This time last year, we were exploring the spectacular wonders of beautiful Norway (thanks for the reminder, Facebook!). From raging waterfalls to breathtaking glaciers, every day was a new discovery that fascinated us and amazed all our senses. It was a trip we won’t soon forget. We already can’t wait to return and catch all the sights we missed on the first time around, and with these photos, you’ll be anxious to check it out as well!
Norway is a stunning country to visit; the landscapes are national-park-quality no matter where you go. And there are many ways to take it all in. We picked up a rental car and drove throughout most of our trip, but we also stopped a few times to hit the trails. Some of these were planned, but most were merely a case of “oh look, a trail! I wonder where that goes!”
So of all the areas we visited, which topped our list? Read on to find out!
We’re taking a small break this week, as we were crazy busy preparing for and running our home anime convention, Kumoricon (did you know we’re in charge of the convention’s official video and photography?). That’s one event we’ll both actually miss considerably next year. I’ve always said I wouldn’t miss Kumoricon for the world… but that’s precisely what we’ll be doing!
Anyway, we’ll be back next week with some more Florida stories, but in the meantime, enjoy this fun photostory from one of our campgrounds in Norway, Kyrping!
We saw plenty of fauna in Norway (though certainly not as much as in Costa Rica). And while the species didn’t really surprise us, their behaviors did. We passed lounging yaks, curious goats, and baying sheep (were we in Norway or Scotland?). And I was attacked by a seagull.
Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Food, lodging and transportation costs can really add up. Despite these high costs, we were able to do this trip on a budget without sacrificing experiences. We even got by without handling any Norwegian cash until we found some while cleaning out the rental car. Here are our actual expenses from our trip to Norway.
Since we are from Oregon, it takes A LOT to impress us when it comes to waterfalls. We have them everywhere. However in Norway, they are not only everywhere, you can see many at the same time! The volume of water coming off of the glaciers is so intense that you feel more alive as the water rushes down the mountain. Here are a few of our favorites.
We’re taking a short break this week, but we don’t want to leave you without some fun Norway stories, so here’s one from my photography blog on our visit to Vigeland Park in Oslo. Feel free to follow my travel photography there as well, and we’ll have some new stories for you next week!
Vigeland Park
At first, we saw only a massive stretch of green lawn, and we were drawn in by the pungent smell of burning coals. This led us to a space buzzing with people. Couples wandered along the expansive path; groups of adolescents sat laughing on stretched-out blankets, a joyful tune emanating from their portable speakers and a beer in their hands.
As we ventured deeper into Vigeland Park, we reached a broad bridge sporting dozens of sculptures on either side.
The first thing I noticed was the sculptures were all unabashedly nude – men, women, children, all completely out in the open. But as I observed the artwork, I was taken aback by the simple beauty of the scenes depicted.
After packing for colder weather, we found a Norway that was unseasonably warm in May. So to get somewhere cold we had to go up in altitude and latitude. We couldn’t believe the views we saw and had to keep stopping to get more pictures as we went. When we thought we saw the most beautiful place possible, something better was just around the corner. Norway will always have a special place in our hearts, and this is why.
While we were camping most of the time in beautiful Norway, we did also have a few opportunities to marvel at some of the ingenious architecture across the country. And though we saw so little of it, it still made quite the impression!
While Norway has endless fjords, Geiranger Fjord is one of the most magnificent. Because of this, nearly a million people visit each year during the high season from May through September. Cruise ships alone bring in nearly three hundred thousand people from all over the world. We somewhat dreaded the possibility of crowds, but were pleasantly surprised it wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be. Here is how we avoided the crowds and enjoyed our time at Geiranger.
In America, we’re accustomed to certain amenities in a campground. Space to lay out a tent, a spot to park our car, a pre-established fire pit. If we’re feeling fancy, we’ll ensure there’s an outhouse nearby. A step up from that might also offer a wooden picnic table in our site and perhaps – gasp! – real plumbing-connected toilets. Now, that’s almost no longer camping at that point.
But what about showers? Rarely. A community kitchen? Haha, no. Wifi? Are you serious?
We were quite surprised to find out what was considered standard in Norwegian camping.
