Norwegians love outdoor life associated with voluntary physical activity or use of leisure time outdoors in nature. With leisure means the air outside, and you should not be confused with English free or clean air, or even free of contamination. However, that’s what you get and it’s of course an important part of the recreational effect of a family trip out and about – even in winter times! Wouldn’t you do the same if you had the inviting scenery we had last weekend: Panorama photo from the Oslo Fjord just 20 minutes out of town at Sandvika in Bærum.
Treasuring the natural outdoors:
If you think of it: We humans lived outdoors long before we lived indoors, and we had to million years as hunters and gatherers. So we’ve developed a body and a mind that is predisposed to a life in and of nature. The last few thousand years however, we have developed a culture and a civilization that somehow looks like we can put ourselves above the rest of nature. To find peace and a new balance we need to interact with the old natural elements. My respectful contention is that these environments are vital to our health and peace of mind (click all pics to bigify & enjoy):
Treasuring The ‘freedom to roam’:
Norwegians really enjoy the right to access and passage through uncultivated land in the countryside. The right is an old consuetudinary law called the “Allemannsrett” (lit. all men’s right), that was codified in 1957 with the implementation of the Outdoor Recreation Act. It’s based on respect for the countryside, and all visitors are expected to show consideration for farmers and landowners, as well as other users and the environment: Enjoying Outdoor’s natural playground with waffles & hot chocolate.
Ancient traces provide evidence of the freedom to roam in many European countries, suggesting such a freedom was once a common norm. This “right to roam” has survived in perhaps its purest form here in Scandinavia and a possible explanation as to why the right has survived mainly in these four countries is that feudalism and serfdom were not established here. In Norway the right has been won through practice over hundreds of years and it is not known when it changed from mere ‘common practice’ to become a commonly recognised right. Another factor is the survival of large areas of unenclosed forest and to ensure the ability to operate outdoor recreation, we determinately have set aside green spaces, parks, islands and outlying areas in fairly close proximity to urban areas, especially around the capital of Oslo. If you recall my saying: There is no such as bad weather, only bad clothes; winter, snow and ice is of course no obstacle, but rather takes the recreational effect to a new dimension:
Outdoor Recreation in Winter Wonderland:
I shot a lot more photos with my Nokia N8 mobile phone on this hike by the Oslo Fjord – eager to share with my readers as always. Trying to capture the spirit and atmosphere and bring some of this fresh, crisp and free air home to you:
Now you have seen us exploring our natural environment. How do you interact with your natural environment? Maybe you don’t have snow or skiing, but every place has its own unique beauty. Share with us in the comments.
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2011 started today in Oslo and will include 21 competitions within Cross-Country, Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined as well as a variety of cultural events. It’ll take place at The Holmenkollen Ski Jumping Hill – the third best known sporting arena in the world, after Wimbledon and Wembley.
Since the first event in 1892, Holmenkollen ski jump has been re-developed on no less than 18 occasions. Even in its second year, work commenced on developing and improving the ski jump. In 1914, the first tower was erected, ‘Tower of Babel’. For the Olympic Games in Oslo in 1952, permanent grandstands and a judge’s tower were built and during the Championships of 1966 and 1982 the facility was further extended. Following these changes, only small alterations have been made before the current major re-development for the Oslo2011. I was there for the trial WSC in 2010 and took plenty of photos (click all pics to enlarge & enjoy) – here some spectators:
The arena has previously hosted the 1952 Winter Olympics and the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in 1930, 1966, 1982 and now 2011 as well as annual Biathlon World Cup races.
Advantage of Social Media sharing:
My regular readers knows I’m above average in Social Media activities. As a network evangelist, I love to share and be inspired of others – like I often say: It’s a Givers Gain! It occurs in many ways and in this case, two of the pics I took in Holmenkollen last year (posted about and shared on Flickr) has become “famous” in Norway:
Sausages: Kollen Grill & Wiener:
One of Norwegian food companies, Gilde, who make sausages or hotdogs, wanted to use one of the photos for their Holmenkollen sausage collection and the result: Left: Boil Hotdog (or wieners) – Right: Grill Hotdog – the word “Kollen” in the name is of course a direct reference to Holmenkollen. As locals call the ski jump Kollen for short.
