The diary of David, a just-turned-30 Brit living in Norway
Back in October I took the Oslo to Bergen railway with my friends Chris and Graham. This weekend I repeated the trip with Nicola and Simarjeet, dear friends from my Oxjam Brum days. They were staying with me for a week so to mix it up a bit we chose to check out Bergen, partly for the railway trip and partly for the musical heritage of the city. I also wanted to give the place a second chance, as I wasn't too fond of it first time around. I … [Read more...]
A few weeks ago I wrote about my trip on the Oslo to Bergen railway with my friends Chris and Graham. Well I didn't so much write, as gush. In fact I still get a little soft in the tummy every time I recall the spectacular scenery and crisp fresh air. mmm. But of course, we didn't go just for the train journey! Okay we did... but at the end of the railway was a further attraction, the second biggest city in Norway, Bergen. I hadn't done much … [Read more...]
For once, the hype was justified. The Oslo to Bergen railway is often held up as one of the greatest railway journeys in the world. Naturally viewing that claim with a certain dash of cynicism, I set off from Oslo S with my dear friends Chris and Graham ready to be wowed. I was wowed. Have you ever seen scenery so spectacular your stomach turns a little, so wowed that mother nature could have created something so beautiful, so peaceful … [Read more...]
Erlend Øye may not be an instantly recognisable name, but he's a Norwegian musical legend. In my eyes, the Norwegian Jarvis Cocker! An integral part of the Bergen Wave, his career has ranged from folk to full-blown electronica, perhaps my two favourite genres of music. He was the driving force behind Kings of Convenience and The Whitest Boy Alive as well as releasing a successful solo album and collaborating on numerous other … [Read more...]
So, three weeks into my Norsk adventure and I'm starting to get to know my way around Oslo. I find my eyes looking further afield at what delights may be in store for me in the rest of Norway. I'm planning a few weekend trips, perhaps longer, to the following places: Tromsø Far far north of Oslo, 350km INSIDE the arctic circle, lies the remarkable city of Tromsø. Driving there would take three days so the only realistic option is the cheap … [Read more...]
He writes here about his new life in Norway: his observations and experiences, the language and culture, the people and places. [Read More …]
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