Companion Itinerary:
-Oslo
-Bergen
-Tromso
-Grunerlokka, Oslo
When the Culture Gap Seems Wide: Travel Goals Norway
We have been home for almost a month and Norway seems a distant memory. I finally have the photos digitally organized and labeled. My photo book has been ordered. I have even created a dvd slide show of our adventures. But what I have really done is stored memories that help us bridge a culture.…
Companion Itinerary:
-Franfurt Airport
-Oslo Airport
–Flytoget Airport Express Train
-Oslo S Station
-Comfort Inn Grand Central Oslo S
-Olivia Østbanehallen Italian Restaurant
Arrival: Travel Goals Norway
Travel day is stressful, at least if you are me. Unable to control even a little bit of the day’s schedule, we arrive at the airport earlier than expected. Yay! Our flight is delayed… sigh. The crew shows up. Yay! The leave to sit out the delay elsewhere… sigh. Once aboard, we settle in for…
Companion Itinerary:
-Comfort Inn Grand Central Oslo S
-Oslo S shops
–Oslo Opera House
-Hop on Hop Off Big Red Bus Tour
–Royal Palace, Oslo
-University of Oslo
–Oslo Cathedral
-The Wild Rover (Irish Pub)
–Oslofjord
-Operastranda walk
Oslo With Nothing to Do: Travel Goals Norway
It is a bonus day. A buffer day to ensure we can catch our train just in case of a flight delay. We got here as scheduled and now we have a down day. Time to acclimate. We start by sleeping late. It took me forever to get to sleep last night and it is…
Companion Itinerary:
-Comfort Inn Grand Central, Oslo S
–Bergen Railway (Bergensbanen) Oslo to Bergen
–Bergen Railway Station
All Aboard to Bergen: Travel Goals Norway
After my breakfast of brown cheese (I am developing a taste for the stuff) and whole grain bread washed down with dark coffee, we pack up and head downstairs to the train station. As it turned out, the Comfort Hotel Grand Central was an excellent location to spend a few days while we transitioned to…
Companion Itinerary:
-Bergen Neighborhood Walk
–The Rosenkrantz Tower
–Bergenhus festning
–Håkon’s Hall
–St Mary’s Church, Bergen
-Shopping in Bryggen
Medieval Halls and Military History: Travel Goals Norway
The flowers are blooming in Bergen even if it is only barely above freezing. The sun is shining and things look bright as we start the trek down the steep hill towards the town. Walking the switchbacks, we have a great view of the harbor. The birds sing and the boats roll in from the…
Companion Itinerary:
–Fløibanen funicular
–Fløyen Mountain Hike
–Walk to lake Skomakerdiket
Forest Bathing: Travel Goals Norway
Nothing seems as good for my soul as a long walk in the woods. The sun is shining on the frozen lake. The water is warming and thawing slowly. But the forest calls me to its shadows. Buds are appearing on the branches. Crocus and bluebells make their colorful entry to the forest floor. The…
Companion Itinerary:
–Bryggen
-Bergen Neighborhood Walk
–Bergen Aquarium
-Kippers Restaurant
–Nordnes seawater pool
Norwegian Surprises and the Kindness of Strangers: Travel Goals Norway
A great rule of travel is to expect the unexpected. This usually means to be prepared for things to go wrong. Some days, however, are unexpectedly full of delightful surprises. Today is one of those days. After sleeping much later than I intended, we take our time getting ready. A walk across town, gave me…
Companion Itinerary:
-Fjak X Kode Cafe
–Kode – Museums
-Bergen Kunsthall
-Byparken Bergen
–Edvard Grieg museum
-Hop, Norway
Museum Hopping: Travel Goals Norway
The day has not started well. After walking across town, the museum we want to visit isn’t open (even though it should have been). But, there is a lovely chocolate cafe next door. My husband enjoys a large cup of hot chocolate as we regroup. I have a surprise brown cheese cheesecake that makes the…
Companion Itinerary:
-Sandvikka Neighborhood Walk
-Storeblå Aquaculture Visitor Centre
-Det Lille Kaffekompaniet Coffee Shop
–Norwegian Fisheries Museum
-Shopping Bryggen
-O’Connor’s Irish Pub
–The Hanseatic Museum and Schøtstuene
-Xhibition Shopping Center
No Particular Place To Go: Travel Goals Norway
I like days where I wake up in a new place with absolutely no expectations and nowhere to be. There is freedom in letting the day unfold without hurry or pressure. So after a leisurely cup of coffee, we walk down the mountain to Sandvika, a small fishing community that used to be the site…
Companion Itinerary:
-Walk Across Bergen
-Hurtigruten Coastal Express
-Le Café Pomme
-Jektevik Terminal (Jekteviksterminalen)
The Arctic Awaits: Travel Goals Norway
