NORWAY:  (1968 - now) Norway has incredible scenery but is very expensive. If you're on a budget I suggest you bring a tent and a fishing rod. You can put up your tent pretty much anywhere outside the cities (it's completely safe) and the ocean is a free fish market. Still, it's a long country so you'll spend plenty on train/buss fares, unless you bring your bike of course... Oslo: What to do: Visit the Vigeland Park with its incredible statues. Visit the ski jump  Holmenkollen and get a view of the city from the very top. The museums at Bygdoy with Thor Heyerdal's reed boat and raft is very interesting. There's also a folk museum with buildings from old Norway and even an exhibit of old viking ships dug out from grave sites.    Bergen: What to do: Take the Floybanen up the mountain for great views of this beautiful city. Check out the fish market with live fish in crates. Visit the aquarium and don't miss Edvard Grieg 's homestead Trollhaugen. Getting there and away: There are trains from Oslo. If you hitch, stop at Haukelisaeter and go fishing in the nearby lakes. Geiranger: Geiranger is known as the beauty spot in Norway. Don't miss it! What to do : Do take the ferry ride from Geiranger . It's magnificent! Not far off is the glacier arm at Briksdal - also quite a sight!           Hardangervidda: What to do: Go hiking and fishing. It's a huge National Park, but weather can get rough so make sure you don't head out alone and without proper gear. Let someone know where you plan to go. Stavanger: What to do: Make a detour to the "Pulpit". It's  a steep cliff straight into the fjord hundreds of meters down and it's spectacular!           Aalesund: Maybe Norway's most beautiful town. The architecture is beautiful and it's situated on three small islands facing the North Sea. Lofoten: What to do: Go fishing and go on a whale safari (Andenes on Andoya is a great place for this all summer - Sperm Whale - and in September you can even see the Killer Whales ). If you're there early June to middle of July you can experience the midnight sun. All year you can experience the alplike mountains surrounding the fishing villages and small towns. Take the "Hurtigruta" from Stokmarknes to Svolvaer and visit the spectacular Trollfjorden. ----- BELGIUM: (1985) Brussels: Nothing special comes to mind.... Don't let that discourage you, though! ---- DENMARK:      (197?,1985, 2005)                      Copenhagen: What to do: The amusement park "Tivoli" is good fun. There's lot's to see: great architecture, the little mermaid, and lot's of friendly fun people. They have great beer and salami.... Do take a trip out to the countryside, preferably by bicycle, it's flat but beautiful. Where to stay: Cab Inn at Mitchellsgade 14 (ph: +45 33461616 / city@cabinn.com) is a good place for backpackers. Fun small rooms, very central, spotless, and reasonably priced at Euro 71,- a single and Euro 87,- a double (see www.cabinn.com). ----- FINLAND:   (1976, 1986, 2005) The land of thousands of lakes. Try out a local sauna! ------ FRANCE:   (1984, 1995, 2001)     NB! Southern France (Nice, Antibes and Monaco) is described here                           Paris: (2001) Paris is so beautiful. Expensive but beautiful! The architecture is impressive, yet the streets are mostly very charming. So many nice cafes! Easiest way to get around is to get full day metro passes. Where to stay: The cozy oldfashioned Hotel Le Bouquet de Motmartre (www.bouquetdemontmartre.com) lies in 1 rue Duratin right next to metrostation Abbesses, just a few minutes walk from Sacre Cæur. It has nice double rooms for US$ 45 (in 2001). What to do:  Notre Dame is very beautiful, especially from the back. The best photos are taken from the little garden behind it, and from the other side of the canal (also behind). From there you're just around the corner from the Latin Quarter . Here you'll find nice alleys filled with restaurants, mostly greek, but also Moroccan and other great cuisines.  From the top of the Arc de Triomph you can get great panorama views (and photos) of Paris with the Eiffel tower and the basilica Sacre Ceur as a backdrops. This is even better at night. The incredible museum Louvre is a must and worth the 1 - 1,5 hour queue. It hosts the famous marble statue of Venus de Milo , and you can elbow your way through the throngs of visitors to get a close look at the original Mona Lisa . Fecamp: (1984) Beautiful peaceful little town. ----- GERMANY:      (1972, 2002) Bergedorf: Can't remember much - lived there for 4 months in 1972. Berlin: I didn' find Berlin a very pleasant city to walk around in. Others say they love it. Most fascinating building for me was the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche with it's bombed and broken church tower, at the Ku'dam. A very powerful image! Frankfurt: (2002) The main train station will get you anywhere in Europe fast and efficiently. Across the river Main from the station and to the east, you find the Sachsenhausen district. Despite the horrible associations the name brings, it's a nice district for chilling in Frankfurt with its pubs and restaurants along the pavement. Frankfurt was heavily bombed during WWII, but the Röhmer district has some beautiful old buildings still standing. Where to stay: According to the Lonely Planet there are no cheapies in Frankfurt. The Topas Hotel, one block north-west of the train station, has good rooms for Euro 60 (2002). ----- HOLLAND:                              Amsterdam: (1991, 1992, 2001) Amsterdam doesn't really have that big city feel to it - and I mean that in a good way. There are very few monumental buildings like in Paris and London, but the architecture is really outstanding in its own special way. Where to stay: You'll find reasonable bed and breakfast through Teresa van Beelen in Lucellestraat 20. Double room for US$ 45. Take bus 18 from Central station west to Egidiusstraat or Tram 14 from behind the Dam. Getting off at Egidiusstraat - around the corner from the pet shop is Lucellestraat. Reserve rooms through her e-mail guidovanbeelen@zonnet.nl or call her at tel 020 - 6815515 or 06 - 24936439. Her friend Gina Nanoong 06 - 24945331 (mobile) also rent out a nice room. You find her place by bus 21 to Burgemeester Fockstraat. Side street is Johannes Meeuwisstraat and you find her in number 46. Things to see and do: Canals - one of the most scenic parts is west of Central station on Brouwersgracht. 