Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the October issue of Glo Magazine. Each month, Glo showcases community members and their travel experiences.
By BethAnne Brink-Cox
Guest Author
Photos Provided
A floating sauna on the Oslofjord.
She’s hardly got her bags unpacked, but Heather Closson loves to talk about her recent trip to Norway, and why not? “Actually, Norway wasn’t a destination until this opportunity was presented! However, I am a huge fan of the Norway pavilion in EPCOT. Does that count?” she laughed.
So What Was The Opportunity?
“I was fortunate to be the ‘tag-along’ on this trip, actually! My partner, Jordan, was attending a conference in Oslo. This was our first time traveling out of the country together, and his first time to Europe, which made for an exciting adventure! We spent a total of 8 days in Norway, plus 2 days dedicated to travel. It’s an interesting process to get to Norway, as there are no direct flights there from the United States.”
Language Issues?
Closson said, “That turned out to be more challenging than I anticipated, as a handful of the websites I attempted to access were unable to be easily translated into English. Fortunately, there is a Visit Oslo website that helped immensely in finding activities, as well as several YouTube channels.”
They quickly discovered that Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world. On average, a meal for two with entrees and drinks would cost between $80-$100. Tipping culture is also very different and is not expected, so the price of dining and services reflects that.
Oslo Opera House.
And there’s no bad time to visit Norway, “You just experience things differently! Visiting in the winter opens more opportunities for skiing and winter activities, while summer provides good weather for hiking and water-based activities. We traveled at the beginning of August, and the average temperature was between 50-70°F throughout the day.”
“As arts enthusiasts, we were disappointed that late July/early August are typically dark months for the performing arts,” she said. “But we were able to tour the Oslo Opera House, an absolute spectacle and simply enormous: over 1,000 rooms. It certainly lived up to the expectations! The architecture is incredibly unique, and the roof has been designed so that you are able to walk on it.”
And there were other wonderful experiences for the couple: “a floating sauna on the Oslofjord! We enjoyed this so much that we booked a second experience for the end of our trip. Most everything else — we just stumbled upon! We did a lot of walking and exploring and stopped anywhere that appeared to offer a truer experience, rather than one that was too commercialized. We took time to explore the Nobel Peace Center and National Museum, a short boat trip to view the surrounding islands, visited the Kon-Tiki Museum, and wandered along Karl Johan’s Gate and Aker Brygge. It was lovely to not have a rigid agenda to follow.”
Truffle fries and street waffles.
Closson said their lodging “was attached to the bus and train terminal, which made for easy travel to and from the airport. And by and large, the food was delightful. We tried to find options that were authentic or offered traditional Norwegian dishes.”
Some Of Her Favorites?
Delicious pasta from an Italian restaurant that imports ingredients from Italy, amazing truffle fries, and many tasty sweet treats from street vendors. But she’s also not too proud to admit that she’s eaten at McDonald’s in four countries. “And Norway has sweet potato fries!” she exclaimed.
Happily, Closson’s worry about language barriers was not a problem after all. “Because it’s in Europe there were a lot of dual-language signage. But, “The biggest surprise is how strict closing time was handled. The minute something closed — it closed. It was very apparent that time was valued, and I can appreciate that — it was just unexpected, as you don’t typically experience that around here.”