What do you know about Norway?

[Dahemo]

Ok, I know it's a really boring topic XD.

I watched this thing [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsOz79MqEqo] on YouTube, and suddenly all I could think of is what people from other places think about where I live! It's kinda impossible to look at my country with fresh eyes, I've lived here all my life...

How do you look at Norway? Have you ever even heard of the place? Hopefully I'll get a couple of replies at least, to satisfy my curiosity =3. Thanks!

One of the most liberal countries in the world (good thing imo) and despite suffering a terrible tragedy recently you have dealt with it admirably. Before those events, I thought you are all very outdoors-y people (especially skiing) and you have produced one of the greatest footballers in Manchester United history, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer...

 

[Omega Jak]

From what I remember from my holiday in Bergen:
-You have amazing fish markets. Seriously, the one in Bergen was astonishing (though I did have some ethical qualms about the fact that whale meat was available).
-You have very beautiful countryside (and I was nerdishly excited about the funicular train that went up the side of a mountain).
-There are statues, cuddly toys and other representations of trolls absolutely everywhere (though this is probably because I stuck to touristy bits).
-Your museums are filled with exciting viking stuff.
-It rained. Heavily. All the time.
-Alcohol (and everything else) was eye-wateringly expensive to the point that I bought precisely one drink in all the time I was there and it was £6.50 (or $10.50 for any Americans reading this).
-You have reindeer meat, which is ridiculously tasty, and smorgasbords, which are also very tasty but seem to be something primarily eaten by tourists, and Rakfisk, which I ran away from.
-Everybody spoke English except one older lady but it turns out that Norse isn't that different from English and if you pay attention you can sort of get the gist of what they're talking about.

 

[Playful Pony]

Basically this awesome video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebqdwQzmSHM] is all you need to know about norway

That was brilliant XD. Neatly sums up all the stereotypes about Norwegians, some of the very true! I have many memories of frozen bread with sweaty cheese from my school day. And I miss the pulk, much easier to go skiing when you basically sat down in a big one and was pulled around by someone else!

Oslo is quite a lot milder than most of the country, but I have never considered moving the personally. The north and west have such breautiful mountains and fjords, I love waking up in the middle of all that every morning!

I know of the Scandanavian stereotypes: Swedes are all posh tech savies, danish are all drunken party animals, and norwegians are all country hiks who fish... That's all I've got. Oh also, do Norwegians have a reuptation for being taller?

I think we may have a reputation for being tall, yeah. I'm not sure how valid it is to be honest. I'm about 186cm tall, and that's about average around where I live anyway. Most people are very close to the same as me, some are taller (my brother is 198cm).

I've also never met a Norwegian who doesn't fish or haven't fished before... I suspect you'd find those around Oslo though, they seem slightly detatched from the rest of the country on the stereotypical stuff!

 

[Mr.Squishy]

I'm actually planning a trip to Norway next year. A good friend of mine has 'see the Northern Lights' on her bucket list so we're heading out to Tromso next March for a week (maybe two if I can twist her arm). I'm very much looking forward to my first visit, and am hopeful of persuading her to take a ship up through the fjords instead of the plane journey she is so set on.

We shall see...

Incidentally, anyone who knows Tromso and can recommend a few good places for an evening meal - their suggestions would be most welcome.

Ah, heading to Tromsø, eh? Lovely! I spent a year taking a psychology course at the university there, and have pined for it ever since.
Most important thing about the city is that everything interesting takes place on the Tromsø Island, not the mainland, nor the island to the west of it (connected by bridge). The island itself is approximately 30 (max) km from the southernmost point to the northernmost point, and shorter from west to east, so it's a small place, at around 70 000 inhabitants (around 13 000 students).
It does get northern lights in the winter (in fact, I met a couple of dutch guys who took a road trip up there to see it, as well as check out the university's science faculty), and something less known, midnight sun. And polar twilight, which is constant darkness. It really messes with your internal clock, I'll tell ya that.
But yes, northern lights are very pretty and very worth it (and there's a northern lights observatory there, I believe, and a planetarium by the uni), and tromsø is a good city.
For an evening meal or other leisure activities, most of everything urban is clustered downtown, on the east end of the island, and even more so on the southern half of the island (albeit the airport is on the western side), but there are good bus connections.
There are a lot of places to eat, drink and dance - possibly all three at the same time - and my personal favorite is 'Blårock' (which means 'Blues rock'). They have orgasmic burgers, good music (rock/grunge/some metal), and beer fresh from the world's northernmost brewery, which you can see from out the window. It's a relaxing place, I'll say that. Still, very...norwegian prices. I can't think of other places I'd recommend right now, but feel free to PM me - or just quote me here - with questions and such.

