Most pleasant invitation to discover Norway’s past and present featuring our guest Kristin Skjefstad Edibe : Norway is an active participant to world affairs and takes its share of responsibility in global issues. Norway has a foreign policy known as the “Norwegian model,” the goal of which is to contribute to peace and stability through a coordinated response among governmental and non-governmental Norwegian organizations; acting as an honest broker in international conflicts; an informal network of Norwegian individuals with access and credibility among parties; and the willingness to take the long view in international issues. Norway works actively to find lasting political solutions to wars and conflicts by facilitating dialogue between parties to conflict and supporting other actors’ conflict resolution efforts. See even more info about the subject here : Kristin Skjefstad Edibe.
Bergen and the western fjords : this is the place where historical World Heritage sites meet innovative fashion, trendy restaurants, and a progressive music scene in Norway’s second-largest city. You can visit some of the country’s top museums like KODE art museums and composer homes, get lost in squiggly cobblestone streets, and experience the city from above at one of the seven surrounding mountain tops. Bergen is the gateway to some of Norway’s most famous fjords, including the Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, in the north, and the Hardangerfjord – where you’ll find the famous mountain plateau Trolltunga – in the south. Many of the fjords have sidearms that are at least as beautiful, but far less busy.
Norwegian gastronomy : There has been a formidable change in attitudes towards Norway’s food traditions in recent years. When it comes to food and drink in Norway, a culinary revolution has been quietly taking place in the last few years. Restaurants and ordinary kitchens have seen a dramatic rise in local and organic food. What really characterizes Norwegian cooking is largely found in rather unique agricultural customs: sheep, cows and goats graze in outlying pastures along the coast and in the mountains. A cold climate and unpolluted land are ideal for slow growing vegetables and fruit and berries without the extensive use of pesticides. Modest farms that produce milk, cheese and beef in healthy environments are virtually disease-free and subject to strict regulations when it comes to animal welfare. And of course, the extensive coastline gives Norway long and rich seafood traditions.
Norway is home to many museums such as the KISTEFOS MUSEUM : combine the perfect day out in nature with an amazing art experience at the Kistefos Museum, which celebrates the best of Norwegian and international contemporary art with its industrial museum, two big indoor art galleries, and impressive sculpture park. The museum is located in Hadeland, less than an hour’s (beautiful) drive from Oslo. Take in the unusual sight of the architectural masterpiece and gallery named The Twist. Afterwards, stroll through the sculpture park, which is home to sculptures by international artist including Yayoi Kusama, Fernando Botero, and Anish Kapoor, to name a few. The Kistefos museum is just one of many phenomenal art experiences in the Oslo region. There are more cultural destinations such as Ramme, the Henie Onstad Art Centre and other fantastic cultural experiences for art lovers around Oslo.
Classy rainwear and high-end fashion: Norway has many designers that operate in the high end of the fashion spectrum. Several of them are sold in the most important fashion stores in places like New York, Tokyo and Paris. Norwegian Rain and Swims are classy rainwear brands, while Holzweiler produces a rather unique scarf collection in cashmere, silk and wool. The importance of seasons in Norway is underlined by a brand called Fall Winter Spring Summer that produces women’s clothing with a no-fuss Scandinavian aesthetic that equally balances femininity and masculinity. Another women’s fashion brand, byTiMo, creates garments inspired by vintage fashion, while Line of Oslo focuses on comfortable clothes for women with a busy lifestyle. The brand Johnnylove from Trondheim is an example of many exciting things happening outside of Oslo as well.
In Norway, climbing mountains feels like the most natural thing to do — so why shouldn’t this also apply to buildings? The Norwegian nature is free for everyone to walk in, and The Oslo Opera House, which opened in 2008, was built as an extension to this idea. Usually, you are likely to be arrested if you walk on rooftops. This new building in the very epicentre of the capital of Norway offers subtle variations in the structure of the marble-embellished roof signed by Norwegian artists Kristian Blystad, Kalle Grude and Jorunn Sannes. It is truly a beautiful surface meant to be stepped on. Under your feet there are three highly differently designed scenes, a myriad of public rooms and halls to explore, and a vibrant workplace for more than 600 opera and ballet professionals. This structure made for walking also offers an unexpectedly cool sit-down experience. The innovative physique of the Opera House with its marble-covered roof will unveil surprisingly different angles of the city you have come to visit.
The most popular sports in Norway are Football, Cross-country skiing, Biathlon, Ice hockey, and Alpine skiing. Cross-country skiing is de facto the national sport of Norway. Norway has some of the best athletes in the world for both Cross-country skiing, Biathlon and Alpine skiing, with the national team often being very successful in those sports.