Discovering Norway

Have you ever been to Norway? Thanks to a dear friend who booked our trip back in January, we took a short break there last week. Such a contrast to London and England: cooler and greener compared to our heat frazzled arid summer; completely free of litter and so clean compared to London; English speaking locals and all very friendly with time to chat and offer directions or suggestions. Their very high standard of living, as demonstrated to us visitors by excellent quality restaurant and café food and drinks, is largely thanks to Norwegian Government’s clever management over the years of their North Sea oil reserves. Hence representatives of our own Government and industry leaders paying court to Norwegian leaders now as we struggle to manage the energy crisis facing us this winter.  Norway’s natural energy resources are quirkily illustrated in the hamlet of Modalen which we visited on a half-day boat tour, to the tip of the Osterfjorden. This small community generates its own power from the nearby spectacular waterfalls and has resisted, despite government pressure, sharing this resource with neighbouring areas and so enjoy their own power source and revenue. Our visit to Norway was brief and included only Oslo and Bergen, crossing between the two on the famous Bergensbanen. But I’m inspired by what we saw and whom we met along the way and hope to visit again – maybe next summer to explore beyond the marvellous galleries and museums and travel further into the impressive countryside too.