Adventures of Anette: Norway

Showing posts with label Norway. Show all posts

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Yokohama Kannai: The Norwegian Bar - Bar Norge (バーノルゲ)

Anette 2:12:00 PM

Yokohama is a city that can boost of a long history of trade with the outside world during a time while most of Japan still remained closed. After the Port of Yokohama opened up to foreign ships in 1859 an area of Yokohama known as Kannai (関内) became a particularly popular place to settle down among the foreigners, and to this date their presence has left a mark on the atmosphere of this part of the city.

In Yokohama Kannai you can find among others a number of foreign bars that used to be frequented by foreign sailors, and one of them is the Norwegian bar known as Bar Norge. This bar has a history stretching back to 1972, and is according to word of mouth a bar that was founded by a Norwegian sailor and his Japanese wife. The two of them have long passed away, but the bar was bought by one of their regular customers, and the spirit of the old bar has been kept alive until today.

At the bar you can enjoy a wide range of drinks, most of them not really related to Norway, but if you are up for a real viking drink they do serve some cocktails based on the traditional Norwegian/Scandinavian liquor called akevitt (also known as akvavit or aquavit).

A map of Norway inside the bar

As a Norwegian living in Tokyo this bar is one of the places I like to stop by while in Yokohama. My great-grandfather was actually a sailor too, and he and my great-grandmother lived a couple of years in Nagasaki and Kobe in the early 1970s working for the shipping industry. So who knows, maybe they've even enjoyed a drink or two at this bar during a visit to Yokohama?

Thank you for reading! Please feel free to leave any comments or questions below
Anette

Basic information

Bar NORGE (バーノルゲ)
・Address: 〒231-0023 Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokohama, Naka Ward, Yamashitacho, 217
・Opening Hours: 4:00PM - 12:00AM
・Homepage: http://www.bar-norge.com/

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Recommended Hotels in Yokohama

More Yokohama hotels

Yokohama Royal Park
★★★★★ → review
.

Hotel New Grand
★★★★
.

Hotel Associa Shin-Yokohama
★★★★

Hotel Edit Yokohama
★★★ → review
.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Oslo

Norway: Fjord Sightseeing with Norway in a Nutshell

Anette 12:24:00 PM

Norway is often referred to as the country of the fjords, but what does this entail? While a normal inlet also can be categorized as a fjord in some cases, most people probably would associate fjords with narrow inlets surrounded by steep-sided mountains. This type of landscape can only be found in a handful of countries, with Norway's fjords frequently being ranked as the best in the world.

If you find yourself in Norway and are longing to see the fjords you can find daily trips to the fjords from both Oslo and Bergen* during the whole summer season. We went for a day-trip with the tour "Norway in a Nutshell", which has become to be known as Norway's most popular fjord trip.

*or any of the stations on the Bergen Railway, including Flåm and Voss

Voss station

In our case we started out in Bergen, a city known as the "gateway to the fjords". We left by train from Bergen Station at 8:45 in the morning heading for the first destination of the trip; a small town called Voss. This place is known mainly for Voss water (believe it or not) and for extreme sports. In fact, this tiny place with a population of around 14,000 people receives more than 40,000 visitors for their annual festival "Ekstremsportveko" (the Extreme Sports Week) or just "veko" held late June.

For those who are interested in spending more than a day on the trip it is possible to stay a night in Voss and for instance try out rafting before heading towards the fjords. If not, you will only have a short break before the bus leaves so there won't be any chance to go sightseeing in the town if you follow the regular schedule of the tour.

The bus takes you to the Nærøydalen valley, which is the place where the fjord cruise starts, but even on the way there you can enjoy the sight of marvellous nature combined with the characteristic wooden houses often painted in red or white.

Another highlight from the bus trip is the descend down the winding path of one of Northern Europe's steepest roads, the Stalheimskleiva. The road has a one to five (20%) gradient at its steepest point, and you'll get the chance to take a good look at the fabulous scenery as the bus gets maneuvered through 13 sharp hairpin bends.

Rainbow over the Stalheimsfossen waterfall

On the way down you get to enjoy the sight of two beautiful waterfalls; the 140 meter high Sivlefossen waterfall, and the 126 meter high Stalheimsfossen waterfall. The picture above shows Stalheimsfossen waterfall where we had the pleasure of seeing a beautiful rainbow.

Once you reach the bottom of the Nærøydalen vally you'll find yourself in a small town called Gudvangen. Here you have the chance to stay the night if you'd like; right by the ferry terminal lies Gudvangen Fjordtell & Apartments, a charming hotel with a beautiful view of the Nærøyfjord (And yes, the name is a wordplay on fjord and hotel).

