There has been much discussion in the news over the U.S. vs Madrid bid for the 2016 Olympics and it has inspired us here at the Nordic Company to reflect on what we think was a shining moment for Norway and one of the most exciting times in Scandinavian travel for us: in 1994,when the Winter Olympics came to Lillehammer.
Norway was made for the Winter Olympics. Their cold climate and constant snow coupled with their rough-and-rugged population that prids themselves on physical fitness is precisely what has allowed them to nab 280 medals at the Winter Olympics - more than any other nation. In fact, Norway is just one of three nations to have won more medals at the Winter Olympics than at the Summer Olympics.
At the heart of their Olympic pride lies the Holmenkollen Ski Jump. Opened in 1892, the Holmenkollen remains the second oldest ski jump in the world. It became the focal point of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, rising 60 meters above ground and 417 meters above sea level. It is now also one of Norway’s best known tourist destinations. From the top, visitors are afforded a spectacular panaromic view of the city of Oslo and its glittering Oslofjord. Below, the Holmenkollen Ski Museum (opened in 1923 and still the oldest ski musuem in the world) offers a comprehensive history of the area and an interactive video game that allows you to see and feel what ski jumpers do when they put themselves over the edge. It’s crazy!
But don’t let the ski jump take you away from the town either. What makes Lillehammer so unique is that it remains the host of the last Winter Olympics to date that has been held in a small town. Norway beat out Alaska and Sweden for the bid and Lillehammer has since flourished into a charming, but quaint tourist haven with good shopping and delicious cafes.
If you ask the locals what they think were the highlights from the 1994 Olympics, aside from Norway’s many medals, they usually tell you two things: “When Tanya Harding’s ex-husband hired a man to take out Nancy Kerrigan in the knee” and “when on the day of the opening ceremony, art thieves stole the famous Edvard Munch painting from the National Museum in Oslo.” And next, they will tell you about the construction taking place at Holmenkollen right now, set for an improved ski jump to open in 2012 for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship.
This last bit has become a particular obsession of mine. The architecture company has been kind enough to post a webcam of the construction process on their website - which you can check out here, but be careful, because witnessing the building of a legacy - well, like most things in Scandinavia, it’s addicting.
Book town tourism is fast becoming one of the more popular forms of off-beat travel and Norway is one Scandinavian country that stands to benefit from it. Book shops attract a certain kind of eccentric - the literature lovers, the world-curious, historians, and people just passing by. They also give rise to cities that might not be as well-known at first glance, but are worth checking out. The concept of book towns as a form of tourism was partially developed by Richard Booth of Hay-on-Wye in Wales, UK. Established as a book hub in 1962, Hay-on-Wye attracts approximately 300,000 visitors each year and is frequently dubbed the “book capital of the world.” Booth later went on to create the International Organization of Book Towns - of which both Tvedestrand, Norway and Fjaerland, Norway are proud members of.
Fjaerland’s reputation as a book town is not something you have to read between the lines to know about either. We send clients here every year as a scenic stop along their journey through the Sognefjord. What makes Fjaerland special is that you’re not wandering into just any old standard book shop, (see above photo for an example); the locals have converted barns, stables, and even old boathouses into storage space and display cases for beautiful antique books. Their town boasts 12 shops total and over 250,000 books.
And if you grow tired of sifting through the shelves and reading off the fine print, you can always check out the endless array of cafes and arts and crafts shops. If you want to stretch your legs even furhter, you’re not far from the mighty Jostedalbreen glacier and two National Parks. There, you can hike to your heart’s content and stop at a scenic point where you can relax and do a little reading from your new book (that you picked up at a local book shop!) Fjaerland was also host to the International Book Town Festival in 2006.
If one book town is not enough, we’ll send you to Tvedestrand on the southern coast of Norway where you can weave your way through the “book triangle” - the area of Tvedestrand where most of the book shops are located. Tvedestrand is a coastal town that offers an elegent old quarter of white wooden houses, a welcoming harbor and a wealth of water acitivites to try. In addition to book hunting, you can also check out Lyngor, a town that sits between four islands off the coast, as was once ranked the “best kept village in Europe” or partake in diving, sailing, swimming, or fishing.
