Like last year I spent the holiday season in Telemark. Despite the chaos in Europe I was able to fly to Gardermoen, take the train, and continue by bus. Apparently snow is not a problem in Norway.
In Oslo I went out and tried tapas at Delicatessen, which has been on my wishlist for years. The only thing wrong with the place is that it is unbearingly crowded. They could be more frugal with the number of tables they squeeze in, and refrain from putting four people at a table for two. Having eaten here next on the to-do list is Sult, but it apparently no longer exists. Will find out next time I am here. Afterwards I had homemade beer in the local brewery: SchousKjelleren. The next day I took the Haukeliekspressen to Telemark. When I got there the thermometer claimed it was -22 °C. Brr, luckily I came prepared: warm clothes! Curiously enough I managed to travel while first evading the weather chaos, and then apparently I missed the sillyness at Gardermoen.
Christmas involved lutefisk, rakfisk with homemade flatbrød, pinnekjøtt, aquavit, risengrynsgrøt, rådyr, juleribbe. The cullinary events force me to consider fasting the entire next month. Apparently all my clothes have been washed too hot. Even those I did not bring with me. Guess what my New Year's resolution is.
Like last year I visited some friends to try the Norwegian shrimps. The next morning I took the train to Oslo to prepare for the flight home. The last day in Norway I used to do some shopping. But first I had some excellent coffee at Stockfleth. Oddly enough they forgot to install toilets. Then to see if there are any new DVD's, trousers and other important things: shopping centre. While I was waiting for the train to Gardermoen I ate a burger at Fiasco. Should you have some time and don't want to go shopping around Oslo S, please try their Fiasco burger.
This ends the festive season for this year.
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Christmas in Norway
Having planned a white christmas in Norway, following a wet summer there, I was pleased to see Santa, E.T., or some other fata morgana, reportedly already arrived.(h/t/ Greg Laden)
Friday, 6 November 2009
Skiing
Just making a small overview of places I went to ski.
Together with a French friend I visited Valfréjus while I was starting my internship. It is a small village with about 60 km of pistes. For the more experienced I think just a weekend is enough to have seen everything. The aprés-ski is not bad if you don't mind spending time in just one or two spots.
Went to Scotland and apparently they have got small stations for those that abhor long descents.
With nurses and doctors from the Intensive Care Unit I went to Briançon-Serre Chevalier. Clearly, this location is meant for those who detest doing more than ski since, aside from snow, they have little else..
Some friends and I rented an appartment in Val Thorens, which is part of Les Trois Vallées. It is a huge area (in excess of 600 km of pistes) where you can ski for days without going on the same piste twice. If you feel adventurous you can even go into the Italian Alps.
On of the hospitals I worked as resident Internal Medicine has an annual long weekend the first week of january in St. Christoph am Arlsberg, meant as team-building for the group of residents and specialists. Following a day in the snow, luncheon on the piste midday, we returned to the hotel for diner, copious wine and cocktails which were mandatory.
Eventhough my significant other is from Telemark, arguably the birthplace of Skiing, I have yet to try the Norwegian snow. Maybe this Christmas.
Together with a French friend I visited Valfréjus while I was starting my internship. It is a small village with about 60 km of pistes. For the more experienced I think just a weekend is enough to have seen everything. The aprés-ski is not bad if you don't mind spending time in just one or two spots.
Went to Scotland and apparently they have got small stations for those that abhor long descents.
With nurses and doctors from the Intensive Care Unit I went to Briançon-Serre Chevalier. Clearly, this location is meant for those who detest doing more than ski since, aside from snow, they have little else..
Some friends and I rented an appartment in Val Thorens, which is part of Les Trois Vallées. It is a huge area (in excess of 600 km of pistes) where you can ski for days without going on the same piste twice. If you feel adventurous you can even go into the Italian Alps.
On of the hospitals I worked as resident Internal Medicine has an annual long weekend the first week of january in St. Christoph am Arlsberg, meant as team-building for the group of residents and specialists. Following a day in the snow, luncheon on the piste midday, we returned to the hotel for diner, copious wine and cocktails which were mandatory.