But even if you decide to continue on with the trip right away you'll have approximately 25 minutes to for instance check out the souvenir shop, take pictures of the viking ship by the shore or perhaps try out a local beer or a viking shot while you enjoy the view of the fjord from the restaurant.

Viking shots in the bar

A fireplace inside the main building

The main building of the Gudvangen Fjordtell seen from outside

After the brief stop in Gudvangen it is time for yet another highlight of the trip: the fjord cruise from Gudvangen to Flåm. This cruise takes you through the stunning Nærøyfjord and into another fjord called Aurlandsfjord, both part of the West Norwegian Fjords inscribed into UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2006.

Did you by the way know that the word "fjord" comes from the old norse word "fjörðr"? This word could mean to "travel over to the other side", and has the same roots as the word "fare" (as in "farewell"). While fjords in ancient times were vital trading routes for vikings connecting local villages, today the fjords serve as popular routes for tourists annually attracting millions of travellers from all over the world.

It looks idyllic when there's only one seagull in the picture. But believe me, we had way too many seagulls following our boat.

The stunning nature you can see in the fjords has led to them being described as "the best unspoiled travel destinations in the world" by the National Geographic Magazine. In addition to the beautiful surroundings you can also spot some wildlife during the cruise if you're lucky, as the fjords are home to a range of animals such as porpoises, seals and eagles. On the other hand, if you're unlucky all you'll get to see is seagulls. Loads of seagulls. You'll most definitely see seagulls whether you want to or not.

One of the characteristics of the Norwegian fjords are the surrounding steep-sided mountains, but there is a lot to the fjords that one cannot see from the surface. The fjords are said to have been formed over a span of millions of years by glacial erosion, and some fjords go down over a thousand meter below sea level. The difficult terrain has historically made it hard to reach the local settlements along the fjords, many of whom can be accessed only by boat. Until a road connection was established in1988 this was also the case for the village in the picture below called Undredal, which you'll pass along the way to Flåm. Undredal is the home to approximately 100 people and 500 goats, and is known for its traditional goat cheese called brunost (Norwegian brunost - brown cheese - is a must-try if you find yourself in Norway).

The tiny village of Undredal, nestled in between magnificent mountains

Arriving in Flåm you'll again have a break - this time approximately 40 minutes - to explore your surroundings. Flåm is really a beautiful little town, and if you have the time I would recommend staying the night before continuing your trip. Some of your options (if you decide to stay here) include going on a 3-hour kayak trip in the fjords or, if you visit during the winter, perhaps a snowshoe hiking trip. There is also a local museum dedicated to the Flåm Railway where you can learn more about its history, or you could simply climb up the nearest hill and enjoy the spectacular view of the fjord and the snow capped mountains.

You can probably spend hours just enjoying the view of the fjord in Flåm

The Flåm Railway Museum

After the break - which is the longest you get during the trip - it is time to leave the town, once again travelling by train. This time you get to ride the Flåm Railway, Flåmsbana, which was ranked as the most beautiful train ride in the world by Lonely Planet in 2014. The ride only takes about an hour, but in this short time you'll get to pass by majestic waterfalls, steep mountains and no less than 20 tunnels. The trip takes you on a steep ride from sea level up to 865 meter above sea level, and depending on the month you visit you'll even get to see loads of snow once you get close to the end stop in Myrdal.

Tourists getting on the train by Kjosfossen

The train stops one time on the way to Myrdal by Kjosfossen, a waterfall with a total fall of around 225 meter.

*spoileralert*

Here you'll see a short performance by a dancer dressed up as a huldra, which is a creature from Scandinavian folklore. The forest spirit huldra was believed to take the appearance of an incredibly beautiful young woman, and she would lure the men to follow her into the wild nature with her sweet song. However, the poor men who chose to follow her suspiciously often ended up loosing their lives, for instance by drowning in waterfalls.

Still snow in Myrdal mid-May

The last stop of the trip is Myrdal Station, a mountain railway station and junction with direct connections to both Oslo and Bergen through the Bergen Railway. From here you can either end your trip by taking the train back to your starting point or continue your way to the opposite side of where you came from. The train ride from Myrdal to Bergen is about 2 hours, and it takes approximately 4 1/2 hours to get to Oslo.

When to Travel:

The "Norway in a Nutshell" trip is extremely popular, and during high season there are swarms of tourists visiting the Norwegian fjords. If you want to avoid the crowds I would recommend arranging a trip in mid-May, as the weather already has become warmer but the tourists season has yet to fully begin. On the 17th of May you can use the opportunity to participate in Norway's largest festival - the Constitution Day. This National Day is still a relatively unknown treasure that Norway has to offer tourists, and the best day of the year to experience traditional Norwegian culture up close.

