Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for norway
Capitals of Culture in 2024
By Linda Tancs
In keeping with tradition, we begin the New Year with an announcement on the European Capitals of Culture for 2024: Bodø (in Norway), Bad Ischl (in Austria) and Tartu (in Estonia). Bodø has the distinction of being the first city located north of the Arctic Circle to hold the title. In February, a spectacular opening show in Bodø harbor will kick off the year’s events. Bad Ischl is in the Salzkammergut region of Austria, the first time this inner-Alpine area has held the title. “Arts of Survival” is the theme for Tartu’s banner year, the four pillars of which will be uniqueness, sustainability, awareness and co-creation.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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Scandinavia’s Biggest Beach Party
By Linda Tancs
The county of Agder rests on the southernmost end of Norway in a region sometimes called “the Norwegian Riviera” for its temperate climate. It’s where you’ll find Palmesus, billed as Scandinavia’s biggest beach party. The two-day music festival takes place on the city beach in Kristiansand, where over 60,000 revelers gather annually. The fun includes a pool party, fireworks and international entertainment. This year’s event takes place between June 30 and July 1.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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Trondheim’s Jewish Museum
By Linda Tancs
Trondheim, Norway, boasts the northernmost synagogue in Europe. Interestingly, the Trondheim Synagogue began its life as a train station, the only synagogue to serve such a function. The history of the place and the Jewish settlers (who first arrived in the 1880s) is recounted at the annexed Jewish Museum. And, in case you were wondering, the northernmost synagogue in the world is located in Fairbanks, Alaska.
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Norway’s National Museum
By Linda Tancs
The largest art museum in the Nordic countries, Norway’s new National Museum (Nasjonalmuseet) in Oslo is also one of the largest art museums in Europe, right behind Russia’s Hermitage and the Louvre in Paris. Its signature architectural feature is the Light Hall. Reserved for temporary exhibitions, its exterior walls are made of marble glass, a thin layer of marble between two panes of glass. Reaching 22 feet in height, the hall also boasts 9,000 adjustable LED lights and can be completely darkened, depending on the nature of the art installation. From the roof terrace you can enjoy stunning views of the facility’s location at Rådhusplassen (City Hall Square) as well as Aker Brygge (the waterfront area) and the fjord.
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Art Off the Grid
By Linda Tancs
Touted for its off-the-grid location, KaviarFactory is an international venue for contemporary art in the middle of the archipelago of Lofoten, Norway. Welcoming the likes of Ai Weiwei, Olafur Eliasson and Yoko Ono, the building itself is a well-known landmark. As the name implies, caviar was produced in the building beginning in the 1950s. The facility was ultimately transformed into the art gallery known today. Visit this time of year for Mother Nature’s own art show, the Northern Lights.
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A Fortress in Oslo
By Linda Tancs
Akershus Castle in Oslo, Norway, was originally a military stronghold built in the late 13th century by King Haakon V. Once a royal palace, it survived many a siege during the Middle Ages and even served as a prison for part of its history. Far from a relic, this medieval gem along the city’s waterfront hosts two museums: the Norwegian Resistance Museum covering German occupation during World War II and the Armed Forces Museum covering military history dating from the Viking Age. Although the museums charge admission, entry to the fortress area is free.
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The Road in the Ocean
By Linda Tancs
Opened in 1989, Atlantic Road is Norway’s answer to Florida’s Ocean Highway. Dubbed “the road in the ocean,” the 22-mile scenic route hugs the Atlantic Ocean, connecting islet with islet over seven bridges. Along with great ocean views, the journey presents the fertile cultural landscape of the coast across moorland to windswept crags. You’ll find ample opportunity for sightseeing along well-marked trails and elevated paths. Eldhusøya is the largest rest area along the way and is located on a scenic spot at the ocean’s edge. The road runs from Kårvåg to Bud.
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World’s Tallest Timber Building
By Linda Tancs
Are you tired of looking at steel skyscrapers? Then head to Norway, where the world’s tallest timber building (as declared by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) has been completed. Nearly 279 feet high, the 18-story building, Mjøstårnet, is the third tallest in the country. It’s located on the bank of Mjøsa, Norway’s biggest lake, in an area known for–what else–forestry and wood processing.
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Gingerbread Town
By Linda Tancs
Your experience with gingerbread might be of the gastronomical kind, but in Norway there’s a full-blown miniature city made of the seasonal fare. Think of it as an edible Legoland. Dubbed the world’s biggest gingerbread city, Gingerbread Town in Bergen has been constructed every year since 1991 by thousands of volunteers. The city contains everything from tiny homes to local landmarks, trains, cars, boats and international signature buildings. It’s open throughout the month and, not surprisingly, you can buy cookies there.
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A Bird’s-Eye View of Oslo
By Linda Tancs
The newest attraction in Oslo, Norway, takes you to the treetops at Stovner. Located just behind Stovner Shopping Center in northeastern Oslo, the Stovner Tower is an 853-foot path about 50 feet high. It’s shaped like a roller coaster, but the experience is far from dizzying. The closest metro station is Stovner, located approximately 25 minutes from the city center.
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