If you’ve been stalking me on either Twitter or Facebook, the next piece of news probably won’t come as a surprise. Truth be told, I’m going a little crazy here in cold, grey, snowy, dismal England. I don’t ever recall having this much trouble getting through the winter — something has changed within me, something is not the same. It’s like… the rules of the game have changed and I’m no longer satisfied with sitting here in front of my computers.
So I’m going to NORWAY, baby. Middle of March through until some time in April. I will experience the FJORDS and… er… I don’t know — cute, blonde inbred Scandinavian Übermensch? (That’s a Google Images link by the way — I’m not going to go and pick favourites, sheesh.)
(Photo not mine — just showing you what a fjord can look like…)
But yes, despite the brief moments of testosteronic superiority, the real reason I’m going is the fjords. Often described as the most beautiful natural wonders of the world, the fjords of Norway line the entire coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula and make up 7% of Norway’s total area. For some reason, Norway has one of the lowest densities in the world with only 4.8 million people in the entire country. Considering they have one of the best standards of living, and a huge income from oil, I really have no idea why no one lives there. Maybe there’s a disease (like the Faroe Islands), or maybe it’s the ol’ ‘it’s too damn cold for 80% of the year’ thing.
My friend in Bergen has a house on (by?) Hardangerfjord, which is one of the biggest. Have a look at Svein Ulvund’s photos of the fjord and nearby — insane, eh? March is when they’re meant to be at their finest, after most of the snow has been and gone. I hope I can do them justice — and I may need to buy a new camera before I go…
Anyway, I’ll be going to Bergen and Trondheim — here’s a map:
I actually had no idea they were so far north… Trondheim is further north than my trip to the Faroe Islands! At this time of year, there probably won’t be much sunlight — but by the time March rolls around, it should be at least 4C or 39F… so not that cold, really. Yet again I’ll miss the Arctic Circle by a few hundred miles, dammit!
We’ll try to drive around a bit, but I think only one of my hosts has a car — we’ll likely stay close to Bergen and Trondheim. Maybe they have skidoos that we can buzz around and churn snow with? Our plans are still in their formative stage, but I’ll be booking flights in the next few days… so there’s no going back.
If anyone’s been to Norway (Chele?), now’s the time to throw in any advice. And does anyone live in Norway? Maybe I can pay a fleeting visit!
* * *
Because it’s Tuesday, I have photos; mostly alternates for yesterday’s 52 Weeks. They’re not amazing, but perhaps they’re interesting — you decide!
(You might not be able to see it on your screen, but the leaf is reflecting a pink sunset — if you can’t see it, trust me! It’s pretty!)
(Again, there’s some lovely pinks and blues in this photo, but you might not be able to see them! I chased the birds around for ages, but they finally settled down in the tree for a photo. So kind of them.)
The last two are obviously a bit ‘experimental’ — my favourite bits are the golden ‘halos’ where the sunset hits the water at an odd angle. Very cool.
Bea
Feb 9, 2010
You lucky bugger! Those fjords look Norgegasmic indeed. Can’t wait to see the place through your lens in the next few months.
Ooh, and the the tonal range you’ve captured in the sky behind those birds is stunning. Love your work.
Chele
Feb 9, 2010
The fjords are amazing.
Bergen and that part of Norway has such beautiful stunning scenery, Bergen also has the best seafood in the country.
If you can get up to voss you will see the mountains with the fjord scenery.
Places like Jotunheimen, hardangervidda, there is geirangerfjorden, sognefjorden. Actualy this site is pretty good
http://www.fjordnorway.com/
The women are stunning, they all look healthy and are just smiling happy girls.
the reason not so many people live there, and you will learn, it is very expensive to live there.
You need to eat Norwegian hot dogs, and milk chocolate called melkesjokolade..sooo yummm.
just tweet me for more questions.
MentalSarcasm
Feb 9, 2010
I think we’re on 4c in the UK at the moment so at least you won’t have to get used to a change in temperature.
How much further north do you need to go for the aurora borealis? Or is March the wrong time of year for it?
Erini
Feb 9, 2010
My family is in Finland… so…. yeah. can’t help!
Have fun though Sebby!
Sara Strand
Feb 9, 2010
My father in law went to Norway and almost didn’t come back a few years ago. Which probably would have been in my favor because then my maybe my mother in law would have left as well. But the fjords are GORGEOUS and it’s something I’ve always wanted to see. Get some pretty water shots.
Hezabelle
Feb 9, 2010
That fjord photo is breathtaking. I can’t wait to see yours from there!
Also, love the Wicked quote and your photo of the birds is lovely!
sebastian
Feb 9, 2010
Phew, someone got the Wicked quote. I wasn’t sure if I’d be called out for plagiarism, or if people would even notice… well done
Mine will be a lot better than THAT, I assure you.
I thought about going to Finland, Rini, purely for… weirdness value. They’re crazy over there (as you might know). Close proximity to Russia can’t help, plus awful weather… few natural resources… poor sods. ‘Funland’ is their ironic nickname.
Sarcasm — I think the Northern Lights are usually over by February, and you need to be within the Arctic Circle. Tromso (north Norway) is meant to be one of the best places to go — I meant to go last year, but never made it. It really is in the middle of nowhere though — and the sun never rises, at least in the winter!
Chele — I know about the really-expensive thing, but I thought the huge GDP would counter that? I mean, it’s like Iceland… high cost of living (everything’s imported), but there’s more than enough money to go around! I’ll add ‘Norwegian hot dog’ to the list…
Thanks, Bea
andhari
Feb 9, 2010
ANd I bet you’re looking for really pale, really petite Norway girl with bright blue eyes and icy blond hair :p
the girl in stiletto
Feb 9, 2010
oh man!! i would love to travel with you to norway in march but i’ve bought ticket to fly to andhari and party up all night with her.
p.s i still don’t know what you were talking about =p RT me & boys.
Melissa
Feb 9, 2010
Goooooooo, tomatoes!
Eleni
Feb 10, 2010
Maybe they have such a high standard of living in part because there are so few people to worry about. Among many other factors, of course.
The fjords look gorgeous. I can’t wait to see your own versions of that photo. Just be sure that when you’re standing on those cliffs you don’t, uh, close your eyes and leap (sorry).
sebastian
Feb 10, 2010
Damn, out-nerded… at least it was by you and not some other UPSTART…
She told me you were heading out there, Stiletto — but you won’t be there when I arrive…! It would’ve been one hell of a party.
nicopolitan
Feb 11, 2010
The closest I’ve been to Norway is Sweden (which is actually not that far) — and if Scandanavians share common traits, it’s a willingness to make a good impression on a foreigner by being extra friendly. I’ll let you take that how you want it.
Oh! Also be prepared for a major change of diet. If you like smoked fish at all, you’ll do just fine.
Foggy Dew
Feb 12, 2010
Heck, if it’s snow and cold you’re looking for, you could just come to D.C. Snowiest winter on record and we’ve gotten most of it in the past week. Although I can’t quite understand the whole “Go north to a colder, darker country to escape the winter blahs” I can’t wait to see your pictures of the fjords. Also, might I recommend a brand change for your new camera? No? Didn’t think so.
Enjoy the trip.
floreta
Feb 13, 2010
fun! i did catch that tid bit on twitter. i met a girl from norway in india. it’s really cold and snowy there too right?
sebastian
Feb 13, 2010
It is very cold — at least in the north.
It’s coastal, so it never gets REALLY cold (like continental areas). It’ll be about 3-4 degrees centigrade when I go, with a low of -2 or 3!