Norwegian Eid Break

During the Spring 2023 semester, my university had two vacation breaks scheduled; Spring Break was March 10-18 while the Eid Break was April 19-29. For Spring Break, I decided to travel to the Azores in March because the weather would be favorable, and I would be able to beat the summer tourism season, so that vacation was easily decided. For the Eid Break, I was originally thinking about visiting Indonesia. However, I then remembered that Indonesia is an Islamic country, and during Eid, many Muslims travel to be with their family, so I was unsure how this would affect the operations in the country. Thus, I opted to be prudent and not travel to any Islamic countries for the Eid Break.

Where then should I go? Looking at Google Maps, I became a digital cartographer and scanned the world to determine the destination of my second spring journey.

Iran? Can’t. Jordan? Nope. Egypt? Nope. Romania? Meh. Latvia? I didn’t realize that Latvia was a real country. Doesn’t the metal-suited Marvel villain Dr. Doom rule the country? After a quick Google search, I clarified that Dr. Doom is the ruler of the made-up country of Latveria, not Latvia. But, honestly, Latveria sounds more interesting.

What about Norway? That might be a possibility. I then checked Google to see what the weather was like in Norway during April. At the time of my intended travels, Norway would be on the cusp of winter and spring, and this seasonal flux was appealing to me because I spent the first four decades of my life in the American Midwest and was accustomed to four distinct seasons. After moving to Qatar, for the past six years, I have not properly experienced three of the four seasons (fall, winter, and spring). My life here has been one long desert summer which oscillates between hellishly hot for nine months of the year to disarmingly temperate for the other three. So, the enchanting prospect of once again witnessing snow melt, river levels rise, and the leaves on trees burst forth, stirred a sense of delight within me. I envisioned myself in layers of clothing, adorned in a winter jacket, and tramping the country in hiking boots; all dormant artifacts tucked away in my closet in Qatar. Thus, it was decided: Norway would be my destination for the Eid Break!

Following my trip to the Azores which I cut short (see my previous blog post), I have been more mindful of my health and wellness, so I was feeling good about my travels prior to my departure. Still, there was one issue that was nagging me: my passport which was set to expire in October. Why was this a problem? Because some countries require six months of validity on a passport for the holder to be allowed entry into the country. Did this apply to Norway? Dunno. I should probably look this information up.

When I did search Google for this entry information, I was eventually able to discern that Norway required at least three months of passport validity from the scheduled time of departure from the country, so I was well under the required threshold of passport validity. However, I was unsure how much trust to put into my cursory internet search. There was always the possibility that the Hamad International Airport (HIA) check-in desk or immigrations and customs in Norway would tell me otherwise. Just to be safe, I only booked my Airbnb stays for the first two destinations in Norway in case I was denied access because of my passport issue.

Did my passport end up causing me problems at the start of my trip? Not really. At HIA, I experienced a slight delay because the self check-in kiosk flagged my passport. A check-in attendant then came to look at it, investigated the entry requirements for Norway, and printed out my boarding pass. At immigrations and customs in Norway, I experienced a much longer delay related to my passport. However, this was because I had to queue up with all the non-Norwegian, non-EU passport holders. In my line were passport holders from South Asia seeking entry on work visas, and the immigration officers had to scrutinize their paperwork much longer than a simple American passport.

After about an hour, when it was my turn, the immigration officer looked at my passport with its faded navy-blue cover, flipped through its pages cluttered with one decade of travel stamps, and then asked me, “How long will you be in Norway?”

Ten days, I answered.

Stamp.

After less than three minutes of scrutiny, I was admitted into Norway.

The first two days of my Norway vacation were spent in Oslo. From the airport, it was very easy to travel to the city using the Flytoget express train. From the Oslo Central train station, it was a 10-minute walk to my Airbnb. A very friendly older woman helped me check into a tiny one-bedroom studio. Still, it was cheap, had good WIFI, and contained a basic kitchen. The latter amenity was important to me because I wanted to prepare low sodium heart healthy meals for myself and avoid eating out more than once per day. Also, Norway was supposedly an expensive country.

