Travel to Norway

Whenever you travel to another country or plan to hire a car it is important to understand the local driving regulations. Norway is no different; while the use of a hire car will allow you to see some of the most striking scenery in Europe it is important not to get carried away by the outstanding natural beauty and pay attention to motoring laws.

In terms of speed limits that you will have to remember when using a hire car in Norway there is a general 50 mph (80kph) on most roads. Residential areas are however different with the limit sometimes being as low as 19 mph (30 kph), other built up areas carry a limit of 30 mph (50 kph) so be sure to recognise the distinction or fines could be coming your way. Also in Norway, speed bumps are used extensively and are not always clearly signposted so unless you want to return your hire car with a faulty suspension keep your eyes peeled. Dual carriageways carry a limit of either 56 or 62 mph, much slower than other European countries.

Like most countries in the developed world, drink driving is heavily frowned upon in Norway. As alcohol can seriously impair judgement of speed and distance this is not surprising and alcohol limits should always be strictly adhered to. Per 100 ml of blood the allowance is 20 mg, if this limit is exceeded the penalties can be extremely severe so before you think about having a drink make sure your hire car is safely under lock and key. Added to this, various medicines are also prohibited if planning to drive, thankfully these are marked with a red triangle for clarity.

In Norway all cars must drive with their headlights on day and night, even if it is extremely bright. A hire car in theory should be left hand drive but if driving in a right hand drive car it is a legal requirement to attach a black triangle so other drivers are aware of your situation. Also it is worth asking the car hire company for a set of spare headlight bulbs as carrying these at all times is highly advisable.

Like most of Europe the use of seatbelts in Norway is compulsory. If travelling with children it is worth taking advantage of the car hire company's child seat services as all children under four must be securely strapped in with a booster seat. Smaller children such as babies must also have appropriate child seating arrangements.

There is a large amount of regulation to do with tyres that in all honesty should be met by the car hire company. Norway has a policy on summer and winter tyres with different tread depths for each season. 1.6 mm is the minimum in summer while in winter this increases to 3 mm.

In winter, appropriate tyres must be fitted whether these are with or without studs. Studded tyres are permitted during the months of November and April, while in the colder north, this period is extended from October to May. Studded and chained tyres do however carry a premium when travelling in some city centres due to pollution and road maintenance expenses.

Like most of the world the use of a handheld mobile phone while driving in Norway is strictly prohibited although the use of hands free kits is allowed as long as they are completely hands free and do not require any manual operation. Added to this, it is now compulsory to carry at least one high visibility vest in the event of breakdown although once again the car hire company should supply you with all of these legislative demands.

If you follow this advice there is no reason why your driving holiday in Norway will not be a complete success. The regulations are somewhat different due to the country's harsh climate but one benefit of European legislation means that it is easier to make the transition from one country to another. By remembering these points you will be able to focus on the most important aspect of your trip, soaking up the stunning scenery that surrounds you at every turn.

Lofoten islands in Norway - this is an amazing scenery, excellent sea fishing, small fishing villages, whale safari in winter and midnight sun in summer and white sandy beaches and clear water of emerald color. National Geographic Magazine awarded Lofoten Islands in Norway the third place in attractiveness among the islands of the world.
 
Grampus Safari: Every autumn the herring and Grampus swim to Tyus-fjord and West-fjord to spend the winter. Killer whale safari is organized in the period from mid-October to mid-January on large passenger ships and rubber boats. This is an unforgettable adventure and an excellent opportunity to watch the killer whales in their natural environment in the immediate vicinity.

Lofoten is known for its well-preserved traditional fishing norway villages, great museums of the Vikings and excellent conditions for diving.

Lofoten Islands archipelago: Lofoten Islands in Norway - is an archipelago located in the northwest of Norway, the Arctic Circle, at 67 ° -68 ° north latitude. In the archipelago consists of seven main islands: Austvogey, GIFT, Vestvogey, Flakstadey, Moskenesey, Verey and Rest.

Getting to Lofoten islands: Throughout the year, it is made flights from the airport Oslo to airport Evenes in Narvik (Norway). The flight duration about 1,5 hours. You can also get to Narvik (Norway) by train from Stockholm and Gothenburg (Sweden). Tours are carried all over the year.

From Narvik to Lofoten Islands: Narvik is linked by air with 3 airports in Lofoten archipelago. You can get a bus from Narvik to Svolvera. The journey takes about 2,5 hours. Public buses go every day.

Ask most people what the biggest day on the Norwegian calendar is and they would probably say the first day of the ice fishing season. If you're in that group (come on, be honest) you may be shocked and surprised to find out you're WRONG...close...but WRONG! If you live in Dane, Rock, or Green Counties, you should be run out of town on a rail.

The correct answer is Syttende Mai. (Pronounced Setten de my). Syttende Mai holds the same significance in Norway as the 4th of July holds in the United States. At the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Norway, which had been under the control of Denmark since the mid-1300s, was given by Denmark to Sweden. The Norwegians were miffed at this turn of events since they always considered themselves an independent country and on May 17 (or Syttende Mai), 1814, they signed a constitution declaring themselves so. Sweden was unimpressed and continued to rule Norway for another hundred years, finally granting independence in 1905.

