TRAVEL - NORWAY
Go to Norway! This is NOT a paid ad, yet. Mostly because Norway doesn't need our money. Let me modify this - go to Norway if you're rich OR go to Norway if you have friends...I fall under the latter. I think there are reasons to go at all times of the year but I went in May and timed it with their National Constitution Day (syttende mai or 17th of May). Also, it was light out until 10:30 pm, who doesn't love a good reminder that they are closer to Santa than ever before?
BUNADS OR BUST
“Hipp Hipp Hurra!” I cheered, blending in beautifully amongst the crowds. My cover blown only when someone audaciously spoke Norwegian to me. You see, here’s the deal: I was the luckiest tourist in the world that day. A friend of a friend’s wife loaned me her EXTRA Bunad to wear for the national holiday, not only that, it FIT ME. You don’t get this, do you? You can’t get Bunads at Party City, I tried. They are family heirlooms worth at least $10,000. Each girl gets her Bunad around 16 with extra fabric built in for when life plumps you up- but honestly a great encouragement to stay in teenage shape… So you’ll have one of these 4 life. Which shows some biblical loyalty between woman and dress
There were several things I was impressed with during my 2 week visit to see my bffl Hanna(no H).
- The outward human beauty.
- Brunost (translated: Brown Cheese) - a caramelized goat cheese that is boiled down and then reformed into a brick from heaven. The christmas edition with the added spices was 2 DIE 4.
- Knekkebrød - a simple seedy crisp bread that warmed my heart. They also had a gluten-free mix that I brought home several of. Let me know if you're going and I'll put in an order.
- Cooking Skills - Eating out at a restaurant is expensive. At least with the women I was staying with (20-somethings), they all could make bread, and real ass meals and I was inspired to not be a shitake mushroom in the kitchen.
- Invention of the Cheese Slicer - truly the nation's greatest contribution to the world after the paperclip. It was the one of the two souvenirs I returned with.
Because I only went to Oslo, next time I'd like to explore the rest of the country and the epic beauty. Let's go!