Today we leave Bergen aboard the Hurtigruten Coastal Express. This ferry system has traversed the length of Norway since 1893 and is our home for the next four nights. Norway has the second longest coastline in the world (after Chile where we sailed last Spring). Hurtigruten means ‘the fast route’ because it runs 24 hours…
Companion Itinerary:
–Hurtigruten Cruises
–Ålesund
–Aalesunds Museum
–Mount Aksla Climb, Ålesund
-Alesund Neighborhood Walk
-Ålesund Storsenter
-Tante Bruun Cafe
Alesund is Closed: Travel Goals Norway
The Hrtigruten ship, Midnatsol pulled into the port of Alesund, Norway in early morning for an 8 hour stop. We disembark onto a rainy dock and navigate toward the city center. To get out of the cold rain, we walk to the Alesund museum. After walking up the steep hill in the wind and rain….…
Companion Itinerary:
–Hurtigruten Cruises
–Trondheim Norway
–Nidaros Cathedral
–The Old Town Bridge
–Kjeungskjær Lighthouse
Trondheim Pilgrimage to Nidaros: Travel Goals
We dock in the cold, cold rain. Coming down the gangway, the wind blows water into our faces. My husband struggles into his rain suit while I wrestle with my umbrella. We try to follow directions to exit the docks into the town. In the blowing rain, it is unclear which way to go, so…
Companion Itinerary:
–Hurtigruten Cruises
Watching the World Go By: Travel Goals Norway
I love to be at sea. Early in the morning, I am often the only one on deck. As morning breaks over the water, at first only shadows appear. Slowly the landscape takes shape amid an orange glow. The waves are shadowy and alive. The air smells clean and the wind is brisk. It is…
Companion Itinerary:
–Hurtigruten Cruises
-Arctic Circle Crossing
-Arctic Circle Crossing Ceremony
–Bodø (town)
-Glasshuset Shopping Mall
–Fretex bruktbutikk i Bodø Resale
-Svolvaer
Into the Arctic: Travel Goals Norway
I wake up quite early and realize it has been snowing throughout the night. Steady sleet pounds the windows and I smile. Just as dawn breaks, I emerge onto the upper deck. Today we cross the artic circle and venture far beyond. We entered the boat in Bergen and will not disembark completely until Tromso.…
Companion Itinerary:
-Tromso, Norway
–Breivika cruise terminal – Tromsø Harbour
-Bus 28 to Klimavegen from Wi-fi
The Struggle: Travel Goals Norway
Excitement is high as we land in Tromso, Norway. It is beautiful. Mountains and fjords merge together under a cloudy sky. Dramatic is the only word to describe the landscape. Here we disembark. We wait impatiently for others to leave the ship. Many only have a few hours to experience Tromso and we will stay…
Companion Itinerary:
–Polaria: Home
-Tromso Neighborhood Walk
–Mack, the worlds northernmost brewery
–Tromsø Cathedral
-Shopping along Storgata Street
-Sweet Heart Candy Shop
–Arctic Cathedral
Traipsing through Tromso: Travel Goals Norway
I am up early, charting our course. The sun is shining and the snow has stopped, at least for now. It is a beautiful day for exploring the arctic town of Tromso. We start our day at Polaria aquarium, solely based on the fact that it was one of the few places open earlier in…
Companion Itinerary:
–Full Steam Museum
–The Polar Museum
-Tromso Harbor Walk
-Gateway to the Arctic Sculpture
-Jordbærpikene Jekta
–Troll Museum Tromsø
-Tang’s restaurant
–The Magic Ice Concept Tromso
Accidental Tromsø: Travel Goals Norway
Some days you just stumble into fun. Today we are walking to the polar museum, but run across a house that says restaurant and museum. So, of course, in we go. There are no people. None. A self pay machine let us in. The building has previously been a warehouse on the dock. It houses…
Companion Itinerary:
– Breivika cruise terminal – Tromsø Harbour
–Northern Lights Chase Tromso
-A Drive in Coastal Norway near Tromso
Chasing the Northern Lights: Travel Goals Norway
One of the best reasons to come to Norway in winter is to see the Northern Lights. We brave the cold and the snow. We take a boat up the coast far beyond the arctic circle. We encounter six nights with low clouds and wind and snow. With only one night left, we sign up…
Companion Itinerary:
–Tromsø Airport
-Scandinavian Airlines
Tromso Love Is True, But I Hate Their Airport: Travel Goals Norway
I mention in each travel day post that I dislike air travel. It feels chaotic and uncivil in ways other forms of transport avoid. Each airport and airline has its own system that you can’t possibly know about if you have not been there before. Sometimes your experience is extremely different due to the people…
Companion Itinerary:
–Akershus Fortress
–Armed Forces Museum
-Erketunet Gardsbakeri Oslo
–Norway’s Resistance Museum
Military History: Travel Goals Norway
