Culture everywhere!

Last autumn we invited Glo from New York, Charlotte from Paris and Daniel from London to Fjord Norway. We thought they deserved a break from the great cities they live in. Autumn is a great time to visit us – it’s less crowded, there are beautiful autumn colours in the fjords and you can enjoy the crisp, fresh air. We took them on a journey where they could explore our spectacular nature as well as our vibrant culture and food scene. This is what Glo had to say about her experience traveling solo to Fjord Norway for the very first time.
 

"You have to get out from time to time and kind of look at life in a different way"

My name is Glo and I am from Brooklyn, New York. New York is a great city to live in, but it can be a little hectic and crazy at times. People are so busy all the time and it is really hard to pause and take a break. I believe that to appreciate the place you live in; you have to get out from time to time and kind of look at life in a different way.

Coming to Norway was a dream for me. To be honest I didn't realize that it's actually not that far from New York, but it still feels like a different world. 



Thinking about solo travel makes me a bit nervous, somehow, I feel a bit vulnerable. At the same time it excites me, because you have to take some chances in life and step out of your comfort zone to truly enrich your life with new experiences. I love being able to plan my own itinerary and that I do not have to wait for other people to decide what to do or where I should go next. Travelling alone, you can just do whatever you want to do. Plus, one of the biggest benefits of solo travelling is of course meeting new people. 

Meeting Charlotte and Daniel for the very first time was amazing, I felt like I've known them forever. Even though we're all from different parts of the world I felt this connection to them, that we're kind of meant to be in Fjord Norway together.

In New York, I work as a stand-up comedian and I love arts and culture. In fact, I enjoy culture of any kind and form. What fascinated me the most about Norway was that between the mountains and the fjords there was culture everywhere. It was not really what I expected. We went, for example, to this really old hotel, the Union Øye not far from Ålesund. It reminded me of the Victorian era. It was really impressive to see that so many famous people had stayed there. The owners kept the history and the style for so many years and they didn't change a thing. I also liked that all the buildings in Ålesund were built in this Art Nouveau style. To learn about the history while kayaking through the city center was an unforgettable experience. 



Visiting the stave church in Vik, which must have been a thousand years old, was really interesting. You definitely won't find such an old church in New York! There was a great guide there, who told us its history, which was very interesting. Actually, being physically present in that moment was incredible. I think Norwegian culture has a lot to do with tradition and the people living here are very keen on preserving those traditions. In contrast to that, I was totally surprised to discover all this incredible StreetArt in Stavanger. I didn't know that would even exist in Norway! Seeing all this artwork, I felt like I was back in Brooklyn. 

Another thing about Norway, that was just mind-blowing, were the people. I mean, they are strangers to us, we are strangers to them. We were walking around in this village Fjærland and looking for the book town, which sounds a bit crazy. But it is true, there is a little town which not only has a variety of second-hand bookshops, but actually any formerly abandoned building is now filled with books as well! So, we were walking around and suddenly there comes this older woman and just invites us to her home for coffee and pancakes! This would never happen in Brooklyn! It really felt like being at my grandmother's, you know, so warm and inviting. It was a wonderful experience to meet people that are so open-minded and who wanted to show you their homes and share with you their coffee and waffles.



I think this whole trip, visiting Fjord Norway, meeting Charlotte and Daniel changed my life for sure. Before my trip to Norway I've actually never travelled before. I just got my passport a few months ago! Coming here, travelling by myself was a whole new experience for me. It was so exciting to be surrounded by all that nature. It was something completely foreign to me and I wasn't even prepared for it. So, in a way it felt like this huge culture shock to me. I think, I can do more solo travelling now. But I also want to come back to Norway and share all the experiences that this great country has to offer with my friends and family!