But I digress. Syttende Mai is celebrated with children's parades, big parades, dances, and food, lots and lots of food. And what do Norwegians eat, you may ask? According to Howard Mohr, in his bible of Scandinavian lifestyle in the Upper Midwest How to Talk Minnesotan, Norwegians like white food. If it's not naturally white, they'll make it white. While this is mostly true, it's not completely true. A little color does creep in, here and there.

Like most cuisines, Norwegian cooking includes things both wonderful and to the uninitiated...frightening. Here then is a quick overview of Norwegian cooking. The most famous Norwegian foods are the ever-popular lutefisk and lefse. Lutefisk literally means lye fish. Lutefisk is air-dried cod, called stockfish, that is sawn (literally) into manageable pieces, soaked in fresh water for eight days, a lye (you read it right, lye) solution for two days, and then fresh water again for an additional two days. After all that, lutefisk is simmered until it is firm and translucent. Lutefisk is NOT an acquired taste. You either like it or you don't.

While lutefisk is available here and there in grocery stores, especially around Christmas, it's not the easiest thing to find. The Olsen Fish Company on the north side of Minneapolis is the world's largest producer. They make over 650,000 pounds a year. They sell stockfish for the do-it-yourselfers and processed and ready to cook lutefisk for the rest of us. The lutefisk is packaged under Olsen, Viking, Kemps, and Mike's labels but you can't buy directly from Olsens for they are strictly a wholesale company.

Lefse is made from potatoes. It's thin and flexible, and it looks and feels much like a flour tortilla. It has been likened to a dish rag but that is an unfair judgment by people who have tried poor quality, store bought, or old product. Fresh lefse is a delicate, flavorful delight, especially when buttered and rolled up with brown sugar.

The absolute best place to get lefse is to find a church with a crew of little Norwegian ladies who set up in the church kitchen and crank out lefse to sell as a fund-raiser. Stoughton, Mount Horeb, or Westby are good places to start. Failing that, the general consensus among lefse connoisseurs is that Countryside Lefse in Blair, Wisconsin, is by far the best commercially made lefse around. The reason is that they make lefse the same way you would at home (or at church). They use real potatoes and they roll and flip the lefse by hand. Countryside Lefse is distributed to local grocery stores but you can also order directly from them on their website lefse.com.

Lutefisk isn't the only fish dish around. Almost as ubiquitous is pickled herring. Norwegians eat tons of the stuff every year. Herring are pickled in the traditional manner with vinegar and spices and then things get interesting. There are 15 species of herring and at least that many ways to pack them. The two most popular variations are in a sour cream or wine sauce, but recent years have brought about new varieties including Cajun and fresh dill.

Fiskeballer (fish balls) and fish soup can contain almost anything. The main trick with fish balls is to run the meat through a grinder at least five times. Oddest sounding of all is fiskepudding or fish pudding. It's exactly what it sounds like. To get the light, spongy consistency required, you need really fresh fish. The fish is pureed with cream and some other stuff and then baked. It's usually served hot and drenched in butter.

Now that those are out of the way, we can move on to the important stuff -- cookies and baked goods. The most recognizable Norwegian cookies are krumkake. These cone shaped delights are sometimes filled, but often are served plain (as God intended) and are light and crispy with just a hint of cardamom. Sandbakkel come in a variety of shapes. The dough is pressed into forms that are essentially tiny tart tins. They have a thicker, more substantial texture and a definite almond taste. Fattigman (poor man's cookies) are similar to sandbakkels in texture but without the almond flavor. Fattigman cookies are different in that they are deep fried. A little powdered sugar on top and you have a very tasty cookie.

By far the prettiest and most delicate cookies are the rosetter, or rosettes. The cookie starts with a thin batter, then flower- or star-shaped irons with long handles are dipped into the batter and then lowered into hot oil. The cookies fry until they are a beautiful golden brown. Once they are sprinkled with powdered sugar, they are as much a work of art as they are a paper thin, yummy treat.

Cakes of all kinds are part of the Norwegian diet. Two in particular are worth noting. One is the kransekake. This is an almond cake that is baked in 18 thin concentric rings that are then stacked to form a cone 12 to 18 inches tall, all glued together with frosting. Kransekake is usually served on special occasions, especially weddings. They are decorated for the occasion with real flowers, party poppers, flags, or whatever. They're about as putzy as a cake can get and seem deceptively simple to create once you have the special baking rings. When things go wrong, kransekake are next to inedible. However, when Ole and Lena smile and it turns out as it should, kransekake's pleasing texture and almond flavor make all the work worthwhile.

At the other end of the spectrum, Norwegian apple cake is a study in rustic elegance that satisfies without pretension. Sugar, flour, salt, baking powder, apples, nuts, and an egg combine to create a sturdy cake loaded with bits of nuts and apples. It's simple, but this is a clear case of the sum being greater than its parts. Serve it with a little fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on top. Best of all it's even better the second day.

Odd and assorted other Norwegian specialties include rommegrot, fruktsuppe, and sweet soup. Rommegrot is sour cream soup that is usually generously drizzled in butter and sprinkled with sugar and ground cinnamon (Norwegians seem to do this a lot). Rommegrot is thick and sweet and needs something to wash it down. Red current juice is popular, but you might be better served by beer or Aquavit.

Fruktsuppe, or fruit soup, is pretty much what it says it is, a soup made with tapioca, prunes, raisins, apples, oranges, and just about any other fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruit you happen to have around. The difference is that while Americans like their fruit soup cold, Norwegians serve it hot, garnished with lemon and orange slices.

