There was no use digging your heels in last weekend in the centre of Alta, when the local division of the national women’s running league Spar Jentebølgen arranged a race in the middle of a busy shopping street. And it wasn’t just an ordinary race. This was a sprint - in stilettos! The conditions for participating [...]
Whenever it snows after the snow has already melted or frost freezes on your car in May, Norwegians say ‘Global warming, Pfffft!’. When it gets below zero in summer or the wind chills you to the bone… ‘Global warming, pffft.’ When there is snow still on the ground in June or colds days for a [...]
Bear’s hair is a little thicker than I expected. Being a short-haired Saint Bernard, I thought his hair wouldn’t be a problem. I was wrong. It gets everywhere! Bear might have short-hair on top but underneath he has a thick woolly undercoat. Bear’s undercoat is perfect for Norwegian weather. It keeps him warm and dry [...]
Norway has some pretty interesting competitions, like the Ugliest City (always a tie between Drammen and Hammerfest), the Ugliest Train Station, the Ugliest Port, the Ugliest Dialect (Bergen won last year), and, of course, the Ugliest Dog. Here is one from Tromsø: The Ugliest Building. I wonder who would want to win that title? Some [...]
Pølse is THE fast food of Norway. When the grilled pølse was first introduced to Norway in the 50s it was eaten naked – without bread.
Many Norwegians know what they are doing when they pick wild mushrooms. This knowledge is passed down the family during mushroom hunting trips. The hard-core mushroom hunters go into the mountain wilderness for days to get the best finds.
From the west, a wall of stone Saints and Prophets will confront you. All sides of the Cathedral are very textured and deserve a long walk around. You’ll see gargoyles and gothic arches, thick wooden doors with rusty floral art and Anglo-Norman/Romanesque bits and pieces ‘stuck on’ that intensifies your ground view. However, the outside of Nidaros Cathedral is even more intriguing when you know the history.
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Many English words actually come from old Norse language – brought by Vikings to England in medieval times. Here are some words you have probably uttered without realising you are speaking Norwegian!
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.
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Runes were the written language of the Vikings.