If a book town tour sounds like your thing, you should book today. Over 250,000 fairytales await your discovery!
There are lots of ways to get yourself psyched up for your upcoming Nordic Company vacation, but one of my favorites, is stalking Scandinavia on Youtube. There’s something about picturesque scenery set to the heartfelt piano of Edvard Grieg or a chorus of Norwegian school children that brings me to tears every time. This video in particular is quite cheesy, but incredibly beautiful. It is interesting that the creator of this post hasn’t even been to Norway and he still loves it so much. That says something about the enigma of Norway and the rugged, versatile landscape that it has to offer.
If you like bustling cities and vibrant nightlife, Oslo and Bergen boast some of the best scenes. If you’re in search of peaks to climb and glaciers to conquer, head north and Norway will not disappoint. If you prefer the coastline, you can take an express boat and weave in and out of the majestic fjords. If you’re looking for something extended, you can take a ride on the Hurtigruten cruise that snakes all the way up Norway’s western coast, ending in Trondheim. The people are charming, the food delicious, and each season presents a unique array of entertainment, opportunity, and scenery. No matter what time you choose to go or by what mode of travel, your memories are sure to be unforgettable. Here’s one more - a humorous one - for the road…(warning: some adult content).
#8 Denmark is the 10th greenest country in the world
#18 Denmark is the second most visited destination in Scandinavia with over 4.7 million visitors each year
#32 Denmark hosts more than 100 festivals every year
#49 Danes enjoy one of the highest rates of social equality.
#71 Denmark boasts no less than 14 Nobel laureates
#86 The Danish have a 37 hour work week and six week paid vacation each year
These are only a few of the 109 reasons why Denmark is such an amazing place to live and to visit, given by an American Expat who has been living there for years. I recently came across his blog, “To love, work, study, and travel in Denmark” and it’s definitely worth taking a look. Whereas we at the Nordic Company can only manage to do personal site visits once or twice a year, here is the view of an individual who wakes up every day to the bustling city life of Copenhagen. In fact, a quick blogspot search of Denmark blogs will offer nothing, but good praise and addicting insider perspective.
More often than not, our clients call with the explicit intent of traveling to Norway. Many have ancestors and others would like to experience the fjords. One of our favorite suggestions is for them to fly into Copenhagen, Denmark for a few days and then take the overnight ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo to start their Norwegian journey. Our clients are never disappointed. They are always taken aback by Denmark’s charm, exclaiming, “I had no idea it was such a destination!” Get out into the countryside and there are lots of opportunities to stay in quaint cottages, play at Legoland, bike around, or spend time on the coast. If you’re still not convinced, here’s 103 more reasons.
The Nordic Company’s (and likely all of Scandinavia’s) favorite time of year is fast approaching! If you’re going to be in Scandinavia for late June, specifically June 23rd, you’d better be ready to participate in bonfires, folk songs, and dancing around the maypole. Midsummer is the longest and brightest day of the year and Scandinavians have a lot to celebrate since they’ve spent the past few months shrouded in darkness.
Sweden remains the best known for it’s midsummer festivities. The bonfires are big, the maypole is always visible even if it may appear to be too old-school to dance around it, and the normally reserved Swedes are, quite frankly, kind of crazy! Swedes get the day before midsummer off (known as Midsummer’s Eve) so this helps them to start their weekend. Usually, family and friends head to their countryside cottages to celebrate. The bonfires pop up in accordance with the pagan tradition that fires ensure fertile soil and ward off any witches. Another popular belief has young girls picking seven different types of flower’s on midsummer’s eve. They then put the flowers under their pillows and this helps them to dream of their future love. Because misummer is such an old tradition, there is lots of folklore surrounding the events, but in general, it is a holiday to have fun, be with family, and celebrate the arrival of summer.
The Nordic Company recommends heading to the countryside for midsummer because you will find the cities to be deserted of locals. Many of our scenic hotels offer special midsummer celebrations. Sitting up in the early hours of the morning, watching the first rays of midsummer sunlight peak between the fjords is one of those moments you’ll never forget!
