At Home He's A Tourist.

Being back home again, it is now a good time to look back at the magic landscapes we explored during the past two weeks.

Thank Odin for giving us Norway, thank Tokina for giving us the AT-X 116 AF Pro DX 11-16mm f/2.8 ultra wide-angle lens.

Countryside near Hauge i Delane:

A farm in Rosendal:

Lake Bondhusvatnet in Folgefonna Nasjonalpark:

Norway’s third largest glacier at Folgefonna Nasjonalpark:

One of the many roadside waterfalls at Hardangerfjord:

Suldalslågen river near Sand:

Salmons in the Suldalslågen river:

In the middle of Telemark region:

Odometer says: km

Henrik Ibsen says:

The spectacles of experience; through them you will see clearly a second time.

(Source: Spotify)

Time to say “Goodbye!” to Norway. We’re now on our car ferry that brings us to Denmark tonight. The last stage of our roadtrip takes us from Skien via Kristiansand to Kolding in Denmark. We still had the time to make a little detour to the town of Risør.

Risør is a popular tourist place and it is famous for its bluegrass music festival in mid-July. How could we miss that?

Waiting for the ferry we made a quick footwalk through Kristiansand. The capital of Vest-Agder county is currently crowded with Norwegians who spend their summer holidays there.

We’ve had a wonderful time and we just can’t wait to come back to Norway someday.

Odometer says: km

Henrik Ibsen says:

A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed.

(Source: Spotify)

Going fishing is fine, but other points of interest wanted to be visited. The world cultural heritage site of Bryggen in Bergen is just a ferry ride away from our hytter at Hardangerfjord.

Another cultural highlight is major dramatist and poet Henrik Ibsen (1828—1906). Given his ubiquity in the southern Norway region, it is of no suprise that he encounters even seagulls.

Sadly, we already had to leave Rosendal, which was our home for a wonderful week. Meanwhile, we stopped by a remarkable hotel in the middle of nowhere.

The Energihotellet in Nesflaten is part of a complex built by Norwegian architect Geir Grung in the 1960ies, consisting mainly of a hydro powerplant, surrounding buildings for managers and workers, and the hotel itself.

The latter had been used for guests and visiting workers of the powerplant. Since 2007 the hotel is in private ownership and its doors opened to the public. From your room the view on Lake Suldalsvatnet is terrific.

The panorama can be enjoyed sitting in original 1960ies design furniture. In the hotel lobby you can even relax on the sofa that has been used in TV series “Mad Men.” Swell!

Oh, and while having dinner in the hotel’s restaurant, the jukebox (usually playing Norwegian jazz) suddenly broadcasted Vortex Surfer by Motorpsycho. Awesome!

Today we stay in the sedate town of Skien, which was the birthplace of Henrik Ibsen. This will be our last night in Norway. How time flies…

Odometer says: km

Henrik Ibsen says:

To live is to war with trolls.

(Source: Spotify)

Besides funny looking knitted pullovers preferably worn on the occasion of taking pictures for your official family christmas postcard, Norway is famous for its rich variety of seafood.

Last year I went fishing at the polar circle where cod, coalfish, cusk, ling, and of course Atlantic halibuts are widely available.

Here at the beautiful Hardangerfjord (no, it’s not Photoshop, it’s Norway!) the sea offers also delicious mackerels. You just have to take them out of the water.

When the the dirty part is done, …

…a well deserved dinner made of smoked mackerels and a decent West Highland Malt finishes the day.

Odometer says: km

Henrik Ibsen says:

A man should never put on his best trousers when he goes out to battle for freedom and truth.

(Source: Spotify)