Wednesday 22 May 2013

May madness

May is a time for celebration in Norway - sometimes formal, other times less so... Let's start with the sensible - there's time for madness later.


First of all, there's May 17th - Norwegian Constitution Day. Everyone fills the bars during the afternoon, and enjoys a traditional feast in the evening. If you can take the pace, there's plenty of time to head out and party after too. Many Norwegians are fiercely patriotic, and this is their annual chance to proudly celebrate just being Norwegian! That's not to say that outsiders can't join in of course - I had a great day and was made to feel very welcome in a friend's family home for dinner (thanks Henrikke, Børre and Stine). But just for one day, it really helps if you can understand a bit of Norwegian - would you want to speak a foreign language on your national day? It was actually refreshing to watch people celebrating their national identity together, without having to worry about upsetting anyone.


Another reason to celebrate is that Spring has sprung! After an unusually cold March & April, we were treated to blue skies and soaring temperatures over the weekend. In response, we reacted the only way we know - we had a barbeque. We also ventured up to Raudsjøen, a high mountain lake in Gausdal. This spot is well known for its secluded beauty, and is popular in the summer. In the mountains though, it's not summer yet:


That'll be ice then. Just as well I didn't want a swim. We managed to venture out quite a way before we bottled it. Cracking sounds from the ice curbed our enthusiasm - for some reason no-one fancied being stuck on a mini iceberg, with the others looking on and mocking from a safe distance. Dry feet are important after all.



But wait. This is all very civil, isn't it? Nationwide festivities, barbeques and sightseeing - where's the madness? Well...

Norway has a lot of red tape. Most of it stems from a desire to keep everyone safe, but sometimes it can feel strict and over-regulated. Norwegians aren't naiive - they know this as well as anyone. So they've built in a few opportunities for folk to go a bit, er, well, mad. One is Easter. Easter here isn't like Easter in the UK. It's big, and messy. Really messy. This year in the local bar, we had to put the doors back on their hinges whilst a fight was being stopped and others were being refused entry. That was on the Thursday... but that's another story.

The russefeiring is another Norwegian tradition where things get a bit wild. For 3 weeks, graduating high school students become "Russ". They hit the road in badly-painted converted vans, don brightly-coloured trousers, and get smashed for 3 weeks. Don't question it - it's a tradition. During this time, they earn knots for completing tasks that vary from imitating a dog in a supermarket, to having sex in a forest...






On May 17th, the russefeiring ends with graduation (before exams have even started!). As a final fling, the Russ parade through the streets. They're mostly drunk or hung-over (not the drivers though), and they often choose themes for the pageant. Sometimes these themes are based on recent important events, but sometimes they're just mental. I tried to photograph some of the daftest bits. Enjoy.






Rocking-Horse Russ



"We grieve our illustrious leader"

Yes they are carrying a real human boy.

No he's not dead. But they really got into character - they pretended to cry for the whole parade.



Little tractor, big danger when the tow car (bad idea) pulled away too quickly...





Big tractor, bigger danger. Like the little tractor, this nearly ended up in the back of a car too.



Half the ideal number of wheels, divided by double the ideal number of passengers, means a very wobbly scooter.






Russ-tafariiiiiiiiii!




Unsurprisingly enough, this poor girl looked knackered...





...But not as knackered as this smoky Merc. Maybe it was the extra weight on the roof that did it?!

So there you have it. The united people of a strong and proud nation get together to laugh at drunk teenagers in the street! You couldn't make it up. 


Don't get me wrong, I like the tradition, and I appreciate the need for people to let their hair down, but you'll have to work pretty hard to convince me that this isn't totally mad! Great fun though!

