Last summer was adventure like none I’d ever been on before, in a place like no other-- Norway (sounds like a travel commercial, huh?).
The beauty of this country can’t be contained to words or pictures, but because I truly desire to go back once a week, I’m going to use this post (and probably a few more) to relive the two weeks in paradise.
Choosing Norway
I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m not the planner or researcher when it comes to travel. I like to think I bring other necessary qualities to the trip-- healthy snacks, a sense of adventure, sturdy hiking legs and usually too much luggage. Drew had been talking about Norway as an option for a summer trip we planned to take some of our best friends, and I listened, but was pretty sure we were going to opt for Switzerland/Italy instead. The night came to decide so we all got together and presented our opinions on the two trips and to my surprise (and not my vote), Norway won 3-1. I didn’t have anything against Norway, I had just never heard of anyone going and knew NOTHING about the country except that vikings come to mind. So the planning began, plane tickets purchased, Airbnb’s secured, and I still had little to no clue where we were headed.
Cities
This trip was a wonderful mix of rugged landscapes, outdoor activities, and beautiful cities. While my favorite sights will always be the natural ones that usually involve a climb, I’m going to save those for now and give you a peek into some of my favorite cities-- Oslo, Bergen and Alesund.
Oslo, Norway
Our time in Oslo was short, sweet and a bit of a blur. We tried to pack as much into one day as possible and although the time was insufficient, it was enjoyable! We walked the main city center referred to as the “Karl Johann’s Gate” lined with bars, restaurants, stores and the most beautiful planters overflowing with flowers! We had time for a few famous spots:
Oslo Opera House- The architecture was incredible at dusk and being able to walk up the building overlooking the water was so unique.
Frogner Park- I must say I was glad we didn’t spend money to see the statues because they were strange and made you cock your head to one side and wonder exactly what was going on….or if it was really worth trying to figure out. The landscaping was incredible--it seemed like every blade of grass was hand cut or something and not a weed to be found.
Holmenkollen Ski Meusem and Tower- Skiing holds a special place in my heart for many reasons, but my favorite is because it’s where Drew and I met for the first time. I was in high school and he was in college and our families went with mutual family friends (thanks, Mrs. Hildebrand) and it was the start of “us.”
This particular museum holds so much ski history as Norway has pioneered the winter sport and made it what it is today. Holmenkollen hosts World Cup Nordic skiing events every winter, and the entire ski jump and arena was rebuilt before the 2011 FIS Nordic World Championships. We took an elevator to the top of the jump and had an incredible view of the city. No plans to make the jump, though!
Bergen
I’m going to let pictures do the talking for Bergen and I think you’ll see why. My favorite memory was a morning run through the narrow cobblestone streets to find little houses with so much charm and character that I just wanted to know who lived in these fairy tale homes! And the SALMON….Norwegian Salmon is worth the hype….and the price tag.
Probably the most expensive salmon I've ever had, but it was at straight from the Fish Market in the harbor and absolutely delicious!
We took a gondola to the top of this lookout for an amazing view of Bergen
Alesund
Alesund was the last city we visited and by far my favorite. The architecture was absolutely beautiful and paired with the harbors and inlets of water, it was amazing. Something we noticed about Norway is that there are no “crummy” parts of town, no homeless people, no sketchy streets. Everything is clean, well-kept, people walk with purpose and are busy with their jobs, but friendly if you ever get the chance to chat.
At the end of our evening, Drew and I went out to a sea wall at 11pm to watch the sunset….the days are so long and it is no exaggeration that we would pack it in from sun up to sundown averaging 13 miles of walking...and worth every step!
The cities were beautiful and each had their own character, but each one left me realizing that humans cannot create the same type of beauty that God has with his handiwork. The most beautiful sights are still to come--just wait for the fjords and the hikes!
Are you a city-slicker or do you prefer nature?
I definitely enjoy both, but I get much more energized out in nature.......cities are slightly overwhelming to me!
Are you the trip planner in your family or do you just tag along for the ride?
I completely just sit back and give input when asked, but Drew enjoys planning so much (and is incredible at it), so I plan the snacks and road trip entertainment.