We aren’t sure what to expect at the Akershus Festning (Fortress). We walked by the large park/military complex when we first arrived in Oslo (two weeks ago). But it is much bigger than it appeared from our walk along the harbor. The walled fortress houses a castle, a resistance museum, a military museum, outdoor amphitheaters,…
Companion Itinerary:
–The Ski Museum in Holmenkollen
–Ski Simulator
–Holmenkollen Restaurant
-Oslofjord Views
–Midtstubakken and four smaller recruitment slopes located nearby in Midtstuen
-Midstuen Hiking Trails
–Botanical Garden – Oslo
Jump: Travel Goals Norway
Norwegians love skiing. In Tromso, they ski to work. In Oslo it is warmer, so they have indoor skiing and they have snow machines to maintain cross country trails. But the king of the mountain is the Holmenkollen ski jump. We take the tram up the mountain to Holmenkollen and then walk uphill to the…
Companion Itinerary-
–Bygdøy
-Norsk Folkemuseum
Time Traveling in Oslo: Travel Goals Norway
I love outdoor history museums. The Norsk folk center in Bygdoy did not disappoint. The Norwegian King had entire neighborhoods and farms and other random buildings moved to this park so that visitors can experience life across Norway. Sounds like my idea of fun. I am excited to arrive at the Stave church before any…
Companion Itinerary:
–Frogner Park
–Vestre gravlund (Western Cemetery)
-Anne på landet – Frognerparken Coffee Shop
–Botanical Garden – Oslo
–Handwerk Botaniske Coffee Shop
Parkering: Travel Goals Norway
Norway is full of surprises. Everyday we find something strange (to us) yet wonderful. Brown cheese is the best! Skiing to town! And amazing public transport….America has a lot to learn from our Scandinavian friends. On almost every corner we find a sign that reads “parkering forbudt” which means parking is forbidden. Because public transportation…
Companion Itinerary:
–Paradox Museum Oslo
–Storting building (Parliament)
–Grand Hotel Oslo
-Pepe’s Pizza Oslo
–Oslo City Shopping Centre
-Paleet Shopping Center
Paradoxical: Travel Goals Norway
We are walking and looking for a small museum called The Paradox. It is cold and misty. Although the gps ultimately got us to the right place, there was no visible sign. We walk by it twice before we notice a worker in a Paradox jacket in a doorway. We have arrived, even though we…
Companion Itinerary:
–Hovedøya
–Hovedøya Abbey
–Oslo Fjord islands
-Aker Brygge wharf
–Oslo City Hall
–Akershus Castle
Ferry and Fortress: Travel Goals Norway
It is a lazy Saturday in Norway and the sun is shining. Each morning I thank God for the health and ability to travel and experience a new life style. Our day starts slowly. I have some muesli and coffee and catch up on some reading. Eventually we leave the house. We are in no…
Companion Itinerary:
–Aker Brygge wharf
–Nobel Peace Center
–Oslo Camping Minigolf
Seeking Peace: Travel Goals Norway
Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 Peace is an illusive goal. I question whether it is even possible in a broken world. Freedom from disturbance. Tranquility. A time of no war. “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart…..” As we wander through the Nobel…
Companion Itinerary:
–Holocaust Center
–Bygdøy
–Narvesen
–Rose Castle Roseslottet
Remembrance: Travel Goals Norway
The Holocaust Center in Oslo is located in the former home of the Norwegian Nazi party leader, Vidkun Quisling. His mansion seems in gross excess compared to most Oslo city dwellings. It is now a center that commemorates the forced removal of over 700 Jewish citizens during World War II. Many of the deportees, especially…
Companion Itinerary:
-Lillehammer Neighborhood Walk
–Norwegian Olympic Museum
–Maihaugen
-Fretex bruktbutikk (Resale Shop)
-Lillehammer Restaurant & Bar ( Lillehammer pizzeria)
-Mesnaelva River and Cultural Trail
-Train from Oslo S to Lillehammer, Norway
Sleepy Little Town: Travel Goals Norway
When the Olympics were held in Lillehammer, pundits called it a sleepy little town in Norway. I can’t say if it is “sleepy”. I can say I find it charming. The train trip from Oslo follows endless lakes. This early in the Spring, they are mostly frozen, making the scenery a magical land of sun,…
Companion Itinerary:
–Norwegian Olympic Museum Lillehammer
–Mesna Cultural Trail Lillehammer
-Lysgårdsbakkene Ski Jumping Arena, Lillehammer
Olympic Spirit: Travel Goals Norway
Daa. Daa. Da dah da dah dah. Bum bum ba bum. bum bum ba badda bum bum bum. Sorry the Olympic fanfare horns are trumpeting in my head and I have to get it out. Excite builds as we approach the Lillehammer Olympic museum. In my head, I see Nancy Kerrigan, Tonya Harding and Oksana…
Companion Itinerary:
–Natural History Museum
–The Climate House – Natural History Museum