Sot suppe (sweet soup) is pretty self-explanatory. It is also a fruit soup made with dried fruits, especially raisins, currants, prunes, and tapioca, but this one is served cold. Accompaniments include Christmas bread, Christmas cookies, open-faced sandwiches, and a variety of sliced cheeses.

This is far from a complete list of Norwegian foods. Norwegian is as wide and varied a cuisine as that from other countries and it waits for you to go exploring. Many of the foods I've mentioned are available prepackaged or as mixes. The web offers recipes galore for those who want to get hands-on. Either way, you can enter into the spirit of the holiday because, like on St. Patrick's Day, on Syttende Mai everybody is Norwegian.

Buying Norwegian in Wisconsin

Many Norwegian food items are things you cannot get at the local Pick 'n Save or Piggly Wiggly. These are specialty items that are only available at certain shops. Some require special appliances. Lefse and krumkake griddles and sandbakkel tins are usually available at the same stores. Here is a partial list of places to check out.

Open House Imports, 306 E. Main St., Mt. Horeb, WI 53572, (608) 437-5468 openhouseimports.com

Open House carries a nice selection of products including Freia Chocolates, sandbakkel, lefse, and rommergrot mixes, fish soup, fish balls, salmon and caviar spread, lingonberries, and Hartshorn Salt (a hard-to find ingredient of some Norwegian dishes). They also carry Norwegian equipment.

Dick's Quality Meats, 201 Main Street, Mt. Horeb, WI 53572. A good source for herring, lefse, and, at holiday times, lutefisk.

Norske Nook Restaurant and Coffee House and Gift Shop -- Osseo, 13804-13807 7th Street, Osseo, WI 54758, (715) 597-3765 norskenook.com

Norske Nook -- Rice Lake, 2900 Pioneer Avenue, Rice Lake, WI 54868, 715-234-1733

Norske Nook -- Hayward, Hwy. 27 South, Hayward, WI 54843, (715) 634-4928

The Norske Nook is a legend in Wisconsin, offering "from scratch" cooking and fabulous baked goods. The restaurants offer a limited selection of products but the selection at the Osseo gift shop is more extensive with imported cookies, lingonberries, lefse, potato dumpling and Norwegian pancake mixes, and more. They also carry lefse and krumkake griddles, sandbakkel tins, and other needed equipment.

Dregnes Scandinavian Gifts, 100 S. Main St., Westby, WI 54667, Phone: (608) 634-4414 Toll Free: (877) 634-4414 DregnesScandinavianGifts.com. Dregnes had the best selection of goods of all the places we checked. They offer Norwegian cheeses, fish soup, two different kinds of fish balls, vanilla and pearl sugars, Ljus syrup, glug, and numerous mixes. Their kitchen shop carries any cookware necessary to turn out a delicious Norwegian meal.

Nordic Nook, 176 W. Main St., Stoughton, WI 53589, Phone: (608) 877-0848 Toll Free: (866) 912-6665 nordic-nook.com. The Nordic Nook has a nice selection of Norwegian cooking gear and all the standard food offerings. A couple of unusual and yummy additions are pepparkakor (gingersnap) caramels and Ole and Lena fortune cookies.

Cheesers, LLC 186 E. Main St., Stoughton, WI 53589, Phone: (608) 873-1777 Fax: (608) 877-0362 cheesers.com. Stoughton has the biggest Syttende Mai celebration outside of Norway so you know Stoughton is serious about Norwegian food. Cheesers doesn't offer the cooking equipment like the others but they do offer a nice selection of products including a broad selection of flatbreads and crisps, fresh lefse, coffee, Jarlsberg cheese, and two kinds of Gjetost. This is a great place for all your cheese needs. Their selection is comprehensive.

The Norwegian Forest Cat is a large breed with front legs shorter then rear legs. Solidly muscled, the ears are large and almond shaped with blue or green coloring. The double coat is thick and fluffy and the winter coat sheds in the spring. The tail is bushy and the ears are distinctively tufted.

Adult males can weigh approximately 13 to 22 pounds. Adult females will weigh about half that of males. Coat will vary widely. Norwegian Forest Cats are often described as playful, affectionate, active, balanced, friendly, sweet, robust and patient.

Brief History of the Norwegian Forest Cat

This is an ancient cat, introduced to northern Europe during the time of the Roman Empire. Their hunting prowess made them valuable for protecting grain stores from vermin. The first clubs for these cats formed during the 1930s. Further breeding efforts during the 1970s help preserve this cat from interbreeding with the Norway domestic short haired Hauskatt. This is a cat that had adapted to very cold temperatures through the centuries. In Norway they are called the Skogkatter and the Skaukatter. The Cat Fanciers Association accepted this breed for registration in 1987 followed by championship recognition in 1993.

The ancestor of all domestic cats is the African Wildcat, the genus Felis Lybica. This genus is comprised of smaller cats. Cats are thought to have been domesticated with the advent of farming and the storage of grain. The grain attracted rats and other vermin which naturally attracted wild cats. As time evolved, certain of these cats were domesticated for the mutual benefit of both cat and man. The African Wildcat has certain features which is obvious in the housecat of today.