How expensive is Norway? During my first day in the country, I ate at a nearby Thai restaurant. I ordered Thai red curry with salmon, white rice, and jasmine tea. The bill came to roughly 300 Norwegian krones (KR), which is roughly 100 Qatari riyals (QR), which is roughly 27 American dollars (US). This seemed like twice the price I would pay for an order of curry in both Qatar and the US. However, it was a large portion of high-quality food that I was able to take away and eat for a second meal the next day. Compared to my time in Switzerland, the Norwegian prices tilted towards the expensive side of the scale but were still do-able. Though Norway is a little pricey, I soon discovered that it contained the trifecta of fundamentals that I look for when visiting a country.

The first fundamental is a rich, unique history. Norway is the home of Viking culture—warriors who navigated uncharted waters of conquest and exploration and who worshipped old gods such as Odin, Freya, and Thor. The Vikings were the scourge of Europe for many centuries before finally converting to Christianity in 900 ADE. A distinct example of the Viking and Christian influences intermingling are the stave churches in Norway. The construction of these churches drew upon the shipbuilding techniques refined by the Vikings, showcasing their skill and ingenuity in adapting nautical craftsmanship to the art of building on land.

The second fundamental that I look for when travelling is abundant nature. Norway contains majestic fjords, soaring mountains, pristine glaciers, expansive forests, serene lakes, meandering rivers, picturesque coastal cliffs, and the Northern Lights. (Unfortunately, I didn’t arrive early enough in the year or travel far enough north in the country to really experience the Northern Lights.) As soon as I set foot in Oslo, I could breathe the clean spring air and feel it stimulate me to walk and explore. During my visit, there was sunlight from 6am to 9pm, so there was ample time for activity. Throughout Oslo, I saw people walking, pushing prams with bundled toddlers, commuting on bicycles, and riding e-scooters. It was quite evident that many Norwegians partook in year-round activity, and their appearances reminded me of the outdoorsy Americans in Colorado.

Finally, when traveling, I always seek out a third fundamental: creative modern art and design. Norway encompasses this beautifully through its fusion of Scandinavian aesthetics, contemporary architecture, intricate craftsmanship, and reverence for nature. During my time in central Oslo, I had the opportunity to ascend the iconic Oslo Opera House, immerse myself in the captivating displays of the Museum of Modern Art, gaze upon Edvard Munch’s iconic “The Scream” up-close, delve into the world of Norwegian products at local shops, and even visit a record shop dedicated to Norwegian death metal. I was able to appreciate a varied array of the cultural experiences the city had to offer.

Thus, Oslo served as a satisfying gateway into the tapestry of Norwegian culture.

From Oslo, I flew to Bergen, and after a scenic bus ride, I arrived at the quaint town of Øystese. There I stayed on a tranquil apple farm and explored a fjord that neighbored the area. As I ventured upward from the base of the mountain, the seasons transitioned. Spring had started at the lower areas of the mountain, melting away the snow, while the higher altitudes preserved a wintry appearance. During a boat ride along the fjord, melting snow transformed into glistening waterfalls. Amidst this captivating backdrop, I caught a fleeting glimpse of a local dolphin surfacing and then vanishing into the frigid depths.

After my relaxing stay in Øystese, I made my way back to Bergen for several days. Situated amidst mountains, Bergen has a picturesque charm and is home of iconic Bryggen wharf, a heritage site of lopsided wooden buildings, each exuding its own character. The older section of the city was built on an uphill slant and is lined with cobblestone streets, which I had to ascend and descend from my Airbnb as I explored the city during my stay.

As my trip neared its conclusion, I boarded a flight back to Oslo, where I would spend my final days in Norway. This time, I chose to stay near the multicultural Gronland neighborhood, which offered a plethora of ethnic restaurants. You could sample Afghani, Moroccan, Indian, and Pakistani food all in one block. I spent time strolling the seedy riverwalk, walking past the graffiti adorned bars, making my way to the Mathallen Oslo food court, a culinary nexus where I enjoyed my last two dinners in the country. On the final day of my trip, I visited the Norwegian Maritime Museum and The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, squeezing two more cultural enrichment opportunities into my itinerary.

In conclusion, my trip to Norway was a pleasant break from Qatar that exceeded my expectations. From the rich history and culture of its people to the enchanting landscapes of its fjords and mountains to its vibrant cities with arresting architecture and inviting shops, I found my brief time in the country to be physically and mentally satiating, leaving me with a sense of fulfillment and a new standard for future travels.

The following are pictures from my Norwegian Eid Break.