domingo, 6 de mayo de 2012

A journey in Norway



Norge - Norway


Ja, vi elsker dette landet .... Yes, we love this country ....
So begins the national anthem of Norway, which is a tribute to the country.




A large country in northern Europe with its great, untamed and above all, amazing natural variety.

The nature and climate have made those who lives in this country. The european cultur that has come through the centuries was assimilated and reworked, creating a Norwegian cultural expression. So the foreigners, even today, see the country as foreign and exotic, this despite the fact that modern Norway is considered one of the wealthiest and most developed countries in the world.
With its 387,000 square kilometers Norway is the fifth largest country in Europe. That means that the 4.5 million Norwegians have very good space compared to the densely populated countries located in Southern Europe.
Norway was united for the first time under the viking king Harald Hårfagre in the year of 872, and was a kingdom in the following centuries. Norway had a changing history under the Danish crown and then under the Swedish. In 1814 Norway adopted its own constitution and in 1905 erected his own king and flag.




Oslo was founded by Harald Hardråde in 1048. The city was in its infancy the bishopric and the center of trade on Østlandet. Oslo was the capital for the first time in 1299. After the dissolution of the union with Denmark in 1814 it was again capital, this time as host of the king, parliament and government. Today Oslo is a national and international center of art and culture.

Oslo - Capital of Norway. It is a green city with a exciting and cultural entertainment in a picturesque metropolis with the warmth of a small cit. From its green hills with their sports arenas (Holmenkollen), world famous, bordering the city to the restless harbour with commercial and recreational vessels. In the harbor you can try freshly cooked shrimp, perhaps the best in the world, a delight for the palate and the eye.







Southern Norway, most Norwegians associated the Sørlandet (Southern country) with summer, sun and beach. No wonder that the inhabitants of the two provinces in southern Norway double their population in the summer season. It is a idyllic archipelago and its picturesque wooden houses make Sørlandet coast as a magnet for tourist boats.


Sørlandet is more than just a beautiful archipelago white wooden houses and the salty sea. Setesdal is considered one of the richest valleys in Norwegian cultural traditions. Even in modern times the inhabitants have managed to retain Setesdal peasant culture through the preservation of its old wooden houses and large yards. Also making costumes and silver are well preserved in Setesdal.

















Bergen was founded in 1070 by Olav Kyrre. Its proximity to the sea and the trade made bergen to the largest and most important of Norway until 1830. The Germans of the Hanseatic League dominated the city since the beginning of the fourteenth century until 1750 and became an important commercial metropolis. Today Bergen is the second largest city in Norway, with a thriving cultural and commercial life. Bergen is also a center for research and education.
Bergen is beautifully situated among seven hills. The city has about 220,000 inhabitants and is the beginning and end of the Hurtigruta-famous tourist boat trip along the long Norwegian coast. Some of its most popular attractions are the dock, the funicular, the fish market and the aquarium.






Western Norway, the magnificent and varied nature of this region makes Vestlandet something completely special. Nowhere has the drama of nature and the landscape seen like here. The fjords of Vestlandet stretched for hundreds of miles into the mountains. In the end of the idyllic fjord the flowers face the forces of nature, waterfalls and rivers.
In the past the culinary traditions in Norwaychanged from one place to another, depending on available resources and access to raw materials. Along the coast in Northern Norway is natural that the traditional food is fish, while the inhabitants of Vestlandet prefer to have on their table heads of sheep, called "smalahove". The smalahove have gone through a long process before being served at the party table, first salted, then smoked and finally roasted in the coals.






Trondheim, Norway's first capital. Founded by Viking King Olav Tryggvason in 997. The Norwegian empire stretching from the White Sea to North America was led from Trondheim, or Nidaros as the city was called in the past. The Saga told that from Nidaros a viking called Leiv Eirikson sailed to New Foundland in North America. After King Olav the Holy was defeated at Stiklestad, Trondheim became the religious center of the country and an international place of pilgrimage.

The mausoleum of King Olav the Holy is placed belov the altar of Nidaros Cathedral for the last 500 years. In this period both, Nidaros and the crypt of King Olav, have been a place of pilgrimage for all of Northern Europe. Today in the world it exists more than 400 churches in honor of King Olav. Trondheim marks the day of his death on July 29, with a St.Olavs festival in July and August.
Trondheim is the third largest city with 143,000 inhabitants. Now appears as a modern city, university,and a center of trade in the region. The city has a rich historical heritage and is considered the town with one of the best preserved wooden houses in the Nordic countries.










Typical houses in a mining town in the center of Norway called Røros. A site with an architectural beauty and cultural heritage of humanity.













Munkholmen.
A small islet at the mouth of the river Nidelva and was formerly a prison and a monastery. Today is a museum and entertainment site. The situation of Trondheim, between the river and the fjord, made the city unconquerable by the enemy. This was the possible reason why the Viking King Olav Tryggvason founded the town in 997.









Central Norway, midt - Norge, is a Norway in miniature. Within its borders we have the sea and the fjord, productive areas cultivated and the wildness of the high mountains. In historical times Midt-Norge was the center of Norway. Here lived our early kings and chiefs. This part of the country was also the center of religious power.



Salmon fishing.
The region can provide many activities in the nature. Among others the rivers are considered like the most attractive in the world to fish for wild salmon. From mid-century European fishermen have sought the capture of salmon with over 20 kgs in these rivers.












Tromsø, located next to the Tromsøysundet with the wiew to powerful snowy mountains. Above the river Tromsøysundet, streches the bridge Tromsøbrua with its elegance. Beside the bridge is the nontraditional Ishavskatedralen and deserves a visit. The mountain lift climbes up the Fløyfjellet mountain where we have an extraordinary view of the city and the region.






North Norway, the country of the Midnight Sun includes the regions of: Nordland, Troms and Finnmark. Nature in Northern Norway is so full of contrasts from the rest of the country. Since the vast coast of Nordland to the arid border of Finnmark and to the inhospitable Barents Sea. The climate and nature have left their mark on the culture and village life. When the sun returns after prolonged darkness, we celebrate the feast of the Sun in our two regions further north.




Cod - gold from the sea. Lofoten. The great group of islands in Nordland is renowned for its fishing banks where haddock come to spawn. In February / March is a fantastic fishing and hundreds of fishing boats come from all over the Norwegian coast.

I hope that you have enjoyed your trip around Norway.


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