 

[purf]

It's kind of over there, it got all the nice landscape and its population is flooding the town on weekends because cheeper booze.

 

[Omega Jak]

Well, if you don't like rain, don't visit Bergen! It's widely known as the most precipitous location in the whole country

It's customary in Norway to buy most of the alcohol in stores and "Vinmonopolet" (the Wine monopoly, state owned) and have home parties, known as "vorspiels" (directly translated to foreplay o_o... more correctly, foreparties) - and then go out drinking later, saving quite a bit of cash. Not that store bought beer is cheap mind you, it's almost $4 for a half litre there.

I am lucky enough to have tasted whale meat before evolving "morals" and the wonderful taste is now something I can not live without. Seriously, it's better than the best steak imaginable, and quite possibly the most healthy meat you can eat.

You're right about the rain, my girlfriend was at a conference there so we decided we could have a holiday afterwards and I went out there to join her. I remember that there were jokes about it in the guidebook for the city .
Drinking at home before heading out for a night out is pretty common here in the UK now, I tend to have a few friends over on the weekend before we go out clubbing .
The whale meat was delicious (I had to try it, I was pretty sure I wouldn't get another chance) but I did still feel bad about it :/.

 

[Folji]

It's full of people who'd rather tend to their own business than get nose deep in others'. Managed to leave some stuff out in the open in a place visited by not sure how many people a day, came back a week later and found it still sitting there untouched.

I come from the northern reaches, but right now I'm studying down in Bergen. Brilliant country, really, even with all the cumbersome things like the price of ale.

 

[FolkLikePanda]

Scandinavian, Snowy, Oslo, Vikings, Germanic, Red, White & Blue Flag, Once in a Union with Sweden, that Breivik arsehole, Monarchy, 4th Highest Per Capita income in the World and of course: Ståle Solbakken!

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

>snip<

Ah, heading to Tromsø, eh? Lovely! I spent a year taking a psychology course at the university there, and have pined for it ever since.
Most important thing about the city is that everything interesting takes place on the Tromsø Island, not the mainland, nor the island to the west of it (connected by bridge). The island itself is approximately 30 (max) km from the southernmost point to the northernmost point, and shorter from west to east, so it's a small place, at around 70 000 inhabitants (around 13 000 students).
It does get northern lights in the winter (in fact, I met a couple of dutch guys who took a road trip up there to see it, as well as check out the university's science faculty), and something less known, midnight sun. And polar twilight, which is constant darkness. It really messes with your internal clock, I'll tell ya that.
But yes, northern lights are very pretty and very worth it (and there's a northern lights observatory there, I believe, and a planetarium by the uni), and tromsø is a good city.
For an evening meal or other leisure activities, most of everything urban is clustered downtown, on the east end of the island, and even more so on the southern half of the island (albeit the airport is on the western side), but there are good bus connections.
There are a lot of places to eat, drink and dance - possibly all three at the same time - and my personal favorite is 'Blårock' (which means 'Blues rock'). They have orgasmic burgers, good music (rock/grunge/some metal), and beer fresh from the world's northernmost brewery, which you can see from out the window. It's a relaxing place, I'll say that. Still, very...norwegian prices. I can't think of other places I'd recommend right now, but feel free to PM me - or just quote me here - with questions and such.

Thanks fella, I'll bear those tings in mind when finalising plans. I may well give you a PM closer to the time when I'm down to fine detailing if that ok with you. Cheers for the offer.

