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@ Saltstraumen Bridge, Norway
Darby begins his tour of "Norway". Wrap up warm!
Saltstraumen Bridge, Norway
The Saltstraumen Bridge has been in use since 1978 and is one of four bridges built in the 70s to connect the islands to each other.

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@ Lysefjord, Norway
"Gosh, Ada, look at this snippet from our brochure! 'Income and wealth of all residents is on public record.' I'm not sure I'd want everypet knowing how wealthy or otherwise I was!"
"It must make it awfully difficult to fiddle one's tax return, Darby! Not that one would ever dream of doing so, of course!"
Lysefjord, Norway
Our airborne pets would like to show us the view of Norway they see every day, all day. You can be certain they never get tired of gazing down at the spectacular Lyesfjord. Not to leave the land-dwelling pets out of a breath-taking experience, this area offers a hike to the top of Flørli via 4,444 wooden steps that just happen to be the world's longest wooden staircase!

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@ Sætre, Asker, Norway
"Did you know that Norway has a 120-mile land border with Russia, Choose a name?"
Choose a name pondered. "I didn't know that, Darby! Aren't Sweden and Finland sort of in the way?"
"Look at the map here. It's at Kirkenes. It says here that it's very common for Norwegians to cross over into Russia to buy cheaper fuel for their cars, while Russians cross over to Norway to buy better quality goods in Kirkenes."
Sætre, Asker, Norway
The name Sætre is derived from the Norse word which literally means 'place to sit' or can be understood to mean 'place of residence,' However, only 3796 Norwegians have decided to do that. Sætre is also home to the Sætreelva (Sætre River) which is an important breeding ground for sea trout and many species of seabirds.

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@ Kirkenes, Norway
"What Norwegian Christmas tradition centres around Bjørnøya, or Bear Island, Julius?" asked Darby.
"I don't know, Darby!"
"Every Christmas the nine staff at its meteorological station, Herwighamna, undertake a broadcast on the radio, as one of the many far out places in Norway. It says here that amateur radio enthusiasts occasionally conduct DXpeditions on the island during the summer months."
Kirkenes, Norway
This small group of cabins in Kirkenes featuring large windows is often used by travelers who hope to get a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis while staying warm. Another fun attraction besides aurora viewing is the Kirkenes Snowhotel which is rebuilt from fresh snow every year. This small town is located in northeastern Norway, close to the borders of Finland and Russia.

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@ Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
"'Tromsø has The Arctic University, which is the northernmost university in the world, with 16,000 students,'" read out ceefa from the brochure.
"They also have the Northern Lights Observatory in Tromsø, don't they, Darby?" remarked ceefa. "That must be a cool place to work!"
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
Saint Olav’s holy shrine in the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim has been an important pilgrimage site ever since the former Viking king Olaf II was canonised in 1031, and it is still a treasured destination for pilgrims from all over the world. Before you enter as a pilgrim, you should perform the old ritual of walking around the cathedral three times."

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@ Snowy Evergreen Forest, Norway
"Hey, Meowchi, have you seen what the hotel has included in our packed lunch today? It's these packets of Freia Melkehjerte—adorable leaf-thin milk chocolate hearts!"
"I'm looking forward to lunch already, Darby!" responded Meowchi.
Snowy Evergreen Forest, Norway
Time to go on another winter adventure. This time it's an exhilarating snowshoe or cross-country ski trek through the pristine evergreen forest. The air is fresh and crisp and the fresh;y-fallen snow on the branches of the evergreen trees offers a beautiful image of peace and serenity.

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@ Whale Watching, Norway
"Look at this in our tour brochure, Darby! 'Andøya Space is a rocket launch site, rocket range and spaceport on Andøya island.'"
"Wow, sounds exciting, Miss Tan!"
Whale Watching, Norway
The Norwegian Sea is a perfect place for whale watching all year long. Sperm whales are the most common whale spotted in the summer months. In the winter months, orcas and humpbacks can be spotted in the fjords. If you are lucky, you may also see pilot whales, minke whales, fin whales, dolphins, and killer whales.

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@ Norwegian Sea Coastline
"Would you like to share my elevenses, DaiDai?" invited Darby, when he encountered his friend in the park. "It's called Kvikk Lunsj—it means Quick Lunch!" Unwrapping the chocolate wafer bar, he broke it in half, and offered it to DaiDai.
"Thank you, Darby!" said DaiDai, taking the proffered sample. "Mmm, that's very nice indeed!"
"Apparently it's customary when you go skiing here in Norway to take a Kvikk Lunsj along with a thermos of hot chocolate and an orange!"
Norwegian Sea Coastline
One can easily get lost in their thoughts while gazing out onto the waters of the Norwegian Sea. It's easy to picture Viking ships sailing throughout and wonder what it would be like to be aboard one of them.

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@ Northern Norway Flora
Darby unwrapped the Freia chocolate bar, offered a few squares to Ted, then thoughtfully munched a couple of squares himself. "This is delicious, Ted! Now on the wrapper, it says: Et lite stykke Norge. I wonder what that means?"
Another pet leaned over the back of his coach seat. "It means: A little piece of Norway, Darby!"
Northern Norway Flora
The cloudberry is a fruit native to cold climates. These are just beginning to flower and will develop into a delicious amber-colored berry, similar to a blackberry.

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@ Hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
"'Arguably the best way to enjoy the Norwegian coastline – if you don't have your own boat that is – is by taking the full Hurtigruten voyage on the Coastal Steamer from Bergen to Kirkenes and back again. On the 12-day voyage you'll get up close to some of the country's most iconic scenery with 34 ports of call northbound and 33 on southbound sailings'," read out Darby from the tour brochure.
Sleepy pondered. "It's been fabulous touring the parts we've managed to do by boat, Darby. I vote we come back another time when we can afford our own private boat!"
Hike to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)
Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) is one of Norway's most visited and photographed locations. It towers 604 meters above the Lysefjord.

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@ How Far From Norway?
"Hey, Darby, did you know Norway has a volcano?" queried Fanny. "It's called the Beerenberg—oh, Darby, do come out from under your coach seat! It's not on the mainland but on the way to Greenland. It's 7,306 feet (2,227 m) high."
How Far From Norway?
These signs are always fun for the traveler to see no matter where they wander. World travelers can reminisce about their recent vacation to a place on a signpost or daydream about a place they hope to visit in the future.

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@ Idyllic Norwegian Fjord
"Did you know that Oslo, the Norwegian capital, has been the venue of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony almost every year since 1901, Lilly?" queried Darby. "The other Nobel prizes in science and literature are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden."
Lilly grinned. "Yup—well, I know the physics prize ceremony is in Stockholm. The last episode of the Big Bang Theory was unforgettable!"

Idyllic Norwegian Fjord
Fjord cruises are very abundant and an excellent way to immerse oneself in the spectacular beauty of the fjords of Norway.

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@ Vøringsfossen Waterfall, Hardanger, Norway
"Quiz time, Miss Mousse! What invention did Norway give the world that has remained practically unchanged in almost a hundred years?"
"Goodness! Er ... something to do with skiing? Skating? Swimming?" ventured Miss Mousse.
"It was actually the cheese slice!" replied Darby. "It was invented way back in 1925 by Thor Bjørklund."
Vøringsfossen Waterfall, Hardanger, Norway
Vøringsfossen Waterfall has a fall of 182 meters and cascades down from the Hardangervidda mountain plateau down into the Måbødalen valley. This waterfall is considered to be one of the most beautiful and is a popular place to visit in the Hardangerfjord region.

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@ Bryggen, Bergen, Norway
"Hey, Darby, when we're in Oslo we're going with a tour guide on a Jo Nesbø Detective Hole walk! I've been reading The Bat and it's unputdownable!"
Choose a name was excited. "I bought The Snowman when we arrived here. It's really awfully good!"
"Well, a lot of places in his books are real-life locations. This will be a great tour!"
Bryggen, Bergen, Norway
The historic harbour area of Bergen, and one of Northern Europe’s oldest port cities. In 1350 the Hanseatic League established a “Hanseatic Office” in Bergen. These German merchants lived and worked in these long narrow rows of houses that face the harbour. The rows of houses are separated by narrow wooden passages that run parallel to the dock.

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@ Andoya, Vesteralen, Norway
Oh look ... you won a pet!
Andoya, Vesteralen, Norway
Andøya is as far north as you can get in Nordland and Vesterålen and is the 10th largest island in Norway. Andøya sits on the edge of the very deep ocean, no other place in Norway can make this claim. Just south of Andenes, the administrative center is Andøya Space Center, where they launch rockets and satellites.

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@ Ålesund Harbour, Norway.
"'Tromsø has The Arctic University, which is the northernmost university in the world, with 16,000 students,'" read out Pinotte from the brochure.
"They also have the Northern Lights Observatory in Tromsø, don't they, Darby?" remarked Pinotte. "That must be a cool place to work!"
Ålesund Harbour, Norway.
Ålesund is a lovely small port in Norway. The city is known for its art in Nouveau Architecture. Ålesund is the 13th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 66,258.

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@ Suitor Waterfall, Geirangerfjord, Norway
"Hey, Darby, when we're in Oslo we're going with a tour guide on a Jo Nesbø Detective Hole walk! I've been reading The Bat and it's unputdownable!"
Beatrice was excited. "I bought The Snowman when we arrived here. It's really awfully good!"
"Well, a lot of places in his books are real-life locations. This will be a great tour!"
Suitor Waterfall, Geirangerfjord, Norway
Are you ready for an exhilarating excursion? Then this kayak trip with an experienced guide will be perfect. You will paddle the Geirangerfjord until you reach the place where there are not one, but two, majestic waterfalls, one of which is the Suitor Waterfall, On the opposite side of the fjord is the Seven Sisters Waterfall. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the amazing beauty of the Geirangerfjord.

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@ Fiske, Norway
"Did you know that Oslo, the Norwegian capital, has been the venue of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony almost every year since 1901, Fala?" queried Darby. "The other Nobel prizes in science and literature are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden."
Fala grinned. "Yup—well, I know the physics prize ceremony is in Stockholm. The last episode of the Big Bang Theory was unforgettable!"

Fiske, Norway
Fiske is a locality in Rogaland, Norway, 33 miles south of Oslo. Fiske means, to fish, in Norwegian. Mist rises from one of the many waterways that dot the area.

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@ Spotted Nutcracker
"It says in our brochure that not only was skiing invented in Norway, but a development in Norwegian skis in the 1890s – the Telemark – directly led to the modern skis we use today," remarked Tommy.
"Our guide was saying this morning that the words 'ski' and 'slalom' originated right here in Norway," responded Darby.
Spotted Nutcracker
One of many birds you may spot around Norway. Pine seeds/nuts are the most important food source. Nutcracker couples stay together for life and both parents feed the babies and teach them how to store extra food.

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@ Kristiansand Container Port
"Wow! Europe's biggest herd of wild reindeer lives here, Pingi! The herd roam in Europe's biggest mountain plateau. The number of wild reindeer in winter totals around 25,000, of which up to 7000 are found on Hardangervidda."
"Wow indeed, Darby!"

Kristiansand Container Port
This colourful scene shows the Port of Kristiansand, one of Norway's largest and most important container terminals, located in the south of the country. The terminal is located in the very heart of the city centre of Kristiansand, and is open 24/7, 365 days a year, handling containers being transported to key European markets and worldwide. It is southern Norway`s most important transportation hub. In 2020 the port handled nearly 50,000 containers.

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@ Bjørnhollia, Rondane, Norway
"Tell me some more Viking words, Darby!" invited Dante.
Nothing loth, Darby summarised from the brochure. "Obviously they left a mark on the English language with several rather, um, violent words. For example, 'berserk' comes from berserkr, which was a 'bear-shirt'—a Viking warrior entered battle wearing no armour, just an animal skin. 'Club' from klubba, a blunt weapon. 'Gun' from the word for 'war'—gunn, 'scathe' from skaða, to injure, and 'slaughter' from slatra—to butcher. Then 'ransack' is from rannsaka—to search a house."
Dante sucked in a sharp breath. "Ooh! I'm assuming it means to search a house somewhat enthusiastically, Darby?"
"I think that's a safe assumption, Dante."
Bjørnhollia, Rondane, Norway
Bjørnhollia lies south in the Rondane range. The Rondane is the oldest national park in Norway and is an important habitat for wild reindeer. The Park has ten mountain peaks over 2,000 metres (6,560 ft) and is a very popular place for hikers to visit.

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@ Torghatten, Norway
"It says here that Norway’s capital wasn’t always called Oslo. When it was founded in 1040, its name was originally spelt Ânslo or Áslo. However, in 1624, after a great fire destroyed large parts of the city, it was moved and rebuilt. So the capital city's name was changed to Christiania after the ruling monarch, King Christian IV."
"When did it become Oslo?" queried Choose a name.
"Well, first the name changed to start with a K instead of C-H, adopted at the end of the 19th century. Then in 1925 the city expanded to include the original 11th century village and was renamed Oslo. Phew! Today it ranks number one of all European cities in terms of quality of life."
Torghatten, Norway
A stunning granite dome on the island of Torget in the municipality of Brønnøy. This dome has a natural tunnel that visitors can walk through. The tunnel is 160 metres (520 ft) long, 20 metres (66 ft) wide, and 35 metres (115 ft) high and was formed during the Scandinavian Ice Age.

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@ Panorama Of Lofoten, Norway
"'Tromsø has The Arctic University, which is the northernmost university in the world, with 16,000 students,'" read out Bella from the brochure.
"They also have the Northern Lights Observatory in Tromsø, don't they, Darby?" remarked Bella. "That must be a cool place to work!"
Panorama Of Lofoten, Norway
Dramatic mountain peaks, sheltered bays, and untouched land make up this archipelago in the county of Nordland, Norway. For more than 1,000 years the islands have been the centre for cod fisheries.

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@ Hadsel Bridge, Norway
Hoots was carefully studying the map of Norway. "Well, fancy that, Darby! Kirkenes is farther east than all of Finland! It's just 9 miles (15 km) from the Russian border. It says in our tour guide that the Russian influence makes it a very interesting and bilingual place."
Hadsel Bridge, Norway
The Hadsel Bridge has been in use since 1978 and is one of four bridges built in the 70s to connect the islands to each other. It was initially a toll bridge but is now there is no charge to cross.

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@ Souvenir Viking Ship
As Darby's tour of "Norway" comes to an end, he receives a seasonally appropriate gift!
Winter Sky, Day
The blue and white sky of winter reminds us of the snow and shadows on the ground. A wonderful backdrop for any winter scene, or any season that calls for a delicate sky. You can fill it with birds and trees can stretch their branches outward. What wonderful scene will you create?
Souvenir Viking Ship
Don't forget to stop in the gift shop and pick up some souvenirs of your Norwegian travels. There are many to choose from, including this whimsical replica of a viking ship.
Darby has completed his tour of "Norway"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also tour Scandinavia!