Norway

Come with me to Trondheim

/ siljenesheim / Leave a comment

I just realized I have so much catching up to do on this blog. My iPhoto galleries are just flooding with pictures I was supposed to publish here this summer (woops). So you just have to bear with me while I update you on my life for the last 6 months.

One of my flat mates, Gina, is from Trondheim, Norway. Her birthday is in the end of July, so this summer Sandra and I went to her city to celebrate her birthday!


It would take me about 8 hours to drive (Norway is all about mountains you know), but it only takes me 45 minutes by fly there, the tickets were reasonably priced and I had never been there before so I thought “Why not?”

Reunion time
Happy flatmates
Blessed with nice weather
Flatmate selfie
Kristiansten Fortress
Kristiansten Fortress
My beautiful country
Kristiansten Fortress
What a view!

 

Considering that I had never been there before, we decided to go on an adventure and explore almost every corner of the city. In Bergen we are ‘blessed’ with over 200 days of rain a year, so I was pleased that the rain did not follow me this time (knock on wood)!

Trondheim
Old Town Bridge
View from Old Town Bridge
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral
Nidaros Cathedral
Old Tower Bridge
Solsiden = The Sunny Side
Old Town Bridge
Nidaros Cathedral

How beautiful is this city really? I think I liked it so much I have already decided to do my Masters degree there, even though I do not know if they have a program I would like to do my Masters in (woops). I will figure something out, as long as I get to live in this city once in my life I am satisfied.

Until next time,
Silje x

I have to show you Friendsgiving

/ siljenesheim / 1 Comment

Happy Sunday! I can actually say this with confidence considering that I did not go out last night which really makes today so much better.

This blog has shown you plenty of Norwegian traditions that my family and I do at certain occasions such as Christmas and Easter. It is not so odd considering that I am Norwegian. Ever since first year of uni, Chelsea has been one of my closest friends and she is from Canada. Her other Norwegian friends and I have made her try a lot of our Norwegian traditions, customs and not least our food.

A couple of months ago, in November, we were invited to ‘Friendsgiving’ at her place. I know, right? ‘Friendsgiving’? What is that?

Very accurate description

(Description from Urban Dictionary)

Sandra and I brought wine while Chelsea and her flatmates was responsible for the food. I have never done a Thanksgiving dinner before, so my expectations were only from movies and TV series, but Chelsea did not let me down!

How amazing is this?!
And this was only for 5 people (wops)

We had turkey, two (!) different stuffings, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, green beans and vegetables! I do not know why other countries have not adapted to this kind of meal. Chelsea, if you read this, I am inviting myself over for ‘Friendsgiving’ this year as well.

Until next time,
Silje x

Come with me to Gingerbread Town

/ siljenesheim / Leave a comment

I know it is February, but I have not had the time to take you to Bergen this past Christmas. So come with me to Gingerbread Town, an actual town (!!) You might not believe me when saying this, but it is. They even have the Eiffel Tower and The London Eye there. The only downside is that you are not allowed to live there. In Bergen, every year we have an exhibition called ‘Gingerbread Town’ which consists of buildings, transportation vehicles and even people made out of gingerbread.

Gingerbread Town, Bergen

The contributions are made by kindergartens, schools and families in the city of Bergen. It is open every year in all of December and has become a tradition for me to visit every Christmas when I am at home. This year I went with Kristin, whom I study with in London, because she is from Bergen as well!

The house from Up!
Parts of the city
A church
Elsa from Frozen and her castle
It is all gingerbread!
The Flower Pavilion in Bergen

Watch this video below I found on Twitter, and you will totally understand why this has to be a tradition for anyone living in Bergen (or visiting)!

If you ever go to Bergen during Christmas, a visit to the world’s biggest Gingerbread Town is mandatory. You will not regret it, and your Christmas mood will increase by at least 100%. I promise!
Until next time,
Silje x

2016. Woah.

/ siljenesheim / 1 Comment

So, guess we have not seen each other since May 2015. I am still in London, still attending uni (knock on wood) and still enjoying life in the big city. And it is now 2016, can you believe it? I have been here for a year and a half already!

Considering that this blog was created due to a uni assignment, I sort of forgot all about it during summer holidays last year and when I came back to uni I did not have the time (or I was just lazy) to pick it up again.

But now is the time (according to my module teacher at least) to wipe the dust off this old friend of us called London by Silje, so we are officially back on track. Now I “just” need to plan what to tell you about, where to take you and what to show you. It is going to require a fair share of planning, so bear with me while I try my best.

Until next time,
S x

Come with me to our summer house!

/ siljenesheim / Leave a comment

Hi from Norway!

A couple of days ago, Amalie and I joined my family on a day trip to our summer house to check on the boat, the cabin and just enjoy a sunny day in Bergen. You know it is summer when Norwegians start to set their boats to sea!

 

Our summer house is based on an island (yep, only accessible by boat) about 1,5 hour from Bergen City. It is so nice to get away from the city and just enjoy the sea, sun and some time off. I try to turn my phone off while I am there as well, just to be able to relax the most.

Our guest house on the left there.
Guest house + cabin
Fell asleep since I just finished my night shift at work.
Cozy fireplace
Amalie and I
My little brother and my step dad
Selfie time
Bergen is beautiful by sea

Hopefully I will get to spend some time here during my summer break from Uni. I am now working close to full time, but I have to get a weekend off so that I can relax here again.

Until next time,
Silje

200 (7)

Norway bound, again.

/ siljenesheim / Leave a comment

Yesterday I left London for Norway (again), but this time for a while longer than before. I am now going to spend my entire summer, from May until September, in Norway. Right now it feels good to be back home with friends and family, but after a while I think it is going to be weird not being in London all the time.

Norway bound with Alex
Tube and train with luggage is never a good idea
Bye London!
Gatwick Express

 

Pretty sky over Gatwick
How cool is that?
So fascinated by the sky
Alex, drinks and cards. It does not get any better.

Now I am safe and sound in Bergen after an exhausting journey home. Let me just tell you that traveling with 40 kilos of luggage is not easy, especially not on the tube and by train. Thank God it is going to be a while before I do that again.

Until next time,
Silje
200 (7)