Eventhough my significant other is from Telemark, arguably the birthplace of Skiing, I have yet to try the Norwegian snow. Maybe this Christmas.
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Summer in Norway
This summer I was in Oslo before going into the mountains. Both were great. Oslo is a surprisingly familiar place for anyone who has been to Berlin, Edinburgh, Paris, or Rotterdam. The same people, same shops and more or less the same nightlife. I found several nice spots while exploring the city. The fact most Norwegians speak English is helpful. Unlike Dutch, French and German, my Norwegian is slightly rusty, as in: non-existent. Although, combining these I was often able to more or less understand these Scandinavians, especially written texts.
That evening I took the bus to Seljord where we packed hicking gear as prelude to a five hours long walk into the mountains. The weather was awful, rain, rain, rain and some more rain. Nevertheless, we caught alot of trout which we marinated in our stomachs with whiskey and other important cullinary aids. Also, my new Gore-Tex shoes, Kaikkialla Jisko Softshell Pants and Fjällräven Iceland trousers worked perfectly. Dry feet and no blisters, even after spending hours exploring the terrain surrounding our small cottage.
Despite being in the middle of nowhere I still was able to miss this animal's Norwegian family. The week in the mountains concluded my summer in Norway.
Arriving on a Friday I used the Oslo Pass that weekend, which is a great way to get to know Oslo. Saturday morning I took the ferry to the peninsula of Bygdø. Arriving near Oscarshall I then visited Vikingskipshuset (The Viking Ship Museum - Huk Aveny 35) which is a cross-shaped building. One of the ships can be seen here.
Then I continued to Frammuseet (The Fram Museum - Bygdøynesveien 36) and Kon-Tiki Museet (Kon-Tiki Museum - Bygdøynesveien 36), which are situated next to each other.
It was possible to see the inside of Fram which was a nice experience. The Kon-Tiki surprised me. Looking at the crafts at display in the museum I would not even have boarded them floating on a small lake. To traverse the ocean appears to me as either a very brave thing to do or utterly stupid. After some coffee I took the ferry that departs from Frammuseet back into town where I found United Bakeries where I had a small lunch. Replenished I went to the Nasjonalmuseet (National Gallery - Universitetsgata 13), to finish my day across the street at kaffebrenneriet which is a franchise, not unlike Starbucks, that specialises in all types of coffee and juices to be served with bread, pastries or tart. Returning, on foot, to the place I stayed at I discovered the enjoyable borough Grünerløkka, with Birkelunden park and Olaf Ryes plass. The latter is a nice square with lovely dinner and drinking spots around it. Fru Hagen apparently is the place to be, Parkteatret Bar has drinks but no lunch. Of course, being in Norway I tried some local food that evening.
The following day was extremely hot and sunny, which made the trip to Vigeland Museet og Parken (Vigeland Museum and Park - Nobels gate 32) -located in Frognerparken- a succes. An exhibition of sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Being not that into sculptures the museum could not really interest me. The park however was brilliant, with many people enjoying the weather and scenery.
At the entrance of Frognerparken I also found the Bymuseet (Oslo City Museum - Frognerveien 67) which is a small museum detailing Oslo's history.
Close by there was another one of the kaffebrenneriet. Yes, true, no denying, I am addicted to brown juice and warm milk. One drink, and a moment in the sun, later I hurried to the Munch-Museet (the Munch Museum).
That evening I took the bus to Seljord where we packed hicking gear as prelude to a five hours long walk into the mountains. The weather was awful, rain, rain, rain and some more rain. Nevertheless, we caught alot of trout which we marinated in our stomachs with whiskey and other important cullinary aids. Also, my new Gore-Tex shoes, Kaikkialla Jisko Softshell Pants and Fjällräven Iceland trousers worked perfectly. Dry feet and no blisters, even after spending hours exploring the terrain surrounding our small cottage.
Despite being in the middle of nowhere I still was able to miss this animal's Norwegian family. The week in the mountains concluded my summer in Norway.
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