There's More to Norway Than Just Fjords

I recently came back from training with our NATO forces in Norway for the Army National Guard. No, we were not training to go to Iraq or Afghanistan. It was winter survival training for two weeks. We stayed in the city Trondheim. In between the training, we did get to take a break and have a little fun, go sightseeing and see the many parts of Norway. Many Norwegians say the best time to visit is in the summer, but I disagree. Norway to me is a winter wonderland. Ever shaken one of those glass balls that have the snow or glitter falling imitating snow? Well it looked just like that except it was the real deal. There are many things I found interesting. One in particular was their snow. I was skiing and poked the snow with my pole. I had to do a double take for the snow was a beautiful light blue hue. Now I am from Minnesota and our snow is either white when it falls or dirty grey once it gets mixed up in the streets.

On the little free time we had, we visited one of the coldest cities in Norway, Roros. It is 150 km southeast Trondheim. The city is not only noted for being one of the coldest places in Norway, but also known for its history of mining. Olavsgruva (Olav's mine) is a great place to visit. With a hard hat on, you go underground and walk through tunnels miners once walked and still. The temperature is very comfortable being damp and cool. I remember as our tour guide was taking us through, we could see red light in the distance. There were miners working. I couldn't see them, but heard them singing as they were working. There is a little area to go shopping. Some say Norway is expensive, but if you are a bargain shopper like me, you can find many great deals. A lot of shops I went to had 70% off sales. I found a wide range of things from scarves, clothes, cigars, reindeer rugs to slices of pizza. Something neat was as a couple of us were leaving a shop, we saw a lady jumping on a sled and speed away. It was like being on a skateboard except the bottom was like ice skates. She just jumped on and skated off. For 1133 krone (around $200 US) one can be yours. It beats driving anywhere and is good exercise for the legs. One of the largest churches is the Roros church. Built in 1784, it sits on top of a hill over looking the town centre and is the symbol of Roros. It is as beautiful outside as inside.

If you are looking to enjoy some of the Norwegian night life then the city of Trondheim is it. With many different clubs to choose from, you are bound to have a great time. Don't worry about not knowing how to speak Norwegian. The majority of them speak English. At around 10 years old, they learn to speak English in school. Their English is quite good and they love to talk to Americans! I was talking to a Norwegian and he said that most Norwegians are quiet and reserved, but when they talk to Americans, they open up and talk a lot. There is something a little different about our night life compared to theirs. The party doesn't start in Trondheim until around 10 p.m. It can be expensive to drink at the clubs. One beer is around 30-50 krone which comes out to around $9 US. Many will have friends over and party at home before going out. Norway has strict drinking and driving laws. The limit is .5%. Drinking half a beer can put you over the limit. The police are allowed to pull people over. If caught, first time offenders can spend 21 days in jail and lose their driving permit for up to two years. Many take the bus into Trondheim and will either take the bus home or a taxi. Taking the bus is best for there is always a long line for the taxi.

Don't expect the bars to close at 1 or 2 a.m. like in the states. Most of the bars stay open until 4 a.m. They say once the bars close, that is where you will see the city packed and full. A favorite of the Norwegians is to go get food. One of their favorite foods is frozen pizza. It also is a time when most of the fights occur. I couldn't believe how the city filled up at night. It is quite different than during the day. One club to check out is Ric's. They play all kinds of music and the atmosphere is very unique. Everyone has their own style of fashion. Another club to check out is the Studentsersamfundet. It may not look like much on the outside, but once in, you can go visit a different room and there will be something different being played. Each floor I visited had a different theme, crowd and dj. I felt like I was in a never ending maze of fun. Studentsersamfundet also holds concerts of local bands one can check out. Be sure to try the local beer Dahls made in Trondheim. Like I said before, Norwegians stay out late so be prepared to not go to bed until 7 a.m. My trip to Norway is something I will never forget. They are warm and hospitable and make sure you not only get enough to eat, but have a good time as well with many laughs. I made many friends there and plan on going back to visit. Happy travels! Skal!