Map and Destinations

Budget For Norway

Day 1: Attractions- $0/ Dinner- 79 Kroners ($13.57 USD)/ Hotel, 799 Kroners ($144.00 USD)

Day 2 : Attractions- 265 Kroners ($45.00 USD)/ Dinner- 550 Kroners ($95.00 USD/ Hotel- 960 Kroners ($166.71 USD)

Day 3: Attractions- $0/ Dinner- 530 Kroners ($94.53 USD)/ Hotel- 1052 Kroners ($187.64 USD)

Day 4: Attractions- $0/ Dinner- 280 Kroners ($50.42 USD/ Hotel- 671 Kroners ($121.82 USD)

Day 5: Attractions- $0/ Dinner- 225 Kroners ($51.00 USD)/ Hotel- 495 Kroners ($88.36 USD)

Day 6: Attractions- $0/ Dinner- 400 Kroners ($72.22 USD)/ Hotel- 895 Kroners ($159.36 USD)

Day 7: Attractions- $0/ Dinner- 125 Kroners ($25.00 USD)/ Hotel- $0

Airline Prices- Up and Back: 16, 292 Kroners ($2901.00 USD)

Total Prices- Attractions- 265 Kroners ($45.00 USD)/ Dinner- 2189 Kroners ($394.41 USD)/ Hotel- 4872 Kroners ($877.83 USD)

Overall Budget- 23,618 Kroners ($4,255.50 USD)

Last Day in Norway

     Today, May 24, 2011, I checked out of my hotel for my final day in Norway. My first stop today would be to the Thyholttarnet Tower in Trondheim. At the top, which was 124 meters high, I looked down I felt sick over the height. This tower, built in 1985, also features a revolving restaurant that revolves once in an hour. Next, I went to Stiftsgarden to see an old building. Stiftsgarden isn't just a normal building however, it is the royal residence in Norway. This 1774, 140 room building used to be used to house the royalty in Norway. I remember walking around the building and it felt like it was talking me forever because it was so big. Finally, I went to the Trondheim Kunstmuseum. Here, I saw many different works of art. This 1850 building is Norway's third largest museum featuring Norwegian Style art. Before I left Norway, I stopped for dinner. For dinner, I had pizza at The Restaurant Egon. The price was 125 Kroners ($25.00 USD). On my way home, I traveled using the same airline I used to get here. I used the Scandanavian Airlines System. The cost was 16, 292 Kroners ($2901.00 USD). When I arrived in Pittsburgh, I drove home with all my memories of Norway.

Sixth Day in Norway

     Today, May 23, 2011, I checked out of my hotel to continue my trip. My first trip, is to the Ringve Museum in Trondheim. It is the only museum in Norway to feature musical instruments from around the world. I walked outside, and got to walk through a garden outside of the museum. Next, I went to The Nidaros Cathedral. This church had began to be constructed in 1070, and caught fire many times. But each time, it was rebuilt, mainly using the original Gothic-style, but it also reflects Roman styles. On the left side of the Cathedral, it shows a scene of of the crucifiction of Christ. It is mainly made of stone, and is decorated with stained glass windows. Finally, I went to The Trøndelag Folk Museum. The museum dated back to 1909, and featured 60 vintage buildings, and over 100,000 artifacts. Once I left there, I went to go an eat. For dinner I had a four-course meal of Norwegian-Styled food at Gammelbua for 400 Kroners ($72.22 USD). Then, I went to go and check into my new hotel. I chose the Best Western Chesterfield Hotel. The cost was 895 Kroners ($159.36 USD). Finally, I went to sleep.

Fifth Day in Norway

Saltstraumen Maelstrom from Overhead

     Today, May, 22, 2011, I continued my journey in Norway. My first destination, is to Vågå, where I will be taking a famous hike in Scandinavia. On this hike, I had to go up a hill, that was roughly 1400 meters high. After a made it up, I went east and passed the Bjørnbøltjønne and Bessvatnet lakes. Once I crossed those lakes, I crossed the famous Besseggen ridge. Once I got to the top, I became tired, and had to make my way back, but the trip was fun. Once I left there, I went to Saltstraumen to exprerience the worlds most powerful maelstrom. Every six hours, 400 million cubic meters of water speed up to 40 kilometers. The biggest one I saw, was around ten meters in diameter, and five meters deep. Once I saw this, I traveled north-east to the Lofoten Islands. Aside from relaxing on the beach, I looked at some historic buildings. One of those buildings was the Flakstad Church. This church was built in 1870. The next place was was Glapen Lighthouse, and it was built in 1857. When I left from there, I went to go to dinner. I ate at the Fiskekrogen restauraunt, and had fish for 225 Kroners ($51.00 USD). Once I ate, I left and checked into The Vestfjord for 495 Kroners ($88.36 USD). Finally, I went to sleep.

Fourth Day in Norway

Kjeragbolten Rock

     Today, May 21, 2011, I have checked out of another hotel, planning to continue my vacation in Norway. Today, my first stop in in Ryfylke, where I will be visiting the famous Pulpit Rock. This is the most famous attraction in Ryfylke, and towers 604 meters over the Lysefjord. When I was close to the rock, I traveled 350 meter up a steep, uneven route. When I finally reached the top of the rock, there was a big crack in it. The guides told me that it happened because of a glacier that had melted many years ago. Once I was done here, I took one of the many different hiking trails back to the road. The next place I visited was the St. Olav's Church in Avaldsnes. This prehistoric stone church was built in 1250 by King Håkon Håkonsen. Surrounding hte church, stand several obelisks, some standing seven feet high. As walked around the church and examined it, and then I was on my way to my final destination. The final place I visited was The Lysefjord. This place is known for its high mountains, and the most known one is the Kjeragbolten rock above the fjord. I decided to climb up to te rock, and when I got there, I was standing 1000 meters above sea level. I couldn't stand up there for to long, so I decided to come back down. Once I didn't fell sick anymore, I managed to climb back down and head back to a hotel. The hotel I chose was the Thon Hotel in Bergen, Norway. The cost was 671 Kroners ($121.82 USD). For dinner, I ate at the Enhjorningen Restaraunt, otherwise known as The Unicorn Restaraunt. I ate a variety of seafood for 280 Kroners ($50.42 USD). Finally, I went to sleep, and prepared for my next day in Norway.

