Winter fun

Some days ago the first real snow of this winter came to Antwerp. So far it has been way too warm for the time of the year, but last week we had some days with temperatures of around 2 degrees which resulted in one great day. Being at work I couldn't really enjoy the snow as much as I would have wanted, but the enthousiasm inside the office was very obvious, to the annoyance of some lesser snow fanatic colleagues. I of course belonged to those who kept pointing outside saying how beautiful it all was and opening the window to get some of it inside. (and on top of some people. :P) Lunch break was spent entirely outside with throwing snowballs and making a walk, getting my no snow expectant shoes soaked. The rest of the day was spent walking around barefooted with my socks and sneakers on the heating...

Our garden that day
(there was more snow at the area where I work, no camera there though. :P)

In only two weeks I am leaving for Oslo. Last year we were also there in march and the incredible winter of then allowed us to try out some new things, like renting sledges and going on the "Korketrekkern". In English this would be "The cork screw" and this is a sledging track, about 3 km long on the largest hill in Oslo. It goes incredibly fast and through the forest with loads of scary turns and deep abysses next to the track. I think lots of accidents must have taken place there, but none of that could keep you from going down. Truly an amazing ride and the great thing is that you just have to take the metro in Oslo up, rent a sledge, go a little higher by metro and start your ride down. About three metro stations lower the track ends and you just take the next train up and go as many times as your body allows you. The result of some hours of sledging is an incredibly painful ass, a frozen face due to the icy wind when speeding downhill and a crazy smile due to the amount of fun you just had. Plus some liters of snow all the way up your trousers as breaking down with your the heels of your feet kind of sends some snow up through the bottom of your clothes. :P
Below you see a video made by sledging people which can give an impression of what it's like. It's a pity though that nobody seems to have made a video of the entire track. We tried making one last year but after the first 500 meters you just go too fast to control anything else with your hands but the sledge. Can't wait to go there again at the start of march! :)