Tuesday 21 May 2013

FlyDrive Norway Newsletter - May 2013

We're putting out a monthly newsletter to our mailing list at Norwegian Wood Travel - nothing too taxing, just a brief round-up of news and information from FlyDrive Norway and from our partners. In future months we'll be running competitions through the newsletter too, so why not join the mailing list through our website? Take a look at our first FlyDrive Newsletter here:                                              








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The brand new newsletter from Norwegian Wood Travel Ltd, saving you money on your Norwegian summer or winter holiday!
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We're moving forwards

FlyDrive Norway is Norwegian Wood Travel Ltd's new initiative. We've created a website that helps you design your whole holiday package. It's easy to use, and you book directly with Norwegian suppliers - making Norway far more affordable and giving you complete freedom. Now all aspects of your Norwegian holiday can be found and booked from one free-to-use site.

From now on, all of our holidays will be arranged through FlyDrive Norway, but for our customers who would rather not go it alone, don't panic! We can still help to arrange your holiday. Just contact our office - we're more than happy to help. Or to see what's possible on you own visit www.flydrivenorway.co.uk and take a look around! 



Bye bye winter...

Another ski season has passed - where did that go??
Thanks to those of you who visited us in Norway, many of you returning yet again. It was great to welcome you back and we look forward to seeing you on your next visit.

To those of you yet to visit Norway why not give it a try? We know from experience that once you visit, you'll be hooked!

To get the best dates and prices, we always advise booking early - contact our office or check out FlyDrive Norway today!


Socially aware

Did you know we're always in Norway? We like to share the things we see and do, because if we're honest we see and do some cool stuff!

facebooktwitterinstagram,
google+blogger, youtube...

We couldn't get much more social really (short of phoning you for a chat on skype every evening).

Keep an eye on us, and you'll find out first about new deals, partners and competitions at FlyDrive Norway- that sounds good, doesn't it? And by seeing some of the things we see, you might just get some inspiration for your next visit too.




Hello Spring!

It's been warm and sunny here in the Lillehammer valley recently, with temperatures reaching 25°C! At this time of year, the landscape is stunning - there's a striking contrast between the lush green lowlands, and the high mountains where the snow's still hanging on!

Most of FlyDrive Norway's partners are open year round. Norway isn't just about skiing - it's a great summer destination, and there's plenty to see in the spring or autumn too. Many of our partners offer exclusive deals through the site - booking a holiday in the low season can save you even more!

New Partners for April & May

We've been busy - we've got a whole host of new partners for you to book with! Cutting out travel agent fees can save you a pretty penny, and our partners are eager to help more tourists from the UK enjoy Norway! Here's the latest additions:

Trysil Hotell, Trysil

Anker Brygge, Lofoten

Hardanger Hotel,Hardanger Fjord

Gudvangen Fjordtel, Sognefjord

Klingenberg Hotel, Sognefjord




Partner spotlight -
Whalesafari

We add new Premier Partners to FlyDrive Norway all the time, and we'll be showcasing one every month. This time around, Daniele from Whalesafari Andenes has been in touch to tell us more about searching for (and usually finding) whales in the North of Norway:

"Whalesafari Andenes was established in 1989, and since then we have taken over 260,000 tourists out into the nature to watch whales.
Andenes lies at the northern tip of the island of Andøy, a real natural paradise. This island is located very close to the edge of the continental shelf, so we only have to sail 7-8 nautical miles to reach the whale ground. Off Andenes there is a stable population of sperm whales year round, so we offer our guests a 100% whale guarantee (if the boat does not find a whale, you can join another safari free of charge or get the safari part of the ticket refunded).

Our summer season runs from the 1st of May to the 30th of September, while the winter safaris are from the 1st of October to the 30th of April. In winter there is the chance to observe other species such as killer whales, humpback whales, fin whales and pilot whales. Every tour includes in a guided trip around our whale exhibition, lasting 45 - 60 minutes. Our centre also features an exclusive souvenir shop with unique articles (t-shirts, teddy whales, postcards and more), and a restaurant with both international and local menus. There is a research team on board all of our safaris, taking identification photographs of all the species encountered. Sperm whales' clicking sounds are recorded as well and used later on.

