Nov 14

Nov 14 Hiking weekend to Stavanger, Norway

Having my consecutive Strepsils lozenge and spraying my throat, I am writing this blog post to let you know I am still alive.

This weekend trip to Norway has been so eye-opening - I cannot even find the correct words to explain it to you. Everything went smoothly, from the trip to Gatwick to the return in Southampton. If I was to describe Stavanger and my first taste of Norway - it would have been cold, kind and beautiful (and slightly expensive maybe). I wouldn’t change anything from it (maybe, make it a bit cheaper :D) as otherwise, you wouldn’t appreciate the real value from the country.

This trip was a gift for my housemate for his birthday as I know how much he likes hiking and being outdoors. We left on Friday after work and came back Sunday late in the evening and this was probably the best part of the trip. All these places to see, things to try and photos to take were packed in such a small amount of time. Apart from disapproving the early Saturday morning for the hike to Pulpit Rock, also known as Preikestolen by the locals, it was all worth the express walking and exploring. There is so much to see in a weekend - from local cultural attractions and historic monuments to the beautiful city centre filled with Norwegian brands and fresh produce. One thing I will always remember from this trip is how kind and bubbly the local people are. They will help you if you are lost or approach you in general to strike a conversation.

As a big foodie, I have to say they have some amazing snacks and treats - Kvikk Lunsj. Very close to the Kit Kat bar, this delight was a lifesaver at top of the mountain at -6 degrees. As this was a budget trip, we couldn’t visit the local restaurants for a meal but we found this little quirky indie cafe called Finkel. No more than a standard bedroom of a house in the UK, this little coffee serving altar hosts just a few tables with a small range of hot drinks and tasty toasties. Yummy, yummy in the tummy. I would definitely recommend you visiting it for a short break before your next stop.

Our home for the weekend was the Frogner House Apartments Hotel. A building full of history and comfort but most importantly a pretty close location to key spots in the city - 10 mins to the Centre and 20 mins to the Dock/Ferry station. I wanted to mention this in a separate paragraph because the welcoming we received was so nice and warm. The night receptionist spent at least 30 minutes on explaining key shortcuts and facts we need to be aware of when in and around the town. Now, I am leaving you with the rest of the images.