Thanks for reading!

Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions or comments.

-Anette

■ Basic Info

・Name of Trip: Norway in a Nutshell by Fjord Tours AS
・Route：Bergen - Voss - Gudvangen - Flåm - Myrdal - Bergen
*you can also choose different routes when you make your booking
・Prices:

・Rountrip from Bergen: NOK 1320
・Rountrip from Oslo: NOK 2350
・From Bergen to Oslo (or opposite) incl. the sightseeing: NOK 1770

・Official Home Page：https://www.norwaynutshell.com/

Recommended Hotels in Bergen

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Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Bergen

Thon Hotel Bristol Bergen

Det Hanseatiske
Hotel

Scandic
Ørnen

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Friday, May 20, 2016

Norway

Sightseeing in Bergen: Lunch Concert at Edvard Grieg's Home at Troldhaugen

Anette 7:25:00 AM

The house of Edvard Grieg

Edvard Grieg is one of Norway's most famous composers of classical music, with some examples of his famous works including "In The Hall Of The Mountain King", "Morning Mood", "Solveig's Song" and "Anitra's Dance". Although he passed away more than a hundred years ago his idyllic home in Troldhaugen right outside the city center of Bergen is still open for visitors from all over the world, and during the summer time you even have the opportunity to listen to live concerts every day during the summer from mid-May till late September.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

日本語あり

「フジフジの地球ドリンク〜ラジオから始まる世界のワクワク〜」のノルウェー大特集

Anette 9:51:00 PM

先日レインボータウンFm木場スタジオの番組「フジフジの地球ドリンク～ラジオから始まる世界のワクワク～」でのノルウェー大特集にスタジオゲストとして参加させて頂きました。ノルウェー大特集の内容の纏めをレインボータウンFmの公式サイトからシェアします☆

美人のさゆりさんと一緒のスタジオ写真♡

【妖精に守られた自然の王国】

ノルウェーは北欧・スウェーデンのお隣。

毎年、ノーベル平和賞の授賞式も行われる国際都市です。
氷河によってつくり出された複雑な地形フィヨルドは、世界自然遺産にも登録。北極圏のオーロラなど、ダイナミックで、美しい自然に溢れています。
これから絶好シーズンを迎えるオーロラ鑑賞。一生に一度は観てみたいけど、極寒の中で、ひたすら待つのはちょっと、、、という方にも朗報！
ノルウェー北部にあるトロムソでは、沿岸を暖流が流れているため、1月の平均気温は、なんと札幌よりも暖かいとか。
人里離れた場所に長時間かけて移動しなくても、ホテルやインフラの整った環境から、「北欧のパリ」と呼ばれる夜景とともに、オーロラが楽しめます。
海からのアプローチも可能！
最近では、"オーロラクルーズ"も人気です。
日中は、"世界一美しい航路"と称される、ロフォーテン諸島や7つの山頂が連なるセブンシスターズなどの景色を堪能。
夜はその日の天候に合わせて、ベストポイントに移動。
快適な船内で待機し、オーロラが現れたら、アナウンスしてくれます。
高揚した気持ちで外に出れば、神秘的な光のカーテンに、身体が包まれるような不思議な感覚。
アメリカやアラスカでもオーロラの鑑賞ができますが、出現時間帯は深夜から明け方。
その点、ノルウェーでは21時から０時がピークのため、オーロラ観て、乾杯して、気持ちよく就寝が可能（笑）。
翌日も朝から元気に活動できるため、旅のプランも立てやすいですね。
ちなみに、大人気ディズニー映画「アナと雪の女王」の舞台は、ノルウェー。ユニークなキャラクターで登場した妖精"オラフ"も、ノルウェーでは伝統的な名前で、かつては王様にも名づけられていたそうです。

【反射板リフレクターは、
世界で一番エコな交通安全グッズ】

リフレクターは、通常「反射板」と呼ばれ、自転車後輪部分や道路のポール、標識等にも使われ、夜間の事故防止に役立っています。
北欧諸国ではリフレクター使用の歴史が50年以上あり、子供服の多くにリフレクターが縫い付けられていたり、大人もコートやバッグにつけています。
なんと人口の５人に1人が着用！
子供だけではなく家族みんなが身に付ける心がけ。
誰もが実践できる、命を守る取り組みです。
ラジオにご出演頂いたノルウェー出身のハンセン・アネッテさんは、安全性とファッション性を兼ね備えた新しいアプローチで、オリジナルデザインのリフレクターをプロデュースしています。
ヨーロッパの安全規格に準拠して製造された、北欧生まれの反射アクセサリー！
この冬、大注目です
(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))
情報提供・写真:ノルディックオーロラデザイン
★商品情報はコチラ
https://nordlys.stores.jp