In addition to sea activities, we offer a midnight sun hiking tour from the 19th of May to the 23rd of July in the spectacular mountains located only 15 minutes away from Andenes. 
From the 2nd of May to the 29th of September the airline Norwegian flies directly from Oslo Gardermoen to Andenes.  For more information about us, visit www.whalesafari.no or 
We were astounded by the low prices Whalesafari are offering.  They deliver unforgettable experiences at great value - be sure to check them out!

Oh, and if you could pick us up a teddy whale while you're there...



Copyright © 2013 FlyDrive Norway, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
sales@flydrivenorway.co.uk

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Wednesday 8 May 2013

Cashing up

3 long and punishing days into my week in the office, and I'm just about prepared to discuss the figures from my recent trip. Make no mistake about it, Norway's not a cheap country. They say that being born Norwegian is like having won a lottery - your money is worth so much in the rest of the world.


There is a "BUT" though. As with most places, there are expensive ways of doing it and there are cost-effective ways of doing it. During my 10-day trip I wanted to enjoy myself and make the most of being there, without bankrupting myself! I figure it's probably the same for the majority of tourists.

To help give potential visitors inspiration, and show you how much some things actually cost, I've worked out my spendings in Pounds Sterling based on today's exchange rate (the Norwegian Krone is currently weakening - a result for foreign tourists). The figures don't account for banking charges - these vary (for tips on travel money take a look at Money Saving Expert).



Overnight train Lillehammer-Bodø with NSB, including a 1/2day stop in Trondheim. 450 miles.
£27.53 (same price from Oslo if you book far enough in advance)
Includes free sleeping blanket, eye mask, pillow etc

Torghatten Nord Express Boat from Bodø - Svolvaer 
£39.46

Wild camping - the good (Kabelvåg) and the bad (Riksgränsen...) 
FREE
Includes weather



Self-Catered Guesthouse in Svolvær
£44.22/night for 2 people sharing

A quirky Reggae night that's as good as any entertainment you'll find anywhere
£16 entry
Includes "Skanking"


500ml Beer in the Lofoten Isles
£7.50 on average - it's an expensive place to drink. If you just want a booze-up, go to Spain!

Enough food for a full day's ski touring and recovery afterwards (from a supermarket)
Less than £6.50

Bus from Svolvær to Narvik - 4hrs journey through the eastern Lofoten
£28.74

Good pizza in Narvik at Pizzabakeren
£8.40
Includes friendly service :) 

Train from Narvik to Riksgränsen with SJ
£4.36

Lift-served skiing at Riksgränsen
£33.69
Includes "Hucking". Hopefully not "Bailing".


500ml Beer in resort at Riksgränsen
£5.90

Bar meal in resort
£12

Night train from Riksgränsen - Stockholm - approx. 900 miles
£70 booked last minute, even cheaper if booked earlier

Dinner and a drink on the night train
£6.40
Includes rummaging for change when they won't accept your card

Big lunch in Stockholms old town (Gamle Stad) 
£7.90
Includes tea, coffee, salad, bread and a good old catch-up.



Lunch in Lidingö, Stockholm suburbs
£125
Includes everything above, but the food and the area are fancier.

Luggage locker Stockholm
£11.90

Luggage locker Oslo 
£6.60
Includes headline "Norway cheaper than Sweden in luggage locker SHOCK"

Night bus Stockholm - Oslo with Swebus, just over 300miles
£32.60 re-bookable ticket
Includes no sleep.

Coffee and a pastry at Oslo S Station  
£2.80

Nice lunch on Karl Johans gate, centre of Oslo 
£20

Wifi connection
FREE everywhere if you look hard enough, except the night train


A lift home from Oslo to Lillehammer
After 10 days on public transport? Priceless.


You don't need to be too observant to realise that the two things I didn't do on this tour were either Fly or Drive. Ah, the irony. Don't worry, I'll be doing plenty of both over the coming months. Using public transport in Scandinavia is easy though - if you're planning a FlyDrive holiday don't forget about trains and buses, as they can give you a useful break from driving and save you some cash! 

