I arrived in Norway late Monday evening and since then I have been in awe of the beauty of this place. Surely, the direct translation for Norway is the Land of all Things Beautiful. Norge, as it is called locally, is the country where the Vikings resided when they weren't out scavenging and causing a ruckus. It is also the place where true socialism exists and the government pays for everyone's healthcare, daycare and so much more. It is the home to many beautiful men and women alike (hypothesis for this- the vikings stole all the beautiful women during their raids and brought them back to Norway, so the gene pool is particularly good looking), and the country is filled with the greenest grass and the highest prices. My friend shared with me that it is the fifth most expensive city in the entire world, just behind another Norwegian city and a few from Japan. On that note, I am spending wisely and mostly cooking for myself or eating sandwiches. Likewise, I am avoiding public transportation and sticking to bike riding, which is truly a blessing in disguise.
Day 1:
My first full day in Norway involved a trip to the center of Stavanger (pronounced: Stavangah) atop an old and dirt covered mountain bike. All along the way I passed one house after another, each having a similar style, but varying in color, size, and yard, although most are white. In general, the houses are two story wooden homes built entirely of wood, in such a manner that the wooden panels either run vertically or horizontally throughout the entire house. All of the rooftops are steeply shaped to ensure that the rain runs swiftly down. The houses are encircled by perfectly manicured yards with green grass from all shades of green, hedges small and tall, massive trees, and often stone enclosures that have just enough moss to give everything a beautiful green tint rather than a slimy appearance. There are trees everywhere and bronze sculptures also dot the entirety of the city. From one mile to the next there are ponds scattered throughout city limits and they are pleasantly inhabited by large swans and many other types of birds. The church in the city center is a beautiful Episcopalian place and the rocks are also stained with a bit of moss. There are boats coming in and out from the sea bringing with them small waves and the sound of water crashing into the shore. Norway, like I said, is home to all things beautiful.
It has been cloudy and rainy since I arrived, but it does not keep me isolated to the dry confines of my room, but rather it offers a fresh breathe of air and I make sure to dress cozily.
In the afternoon, I accompanied my friend on a bike ride from Stavanger to a nearby village. This ride was breathtaking and not because my little legs were pumping the pedals for many miles, but because the landscape was absolutely incredible. We drove through small bike paths that ran on the outer edge of a beautiful lake surrounded by greenery. The rain was pouring hard, but I rode swiftly forward embracing every drop that moistened my clothes and dripped into my eyes. The roads were windy and hilly, but I peddled along between farmlands where the beautiful wooden houses offered a variation to the green surroundings. Norwegians, also unafraid of the weather, were jogging, pushing strollers, walking their enormous Clydesdale horses and dogs (even the breeds here are astonishing). We rode our bikes through farmlands that were lush and sparkled with fresh rain. And on the return ride, when it was slightly darker, but rain-less, there were greenhouses that glowed in the distance. The lights from the greenhouse shone brightly illuminating the vast and empty landscapes nearby. It was a real life Thomas Kinkade painting and there I was zooming though it on my little mountain bike. It was such an incredible sight and the pictures I took do not do the actual sight any justice.
Day 2:
Bright and early, my friend and I headed on our bikes to the city center where we caught one of the ferrys that travels between this city and Tau every half an hour. The ferry ride was about forty minutes of beautiful scenery. At first you could see the beautiful houses that lined the shore front and then there were large rocks that protruded through the nearly still waters. One of the rocks resembled a whale and for this reason, I have named it the Whale Island. I made sure to climb to the top of the ferry and venture into the outside (while all the Norwegians stayed warmly and dryly inside). Upon exiting the boat in Tau, I prepared myself for a 20km bike ride to the trailhead of Preikestolen (Or the Pulpit's Rock). The bike ride was sight after sight of breathtaking views. All the while we drove along the waterside and for a long while we were free from any sort of moisture. My eyes couldn't help but dart from side to side to enjoy the fresh waterfalls that pelted the ground beneath, the colorful houses that were constructed on either side of me, the enormous mountain sides that often crept up close to the road and were lined with large sheets of smooth rock, the animal herds that roamed around, and so much more. After the 20 km (the last 6 or so completely uphill) we began the 3 km hike to the top of our destination. The hike was the cherry on the top, as we jumped over rocks to avoid falling in the water that streamed beneath, carefully stepped on snow covered trails in hopes of placing our feet on the most sturdy patches of snow, climbed upward despite Seattle-like rain seeping through our 'water-proof' gear. We trekked on and I can without a doubt say that I have never felt so adventurous in my entire life! A trail that is often jam-packed with tourists now consisted of only the crazy and the brave (you can chose my label as you please). There was an older Norwegian couple and a couple from New Jersey that was visiting and that's it! But after the twenty min bike ride, the 40 min ferry ride, 20 km of mostly uphill pedaling, an arduous 3km hike, I made it to the Pulpit's Rock and boy was it completely worth every ounce of sweat! Even though the conditions were far from ideal and you couldn't see to the bottom of this massive cliff and the fjords were clouded over, I can say that I have witnessed this amazing natural site in these conditions... something most Norway tourists cannot. I screamed and heard the echos reverberate through the gorge, which would have been impossible if there were hundreds of tourists there to soak up my sound waves. I sang and skipped and took pictures solo on this rock that is often occupied by hundreds at a time. I ate some Norwegian dessert (the name has skipped my memory) in complete silence and I ventured out all the way to the edge on my hands and knees... and when I reached the furthest point out, my vision began to swirl and everything around me felt like it was tunneling around, like something straight out of the twilight, so I inched my way back to the safer part of the rock and regained a sturdy grasp.