Health

Cats who reside in the house should generally visit the veterinarian yearly, unless health problems are evident. Cats who enjoy the outdoors may need to see the vet as many as four times a year. When you take your cat to the vet, be sure to bring along a fresh stool sample so the vet can do a fecal exam to check for internal parasites such as tapeworm, round worm, whip worms and hook worms. The vet will also check for external parasites such as fleas, ticks and ear mites.

Any vet check should include a dental examination and a cleaning if necessary. Cats who are eight years of age or older are considered geriatric and additional blood and urine tests may be necessary to screen for any health problems. At about six months of age, the kitten should also be examined for sexual maturity and decisions about birth control should be made.

Behavioral Considerations

These cats are very athletic
They love their humans
They are very good hunters
They are climbers
Said to be good with children

Norwegian Forest Cat Registries and Clubs

Finnish Forest Cat Association
Norwegian Forest Cat Club
Norwegian Forest Cat Fanciers Association
Cat Fanciers Association CFA
International Cat Association TICA
The Traditional Cat Association, Inc TCA
Canadian Cat Association CCA
The Australian Cat Federation Inc
The American Association of Cat Enthusiasts AACE
American Cat Fanciers Association ACFA
United Feline Organization UFO
Cats United International

Kitten Care

Kittens are generally available and the price depends upon bloodlines color and markings. Unlike puppies, kittens should not be separated from their mother until twelve to sixteen weeks of age. Some very important developmental stages occur during this period including emotional, mental and health. Curtailing this development may lead to any number of medical and behavioral problems.

Kittens that are separated from their mother at too young an age often fail to gain weight fast enough, have immune system problems because they have not had enough mothers milk. The may also develop eating and eliminating problems, and can have problems socializing with other cats and with people. Every cat and kitten is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your cat or kitten. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.

For some people November through to March can be a really miserable time if they live in countries where winters are cold, the days are short and the nights are long, and they can't wait until the spring when the weather is better and there's a few sunny days. There's even a recognised medical condition known to many as SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder - where the lack of sunshine in winter time can have profound effects on people's well being and state of mind.

And it's particularly prevalent in northern European countries such as Britain, Sweden, Norway and Denmark where the winters can be long, dark affairs, and special lights can be bought for the home that are supposed to replicate the sunshine seen in the summer and lift the moods of those with SAD. But happily for Europeans with SAD who have a bit of money and a week or two to spare a good natural answer is possible - sunshine while taking a holiday in Lanzarote, one of the Spanish Canary islands renowned for her holidays industry.

Due to the location of the Canary Islands, a winter holiday is just as desirable as one taken in the summer. Water temperatures reach about 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months and 63 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter - not bad when all around at home is freezing! The island is well known with tourists for her volcanic origin. But because Lanzarote is volcanic it doesn't mean that all the favourite tourist activities so prevalent in other parts of Spain aren't possible - Lanzarote is good for golf for example.

The best course on Lanzarote is Golf Costa Teguise. The 18 hole golf course designed by John Harris and built in 1978 challenges beginners as well as expert golfers. The course is located at the base of an inactive volcano and surrounded by all natural flora. Lanzarote offers holiday guests a relaxed atmosphere, and often an 'olde worlde' experience - the common use of camels to transport goods for example, but then the island does have a desert like climate of course, and the Lanzarote weather is such a big plus for the island.

Lanzarote is full time home to more than a hundred thousand residents, and has her own international airport with direct flights from many regional airports in Northern Europe, including her main markets of the UK and Germany. Lanzarote relies on tourism as well as agriculture to maintain her economy, and the fact that it is able to offer winter as well as summer holidays is a real bonus for the island's tourism businesses. A lot of holidays sold are for the resort of Costa Teguise. Costa Teguise is the smallest of the three large resorts on Lanzarote. It is about 6 miles northeast of the capital city Arrecife. The entire resort is built on former lava fields and saltpans. The resort consists of several apartment blocks, bungalows and villas. Primary attractions are the golf course, a marina, commercial shops and entertainment.

But often for a winter holiday a villa holiday can be affordable, and many people who have visited Lanzarote in the past and had a look around the island prefer the Playa Blanca area. Playa Blanca was once a small fishing port. In recent years it has developed into the second largest town in Lanzarote. Playa Blanca is very popular with families due to its size and family friendly beaches. Two more beaches were recently added to Playa Blanca to help make up for the lack of space on the main central beach. Along the nicely manicured streets are a good choice of shops, restaurants and clubs. So if you've had enough of winter - visit Lanzarote, the island that has winter smiles.

Norway might not be readily associated with culinary experiences, but fact is; in the history of Bocuse D'Or (world championship for chefs) only France has collected more medals! If considering visiting the country for its unique nature and exploring the mountains, fjords and rivers on a cross the country expedition a few pit-stops are needed! This is the guide of the best the country has to offer as far as restaurants go.

OSLO

Oslo rules supreme when it comes to quality dining in Norway. 6 restaurants have a total of 7 stars in the Michelin Guide. Unfortunately the one two-star restaurant, Bagatelle, was abandoned by its founder and chef in 2010. However, a quick trip will not suffice to enjoy all the gourmet highlights in Norway!

1.Restaurant Oscarsgate Pilestredet 63, Oslo

A small setting for a grand meal. Oscarsgate keeps a small menu and a short wine-list. Whats isn't small here is the bill at the end of the evening, but the high-class gourmet food is absolutely worth it!

