Norwegian scenery is once again flashing across the silver screen, this time in the new James Bond film “No Time to Die” that’s finally been released after a lengthy Corona-related delay. A frozen lake along with coastal and forest scenes all play a role, after location shooting from the hills around Oslo to a highway […]
Debate venue made some news itself
August 18, 2021
When Norway’s top politicians gathered on a hilltop in Arendal for their first major pre-election debate earlier this week, the setting was perhaps unwittingly symbolic. Called Fløyheia, the site has raised plenty of debate itself in recent years, because of budget overruns on construction of a fancy glass elevator built to help the politicians and […]
Travel restrictions ease around EU
July 1, 2021
Now even Norwegians who are fully vaccinated, or already been sick with the Corona virus, can travel around most of Europe much more simply. Norway’s strict rules are being harmonized with those of the EU, which lists far more of its member nations as “green” than Norway has. EU Corona certificates that took effect July […]
Stavanger cuts back on cruising
March 25, 2021
Tourism-related businesses demonstrated in downtown Stavanger this week against the city’s decision to limit the number of cruiseships to 200 a year. They fear large revenue losses, while many local residents won’t miss the huge vessels at all. “Residents have for a long time been very dissatisfied that huge floating residential buildings come sailing in […]
Exploring the new and old Drammen
October 16, 2020
Tell your Norwegian friends you’re going on a mini-holiday in Drammen during these Corona times of careful or even restricted travel, and they’ll most likely roll their eyes. Also likely: They don’t know what they’re missing, because Drammen is a place off Norway’s tourism radar and where out-of towners seldom think to stop and stay. […]
Northerners defend Nordland gateway
October 13, 2020
An overwhelming majority of Norwegians have defended a symbolic gateway to Northern Norway that stands just north of the Nordland county line. They firmly reject a local university lecturer’s proposal that it be torn down because he thinks it’s artificial and unnecessarily divides the country from the south. Fully 83 percent of nearly 50,000 votes […]
Long lines to recharge car batteries
August 25, 2020
When Norwegians hit the road this summer during Corona-induced holidays in the homeland, many of them were driving their electric cars. Many of them also found themselves stuck in line lines waiting to recharge their cars’ batteries. A new survey by the electric car association in Norway, where electric cars are common, found that fully […]
Solberg strives to avoid shutdown
August 12, 2020
Prime Minister Erna Solberg issued a nationwide appeal on Wednesday for everyone in Norway to follow Corona containment rules, in order to avoid a new shutdown. Rising infection levels have set off alarms at the highest levels of government, which is now also warning against all travel abroad. Solberg and Health Minister Bent Høie also […]
Cruiseships make a cautious comeback
July 31, 2020
A few cruiseships are venturing back into Norwegian harbours, to a mixed welcome. While some local officials are glad to see them return, others warn that the Corona crisis is far from over and many passengers won’t be allowed to go ashore. “We’re very glad the ships are now coming,” Solrunn Hjelleflat, chief executive of […]
Extra ferry may end Helgeland chaos
July 13, 2020
Embarrassed politicians in Nordland County finally came up with the millions needed to charter in an extra ferry this week, after several days of kilometer-long lines of cars trying to travel among the islands of the Helgeland coast. Officials had hoped Norwegian tourists would make up for the lack of foreign tourists in Norway, but […]
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