Third Day in Norway

Atlantic Road

     Today, May 20, 2011, I am checking out of my hotel, and continuing my vacation in Norway. Today, my first trip will be to The Bøyabreen Glacier, in Fjærland. This glacier is one of the most spectacular ones in all of Norway. As I drove by the massive block of ice, I saw pieces of ice falling into the water below it, and making a giant splash. Some pieces were small, but others were about the size of a car. When I was done here, I went to travel over the Atlantic road. This road is 8- kilometers long and includes many twists and turns over the Atlantic ocean, connecting two islands together. Over the railing, I saw many different animals, like seals and whales, swimming through the water. The road has also been named a national tourist route. Finally, I ended my day, visiting the famous city of Ålesund. This city is known for its architecture in Art Nouveau style. Surrounding the area, are fjords, and the Sunnmøre alps. When I left from that area, I went to check into my new hotel, The First Hotel Atlantica. For one night, the stay was 1052 Kroners ($187.64 USD). For dinner, I ate at The New Orleans Resturaunt in Oslo. I ate classic, southern American style gumbo. The total price for the meal was 530 Kroners ($94.53 USD).Finally, I went to sleep.  







Second Day in Norway

The Briksdal Glacier

     Today, May 19, 2011, I woke up and checked out of my hotel in Oslo. Today, I will be traveling to three different places. The first place is the The Nærøyfjord and Aurlandsfjord. At this place, I chose to go on a cruise. The cruise cost 265 Kroners ($45.00 in U.S. currency), but it was worth it. The two fjords are the wildest branches of the Sognefjord. As I traveled through the fjord, I looked and saw huge, snow-capped mountains, with a massive waterfall streaming down the sides. When I got off the boat, I began to travel to my next location, The Briksdal Glacier. The glacier is part of the Jostedal Glacier National Park. The glacier slopes from a height of 1200 meters. I remember watching it as it traveled in between a big valley. To end the day, I went to The Sognefjellet National Tourist Route. This route is the highest mountain pass in Northern Europe. The highest point is 1,434 meters above sea level. As I looked up from the bottom of the mountain, I remember feeling so small standing next to the mountain. I felt as though I could be crushed by its size at any time. Then, I tried to go up the huge, scenic road that is 204 kilometers long. I only made it up a little but, but I did see some fantastic views. One of the views was another huge waterfall that was 229 meters high. I finally left and went to check into my new hotel, the Turtagro Mountain Hotel, with panoramic views of the mountains surrounding it. The cost of the hotel was 960 Kroners ($166.71 USD). For dinner, I ate at a restaraunt called Alex Sushi, and I tried a bunch of stuff I have never had before, but it tasted pretty good. The price was 550 Kroners ($95.00 USD). Finally, I managed to get to sleep, waiting for the next day.

 

Norwegian Dessert Recipe

Norwegian Rice Pudding

Ingredients:1 cup white rice of choice
2 cups water
1/2- teaspoon salt
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
4-5 cups milk or enough to make a creamy pudding.


Preparation:
Boil water and add rice, and salt according to directions.

Bring up to a boil again for a few minutes and turn heat down to simmer. Add raisins and cover with lid.
When rice is soft and all the water is absorbed, add milk; simmer and stir until you have a creamy consistency. Cook until rice has finished expanding and all the milk has been absorbed.
If you want an extra creamy pudding, add 1 cup cream before serving.
Rice will keep expand as it cools. Be sure you add enough milk while it is still simmering and keep stirring to prevent it from burning.
When risengrynsgrøten is done, ladle it onto dinner plates; sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar with a dollop of butter in the center and serve with a glass of milk or fruit juice.


http://www.norway-hei.com/rice-pudding.html

First Day in Norway

     Today, on May 18, 2011, I am traveling to Norway. Today is my birthday, so I decided to go to three of the most visited attractions in Norway. Those three places are The Geirangerfjord, The Trollistigen Mountain Road, and The Voringsfossen Waterfall. My first stop was at the waterfall. This water fall is one of Norway's most famous waterfalls. The highest drop in the waterfall is 182 meters. 145 meters of the 182 meters is a direct drop straight down. After I left from there, I traveled to The Trollistigen Mountain Road, located 15 kilometers south of Andalsnes. Trollistigen inclines at about 9 percent and has 11 sharp bends and turns that twist up the mountainside. On the side of the mountain, a gushing waterfall cascades down the mountain. Once I was finished with the long, hard trail, I finished my day at The Geirangerfjord. This area is located about 100 kilometers from the town of Alesund. I went on a short cruise, and then walked up yet another mountain. Everyone of the trips had free admission, so I didn’t have to pay anything to get in the places. After a hard traveling, I went back to the hotel. For that day, I stayed at Hotel Union Geiranger. The hotel cost was $144 to stay. For dinner, I ate at the Nighthawk Diner. I had eggs and omelettes. The meal came with toast and carrot bread. The meal was 79 Kroners ($13.57 in U.S. currency). Finally, I went to sleep, enjoying my first day in Norway.