1-2 blocks west is really beautiful (and quiet).  The Rijksmuseum has fabulous pantings. The " Nightwatch" by Rembrandt is the big attraction and does stand out. The Van Gogh museum i also worth a visit.  Getting there and away: Train to Paris  f 335,- (return) takes 4 hours. Apparently in summer there's an overnight train somewhat cheaper (and saves on accomodation).   Delft:  (1991, 1992) Beautiful little town. A miniature Amsterdam with more atmosphere. Have 3-4 beers at V. Buy stuff in porcelain. ----- ICELAND:     (1980) What to do: The north is beautiful with rivers full of fish (expensive fishing though) and scenic volcanic landscape. The south has the geyser . Do a tour of Iceland and fall in love with its nature. Historical sites are in plenty. Read up on the culture and visit the sites! ------ SWEDEN:    (many many times) Stockholm is quite a pleasant city with some nice architecture and lots of small islands excellent for excursions. Gothenburg has the famous amusement park Liseberg. Enjoy! UNITED KINGDOM:                England    (1995, 1998, 2000, 2003) London: Where to stay: The Adelphi close to Wembley stadium is pleasant and OK at £40-45 for two in a double (1998). What to do: Shop and do sightseeing. Liverpool: Where to stay: You can get a triple room for £ 60,- at Lord Nelson Hotel just next to the train station at Lime St (2000). What to do: There are Beatles tours to be had (Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields, etc). You can also get a tour of Anfield Road (Liverpool FC's Stadium). The pub area where The Beatles started teir career is a great place to have a few pints. Try also the pub "Revolution" who serves Vodka in every possible way. Getting there and away: There are trains every 30 minutes to Manchester for ca £ 7 Manchester: What to do: The most famous football (soccer) club in the World, Manchester United, plays its home games at Old Trafford. If you manage to get a ticket, this is the thing to see in Manchester! Getting there and away: There are trains going pretty much all over the UK.  Newcastle: Seemed like a pleasant town, but I had too little time there to have any recommendations. Scotland Glasgow: (2004) Where to stay: Heritage hotel on Alfred Terrace 4-5, off Great Western, 5min walk from Kelvinbridge (Subway St), is good value at £55 (double). The Clifton(www.cliftonhotelglasgow.co.uk ) at Buckingham Terrace 26/27, three minutes further walk from Kelvinbridge (and just three min walk from Hillhead Station) is also good value at 35/60 for single/double. What to do: Mother India at 28 Westminster Terrace, serves fantastic Indian food. You can bring your own wine (shop just down the street has good selection at good prices), but book table a day in advance. Around the corner is the brilliant pub Ben Nevis with a huge selection of whisky and live Irish music  The Mackintosh house is worth a visit. The interior design is all by Mackintosh himself, everything from the grand bed to chairs, mirrors and lamp shades. In city center you find several buildings by Mackintosh, most notably the Lighthouse and the Glasgow school of art. There is a good tourist info center close to Queen street station where you can get free city maps with the major attractions listed. The old famous Barras market is good fun. On Argyle street you find the big music and video stores HMV and Virgin next door to each other. Around Glasgow: Do make a trip to a distillery while in Scotland. 30min drive (or 50min w bus no 10 from Buchanan bus station) towards the highlands, you find the Glengoyne distillery in a glen below the Dumboyne hill. Its 17yr old whisky was rated World's best in Whisky Magazine, but I personally liked both the cheaper 10yr old and the more expensive 21yr old better. For £4,50 you get a tour of the distillery, starting at the bar with a taste of their product. From Glengoyne you can take a bus to the nearest town - the quiet and pretty Killearn.The wonderful tavern The Old Mill is the perfect place for lunch. There are buses going on to Stirling where there is a big castle and a great monument to Wallace (Braveheart). The famous battle of Stirling Bridge (Mel Gibson - like the English - found the bridge to be problematic, so he left it out of the movie) took place here. Edinburgh is a beautiful city with a great atmosphere. The castle is quite expensive at £9,50 and has little to offer as a justification for that entrance fee. Going down the Royal Mile you find beautiful buildings on every block with nice bars and taverns in between the many tourist shops. The Royal McGregor is a pleasant tavern with good food and ale. At the other end of the Royal mile you find the palace of Holyroodhouse and the starting point for treks in Holyrood Park and up the mountain Arthur's Seat and the magnificant Salisbury Crags. The opposite direction you find the Nelson monument with good views towards the castle. The train between Edinburgh and Glasgow takes 50min and costs £7,90 return outside rush hour