Road Trip in Paradise part 2

 I recently came across this quote about Norway: “Here, nature isn’t a vacation destination.”

That may certainly be true for many people who travel here from all over the world, but for Norwegians, enjoying nature is simply part of everyday life: walking, running, skiing, cycling, paddling, fishing—and more. Whether you live in the heart of Oslo or north of the Arctic Circle, nature is always close at hand, and heading outdoors to recharge is deeply rooted in the culture. This is a country of active people, you don’t see many overweight people around here... And when you take it all in, it’s easy to understand why. You could almost say the country has been blessed by the gods! With the beautiful weather we’ve had these past few days (sunshine and temperatures between 20 and 25°C during the day) we could believe this is true, but we have to imagine the same places in the middle of winter, with temperatures dropping to -20°C and only a few short hours of daylight to play outside. Judging by the number of winter sports facilities we’ve come across, that doesn’t seem to stop them from from enjoying the outdoors. As they like to say here: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”

It’s truly a paradise for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, and sports fans. Because the country is so diverse, there’s something for everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. We’ve been struck by the incredible variety of landscapes: majestic fjords,

spectacular valleys,

crazy waterfalls,

but also peaceful rivers and lakes, perfect for a refreshing swim and/or a bit of fishing,

charming wooden churches,

and colorful towns with a relaxed atmosphere.

But paradise comes at a price—and it’s not a cheap one. A pizza in a restaurant costs around 270 NOK (€24 / C$39), a beer in a bar is about 110 NOK (€10 / C$16), a visit to a small church can cost 120 NOK (€11 / C$17), and parking at the trailhead of some of the country's most famous hikes, such as Trolltunga (the Troll’s Tongue), can be as much as 500 NOK (€45 / C$72). We knew all this before coming, and so far we’re managing just fine. We planned ahead by stocking up on supplies, we stop less often at cafés, eat out less frequently, choose our paid attractions carefully, and opt for more “ordinary” hikes—but we still make time to go to the pub 😉. Especially right now, with the Football World Cup in full swing—not to watch France’s matches (we watch those at home), but to cheer on Norway, who made it all the way to the quarter-finals. And when it’s only 5°C at 11 p.m., we simply dress warmly and enjoy the outdoor big screen and the great atmosphere.

Because here, there’s no need to worry about rowdy football fans. Win or lose, everything is taken calmly, even if some people have had a drink—or two. We had great fun pretending to be Viking longship rowers, shouting “ro!” (“row!”). If you have no idea what I’m talking about, take a look at this video: https://www.titrespresse.com/11796052603/times-square-supporters#google_vignette

We’ve also added more wonderful encounters to our already long list. In Oslo, a happy coincidence meant we were there at the same time as one of Jérôme’s colleagues from IMT, Manu, a pastry instructor. A few years ago, he took a sabbatical to work in Oslo, and today he brings his apprentices here for short internships. Despite his busy schedule and the pouring rain, Manu took the time to show us around the city and introduced us to Patrick, a master baker and pastry chef with whom he worked during his sabbatical and still collaborates with today. Patrick moved to Norway about twenty years ago and built a bakery and pastry business that now employs around fifty people and supplies a chain of cafés, sandwich shops, and bakeries across the country. He also generously took the time to show us around his workshop and share his remarkable journey. It was a wonderful moment spent with a passionate craftsman and an inspiring success story.

Still in Oslo, while visiting Holmenkollen to see the impressive ski jump, we stopped by the biathlon shooting range, where two young women were training. We watched them for a while, chatted a bit, and discovered that one of them is a member of Norway’s national biathlon team. Siri Skar will very likely compete at the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps. The biathlon events will take place in Le Grand-Bornand, not very far from home, so perhaps we’ll go and cheer her on 😊.

There was also the Spanish couple who have settled in Norway and whom we met at a campground in the Hallingdal Valley, where we stayed for a few days. And the four young Danes who offered us a glass of wine after an epic game of “musical vehicles” in the parking lot of a small harbour on the shores of Sørfjorden. The whole episode annoyed an elderly Swede so much that he decided to leave—but, much to Jérôme’s delight, he was replaced a few minutes later by two young Swedish women 😂.

And finally, there was the Belgian couple we met at the parking area for the hike to Månafossen waterfall. They invited us to watch the quarter-final game between Belgium and Spain with them. A couple from Israel, who were also spending the night there, joined us as well. It turned into a warm and friendly evening despite Belgium’s defeat. From left to right: Belgium, France, and Israel.

After this wonderful loop west of Oslo, we’re now heading east toward Sweden and Stockholm, where Louis, Jérôme’s son, will join us in a few days. Then, for ten days, the Corazza men will travel on their own while I slowly but surely make my way south toward Denmark, on the road back to France.

Without a doubt, there will be plenty more stories to tell in the next chapter!

To see all the stages of our journey and the photos: c'est ici    

Jérôme & Sophie