2.Haga Restaurant, Griniveien 315, Oslo. Genuine French cuisine served in the outskirts of Oslo. Also known for its excellent (French) wine list. Haga is one of the most consistent restaurants in Oslo.

3.Arakataka, Mariboesgate 7 ,Oslo

This Mediterranean style restaurant has had a reputation for two things; the place to get your money's worth, but also rather variable service. These days only the first part holds true. The place is a relaxed, budget-friendly restaurant with a brilliant kitchen - Mediterranean style.

SANDEFJORD

This city is normally a "transit-zone" for visitors arriving at the "Oslo Torp" airport. But, the Solvold restaurant is worth a short detour to Sandefjord before taking the train to Oslo.

Solvold, Thor Dahls gt. 9, Sandefjord

The chef Odd Ivar Solvold is one of Norway's "Bocuse D'Or" medal winners and has ensured his restaurant meets the highest standards for more than 12 years. Especially excellent fish.

VAAGAA

Head for the mountains (Jotunheimen) to experience the most traditional of traditional Norwegian food! This is the "realm" of famous chef Arne Brimi where he has created a culinary based experience center.

Vianvang, Brimi Fjellstugu, N-2680 Vaagaa

This is not so much a restaurant as a gourmet nature resort and culture center. One can book cooking courses, rooms as well as various nature activities. Central to the experience, though is chef Brimi's vision of presenting and developing the tradition of Norwegian food.

TRONDHEIM

Trondheim is a charming city in the middle of the country, known for its Viking roots and the magnificent gothic cathedral, Nidarosdomen. Trondheim is a cutural city in many ways; theatre, concerts, sports and dining here is more interesting than ever before!

1.Havfruen fiskerestaurant i Trondheim , Kjoepmannsgata 7, Trondheim

This is the place to go for excellent seafood in Trondheim. The season based menu offers the best of marine produce available. Traditional dishes served with imagination. The setting by the Nidelven River in a traditional local adds to the flavors of the meal!

2. Credo, Oerjaveita 4, Trondheim. Credo's (usually) five-course menu has to be one of the best value-for-money deals in Norway! Innovative food prepared with care at a (for Norway) very reasonable price served in unpretentious surroundings.

TROMSOE

The north is not the "culinary wasteland" it used to be. In the past you had to be on good terms with the local fishermen and hunters to get a decent meal in northern Norway! This is, thankfully, not the case anymore, and in places like Bodø, Harstad and the Lofoten Islands there are quality restaurant to be found. The "capital" of the north, however, is Tromsø.

De 4 Roser, Groennegata 38, Tromsoe

French-Italian warmth in the arctic north. The concept is to take advantage of local produce (world-class seafood, for instance) and prepare it in a Mediterranean manner, and the concept works! Very inviting and pleasant interior. This concludes our culinary journey in Norway, from south (Oslo) to north (Tromsoe). There could easily have been four-five times as many restaurants included in this guide, but half the fun of taking a journey like this is to discover, isn't it?

Geilo in Norway stands 800 metres high, and has one of the highest ski lifts in the world, stretching 3,887 feet. Geilo is positioned three and a half hours from the capital city, whilst having good road and rail links to the village. Set amidst amazing scenery just off the banks of Fjord, Geilo is at the heart of Norways Winter Wonderland. Maintaining its reputation as an excellent family resort, Geilo has seen visitors from Europe and beyond since early 1900s. Geilo remains unspoilt, with true Norwegian character firmly intact.

With more than just skiing facilities Geilo is home to the 4 star Highland Hotel, as well as numerous lodging houses, and the famous Holms Ski Bar. Although primarily a ski resort Geilo also offers sleigh rides, wildlife adventure tours, ski orienteering, tobogganing, snow shoe walking, dog-sledging, kite-skiing, night-skiing, snowboarding, freestyle snowboarding and much more.

Geilo has also increased its reputation amongst Snowboarders in recent years beating off Lillehammer, Voss and Hemsedal in its bid to host the Norwegian Snowboarding Championship. With four sides of mountain each dedicated to snowboarding and skiing, Geilo is now able to call itself Norways first skiing location to offer 5 runs dedicated to snowboarding. With 110 runs in total, Geilo has 14% expert allowing experienced skiers to enjoy themselves on the slopes, whilst maintaining the rest of its facilities for intermediates and beginners that account for a larger number of their yearly visitors.

Geilo also offers exceptional value for money with weekly family packages starting from $1000 including accommodation, bed and breakfast. The element that stands out the most about Geilo is the way it caters for families, family diners, and especially their Christmas bonanza which includes Santa visiting the slopes with his reindeer on Christmas day, and the time leading up to christmas. Geilo never fails to be fully booked for Christmas, with so many families choosing to bring their children along to experience Christmas within this winter wonderland.

Although Geilo offers amazing family packages, it would be unfair to say that Geilo is limited to family vacations. Geilo has hosted very serious world sporting events, as well as being the training ground of the national snowboarding and skiing teams. Geilo is available from August/September all the way through to late March and is also considering investing in Avalanche Technology which generates snow from water to provide 24/365 skiing.

If you have never been to Geilo then I would recommend that you give it a go, although the family image may put certain people off visiting the slope I would suggest that checking it out is the best thing to do. From their website it is clear to see that consistent snowfall, and a good variation in the difficulty of runs, Geilo is a facility that can genuinely cater for everyone; from beginner to professional.

