Yeah, alright, nice trip report, but where's the people stuff. You know, the stuff that makes all the other stuff come together. Try this one on. Women, a topic that comes up pretty often with each driver (they initiate the conversation, not Brett or I). A typical conversation with Jan, our Oslo driver.
Mark: So Jan, in your opinion, what is the best city to which you have traveled?
Jan: Tallinn is very nice place. The women are so beautiful, don't you agree Brett.
Brett: Yes, but they are beautiful everywhere I have been.
Mark: So where else and why? (Yep, one of those Mark double questions.)
Jan: Oslo is very nice. The women here are also very beautiful!
A few more probes from Mark. He gets back Manila, Venice and a couple more all with the main emphasis on women. So the next day Jan picks us up and Mark tries again.
Mark: So Jan, on the topic of great places, what do you think is the best, excluding women?
Jan: No response, blank stare. Time passes, getting to be awkward,....
Mark learns valuable lesson. Know your audience.
After sleeping on the awkward moment I go to breakfast this morning and there is a little card with sayings of Norway on Brett's and my plate. Mine says, "Ettermiddagen vet det morgenen aldri forventet." Translation, "The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected." My afternoon now knows to avoid questions that could soom become awkward.
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