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Take Us Back to Norway!

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We’ve been back from Norway for almost a week, returning in time for the ‘hurriquake’ in California. There have been quite a few instances this week where we’ve said to each other, “We wouldn’t see that trash in Norway.” “It’d be daylight right now in Norway.” “This would run so much more efficiently in Norway.” Ahh, Norway. After spending two weeks in this beautiful country, we have a few observations to share with our readers. Here goes: 1). Everything is clean. And I mean everything. Ok, ok, so we saw a little bit of trash in the cities, specifically Stavanger and Bergen, but everywhere else was pristine. Not a lick of trash. People are just respectful! And where you find a trash can, you’ll also find a receptacle for recycling and for food waste. 2). There are no billboards. None. Ok, ok, so I saw one small billboard on a run in Bergen, but otherwise, zero billboards! There were some larger (but still small) signs on some of the main highways we traveled, but these were cre...
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It's Time to Go Home

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Ah, the day has arrived. Our ‘go home’ day. We had thought about waking up today and shuttling back to the Oslo airport, leaving our bags in a locker there, then taking the airport express train into the city…but we decided against that idea. It would mean an early, rushed morning; it would mean hoping that there was a locker open; it would mean at least another $100 in public transportation costs; and it would mean walking around the same area of Oslo we previously visited. So instead, we slept in and enjoyed a slow start to our long Saturday. I went to the Thon gym, “Thon Active,” to get my run in. Wyatt begged me to take him (he loves gyms), so I did. He played on the machines, which I’m fairly certain is frowned upon, while I ran on the treadmill. But I was impressed; he did sit-ups, planks, yoga ball stretches, the works. This kid loves to move. Back in our hotel room, Taylor was just waking up. She got out of bed only because we told her there was limited time left in the Tho...
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From Bergen Back to Oslo

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Friday was our last full day in Norway. We decided the only reason we’re heading home is because Roger, our three-year-old dog, is there. Otherwise, we’d stay put in Norway! We enjoyed another lazy breakfast (buffet was good, but it was no Thon Hotel buffet) and then packed up our bags and shoved them in the small hotel storage closet. We took another walk along different Bergen streets, then boarded a boat that would take us on a three-hour fjord cruise. The boat was a little sleepy (truthfully, I fell asleep in my seat), but yet again, the scenery was divine. We saw all of Bergen’s historic harbor, neighborhoods outside of Bergen, quaint cottages and boat docks, small islands, impressive bridges, and teenage boys mooning us from a swimming hole. Cruisin' Family pic. Once we got back to Bergen, we went on a hunt to find Wyatt a Norwegian souvenir. Taylor had already selected a sweatshirt; Tim and I had both found shirts. Wyatt was keen on finding a necklace (have you seen hi...
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Busy in Bergen

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Thursday was all about Bergen. We spent the entire day in this beautiful city in western Norway. Bergen is known as the gateway to the fjords and is an important economic center for the country. Millions of people visit Bergen each year; it’s that compelling and popular. Bergen was founded in 1070 and grew into a major trading city. Its location made it ideal for accessing the rest of the world. For almost 100 years, Bergen served as the capital of Norway (and then Oslo took over about 1299). I woke up early Thursday morning and went out for a run, past some empty tourist attractions and a couple cruise ships and into a more residential area of the city. Once back at the hotel, we roused the kids and headed downstairs for yet another breakfast buffet. These lazy breakfasts have been so wonderful; we get to talk and enjoy good food and plan our days. The breakfasts have been a good balance to this trip’s on-the-go approach. After breakfast, we attempted to visit the Bergen Lepro...
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Hiking Pulpit Rock and Driving to Bergen

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“It was a pretty easy hike, but it was terrifying once we got up there,” said Taylor about our Wednesday morning hike to Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock. “Taylor is absolutely wrong. It was not terrifying [at the top], but it was a pretty easy hike,” shared Wyatt. “And I took a picture up there with a stranger dude.” “It was the only disappointment of the trip, because of the weather. The hike itself was great,” said Tim. Pulpit Rock is one of the most famous hikes in Norway. About a 45-minute drive from Stavanger, the hike itself is 2.5 miles out to the rock, then 2.5 miles back. On a good day, Pulpit Rock looks like this: Do you see that cliff?! Another view.  But let me back up and tell you about Pulpit Rock (and more) from the beginning: Wednesday morning, we jumped out of bed, raring to go. And by we, I mean Tim and me. The kids were a harder sell, but we coaxed them out of bed with promises of delicious food at the Thon Hotel breakfast buffet, which as you know by now, doe...
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Another Day in Stavanger: Oil and Swords

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Tuesday morning in Stavanger brought rain, a lot of it. But lucky for us, we had the Thon Hotel buffet breakfast to look forward to. We enjoyed such a lazy and delicious morning – it was a treat. Following breakfast, we played a family game of shuffleboard in the hotel lobby. Suffice to say, Wyatt is obsessed. Stavanger boasts several museums, and given the rain, we chose to visit the Norwegian Petroleum Museum, the Norsk Oljemuseum, in the city center. This museum was absolutely fascinating; it shows visitors how offshore operations have become Norway’s most important industry and offers experiences of what it’s like to live and work on an oil rig. We learned about technological advances in the oil industry, how oil revenue has affected Norwegian society, a lot about climate change, and more. The museum building itself was designed by an architectural firm, and part of the museum looks like an oil platform when viewed from the outside. It’s a landmark in the Port of Stavanger. O...
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