It has many great options for accommodation, and with good travel links as well their really is no excuse for not hoping on a plane and going to Geilo today. With thousands of people on the slopes, from different countries and different backgrounds Geilo is suitable for families and teenagers alike. With individual price plans starting from $350 a week, and well-known DJs playing at local club venues Geilo is also becoming very popular amongst those teenagers who would have previously seen Ibiza as the only place to be seen on holiday.

I've always been fascinated by Scandinavian furniture designs and back in the 1930's there was an innovative man from Norway by the name of Jens Ekornes. He started from humble beginnings but would soon grow his small Norwegian shop that made steel spring components into several manufacturing facilities throughout Europe in fifty years time. This article examines the accomplishments of Jens Ekornes and his place in Norwegian furniture design.

Norway is located in what is known as Scandinavia which consists of Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway. This region has a rich history that goes back to early Europe. The Scandinavian region was much sought after as both a strategic land area as well as the fishing and agricultural resources it offered. Many of us when we think of Norway may conjure up images of Norse gods or Viking explorers. Norwegians are just like us with their own colorful history and traditions and one of those traditions is in the crafting of quality furniture.

Jens Ekornes was born in 1908 and is considered a business legend in Norway. Many industrial professionals and business people during his time wanted badly to be associated with him due in part to his contacts both in manufacturing and retail and the success he himself had earned through his various endeavors. Jens Ekornes started out his industrial career building steel spring components for mattress manufacturers in the mid-30's and become so involved in the process that he attended trade shows to better understand what he was building and how he himself could venture into manufacturing his own product. The Svane® Mattress was born.

He would travel to the United States in 1946 after the end of WW2 to learn more about the American manufacturing process and machinery used that allowed for higher quality and cost control. He would study the manufacturing process and purchased machinery that he would bring back to Norway to begin production of Svane® mattresses. His desire to take an existing product and make it better would soon become a benchmark for Jens Ekornes.

He would continue to move into other manufacturing fields and from around 1947 through 1959 he would begin building furniture components for other manufacturers. This was an important step in the company as it began to lay the foundation that Ekornes would need to move into designing and building home furnishings by having a manufacturing infrastructure in place to accommodate some of his new ideas for furniture. Towards the end of 1959 Jens Ekornes took an important step at J.E. Ekornes AS as he began to produce foamed plastic. This would become a very important part of creating the Ekornes® brand. In 1960, Leif Ekornes and Martin Ekornes became co-owners in a joint stock company that would become called J.E. Ekornes Fabrikker AS.

1966 marked an important date for Ekornes® with its introduction of lounger furniture. Ekornes led an aggressive campaign for its products throughout Norway by sending out information called the "Svane News" to every household in the country. This mailer in effect helped to establish the brand identity Ekornes® to its Norwegian consumers and would put in motion the purchasing of several companies to be brought in to further build on the manufacturing capabilities of Ekornes®.

Jens Ekornes was alive to see the introduction of what would be the most successful furniture product to come from his company and would reach unit sales in the millions across the world. The Ekornes Stressless chair would be introduced in 1971 and would soon become the best selling furniture product in the Ekornes® line. This introduction marks the beginning of the story of Ekornes Stressless chairs but sadly brings us to close of Jens Ekornes the man.

Jens Ekornes would pass away in 1976. His brother, Martin Ekornes would assume control of the company as CEO. It's hard to say if Jens Ekornes was aware of the footprint he left on Scandinavian furniture and Norwegian craftsmanship. Time is often the true measure of our accomplishments and what type of impact they have on those around us. The legacy of Jens Ekornes continues today with the company that is his namesake. The business model and success that Jens Ekornes enjoyed will be studied for years to come in how to build a better product and find success through product innovation.

Norway is a country that is as beautiful as it is rugged. The best way to sample all this country has to offer is to use a car hire service and head out into the mountainous wilderness. Around the same size as Germany, Norway has much to offer; be it the spectacular coastline or daunting arctic tundra. Just remember to fit snow chains to your hire car.

Touring the striking fjords is for me the best Norway has to offer. The coastal towns, at the foot of imposing mountains offer picture perfect views. When using a hire car, take advantage of the remoteness of these fjords; during the summer months a picnic at the shore in this pristine landscape is a pure joy. As you head up the coast in your hire car it soon becomes clear why the Vikings, who predominantly originated in Norway, were such a hardy civilisation. Not only would you have to be a master sailor to navigate the system of fjords, but head inland to the mountain ranges; and freezing temperatures soon send a chill through your spine.

Skiing has increasingly become a tourism trade in Norway. Despite nearly all Norwegians owning at least one set of skis, it is only recently that tourists have started to flood into the alpine resorts. This can be seen as the perfect excuse to hire a car, complete with roof rack and head for a weekend of extreme sports. The far north of Norway is within the Arctic Circle meaning at the seasonal extremes parts of the country experience perpetual daylight or darkness. Be careful when touring in your hire car as with no dusk or dawn, reminding yourself to take a break while driving can be difficult.

The capital of Norway is a unique city; with the Oslo Fjord on one side and mountain ranges on the other it offers a combination of experiences that would be difficult to best anywhere in the world. If staying in the city I would not recommend the use of a hire car in this instance. Public transport is efficient and you can see much of the city's attractions by foot. The TusenFryd Amusement Park and the Nobel Peace Museum are attractions of note. The Nobel museum has exhibitions on the various laureates as well as information on the life and work of Alfred Nobel.

