I found myself getting irrationally angry with Norway on the second leg of our family road trip. Hear me out as this sounds a bit mad … I felt like there was just too much beauty. I know. Bonkers or what?!
It was as if my brain couldn’t compute the rocky mountains, winding narrow roads, icy blue fjords, lush HD green forests and cute-as-a-button, deep crimson coloured log cabins nestled against this jaw-dropping backdrop. It was as if every turn on every corner hid yet more beauty. I actually yearned to see a dilapidated ghetto estate or badly-applied graffiti, ok, well, maybe not. Told you it was irrational.
Anyway, prepare your eyes for some serious beauty as I struggled to whittle down our pics, CAUSE IT’S ALL JUST TOO BEAUTIFUL!!
Seriously though, this is a country that exudes rosy-cheeks-fresh-air goodness from its pores. We went for a hike one day. An actual hike. We’re not regular hikers but there was something about being in this country that propelled you out into the great outdoors and yearn to get stuck in with the outdoorsy lot. We borrowed this baby carrier rucksack from our friends which was invaluable (find a similar one here)! It meant we could use it as hand luggage on the flight as a regular bag then safely strap Everleigh in and get a sweat on as we clambered up Brufjell Mountain to find a peaceful hidden cove. I’d highly recommend.
One of my favourite places we visited in Norway had to be Åna-Sira. It’s this tiny fishing village (only 200 people live there) but it just had this feeling about it. It was also the hottest day of our trip by far so finding a lakeside fjord to jump into was the refreshing dip we needed. This was where we got our hiking boots out and spent the day feeling super fit as we stayed at a wonderful airbnb beside the water, which was probably the most peaceful place I’ve ever slept. I foolishly left my kindle there but thankfully the owner very kindly posted it back to England for us! Ten out of ten for service.
We arrived fresh off the boat from Denmark into Stavanger at a bleary-eyed 6.30am and found shelter in one of the only places open at that time - Starbucks. Once the town came to life around 9am it was clear to see there was plenty to do that didn’t just involve chain coffee shops. Up by the port are the fancy restaurants, cobbled streets and white washed houses with adorable shutters and blooms. There’s a great selection of shops, bars and cafes in the town centre but my favourite part is the hippy vintage zone. Multi-coloured small streets that are bursting with record shops, hipster havens and second hand stores. Stop for an iced coffee and delicious chocolate brownie at Bøker Og Børst.
As we moved on almost every night to a new town there was a bit of driving to be done - it was a Scandi road trip after all! The views were so utterly captivating that even the longer journeys passed by quicker than they would on a dreary M25. The only traffic jams we encountered were work men fixing the tunnels burrowed in the rock face. We made sure to time our big journeys with Everleigh’s nap time where possible and had a lot of snacks at hand to entertain her as she wasn’t always as impressed with the view. Baby’s huh?! We also made sure to have regular stops to stretch our legs at panoramic viewpoints along the way. The only problem it was hard to tear yourself away from the view to get back behind the wheel, especially by the Lysefjord.
I could probably write a separate blog post about the food we stuffed ourselves with during this trip. From the divine danish pastries of Denmark, to the sweet chocolate balls in Sweden, to the warm cinnamon loveliness of kanelknute (particularly shout out to the ones from Presteruds Bakeri) this cake lover was one very happy lady. We stopped for lunch and a stroll around the chic town of Flekkefjord where we fed the ducks, window shopped, felt out of place at a VERY religious cafe, and posed for photos on zebra crossings in the Dutch quarter.
One of the best parts of the trip was getting to spend time with family in Kristiansand and Lillesand. We were showered with love and generosity from John’s extended family, even the smallest members made instant friends. Having a couple of days where we were helped with childcare also made such a difference (and meant we got a holiday!). It was wonderful getting to know such warm people who proudly showed off their home town. We had picnics in the park, paddled in the Ravnedalen lakes overlooking the town where we also picked fresh wild blueberries, ate brown cheese on crackers and chatted over many cups of coffee. Bliss.
It felt odd to be back in civilisation when we finally drove into Oslo. After such scenic drives along fjords and rocky mountainside it took a bit of getting used to the pace of city life once more. The place reminded me of Paris with it’s wide boulevards, buzzing shopping district and street entertainers. A must-visit spot has to be the Opera House, just for the photo ops alone. This creatively designed building with its sharp angles, gleaming glass and waterfront views is a great space to stretch your legs and let little ones explore.
The World Cup was on when we were there so John made sure to watch the England vs Sweden game at a specially created fan park in the city centre. As it wasn’t the best atmosphere for a baby, Everleigh and I wandered around, ate ice cream and took a cheeky afternoon nap at the bright Thon Slottsparken hotel. We then caught our 17 hour ferry down the fjords from Oslo to take us to the bright lights of Copenhagen. More of this in the next blog post!