The picture is now to be seen all over Norway; at gas stations, local groceries, in newspapers e.g.:
Nora homemade Jam:
Another food company; Stabburet, who makes jam (made from old, traditional Norwegian recipe) asked for permission to use the other and they promote their Holmenkollen collection in newspapers:
Follow RennyBA & DianeCA on Oslo2011:
The companies above have of course paid for the use of my photos. This has not made me a millionaire but of course I am very proud to see them all over the country! The best payment I received was in addition 4 VIP tickets to the World Championship in Nordic Ski events. So we will be reporting from the atmosphere and activities in the coming days. There will be a lot happening here in Oslo winter sport capital so stay tuned! Holmenkollen spirit: Kollen is especially known for its sportsmansly atmosphere and its famous “Kollen roar”.
RennyBA’s Terella is about the significant four seasons and how we enjoy each of them in Norway, right now; the Winter Wonderland. The love of being outdoors and exploring the nature is an important part of this, including the fascination of the colourful scenery at sunset and sunrise. It never ceases to amaze me with its beauty and splendour; artistically painted on the sky with great diversity – dark and brooding or mysterious and colourful – I can’t help trying to capture the spirit as often I can; The Beauty in wintertime of Left: Sunset – Right: Sunrise : -)
Panoramic Sunrise Scenery:
Perhaps you’ve heard the saying “as the days lengthen, the cold strengthens”. For the next few weeks, this will be the case. Even more; this time of the year – two months after winter solstice and the shortest day of the year – we have 9 ½ hours of daylight in Oslo. That is almost 4 hours more than the shortest day of the year back in December. This additional daylight is not going to help us in the temperature department, but who cares with a morning view from the living room in the second floor like this: Taken with my Nokia N8 mobile phone. On top: the panoramic photo automatically mounted as one from the individual four photos beneath.
Slideshow for the love of Sunrise & set:
All this glory of a sunset & rise gives a spirit of wonder and joy, hard to explain with photos alone. That is why I like to experiment with mixing them in a slideshow adding some text and royalty free music. So please take a tour with me of some beautiful sunsets and rises from Norway the Winter Wonderland and marvel at the beauty of what nature create:
As many have read over the years I am really an outdoor enthusiast. I think that the nature around us gives us opportunities more than challenges. It gives us the opportunity to experience beauty beyond anything man could ever create, and to enjoy recreation in the fresh air which makes us feel alive. I hope you will get an opportunity to enjoy the nature wherever you are as the weekend approaches, and please feel free to share your experiences in the comments on my blog.
Cod fish is flaky and good poached, steamed, broiled, baked, grilled or even fried. Norway exports large amounts of fresh as well as salted and dried (Baccalao) cod fish throughout Europe, America and Asia. It’s becoming increasingly popular, due to its mild flavour, low fat content and its dense, flaky white flesh. Traditionally, it is served with lemon wedges and a light sauce composed of parsley or you can easily add it to stews, risottos and soups. One simple pan-fried recipe calls for lightly frying the cod in oil and serving it with a creamy mix of potatoes, green onions and butter.
Learning how to cook it the Norwegian way is simple, especially if you have an expert guiding you the first time. We have one in my sisters’ family, and when he made the most wonderful cod fish dish the other day, I was there through the whole process and of course had my Nokia mobile phone to document the process. So sit in with us and enjoy the table setting while I tell the story – next Sunday, it’s your turn you know ; -)
Boiled or poached fresh Cod:
The best thing is of course to fish it yourself and bring it right to the kitchen, but if you have to buy it, make sure it is rinsed for an hour or so in fresh water. This makes it whiter and firmer when boiled. Have water in a pot with plenty of salt (4 palm of salt in this one) and don’t put the cod in before the water comes to full boil – some bay leaf is nice in the water too (click pick to bigify & enjoy):
No matter how you decide to prepare your fish by poaching, broiling, grilling, stewing, etc; make sure not to overcook it – think 8-10 minutes per inch of thickness.