I hope this blog can help give potential visitors some inspiration, as well as share our adventures and help promote what we're doing - making Norway a more affordable place to visit. If I compare how much I've spent against the things I've seen, my trip was excellent value.

Closing the loop


It’s been a while. In the last installment  I was at Riksgränsen in Northern Sweden, exactly one week ago, thinking about how exactly to get out...

Yes, I made a mistake when booking my ticket for the SJ night train to Stockholm - a mobile ticket can only be sent to a Swedish or Danish mobile (not UK or Norwegian - take note as it’s not that clear on the SJ website, you will need an e-ticket instead). For a while, it looked like I was stuck. Luckily Patrik at Riksgränsen Resort was very helpful in getting me a printed e-ticket. This went some way to make up for the miserable night I spent sleeping out. The weather turned and I found myself in sub-zero temperatures with snow blowing sideways at me.  Camping eh. Rough with the smooth and all that, but it was a really bad night's sleep. I was glad to get up in the morning. Relieved even.

The overnight rail journey from Riksgränsen to Sweden’s capital aboard an SJ sleeper train takes some 21hours and covers just under 1000miles - although there’s not much to see once you start heading south into Sweden’s dense forests north. Once clear of the Abisko national park I caught up on sleep - for my good , and for the benefit of anyone unfortunate enough to have to speak with me. I did take note of the mining town of Kiruna, whose freight trains trains hauling iron ore from the mines to the sea at Narvik were the single biggest barrier to sleep the night before... 

Despite the lack of a view, this journey is a winner if only because of the price! Given the distance covered and the money saved on a night’s accommodation, it’s a really cheap and effortless way to get from Stockholm (lots of well-priced international flights) to the North of Norway. And the Arctic Circle line across Lapland from Abisko to Narvik is jaw-dropping.




I woke up in Stockholm, feeling confused. After Lofoten and Lapland, being back in a Capital city comes as a bit of a shock. But the "Venice of the North" is vibrant, cultured and beautiful. I soon got into the swing of things. This ancient city is built on a series of islands so you're constantly surrounded by water and beautiful architecture. I was lucky enough to meet up with several friends during my visit, and Stockholm has plenty for social types to enjoy. Whether you're looking for a fairly-priced lunch in the old town, a coffee with a view in the culture house, or a cheeky pint on the South Side, there's no shortage of choice here. It's got efficient (if slightly hard-to-understand) public transport too, so getting around was no hassle. I loved it - I stayed two extra days than I first planned, that's how much I loved it!


Dusk in the city centre

 Unusual street art in Stockholm's centre

 Relaxing with friends by the waterside in Gåshaga, Stockholm


After a lot of moving around with awkward heavy bags, it was great to be surrounded by friends in a friendly place, but sooner or later the time comes to move on. I had decided to travel overnight by Swe-Bus to Oslo on Saturday. This had pros and cons. Pros - cheap, efficient, free wi-fi, friendly helpful driver. Cons - bus like a sauna, smelly next-door-neighbour, 1 hours sleep. Although I did get to watch "Searching for Sugar Man" (can't recommend this docufilm enough).



6am was a bit early to be in Oslo, but I did get a rare treat. The often-crowded Karl Johans gate (the main shopping street in Oslo's centre) was deserted. It was eery, but cool, wandering around - a bit reminiscent of 28 Days Later. No zombies here although Norwegians often enjoy a drink on a Saturday night! Many folk visit church on a Sunday morning, so I didn't have to wait that long before the devout and the recovering alike came out to enjoy the glorious sunshine. I spent the afternoon relaxing up on the walls of Akershus Fortress, which offers a great view of the city.

And that was that. Following a lift home from the boss (as in the Company Director, not Springsteen - he was in Stockholm...), my journey was complete. I've seen some amazing sights, met some great people, had good times and less good times - both just as important in my opinion - and I've scratched the surface of this spectacular country. And been to Sweden!

Rest assured, there's plenty more to come. Now just to work out where FlyDrive Norway is off to next. I think we'll head East...