Close to the Tivoli in Copenhagen, Hans Christian Andersen is viewing the world. Born in Denmark he was an avid traveller, and felt totally sure that travelling kept body and mind young. "I travel, therefore I am"
Could have been words in my moleskin travel diary.
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Many of you have asked about my India travel. Here is a story for you:
Seven years ago I got a phonecall at work from a colleague from another part of Norway. "I am arranging a bustrip to Roma, there is still one seat left in the bus. Do you want to come along?" My heart skipped a beat. Roma! I had never been there, I had always wanted to go there. "If I want to come along? Of course I do. How long will you be away? When are you leaving? I need to ask my husband and my boss, when do you need my yes?" I was told that the tour would start in a couple of weks, would last in 12 days and my yes was needed the next day!
Coming home from work that day I opened the mailbox to get the day's post. Roma was all I could think of, and when I found a postcard from Colosseum I was so sure the picture only came from my imagination, I left it on the table with the rest of the post for later. Then I suddenly stopped. Colosseum, Roma, why is this postcard in my mail? I turned the card and started to read. "Dear Britt-Arnhild. I am in Roma visiting my daughter. Unexpected events are keeping me here for a few months, and now when we are in the same continent, why don't you come down for a visit? Love, Carolyn"
To make a long story short; I went to Roma and I met Carolyn, my Indian penfriend whom I had corresponded with for a few years. My neverending lovestory with Roma got a pang start, my dream to travel to India was created.
During all our years of letter crossing between India and Norway, Carolyn has invited me to come to India. I have always written back; "I'd love to, but......." Always untill last autumn. Then I said to myself. You will be 50 next year, isn't it time you give yourself a birthday present? What do you want? The answer to my question was easy. I want to go to India. From there it didn't take me long to visit the travel agency and book the tickets. When my birthday party came up a few months later, money for the ticket was on top of my wishlist. My family and friends know me well, and here I am! Two days left and I'll be on my way.
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Carolyn's daughter in Romais among my friends who have opened their kitchen for me.