Monday, September 28, 2015

日本語あり

"Moomin Story" Scandinavian Fair at Matsuya Ginza 松屋銀座北欧フェア

Anette 11:50:00 PM

Matsuya Ginza has a history going back to 1869, and as well as being the first department store in Ginza it is one of the leading department stores in Tokyo.
今年も松屋銀座で北欧フェアが開催されましたので、友達と一緒に見に行きました。北欧各国のキャラクターやグッズもあり、北欧出身の私にとっても楽しいイベントでした。

Moon Story & Scandinavia Fair at Matsuya Ginza

A couple of times a year Matsuya Ginza is having a Scandinavian Fair (北欧フェア) where people can come to the exhibition area on the 7th floor and check out various Scandinavian design and products. This time the main character of the fair was the Finnish character Moomin, and the fair was held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the first Moomin publication. The fair included a Moomin exhibition titled "Moomin! Moomin Story". For those who aren't familiar with this character it is a white troll from the books by Finnish-Swedish author Tove Jansson, and this character is extremely popular in Japan.

A Moomin cafe at the Scandinavian Fair

今回はフィンランドの有名なキャラクターであるムーミンの誕生70周年を記念してこのイベントは開催され、ムーミンの商品や芸術が沢山ありました。日本ではムーミンがフィンランドの作品として知られていますが、ムーミンを作成した作家のご両親は二人ともスウェーデン出身であることをご存知ですか。トーベ・ヤンソン自身はフィンランドで生まれましたが、ムーミンの原本はフィンランド語ではなく、スェーデン語で書かれています。北欧の言語はノルウェー語、スウェーデン語、デンマーク語、フィンランド語があります。フィンランド語のみ他の北欧の言語と全く異なる言語ですが、その他の北欧の言語は
ひとつの言語の方言のようにどれも非常に似ており共通点も多くあります。そのおかげでスウェーデン語で書かれた原本をノルウェー人の私でもそのまま読むことができます。

Mugs with Moomin drawings

The Norwegian cartoon character "Kubbe" (which means "log" in Norwegian) was also represented at the Scandinavian Fair along with other characters from the Scandinavian countries. As I have written about before a lot of Japanese people seem to enjoy so-called yurukyara (ゆるキャラ) mascots, and for the moment it seems that Kubbe is the character that best represents Norway in the Japanese market.

今回の北欧フェアではノルウェーの可愛いキャラクター「キュッパ」も見かけました。「キュッパ」はノルウェー語で「丸太」の意味があります。最近は日本でも少し人気を集めているようですね。

Kubbe in Tokyo

A lot of different sellers were showing of their products at the Scandinavian Fair. My friends Chiaki and Mayumi also had a booth at the fair with their store Blancway, and as usual they participated with various products from Scandinavia with the main focus on Swedish tea.

北欧フェアで様々なお店が出店されていたのですが、そのなかで普段は代官山でBlancwayというお店を運営している友人のブースもありました。Blancwayは様々な北欧商品を販売していますが、メインとして高級のスウェーデン紅茶で参加されています。

Booth at the Scandinavian Fair

We are also having a small collaborating with my small project selling safety reflectors with traditional Norwegian design under the brand name Nordlys, which means Northern Lights in Norwegian. Safety reflectors increase visibility in the dark, and make it possible for a car driver to spot you at 300 meters distance and even more, while the distance is only maximum 100 meters.
そこで自分がプロデュースしている交通安全の反射板リフレクターもBlancwayとのコラボで販売しています。まだ規模が小さいですが、おしゃれなノルウェーデザインで暗いところで歩いてても３００メートル先から車に認識されるように作られています。そのブランド名Nordlysはノルウェー語やデンマーク語でオーロラ（直訳で「北の光」）の意味で、ロゴも実際にオーロラの形の模様で描かれています。

At Blancway's booth

The project is still very small, but I hope that we’ll be able to increase pedestrian safety at the same time as promoting Norwegian design in Japan.
規模はまだ小さいですが、おしゃれな北欧デザインと共にみんなさんの交通安全をアップさせることができれば幸いです。

The first part of the Scandinavian Fair was held from 17. September until the 23. September. While the Moomin Exhibition is over the general Scandinavian Fair is still going on until 5th October. For the latter part of the Scandinavian Fair my friends are running a cafe called Stockholm Cafe where they also are displaying their items, so for people who might be interested please feel free to check it out.
ムーミンの展覧会は９月１７日から９月２３日まで開催されましたが、北欧フェアは１０月５日まで開催されています。北欧フェア後半にはBlancwayが「ストックホルム・カフェ」を運営していますので、興味がある方は是非お越しください。