Norway-Walk to the Laundry

We had plenty of dirty clothes. Our guide book, Lonely Planet, listed a laundry that was about 20 blocks from the hotel. With the address and a map I took off to find this place that would make me feel so much better. It was raining. On my walk I did get lost but found help from a local. He said he was sorry that we had rain and also was sorry that Oslo's summer was over. Remember, it was August 14. He was right that it did not look like summer that day.

I was only three doors away from my laundry when I found this darling shop. Can you believe that the owner's name sounds like the English word, winter. I told him that he must be the favorite place during the long dark days of Norway's winter. He smiled and said, "of course."

By the way, when we first arrived in Norway I would ask people if they spoke English. Quickly I learned that they all speak English and I was insulting them to ask this question. There are only 4.7 million Norwegians. Imagine if they only spoke Norwegian? They wouldn't have many people to talk to. Norway is smaller than New York City, LA, Chicago, Houston or Philadelphia.