In the northern extremes of Norway a hire car would be better substituted by a snowmobile as for most of the year the tundra is covered with snow. The chance to go on a 'snow safari' is an experience not to be missed as reindeer and elk are common; whether it is on a snowmobile or dog sled it is extremely enjoyable. One trip that should definitely be undertaken in your hire car while in Norway is a journey to Roros; this old mining city is a world heritage site and has superb examples of well preserved wooden buildings. Wandering the city has been described as like stepping back in time. Roros also has a wealth of outdoor activities including fantastic hunting and fishing while the craftsmen of the city will ensure you return with ideal gifts for Friends and family.

Norway historically has been a nation that has actively hunted whales, this is still true today but eco-tourism is fast replacing the harpoons with cameras. During the summer months there are opportunities to swim or kayak with vast pods of killer whales, this has been described as one of the most humbling experiences imaginable. Minke whales are also viewable in Norway, this does however mean leaving the hire car behind and using your sea legs to head out into the sometimes rough North Sea. Norway is an ideal tourist destination, using a car hire service will enable you to see as much as possible during your visit. With a wealth of activities it is presents the chance for a truly unique holiday experience. Added to the beautiful scenery the history of this nation, predominantly the Viking period gives a fascinating insight into the Dark Age explorers. With such a difference between seasons, Norway will have you returning regularly to experience all this county has to offer.

Norway is a popular holiday destination for holiday makers going on a family holiday and staying in self catering holiday accommodation. There are some great holiday homes available to rent in Norway. Norway cannot be described roughly because of its huge scope of vacation destinations. There are a lot of things to mention about Norway. In a compact way Norway could be described as craggy, wild, and a very intense. The country is filled with ice glaciers, gigantic mountains and fjords that can't be conjured into images of the legendary Vikings or the gods of Norse. Norway is completely covered with awe inspiring beauty and unscathed villages of fishing and also a lot of historical museums and sights including the medieval cabins of the Viking warriors, it is very enchanting.

Norway is entirely diverse and there is a lot of difference from the northern end to the souther tip, the area which is around Oslo. There are some superb ski chalets and self catering apartments to rent in Norway. There is a variety of activities that would excite a tourist, like just walking through the mind blowing landscapes. The fjord in the southern part of Norway is worth exploring and Oslo, Tronhem and Bergen are magical cities. Getting a self catered residence means that you are able to do any outdoor activity in the natural facility. There is also a lot of wilderness in Norway which is quite astounding. There is glass like lakes that flow from the fountains and also glaciers which is the largest in the world. There are also some awesome isolated holiday wooden cabins that can be rented.

Norway has great trekking and hiking areas and also some amazing walks which can be quite scintillating. You can also go hunting, mountain climbing and also fishing which also are great holiday activities. Norway is known as the birthplace of skiing. The landscape almost covers up to 30000 km full of pistes. The ski season is from November to may end. There are some great ski chalets available to rent direct from their owners in this region. It is the Scandinavian region of Norway with coastal villages. The coastal villages here are the size of a picture postcard; it is a very beautiful scene. It is ideal for taking a walk, rock climbing, skiing and also canoeing. It is the most beautiful region of the whole of Norway. The Norwegian fjord which is along the west coast is good for outdoor sports like raft climbing, summer skiing, and kayak. Holiday makers can rent traditional holiday cottages and use them as bases to explore this marvellous country.

Lillehammer which is an Olympic city is very cheap for skiing. It also has dense forests which has the highest number of wolves in the whole of Europe. This region also has wooded pistes that are very enjoyable. In the summer season this area gets transformed into the land with a midnight sun. It means that the sun will be up for 24 hours and there won't be any night, It is a very rare spectacle. Tromso is also famous for being the biggest northerly brewery. Norwegian cuisine includes the famous lufse and the lutefisk. These are food that is delicious and worth trying once. Norway has a long summer that lasts from may to September. Norway has a variety of entertaining activities that makes it a great holiday destination.

The ski season is here, and Andorra ski resorts are planning to offer free ski passes for children less than 14 years of age if the package is booked through an English or Irish tour operator. Andorra's resorts are also looking to broaden their market beyond skiing, snowboarding and other popular winter sports. In fact they are planning to build the Pyrenees' first every ice hotel. The Andorran ice hotel would be the most southerly seated ice hotel in the world.

Ice Hotels

Ice hotels are quite simply what their name implies: hotels carved out of ice. All ice hotels are reconstructed every year. The construction and operation are dependent on sub-zero temperatures. All walls, carvings, sculptures and furniture are made entirely out of ice. Furniture that requires assembly is held together using snice, a substance that takes the place of mortar in "brick and mortar" buildings.

Ice Hotels in Norway

The Kirkenes Snow Hotel hosted its first full season during the 2006-2007 winter season. For the 2008-2009 winter season, the hotel has 21 rooms and is considered the largest snow dome in Norway. The newest addition to the Kirkenes Snow Hotel is the Scandinavian Sauna by the lake.

The Ice Lodge is part of the Bjorligard Hotel in Norway. Due to its altitude of 1,250 meters above sea level, the Ice Lodge is enjoyed much longer into the winter season than other ice hotels. The lodge includes carved, spacious rooms with glistening ice surfaces and a bar. The Ice Bar is a great place to mingle with other Ice Lodge guests and enjoy the drink of your choice.

