Finding Serenity in Norway

by Jodie Portugal (United Kingdom (Great Britain))

Making a local connection Norway

The first thing I learnt about Norway, is that it’s bloody cold; I knew it would be because it’s Norway. They have dark winters and the Northern Lights and though seeing the Aurora Borealis is on my “Geeky Bucket List”. I was in Norway out of season, but it was just fantastic. Norway, was pretty, very clean, nice people so out of all the places I visited the one which made me feel the most tranquil, and that was Olden. Though it’s the location of the famous briksdal glacier, we didn’t visit that. Instead, my sisters and I just stayed in the main town of Olden and just enjoyed the scenery and went to both the churches, my middle sister “Loves a church”, and we docked so early in the morning. It’s strange to wake up and feel like you’re in a picture-perfect postcard, with the snow coming from the mountains and the water trickling down and into the glaciers, which since it’s the Norway Summer has all melted. Because we wanted to see some of it, we all decided to go the glacier tour, which took an hour but was a good opportunity to see Olden. We also learned that Norway really is forward thinking, irrespective of gender the firstborn is automatically the “head of the family”, something which would put my sister in a happy position, which is why the farmlands have multiple houses. However, they still have to keep an eye and protect the others of the family Something to note thanks to the tour guide was that land belongs to families, but also belongs to everyone. "Every Man's Right" was established since Norway is famous for its hospitality, but what you can do is stay on someone’s land, you have to be 150 metres from the main residence, but according to the guide, you can stay for one night, then move 100 metres and stay longer. You can also walk on anyone’s land as long as you’re not an asshole about it, and you do have to ask permission to stay longer for two days. What I loved about the glaciers, seeing the melted water trickling from the mountain, was that every direction I turned to was different, none of the pictures I took, did the place justice, it was just tranquil, seeing water so clear. I was tempted to drink it, but everything I read suggested against it, just in case it did something to me…and because I’m me, something would happen if I did. After we explored the glaciers, we returned to Olden and what’s interesting to note, about Olden is that such a small population have two churches. There is Old Olden Church built in 1759 and is now used as a tourist attraction since it is amazing, with its traditional design and the other red one down the road the Olden Church in 1934. Though pretty it does have which we agreed since I love history and I said before Anna is the religious one of us. It contains the strangest picture of Jesus Christ we’ve ever seen. It’s Jesus post-crucifixion courtesy of the holes in his hands, someone I think is Mary Magdalene looking stunned, a Roman Soldier bowing his head and a forlorn angel. Maybe because religious iconography is a bit more structured, but we all agreed that it’s the first time we saw a miserable Jesus showing some leg! I get all art is subjective but never seen something like this. Normally full robes, or in a loincloth on a cross, and we’re all protestants, not much of the latter. We did notice this a lot with religious art in Norway, it’s just something we noticed. What made our experience in Olden more wonderful is even though we didn’t see a lot of the people, but as we were leaving on our cruise ship, they made their presence felt by standing in their homes waving flags and playing music, and it was just a nice personal touch.