I was thinking a lot today about how to rejuvenate people’s spirits in such tough times. Taking a vacation has always seemed to be the cure-all, but in a recession, travel expenses frequently become just another form of anxiety. However, looking over our clientele this year, the rare exception to this rule is heritage travel. When the economy takes a hit and we are forced to re-evaluate our lifestyles, this soul-searching almost always leads to the desire to seek out our ancestral roots.
Many clients have to come me this year with the expressed need to “see where it all began” and “remember where we came from” in hopes of putting their current lives in perspective. Thankfully, due to the Nordic Company’s strong overseas relationships with transportation suppliers, hotels, and the genealogical services - heritage travel remains one of our more inexpensive Scandinavian options. Clients are able to travel to their family homestead and often times reconnect with relatives (many times removed) who still live on the farm. Hearing the retelling of this kind of reunion always sends shivers up my spine! People who have a stronger identity typically exhibit a stronger willpower and that kind of willpower is what sees them through a difficult state (such as our recession).
Our clients come home ripe with wonder at the simplicity of Scandinavia, its rich conversation, and its stupefying scenery, but most importantly, they come home with their hearts a little fuller and their heads ready to move forward. “It’s an experience I will definitely carry with me for the rest of my life,” one client told me. The Nordic Company understands that it is these kinds of heart-enriching (rather than pocket-book dipping) experiences that are in demand today and we do everything in our power to deliver the best.
Sometimes, when I’m sitting in the office on one of our manic Mondays where the phone is ringing incessantly and we have about forty documents to ship out that day, I need to take a breather. I lean back in my chair, close my eyes, and almost immediately, without fail, my mind brings to me to Balestrand. It’s ironic, really, that when I’m trying to escape from work that I am thinking of a place that has to do exactly with my work, but I suppose that’s why I send people to Scandinavia - because I love it so.
Balestrand is an idyllic little pitstop that we suggest to all of our travelers to Norway. It is a unique twist that the Nordic Company offers in its Norway in a Nutshell package as well as a venture we try to incorporate in all of independent itineraries. Why? Well, take a look at the view for starters.
After a spectacular train ride from Oslo to Flam, and then a ferry from Flam to Balestrand, you can soak in the might and wonder of the Sognefjord from the balcony of your historic hotel, Kvikne’s. Kvikne’s Hotel is famed worldwide for its traditional charm and family ownership. The Nordic Company is personal friends with Kari and Sigrid Kvikne. It is a popular location for weddings, family reunions, and obviously, relaxation. Kvikne’s Hotels offers a spectacular array of cuisine and exceptional hospitality while town of Balestrand and nearby Flam afford a wealth of activities including glacier hiking at Fjaerland, biking through Flam, waterfall visits, hiking, and even a trip to a goat farm!
If you’re a little intimidated by the grandeur of Kvikne’s, you can always stay at its sister hotel, the Balestrand. And when we say sister hotel, we mean sister. The Balestrand Hotel is owned by Kari Kvikne’s sister, Unni Marie. A green volvo will usually be waiting for you at the ferry dock to take you and your bags directly to the hotel, a service Unni Marie provides free of charge….And your stay at the Balestrand will still allow take your dinners at Kvikne’s, providing you with the best of both worlds.
As if we need to give you another reason to travel to spectacular Norway…but seriously, take a look Alexander Rybak’s adorable face and listen to that voice! Last night, the violinist, singer, composer, and actor who calls Norway home, stole the hearts of Europe on the musical talent show, Eurovision, with his song “Fairytale.” Rybak is already a well known star in his hometown of Akershus and the winner of many awards across Norway. His success on Eurovision has now cast him in an international spotlight.
Rybak secured his win with 387 votes, a record number in Eurovision’s 53-year history and he even beat out a fellow Scandinavian from Iceland, who took third place. Alexander Rybak’s “Fairytale” can only add to the allure of Norway. It’s not hard to believe such a beautiful voice can come from a land marked by rich countryside, majestic fjords, and stunning glaciers and Rybak’s fame is sure to attract more travelers.
Over 250,000 fairytales await your discovery!
