Welcoming introduction to discover Norway’s history with our guest Kristin Skjefstad Edibe

Welcoming introduction to visit Norway’s past and present featuring our guest Kristin Skjefstad Edibe : Although modern Norway has only existed for 200 years, the story of the Nordic lands is a long one. From the first settlers of this former glacial land to the modern era of engineering and technology, there’s so much to learn. The land now known as Norway emerged from the last Ice Age thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream. The glacial land became habitable from around 12,000 BC. The long coastline and good conditions for sealing, fishing and hunting attracted people in numbers. Although it is believed that people arrived earlier, the oldest human skeleton found in Norway was carbon dated to 6,600 BC. Read more info about the subject here : https://issuu.com/kristinskjefstad.

Tromsø and the land of the northern lights : The capital of the Arctic, Tromsø, is located right in the middle of Northern Norway. Northern lights, whale watching, midnight sun, and epic nature adventures are the features of this region. The conditions are superb for ski touring, biking and hiking in the Lyngenfjord region. The Sami culture is prevalent in towns like Karasjok and Alta, and the northernmost point of Europe can be reached at the North Cape.

Are you tough enough for our quirky cuisine? Norwegian food is not known for having spicy flavours and bright colours, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring! From pungent seafood to crumbly cheeses and unusual meat dishes – here is the food you never knew you wanted to try. First things first: We can’t talk about Norwegian cuisine without mentioning seafood. There is more to it than just salmon and fresh cod. Take stockfish, for example. We call it tørrfisk, and it doesn’t have an appealing odour – but stockfish is the smell of money. You see, it’s the fish that built Norway. The unsalted skrei, or migrating cod, is dried by the wind and the sun on giant wooden racks in Lofoten and other areas in Northern Norway. You can enjoy it grilled, baked, or cooked. Small, dry slices of tørrfisk are also a healthy and popular snack! You can also try Lutefisk, various cheese and other specialties

Norway – a world class art destination. 1. MUNCH MUSEUM: Check out no less than three versions of the iconic painting The Scream at MUNCH in Oslo. 13 floors are dedicated to the famous expressionist painter Edvard Munch’s life and art. The highly distinctive museum building, designed by Estudio Herreros, has been specially designed for major art exhibitions. With its 26,313 square metres and 11 galleries, the museum is tailor-made for the world’s biggest collection of art by Munch, as well as works by other Modernist and contemporary artists, often related to Munch’s art. 2. The NATIONAL MUSEUM: More iconic Munch paintings await in the new National Museum, next to Rådhusplassen, the square by Oslo City Hall. Opened to the public on June 11, 2022 the biggest art museum in the Nordic countries exhibits highlights from its collection of more than 47,000 art works and objects. Here, you can experience art from famous international artists like Renoir and Monet, and of course works by Norwegian masters, including Harald Sohlberg’s Winter Night in the Mountains – sometimes referred to as “Norway’s national painting”. The museum’s collection includes the earliest versions of The Scream, by Edvard Munch.

Norwegian design is part of the minimal, functional, and aesthetic Scandinavian design which is a major force in furniture and interiors. Scandinavian design first emerged as a common term in the 1950s, when designers from Norway and the neighbouring countries toured the world with their products, characterised by minimalism and functionality. Norwegians haven’t perhaps been as skilled or eager as our Swedish and Danish neighbours in promoting our post World War II-era design icons. But this could be seen as an advantage: the new generation of designers are now able to express themselves more freely, without having to constantly live up to a legacy. Already, many are gaining international recognition. They work with multiple formats, but the common thread is the willingness to experiment and take risks. The design scene in Norway has really been blooming in the 21st century with brands like brands like Fjordfiesta, Eikund and Hjelle.

A design for life: It’s easy to think about furniture or electronic products when someone mentions the word “design”. However, more and more focus on schools such as The Oslo School of Architecture and Design has been on the role designers can have at problem solving in society in general – both in the private and public sectors. How can designers work to reduce emissions and contribute to a sustainable society? Or to build public spaces where children can move and play on their own terms? A much-discussed example of this was when a team of designers worked together with Oslo University Hospital on the process of cancer diagnosis, and the project managed to reduce the waiting time from 12 weeks to seven days. The design institute at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design is today ranked among the world’s best, and at The Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture (DOGA) you can experience exhibitions, conferences and other events that promote good use of design and architecture.

Norway is an alpine skiing paradise. The season is long, the resorts are nice, and the views are impeccable. And there is something for everyone! Many of the largest resorts are easily accessible, in close proximity of airports and ferry ports. In winter, we swap our hiking boots for skis to enjoy the snow-covered mountains. Some kids even hit the slopes as soon as they’re able to walk. You see, the majority of Norway’s best ski resorts are super family-friendly, with children’s slopes and ski schools. But family-friendly does not mean boring. These ski destinations also offer challenges for the more advanced skiers. You can cruise down a diamond piste, challenge yourself on jumps and rails, or chase the perfect powder further up the mountains. It’s this combination of beginner’s fun and action-packed slopes that make the Norwegian ski destinations so popular. Friends and families can go on ski holidays together, even if they’re not at the same skill level.