Since the Viking age (at least) it was typical to have a layer of dirt on houses and buildings as the dirt insulated from the cold Winters and warm Summers.  Grass was grown on top so the dirt wouldn’t fall off and I guess to also beautify the building.  The Sami even mounded their houses [...]

As an Australian, it is common courtesy to bring a gift to give to the person or family you are visiting.  You never visit empty handed.  However, in Norway this custom is not recognised unless it has been pre-arranged for a party or event.  This has put me in an unusual position.  I want to [...]

Every town and city in Norway has a gågate (walking street).  And every gågate has its regulars.
In Oslo there are two types of regulars – the regular-regulars, who are on the street every week, and the seasonal-regulars who return year after year.

The tribal American Indians are an odd regularity in Norway.  I see them every [...]

Reindeer herding is more than just an occupation, it is a way of life and an integral part of the Sami culture and identity.

There is an opposition in everything. At the darkest time of the year, we celebrate Christmas. And at the exact opposite end, when the midnight sun is at its highest, we celebrate Midsummer.

We often stop off at the King’s Park on our walks to the city. Its a good place to rest before shopping or the hike back up the mountain. In the summer the garden beds gleam with colourful flowers and many bridal parties have their photos taken in the park.
The first time we [...]

The flags of Norway developed from the age of the Vikings.  A raven banner was flown by many Viking chieftains from the ninth century and was often used as ‘weather-vanes’ (a kind-of weather compass to show the direction of the wind) on Viking Longships.
In Old Norse the raven was a popular symbol and represented the [...]

Today herding reindeer is synonymous with the Sami culture. It is recently thought that the Vikings were the first people to herd reindeer.

Nidarosdomen (Nidaros Cathedral) stands tall and proud near the mouth of the Nidelva river in Trondheim, Norway. It owes its name to Trondheim’s medieval town which was called after the river: ‘Nid’ and ‘os’ (meaning river mouth). Nidarosdomen has all the stats to impress (biggest this, oldest that, and most ‘northernest’) but that is not [...]

Updated 23 october 2008 – A Federal Republic
Updated 26 november 2008 – Final Chapter?
(see below)
When Tromsø was denied its bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, it seemed to open some old wounds between Northern and Southern Norway. One Northerner felt enough was enough and decided to take matters into his own hands.

Two weeks ago, Håkon [...]