Weekend with the Boys — My First Taste of Norway
Quite an adventure, this one. My very first time in Scandinavia — and of course, it had to be Norway. Funny thing is, I’m generally not a big fan of flying… but some offers are simply too tempting to refuse. And this one? Impossible to pass.
The flight itself was shockingly smooth. What really surprised me, though, was the speed. 1 hour and 25 minutes — that’s all it took to fly over half of Poland and across the Baltic Sea straight into Oslo. Amazing what humans can do when we put our minds to it. Security, boarding, the whole airport circus — none of it managed to ruin that sense of speed. Still, I couldn’t help thinking: if I tried to get there by bike (my favourite way of travelling), I’d need about two weeks one way.
We only had a few hours in Oslo, so sightseeing was… let’s call it “dynamic.” What stayed with me most were the sculptures — playful, funny, and far less serious than I had expected. A silver diver, a man rowing calmly in the harbour among ferries — little moments of art that made me smile. Add to that a Christmas fair full of handmade crafts and the smell of local food, and suddenly the city felt warm despite the cold. The architecture, too — clean, elegant, with a spirit that somehow transcends trends.
A small surprise along the way: I kept getting served in shops by Polish people. I really didn’t expect that. English worked perfectly too, of course — every Norwegian I met spoke excellent English. Shopping itself was quick and chaotic, squeezed in between walking and freezing and getting wet.
Our next stop was Kongsberg — a one-day visit on our day off. One day was enough, partly because the weather was… let’s be honest — terrible. Cold. Rainy. Grey. We climbed to one viewing platform and tried to reach another famous rock formation, but my mates didn’t have the right shoes and became deeply suspicious of puddles. The hike was abandoned. After watching a powerful waterfall right in the city centre, we escaped into a cosy café and ended up having a long, unexpectedly deep discussion about evolution and creation. Cold outside, warm inside — and totally worth it.
And then there was Lyngdal. That’s where our host has a house. We were invited by a friend’s friend — a Norwegian who proudly says he is “nothing but Norwegian.” Evenings there were full of long conversations about life, death, and everything in between. Good food, good company, and yes… good drinks too. Some of the drinks from the night before were apparently quite exquisite — I didn’t fully understand their significance myself, but judging by the expressions on my colleagues’ faces, it was one for the memory bank.
In the Saturday morning cold, I went for a short walk. It was slippery, icy, and I didn’t venture far from the house hence only a few pictures. Yet, Norway showed its potential to me. I can only imagine how picturesque these places are in the short summer they have.
A short trip. Intense. Cold. Wet. Full of laughter, deep talks, and that quiet Scandinavian atmosphere that stays with you long after you return.
Norway — I’ll be back. Just… maybe next time on two wheels 🚴♂️
