I have been to Norway twice – the last time in Oslo, and the first time I mostly stayed in Lillehammer, the very city where the 1994 Winter Olympics took place.
Sports facilities in Lillehammer
Both times I visited Norway were in the late 2000s, about fifteen years after the Olympics had ended, but of course we were taken to the ski jumps, at least to get familiar with major sports facilities.
Prices and accommodation
In the land of the Vikings, apart from the unforgettable northern nature, a few things impressed me.
First of all, the cost. Almost everything in Norway is more expensive than in the UK and much more expensive than in the USA. A main course and a bottle of mineral water in a mid-range café in Oslo cost me around $50. Alcohol is even better avoided – it is so expensive that Norwegians often prefer to go abroad to drink properly, saying it is cheaper than buying bottles at home.
Accommodation in Norway is also expensive. A local journalist of middle age shared that he and his girlfriend live in a small cabin because they cannot afford other property.
Upon returning to Tashkent, I shared my impressions of the trip at a gathering with the then American ambassador. It turned out that he also remembered the outrageous prices in Norway – in his youth, he had served as a consul in Oslo.
A country with a population of just over five million, rich in oil, gas, and salmon, can probably afford this. The average salary is about $4,500.
But it is not all straightforward. Keeping Tashkent prices in mind, I bought a very cool camera in Oslo (because it was cheaper than at home), and I splurged in shoe stores, never limiting myself to one or two pairs. For the money I spent on Italian sandals, shoes, and boots in boutiques in Oslo and Lillehammer, in Uzbekistan one could only buy unsold Chinese items at the Ippodrome market (Tashkent’s largest clothing market).
Shops, Banks, and People’s Behavior
Shop assistants vary. In a lingerie store in Lillehammer, a woman long past retirement age tried to remember every language she had ever heard so that I would not leave without buying anything. On the other hand, young men and women selling cameras in Oslo almost showed disdain, especially when I tried to pay in dollars while rushing to the airport. I still bought the equipment, running to a bank to exchange money.
Only Norwegian kroner are used in the country. If you have cash, you need to go to the bank to exchange it. Banks are another surprising place – not in a good sense, but in how they might shortchange you. After my first exchange, I lingered at the counter, trying to figure out the amount I received, and unexpectedly heard the teller ask: “Is it not enough?” I murmured something, and she added more coins.
People speak English well in Norway, but some locals simply do not want to speak it. It is better to learn the most common phrases and numbers from a Norwegian phrasebook, at least “Tusen takk” (“Thank you very much”).
Another thing that impressed me was the unusual advertising on the streets and in shops and cafés, especially in Oslo. Unusual in the sense that these were beautiful frames from adult movies – let’s call them erotic. These frames are everywhere – apparently, the harsh north needs it hot. For me, coming from a country with mostly Muslim population, such advertising seemed strange. However, in Norway I saw many Pakistanis working in cafés and shops. I wonder what they think about such ads. I regret not asking.
Trust, the Royal Palace, and the Park
Also, trust in people in Norway borders on recklessness. A taxi driver took me for free, just accepting a slip of paper with some stamp (he wasn’t afraid it could be forged). On a boat in Oslo, a group of people was allowed to board on the first day of an event without checking documents, when no one knew anyone by sight.
There were other examples – I even noticed at the time that such leniency might lead to something bad. My words proved prophetic when, on July 22, 2011, the Protestant fundamentalist Anders Breivik carried out two terrorist attacks alone (!), killing 77 people and wounding 151 more.
I really liked that there are almost no fences in Norway. You can freely walk in the royal park (the country is a constitutional monarchy), with only occasional visits from mounted police.
Nature of Norway
And of course, Norway’s nature with its fjords, sea, rivers, mountains, and valleys densely covered with forests. When I was there in June, I even caught the white nights.
Norway is a paradise for gourmets: salmon (as common as herring), venison, bear meat. Where else would I eat this?
I also liked the Norwegian attitude toward forestry – trees are cut only when a new one grows to replace it. Uzbekistan should learn from this.
Maihaugen Open-Air Museum
Founded in 1887, Maihaugen is the largest open-air ethnographic museum in Europe. It is about a 20-minute walk from central Lillehammer. The museum is located on a hill above the city, offering impressive views from some corners.
The museum’s exhibits – objects of Norwegian daily life connected with peasant culture – were collected by Anders Sandvig. He also acquired old buildings and reconstructed them on his plot in Lillehammer. In 1904, the collection was moved to the current museum site. Today, Maihaugen houses around 200 historic buildings.
Header image: One of the main streets of Lillehammer
Question for readers:
Have you been to Norway? How did you see it? Or do you live there?