 

[Alcoholidayer]

Erm..scandinavian peninsula, so tall blonde blue eyed people, who speak Norwegian. Its capital is oslo. Weather is pretty fucking cold all round the year I imagine. The source of extreme black metal music or rather the place where it is most popular. Also from what I remember from my geography classes it's a very important place with regards to the fishing industry. Not much else, sorry.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

Ok, I know it's a really boring topic XD.

I watched this thing [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsOz79MqEqo] on YouTube, and suddenly all I could think of is what people from other places think about where I live! It's kinda impossible to look at my country with fresh eyes, I've lived here all my life...

How do you look at Norway? Have you ever even heard of the place? Hopefully I'll get a couple of replies at least, to satisfy my curiosity =3. Thanks!

Honestly? It sounds wonderful. Understanding social people who have figured out that punishment isn't the best deterrent to crime. A government that understands how to handle funds. Beautiful scenery and nice people living in it.

Of course, some people think my country is paved in gold and we sit on our asses have sex and eat all day. So I'm sure I need to take what I've heard with a grain of salt.

Still have seriously thought of moving there though.

 

[Playful Pony]

Really cool getting this many replies, I'm enjoying reading them all so much!

Honestly? It sounds wonderful. Understanding social people who have figured out that punishment isn't the best deterrent to crime. A government that understands how to handle funds. Beautiful scenery and nice people living in it.

Of course, some people think my country is paved in gold and we sit on our asses have sex and eat all day. So I'm sure I need to take what I've heard with a grain of salt.

Still have seriously thought of moving there though.

Like many other countries the government takes a long time getting stuff done most of the time, due to the tons of paperwork that needs doing for even the simplest of things. I can't honestly complain cause it's in no way a bad place to live, but we are human and complain anyway! Things can always be improved, and I'm especially for it if it could save the government loads of money to be spent on other, more worthwhile projects.

I do like our legal system personally. It may at times seem too lenient, I notice that people from for example USA seem to find it extremely "soft on crime", but it's a whole diferent aproach to fighting crime, and it seems to be working going by our statistics.

Erm..scandinavian peninsula, so tall blonde blue eyed people, who speak Norwegian. Its capital is oslo. Weather is pretty fucking cold all round the year I imagine. The source of extreme black metal music or rather the place where it is most popular. Also from what I remember from my geography classes it's a very important place with regards to the fishing industry. Not much else, sorry.

Interestingly, although we produce more Black Metal than any other country there are comparatively few fans of the genre in Norway! Most bands have their fan base abroad.

 

[Alcoholidayer]

snip

Wow that's curious. Any reason(you can think of) why that's the case? BTW I read this thread through after posting and I discovered a lot I didn't know and some that I should have known, like the Aurorae. That's something I really want to see before I die.

 

[5-0]

Varg Vikernes!

And most recently Anders Breivik.

I know little else about your country. There's been a recent rise in the popularity of Scandinavian drama here in the UK, but we're yet to receive anything from Norway. I've seen Troll Hunter though, that's completely accurate, right?

 

[Something Amyss]

I know that Deaf people call themselves Deaf, despite claims that the Norwegian analogue is verboten.

 

[johnnyLupine]

afew years ago I attended a family gathering someone was unable to come in person so asked some of his friends to come on their behalf, I think one of them was norwegian..or from of those scandanavian type places, at any rate wherever the guy was from some people like jumping into freezing cold lakes for fun.

 

[Wolf In A Bear Suit]

Yeah all of those question's are common sense if you live in Europe. What do I think of Norway? Haven't been there, I might one day, my friend was there and he loved it. Obviously received a lot of press attention recently but it seems like a nice place, (judging by the crime rate anyway)

 

[Tiger Sora]

Uhhm..... is its in Scandinavia. I'm sure fish is in alot of peoples diet there.
Vikings came from it, probably still do.
Your not in the EU I'm quite sure. Didn't want to join because your secure and stuff.
And I'm also quite sure your commandos are badass crazy cause they'll do anything, like parachuting onto an oil platform.

You have a high per capita number of really good looking blond girls. And the world appreciates that.

Thats about all I know.