The Alta Igloo Hotel first came into existence in 2000. Located in the Finnmark region of Europe, it is the northernmost of all currently existing ice hotels. With 28 regular rooms and two suites, it is decorated with ice sculptures and furnishings. The hotel also has an ice chapel, gallery and bar where the drinks are served in ice glasses.

Ice Hotel in Sweden

The world's first ice hotel was created near Jukkasjarvi, Kiruna, Sweden. The idea to create ice hotels was actually almost accidental. One night, in 1990, French artist Jannot Derid held an art exhibition inside an igloo in Sweden. There were no hotel rooms available in the nearby town so some guests requested permission to sleep in the exhibition hall. The very first guests of the future Ice Hotel slept in sleeping bags on reindeer skin. The first major media attention may have been drawn to the hotel in the late 1990s when the rock group Van Halen recorded their video to the song 'Without You' in the newly built Ice Hotel.

Ice Hotel in Canada

The first Ice Hotel in North America was built in January of 2000. The original was built in the Duchesnay resort area and had only 22 bedrooms. The latest versions have had more than 80 rooms. One thing that sets the Duchesnay Ice Hotel apart from others is its chapel where several weddings are celebrated each season.

Ice Hotels in Finland and Romania

Finland's Mammut Snow Hotel is not necessarily an 'ice' hotel. This hotel is created entirely of snow. Most of Mammut Snow Hotel's furnishings, decorations and sculptures are created of ice. Similar ice decorations and sculptures are also on display in the Lainio Snow Hotel in Finland. The Mammut Snow Hotel is within the walls of the SnowCastle of Kemi, the biggest snow castle in the world. Also encased in the SnowCastle are The Castle Courtyard, The Snow Restaurant and a chapel for weddings.

Near Saariselka is the Hotel and Igloo Village Kakslauttanen. It is a small village of sorts created with snow igloos, glass igloos, an ice chapel, ice gallery and a restaurant made of snow. The impressive snow restaurant has seating to accommodate 150 people.

Balea Lake in the Fagaras Mountains of Romania is home to Eastern Europe's first ice hotel. The hotel was first created in 2006 and is at an altitude of 2034 meters above sea level. This ice hotel has accommodations for more than 150 guests and features attractions such as bobsledding and ice fishing.

Andorra to Offer More than Winter Sports

In addition to the inclusion of an ice hotel, Andorra's resorts have made more than 20 million euros worth of upgrades to existing ski areas. Improvements and additions include low-cost helicopter sight-seeing flights, tubing slopes, new ice rinks and a snowmobile circuit. For the coming winter season, Andorra's resorts plan to provide much more than meets the eye.

The Norwegian Buhund or "Norsk Buhund," is a herding dog of the spitz group, and is the farm dog of Norway. Buhunds have the typical spitz characteristics of activity, self-confidence and independence, but are trainable and home-loving with less inclination to hunt than other spitz breeds, having been bred as herding dogs rather than as hunters and draft dogs. These dogs were taken along by the Vikings on their travels and colonising journeys over 1,000 years ago and were the ancestors of the Iceland Dog. They also are said to have influenced the development of the collie breeds.

They love their family and are known for their fondness of children. Although Buhunds do get on very well with children it would be possible for parents to take this too far. Like any breed, they should not be left alone with unsupervised young children who can easily tease, frighten or hurt a dog without realising it. his breed has also been trained as a hearing dog, and at least one dog was taken through the training course at the RAF Police Dog training school in the United Kingdom. This dog performed protection work and tracking. It was only its lack of size, which reportedly made it unsuitable for this in a practical situation.

Genetics: Buhunds are often born with double dewclaws on the rear legs; the dewclaws are left on in Norway but are usually removed in Britain and the US.

Breed Clubs: The breed is a registered American Kennel Club Breed with its own club known as the Norwegian (Norske) Buhund Club of America. The Norwegian Buhund Club is the Kennel Club registered breed club promoting the interests of the breed in the UK.

Why their Owners Like Them

Norwegian Buhunds are:-

Breed Characteristics and Variations

The Norwegian Buhund comes in red, black and sandy brown colours.

They are lightly built, with a short, compact body, fairly smooth-lying coat, erect, pointed ears, and a tail carried curled over the back. The coat is smooth and less abundant than some of the spitz dogs and fairly easily to keep. Within the spitz group the Buhund is a middle-sized breed and a typical Nordic Spitz dog, and has a lively tail that stands vertical and curls. They may tend to bark somewhat more readily than most breeds. This probably derives from their herding background when high vocality would be an asset.

History

The Buhund is the Norwegian variant of the original small spitz dog type, which quite remarkably goes back to the stone age, and in fact is thought to have already in the stone-age have been widely dispersed throughout Scandinavia. In the ancient Gokstad excavation in Norway, six spitz-like dogs of various sizes were found within a Viking grave dating back to about the year 900. It is clear that the buhund's ancestors were expected to continue to protect the herds of their owners, even after the death of their owner.

Interesting Facts

Recently Buhunds, together with Norwegian Lundehunds, have been involved in the experimental endeavours of breeders to achieve the recreation of the barking bird-dog of Norrbotten, which had been removed from the list of recognized breeds in1936 by the Swedish Kennel Club. The reason for this was that it was then regarded as extinct. So, one day you may see this breed breeding true again and re-registered.