–Botanical Garden
–Alibaba Turkish Grill & Steak
We were In The Neighborhood: Travel Goals Norway
When the day’s agenda only involves walking across the street, you can afford to sleep in. This is why retired individuals should consider a long stay in a destination. We can linger over coffee and pastry. We can sleep in if we want or spend an hour talking to strangers. Today, we move slowly after…
Companion Itinerary:
–Norway’s National Museum
–Akershus Fortress
The National Treasures: Travel Goals Norway
When I visit national museums in capital cities, I begin to understand the culture a little more deeply. What do they treasure and what do they wonder about? Why is there a large gallery of sculptures that are only copies of pieces found elsewhere in the world? What artifacts were deemed worthy of keeping? The…
Companion Itinerary:
–Sognsvann lake
-T5 Subway Train
Forest Bathing: Travel Goals Norway
Nothing seems as good for my soul as a long walk in the woods. The sun is shining on the frozen lake. The water is warming and thawing slowly. But the forest calls me to its shadows. Buds are appearing on the branches. Crocus and bluebells make their colorful entry to the forest floor. The…
Companion Itinerary:
-Oslo Neighborhood Walk
–National Library of Norway
–Queen Sonja Art Stable
–Palace Park, Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s Sculpture Park
–Grünerløkka – Oslo’s trendy neighbourhood
–Welcome to Mathallen
–Radegast Vinbar
–Sofienberg Park
Books, Crockery, and Sunshine: Travel Goals
I love libraries. Maybe because I am a woman of a certain age who devoured every book I could get my hands on over the last half century. Libraries are places of mystery and opportunity. The national library of Norway is a bibliophile’s dream. It has a coffee shop and restaurant. There are reading rooms…
Companion Itinerary:
–Ekebergparken Sculpture Park
–Ekeberg Museum
– War Cemetery (WWII) – Ekebergparken
—Søylehuset Cafe & Minigolf
–Summit Bar, Radisson Blu Oslo
Ekeberg Park: Travel Goals Norway
I love the great outdoors. Find me a forest and l am one happy girl. So when I read that Ekeberg Park has sculptures in a forest, I am intrigued. It is a beautiful sunny day in Oslo and it is unusually warm for the season ……so it seems like a great way to spend…
Companion Itinerary:
–The Viking Planet | Digital Viking Museum Oslo, Norway
–Aker Brygge Oslo, Norway
-Lekter’n
–The Salmon
-Astrup Fearnley Outdoor Garden
Viking Venture: Travel Goals Norway
Sometimes I just wake up feeling like a kid. On these days I forget the scholarly pursuits and the to do lists and just look for pure fun. We decide to check out Viking World. This small attraction behind Oslo City Hall is a series of video and vr experiences. Interactive computer simulations explain the…
Companion Itinerary:
–Bygdøy
–Fram Museum
–Kon-Tiki Museum
–Norwegian Maritime Museum
Ships Ahoy: Travel Goals Norway
The Bygdoy maritime museum complex is an all day adventure. We opt to visit all three museums in the complex. We start with the Norwegian Maritime Museum where we get to see a man building a Viking ship using ancient methods (and a few power tools). It is fascinating to see the overlapping construction and…
Companion Itinerary:
–Historical Museum University of Oslo
–Nordic Bible Museum Oslo
-Duckpin, Torggata 26, Oslo
History and other Unexpected Encounters: Travel Goals Norway
Travel brings many joys, but for me finding new (to me) and unexpected experiences is what it is all about. In the University of Oslo’s history museum, we encounter a lot of surprises. For example, did you know that Viking weapons were painted with bright enamel? The spear shafts were actually ornately patterned. I never…
Companion Itinerary:
–Frogner Park
–The Angry Boy
–Oslo Museum
-Walking Oslo Neighborhoods
–Aker Brygge and Tjuvholmen, Oslo, Norway
–Astrup Fearnley Museet
–Akerselva River Walk
Final Impressions: Travel Goals Norway
Last days in a place are always a little bitter sweet. I spend a little time either trying to figure out if there are places we need to see before we go or places we need to revisit. Today feels random. I want to return to Frogner park to get a picture of the “angry…
Companion Itinerary:
–Munchmuseet
–Comfort Hotel Oslo S
–Flytoget Airport Express Train
–Radisson Hotel Oslo Airport
We Haven’t Got Munch Time: Travel Goals Norway
We have only a few hours before we leave Oslo for the airport. We have said goodbye to our apartment and turned in the keys. The hotel that we stayed at on our first nights in Norway graciously agrees to hold our luggage so we can zip across town to the Munch Museum. Munch is…
Prisoner of Hopes 