Diary of my trip to Norway

Over the next little while, I thought I might share some of my diary and photos of my trip to Norway with you. I went on this trip in 2014, to research for Early-Style Hardanger. It was a whirlwind trip, only booked about a week and a half in advance. I realised that it was nearly Norwegian Constitution Day (17th May), and if I could possibly be there for that, I wanted to be. And so I did! It was a very quick trip so that I was away from my family for as little time as possible, but long enough so that I could fit all the important parts in.

Sydney – Abu Dhabi – Amsterdam – Oslo
14th-15th May 2014

The plane departed a little late supposedly due to someone not turning up and their bags having to be removed.

I was on the aisle in the middle section. The girl sitting next to me was off to Jordan, to visit family. She’d only booked at 6am that day! I thought I’d left it late, booking only a week and a half out.

We arrived into Abu Dhabi just before midnight (about a 15 hour flight). My next flight didn’t leave until about 2am, but as my body clock was so mucked around, it didn’t feel like 2am. I did my embroidery in the waiting area. The next flight was about 7 hours long and I slept much better on this one because I was so tired. I missed takeoff because I was already asleep. It was a very very quiet flight.

We arrived into Amsterdam at 7am so I got to see a little bit out the windows. (This time I was second seat in on the middle section.) The surrounds looked very flat.

Waiting, I again stitched. An American lady commented that it was nice to see someone doing Hardanger.

It seemed like a lot of people on the final flight were American, possibly of Norwegian extraction, going back for the 200th anniversary of Constitution Day. Because it was only a short flight of only 1hr, 45 mins, there was no TV this time.

We passed over Denmark, so I can now say I’ve seen Denmark.

Norway had snow covered mountains, lots of lakes, and on the hills surrounding Oslo, there was patchy snow.

We arrived into Oslo at 11:15am. If you’ve added that up, it was about 27 hours in transit. Australia is a LONG way from Europe!

Coming off the flight, no-one one stamped my passport – ripped off! – and I believe I didn’t have to declare anything, so I basically just walked straight out of the airport (I was travelling with carry-on luggage only). It was a short walk to the train, and it left not long after I got on. By about 12:15 I was already checked into the hotel, handily located right at the train station.

A view from the train from the airport to Oslo

I think I’ve previously mentioned I take terrible selfies…

I used their wifi, showered (YAY!) and then went off for the afternoon. I explored a little supermarket in the same shopping centre as the hotel. I bought some bread rolls and some sliced kalkun filet (no idea what it is!) I went back to the room to make and eat them, and then again went off for the afternoon.

I just planned to wander.

Exploring Oslo

I soon realised there was a large gathering of people up the road, outside Stortinget, the parliament building. On entering the square, there was a big celebration happening, to celebrate 200 years of the Norwegian constitution.

Heading toward the front of Stortinget. It’s the blonde brick building on the left.

Celebrating 200 years of Norway’s constitution, in front of the Stortinget (Norway’s parliament building)

There were lots of men and women dressed in bunader, so I took as many photos as I could!

Bunads, or folk costume, are worn for special occasions in Norway, such as christenings, weddings, and celebrations like Norway’s national day.

An array of bunads from across Norway

Saami women (and a tourist and his soft toy dog…)

They also had celebratory cake that they were cutting and giving out. I didn’t have any as it did not look Yvette-friendly (dairy-free).

celebratory cake

I went looking for the shop that sells bunader, but it wasn’t where it was supposed to be. I also looked for a fabric shop, but it had closed. So I just wandered. I found where to catch the ferry from tomorrow, two huge cruise ships, Akershus castle and fortress and the Nobel peace centre. While in the square near the Nobel peace centre, one of the cruise ships honked loud and LONG. Then the bells of the particularly ugly town hall rang out (sounded beautiful even though the building is ugly!) and then the boat honked long and loud again!

Norwegians love their flag!

Tulips in the park

Nobel Peace Centre

The not-particularly-attractive Town Hall. A prime example of brutalist architecture, I think. At first I thought it might have been a power station…

I bought very unsatisfactory rice and hoisin beef for dinner. Oh well…

It is now terribly late – 7:20 😉 – so I’m going to go to bed.