwegian Adventure: IRIS, Salstraumen, Gamle Salten, Fauske

Aww, Norway loves USA

I went to work at IRIS, the waste management plant. There were a lot of Soprano's jokes made.
IRIS : http://www.iris-salten.no/

some trash i found.

people bring things they do not want to IRIS. so many perfectly good skis and skis and ski boots and bindings and poles and bikes! perfectly good, ridable, great condition bikes! i did not understand it.
if i had room in my suitcase, i would have taken a bike and some skis.

(IRIS from Gamle Salten)

They recycle nearly EVERYTHING and what they do not recycle, they convert into energy by composting and transferring the methane into electricity or incinerating and converting the gases and smoke into energy.

Norway is the most sensible place it seems. Everything here works exactly like it should and that it was designed by the most sensible person, in the most sensible way.
They are good at saving also. All of their oil income is not spent. It's put away. Although, a lot of Norwegians have a problem with this, they think some more of this money should be spent to fix roads and schools and things. Im sure Norway has some small problems, like everywhere else.

Back to IRIS...
Erik-Andre

and Bjørg

gave me a tour of the facility and gave me an IRIS t-shirt and a really great airphoto book of Nordland which was written/photographed by Majvi's Cousin.

Majvi, Per, Pooja, Mason, Bruce and I went to Saltstraumen. Saltstraumen is the strongest Maelstrom in the whole world. Every 6 hours, the tide rushes in and creates a very powerful whirlpool. Over 90 people have died and many boats have been pulled down because it looks deceptive.

(Majvi at Saltstraumen and her summer mittens)

(unimpressed with Saltstraumen. (just kidding))

(Saltstraumen from Gamle Salten)

A visit to the University of Bodø: its FREE. even if I wanted to come here! All I need to do is show a bank statement saying I can support myself for 1 year here. Approximately 90,000NOK or about 14,000USD

1% of all monies for public buildings goes towards art in Norway.

We went on one last boat ride before we left Bodø, Gamle Salten.

This was a nice, relaxing ride, with some dancing and mingling with Rotarians and friends that we have made since we have been there. The Gamle Salten used to be a HurtiGruten boat, but is too old for that now. M/S Gamle Salten "is one of the finest vintage ships. It is a genuine issue of a 50-years coastal route ships and for extended periods, was as a reserve steamer along the coast of northern Norway. It has been restored to its former glory with a status as a "national treasure".

While on the boat, Mason performed a poem he had written about Norway and he made Tim cry.

Bodø was definitely a great introduction to Norway and it made our first week there extremely enjoyable.

Late last night, we arrived in Fauske. I am staying with a very nice couple, The Normanns. They have a beautiful home and are very cute.

Today, we went to the hydroelectric facility where Mr. Normann used to work, he is now retired. Norway is the fifth largest exporter of oil, yet almost all of the electricity used in Norway is self-produced hydroelectric.

The facility was waaaay underground in the mountain. It was VERY COOL.

(so much danger)

( tour by Robert Normann - no relation to Sigmund Normann, my host dad)

After the hydroelectric facility, we visited the mining area and went to the Copper Mining museum. My camera battery died though, so i didn't get to snap any pictures of that.

So far while here, Pooja and I solved identity theft in the United States. A photo i.d. is on every credit card. um, GENIUS. We are going to implement that in the US when we get back.

Also, a brown bar is a bar that serves only øl. (beer)
We saw a "Staples" which used to be a "Binders" which means "Paperclip" in Norwegian.
I am very tired so not in a blogging mood too much.

(fiskeboller (fish balls))