All in all, Norway is a beautiful place and I have but two more days to explore. So until next time, goodbye.
Sevy Gurule- the self proclaimed extreme athlete :)
Day 1:
My first full day in Norway involved a trip to the center of Stavanger (pronounced: Stavangah) atop an old and dirt covered mountain bike. All along the way I passed one house after another, each having a similar style, but varying in color, size, and yard, although most are white. In general, the houses are two story wooden homes built entirely of wood, in such a manner that the wooden panels either run vertically or horizontally throughout the entire house. All of the rooftops are steeply shaped to ensure that the rain runs swiftly down. The houses are encircled by perfectly manicured yards with green grass from all shades of green, hedges small and tall, massive trees, and often stone enclosures that have just enough moss to give everything a beautiful green tint rather than a slimy appearance. There are trees everywhere and bronze sculptures also dot the entirety of the city. From one mile to the next there are ponds scattered throughout city limits and they are pleasantly inhabited by large swans and many other types of birds. The church in the city center is a beautiful Episcopalian place and the rocks are also stained with a bit of moss. There are boats coming in and out from the sea bringing with them small waves and the sound of water crashing into the shore. Norway, like I said, is home to all things beautiful.
It has been cloudy and rainy since I arrived, but it does not keep me isolated to the dry confines of my room, but rather it offers a fresh breathe of air and I make sure to dress cozily.
In the afternoon, I accompanied my friend on a bike ride from Stavanger to a nearby village. This ride was breathtaking and not because my little legs were pumping the pedals for many miles, but because the landscape was absolutely incredible. We drove through small bike paths that ran on the outer edge of a beautiful lake surrounded by greenery. The rain was pouring hard, but I rode swiftly forward embracing every drop that moistened my clothes and dripped into my eyes. The roads were windy and hilly, but I peddled along between farmlands where the beautiful wooden houses offered a variation to the green surroundings. Norwegians, also unafraid of the weather, were jogging, pushing strollers, walking their enormous Clydesdale horses and dogs (even the breeds here are astonishing). We rode our bikes through farmlands that were lush and sparkled with fresh rain. And on the return ride, when it was slightly darker, but rain-less, there were greenhouses that glowed in the distance. The lights from the greenhouse shone brightly illuminating the vast and empty landscapes nearby. It was a real life Thomas Kinkade painting and there I was zooming though it on my little mountain bike. It was such an incredible sight and the pictures I took do not do the actual sight any justice.
Day 2:
Bright and early, my friend and I headed on our bikes to the city center where we caught one of the ferrys that travels between this city and Tau every half an hour. The ferry ride was about forty minutes of beautiful scenery. At first you could see the beautiful houses that lined the shore front and then there were large rocks that protruded through the nearly still waters. One of the rocks resembled a whale and for this reason, I have named it the Whale Island. I made sure to climb to the top of the ferry and venture into the outside (while all the Norwegians stayed warmly and dryly inside). Upon exiting the boat in Tau, I prepared myself for a 20km bike ride to the trailhead of Preikestolen (Or the Pulpit's Rock). The bike ride was sight after sight of breathtaking views. All the while we drove along the waterside and for a long while we were free from any sort of moisture. My eyes couldn't help but dart from side to side to enjoy the fresh waterfalls that pelted the ground beneath, the colorful houses that were constructed on either side of me, the enormous mountain sides that often crept up close to the road and were lined with large sheets of smooth rock, the animal herds that roamed around, and so much more. After the 20 km (the last 6 or so completely uphill) we began the 3 km hike to the top of our destination. The hike was the cherry on the top, as we jumped over rocks to avoid falling in the water that streamed beneath, carefully stepped on snow covered trails in hopes of placing our feet on the most sturdy patches of snow, climbed upward despite Seattle-like rain seeping through our 'water-proof' gear. We trekked on and I can without a doubt say that I have never felt so adventurous in my entire life! A trail that is often jam-packed with tourists now consisted of only the crazy and the brave (you can chose my label as you please). There was an older Norwegian couple and a couple from New Jersey that was visiting and that's it! But after the twenty min bike ride, the 40 min ferry ride, 20 km of mostly uphill pedaling, an arduous 3km hike, I made it to the Pulpit's Rock and boy was it completely worth every ounce of sweat! Even though the conditions were far from ideal and you couldn't see to the bottom of this massive cliff and the fjords were clouded over, I can say that I have witnessed this amazing natural site in these conditions... something most Norway tourists cannot. I screamed and heard the echos reverberate through the gorge, which would have been impossible if there were hundreds of tourists there to soak up my sound waves. I sang and skipped and took pictures solo on this rock that is often occupied by hundreds at a time. I ate some Norwegian dessert (the name has skipped my memory) in complete silence and I ventured out all the way to the edge on my hands and knees... and when I reached the furthest point out, my vision began to swirl and everything around me felt like it was tunneling around, like something straight out of the twilight, so I inched my way back to the safer part of the rock and regained a sturdy grasp.
All in all, Norway is a beautiful place and I have but two more days to explore. So until next time, goodbye.
Sevy Gurule- the self proclaimed extreme athlete :)
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