Haukland Beach Ranked #1 in Europe
Vestvågøy municipality in the Lofoten Islands is home to Hauklandstranda, a beach that was named #1 in Europe by LonelyPlanet.com. Described as otherworldly with smooth sand and clear sapphire waters, it is a shining gem located within polarsirkelen, the Arctic Circle.
Norway Forecasted to Top Medals Table in 2022 Winter Olympics
Though the 2022 Winter Olympics seem far in the future, Norway is already predicted to top the medals table. The next Winter Olympics are to be held in Beijing, China and the countdown has already begun. An agency by the name of Gracenote Sports, known for their hand in statistical analysis, has released their projections, which favor Norway’s athletes.
Scandinavian Sow Hits the Big Screen
A litter of charismatic Norwegian piglets and their mum are the break-out stars of a new film, “Gunda,” by famed Russian director Victor Kossakovsky. The film captures the daily lives of sow Gunda and her family as they sleep, snort and play on their organic farm in Undrumsdal, Norway, about 50 miles south of Oslo. The movie co-stars a plucky one-legged chicken and pair of cows.
Brunost Cream Pie (brunostkrem-pai)
Brunost Cream Pie (brunostkrem-pai) Makes one 9-inch / 23 cm pie Image Credit: Nevada Berg, North Wild Kitchen For the pie crust: 2 1/2 cups (300 g) all-purpose flour 1 1/2 Tbsp. granulated sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup (224 g) cold butter, cut into small cubes 4 Tbsp. ice water, plus more as needed For the brunost filling: 4 large egg yolks 3/4 cup (150 g) [...]
Writing Atlantic Crossing
A conversation with screenwriter Linda May Kallestein A new historical dramatization, Atlantic Crossing, recently debuted on PBS Masterpiece. The epic Norwegian-American production finds Crown Princess Märtha and her three children fleeing Norway to find political refuge in the White House. Märtha forges a close friendship with Franklin Delano Roosevelt and helps steer Norway’s destiny. Photo Credit: www.pbs.org Series co-screenwriter Linda May Kallestein knows well what it’s like to have [...]
Lille Lørdag
Looking for a way to cope with still being stuck at home as we pass the one-year mark of the pandemic? We need to look no further than the Norwegian tradition of lille lørdag.
Film Fest for One Lucky Viewer
Would you be happy to ditch your phone and the internet for a whole week? What if you were destined to spend that week completely isolated, marooned on a tiny windswept rock, barely protruding above the icy waves off the western coast of Sweden? To more than 12,000 film buffs from 45 different countries, this prospect sounded like an absolutely perfect way to enjoy the first week of February. The [...]
Savory recipes for Spring
After winter’s heavy meals, many of us crave fresh ingredients as Spring arrives
Mythical creatures of Scandinavia
Trolls, elves, dwarves and gods. These are just a few of the many fabled creatures that are deeply embedded in our popular culture, from comic books to movies to video games. But where did they originate?
Volcano adventures in Iceland
Did you know that the Arctic region is home to volcanoes? Iceland is actually one of the most volcanically active places in the world thanks to its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet.
Norway counters Super Bowl ads with creative cheek
Part of the Super Bowl experience is enjoying the creative ads that punctuate the game. At $5.5 million per 30 second ad, they’ve got to be memorable. A common way to garner attention is through celebrity appearances.
A look at Norway’s coffee culture
In a recent list of the top ten coffee-consuming countries reported by WorldAtlas, half were Nordic countries. In fact, Norway claimed second place right behind Finland. Although it is very apparent from this list that Norwegians love their coffee, that has not always been the case.
Oslo gets creative to save a springtime tradition
Ski trails made of artificial snow in the Voldslokka park in Oslo. Image credit: AFP As the Easter season approaches and winter prepares to melt away, Oslo residents are bustling to escape into marka, the wooded hills surrounding the city, to enjoy one of Norway’s most favored forms of recreation: cross-country skiing. This final pilgrimage of the season typically results in vacationers crammed elbow to elbow in commuter [...]
3 more nature walks to explore in Norway
Norway is known for its abundant natural beauty, with glaciers, fjords, mountains and lush greenery. Even metropolitan areas like Oslo offer hiking opportunities and breathtaking views nearby. The March issue of Viking highlights five accessible hiking spots near this area, with scenic trails, spectacular views and interesting cultural landmarks. Here are a few more beautiful places to explore in Norway for hikers of all levels. Easy/Moderate: Åkrasanden. This sandy [...]
Viking longship excavation yields unexpected findings
Norway’s first Viking longship excavation in over a century is nearing its final stages, with work expected to conclude in early 2021 following an extension of the project. It has been a source of fascination among academics and casual enthusiasts alike, with findings that may shed new light on early Viking society.