Butter sauce is the top of the cream:
One of our chef’s speciality is this sauce called Sandefjorsmør (named after the city Sandefjord) It combines butter and cream with parsley and lemon. Simple to make, but makes all the difference. Melt (for 6 persons) ½ Kg butter and add ¾ litre of cream. Don’t boil to hard, just let it simmer for almost an hour:
Crumbled bacon is a must:
To add a bit of an extra flavour taste to the fish cuisine add crumbled bacon – sliced and fried, as simple as can be & just before you are ready to serve; you add the lemon to the sauce:
Cod fish is readily available all year long. It is also extremely healthy-being both low in fat and high in protein. Cod fish goes well with creamy sauces and fragrant pottages.
It has been said that cod has mattered more in human history than any other fish and since readily available all year long, why don’t you give it a try soon. I mean Cod fish is extremely versatile and healthy and now, since you’ve learnt how to cook it; the sky is the limit – so why not incorporate it into your diet for a healthier lifestyle?
If not convinced after learning how easy it is – ohh I forgot: add some veggies to the recipe (my favourite is carrots and broccoli) – maybe you can’t resist after seeing the final result:
With Norway’s abundance of freshwater lakes, salt water fjords and a magnificent coastline it’s not surprising that fishing is very popular. These Vikings, with fishing in their blood, are guaranteed to find something to suit their taste – believe me: Everyone can enjoy a fishing holiday in Norway whether a novice or expert. Coarse fishing, game fishing, deep sea fishing; whatever your favoured sport then Norway can oblige in the most spectacular way possible! With a coastline the length of Norway, it’s no wonder that the Norwegians are known for their love of fish – my regular readers know that defiantly includes me ; -)
You also know my saying; there is no such as bad weather, only bad clothes – meaning; winter, snow and ice is no reason to sit indoors! Once the ice has set, Norwegian ice fishing enthusiasts hit the ice (click pics to bigify & enjoy): At Eidanger Fjord, 2 hours drive south of Oslo along the Oslo Fjord.
Last weekend, while attending our yearly family Rakfisk feast, we had fabulous sunny winter weather. On Sunday afternoon, after stuffing ourselves with “fermented fish” delicacies, and drinking a bit of Aquavit my sister suggested a walk on the fjord to freshen us up a bit. A great way to get some sunshine, experience the beautiful nature and recover from a late night of overindulgence. Since I always have my Nokia mobile handy to shoot some photos, I hope you’ll enjoy coming along for a taste of ice fishing: Sunny weather, crisp fresh air and beautiful scenery: that’s what I call recreational!
If you are patient and dressed warmly, a day of ice fishing can be an experience in a class of its own. Nature, tranquillity and the excitement of not knowing what you will catch are important elements. When passing some of these ice fishing enthusiasts, we stopped and chatted with them about the days catch and they were nice enough to pose for us to share in Blogsphere and more than willing to let us in on some of their “secrets”: Temp of -10C (14F) is no problem if you dress correctly!
This type of fishing, is of course carried out close to the shore, and normally brings a variety of species. Most of them used mackerel as bait and normal catches were Cod, Herring, Haddock, Coalfish, Ling, Pollock and sometimes more Mackerel. Here are some examples: Left: Pollock – Right: Cod and Blue whiting
If you have not become clear over this from the catches, this is of course frozen ocean water. The fjords are long fingers from the sea which reach into the country and bring us salt water delicacies to fish and enjoy. These same fjords are used for sailing and fishing in the summer and have lovely beaches along the edges. We were standing on 90 meters deep, just so you know, but as the ice was 30 – 60 centimetres frozen solid and more than enough to hold us all, plus skaters, skiers, dog walkers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Above you see some of the detail of the frozen ice crystals forming on the snow. The beauty is fascinating up close, and at a distance. Another experience you can only have in a land with all four seasons!
Norwegians love outdoor life associated with voluntary physical activity or use of leisure time outdoors in nature. With leisure means the air outside, and you should not be confused with English free or clean air, or even free of contamination. However, that’s what you get and it’s of course an important part of the recreational effect of a family trip out and about – even in winter times! Wouldn’t you do the same if you had the inviting scenery we had last weekend:
