My favorite place – my island in the north!

It`s natural for me to start the blog with telling you about my favorite place in the world (everyone has their own); my home country Norway. I come from a small island up in the north – but even though it`s small, it is big on impressions, with amazing nature.

Norway is a small country with only around 5 million inhabitants. My mother tongue is Norwegian. Ever heard of the Lofoten Islands (one of the most famous tourist attractions in Europe)? My island is situated on the border to the Lofoten Islands in a region called Vesterålen. This area has a breathtaking nature and is the home of the well-known Aurora Borealis, or as most people call it, the Northern Lights.

The typical questions that I get are: “is it always dark up there”, “how is the midnight sun – is it possible to sleep in the summer”, “how is it to see the northern light”..and so on. I meet people all over the world that dream about going to Norway and they are very interested in knowing everything about it.

So, let me take you on a trip to get to know my little country and how life can be on a small island up in the north;

When you grow up with nature (and a nature that can be pretty rough at times), it really influences your personality. Your childhood is safe and quiet, and the whole “world” is your playground. You are used to be on the ocean, in the mountains, going on trips with family and friends, sleeping in tents and (if your father happens to be a natures guy) going fishing or hunting. I am very grateful for all the wonderful experiences I have had in this magnificent nature. But it is also life as everywhere else – with high-tech, people going to work, cars (well, no trains and not many traffic lights), internet and TV. You can pay with a credit card everywhere (even in the smallest shops in the middle of nowhere) – something that I really miss (I`m a card person).

Life has a different rhythm “up there”. Me living in Germany at the moment, really feel it when I go home. I have to slow down and not be so impatient. Everything is slower – but in a great way. It makes me want to say: take time to enjoy the smaller moments in life – those are the ones that really matter!

My island is called Hadsel.  All I can say is, follow the link and have a look at the pictures – they say more than words.

From here, you can easily do excursions to the Lofoten Islands, with a car or with the bus, or even better, you take one of the beautiful ships of the Hurtigruten.  You can go to Tromsø or to Narvik, and even all the way up to Lappland (Finnmark) and the North Cape.

Getting there:

To get to Vesterålen: you fly to Oslo, then you take the plane to Harstad/Narvik (Evenes) Airport (from here, you go on with the bus for example to Sortland) or directly to Stokmarknes Airport (mostly a little bit more expensive and you might have to change planes again…I always go to Evenes). You can fly with Norwegian or with SAS, both offer good prices and have daily flights.

Do you have any questions – please do not hesitate to ask me or leave comments and personal experiences that you might have had in this area!

As we say: “det finns ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær” (there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing” (be prepared for some real weather changes!)

My special favorites:

– take a tour up on the highest mountain in Vesterålen with great guides (like for example my brother) – Møysalen (amazing view)!

– visit Henningvær in the Lofoten – a truly special place with great restaurants (like for example “Fiskekrogen”)!

– take the Hurtigruten from Stokmarknes to Svolvær (and back, depending on where you spend the night), a great day trip and value for money (or stay the night in Svolvær in a fisher cabin called Rorbue)!

– Go to Andenes for a whale safari!

Accommodation tipps:

• Henningsvær Rorbuer
• Melbu Hotell 
• Recommendations from Visit Norway

 

Dare to make your dreams come true – the journey starts with a single step!

– Charlotte –