Norway - 11.05.2022

For me, the transition from Chile to Norway was quite a big one. A lot of things are different. However, so far I have only really gotten to know the area around Bergen. Today I am finally starting my cycling journey through Scandinavia, unfortunately a little later than planned. It is crazy how much it drives me crazy when I do not experience something new every day or keep moving on. I have a whole year off, which sounds like such a long time, yet time is passing so quickly. Every unused day somehow feels like a lost day, almost like a wasted opportunity. But isn’t it the same in everyday life, that we should make every single day something special? That we shouldn’t live from highlight to highlight, from weekend to weekend, from holiday to holiday, from one workday ending to the next? During this sabbatical, I am often reminded that life sometimes has something else planned than what we originally imagined. For me, it is always a challenge not to let my emotional state be influenced by external circumstances. That is definitely something I still have to work on. But now, back to Norway and what I have seen so far. What I think is absolutely amazing is the right of public access that exists here. It means that you are allowed to pitch your tent almost anywhere, even on private land, of course you should ask the owner if it is private property, and it is only prohibited in drinking water areas. By now, it stays light for so long that you can still start a hike with your tent at 6 pm. You simply walk for as long as you want until you find a beautiful spot to camp for the night. Isn’t that incredible? It is perfect for little micro-adventures right from your doorstep or after a short drive. And people here leave almost no rubbish in nature, and in general everyone seems to be incredibly sporty. The landscape around Bergen is shaped by fjords and rugged mountains. It is very impressive, but for me the old forests are missing. The forests are more common further inland in Scandinavia, so I will definitely be cycling through plenty of forests in the coming weeks. Speaking of forests, I have started a fundraising campaign. The collected donations will go to WWF Germany and will support the protection of existing forests as well as the growth of new ones. My goal is to cycle 2,000 km during the coming month and collect 50 cents for every kilometre ridden. Support me in making a small contribution to protecting our forests. You can follow my progress on Instagram @einjahrzewirad. Thank you! What else I can say about Norway so far is that saunas are done differently here compared to Germany. There are not really large sauna facilities like we have at home, and there is not always a relaxation room either. Instead, there is simply the sauna and the sea to cool down in afterwards. People also go into the sauna wearing swimwear, not naked like in Germany. Fridays are taco days and basically every Norwegian eats tacos on Fridays. It is very tasty, but I would never have associated tacos with Norway. Norway is quite progressive and modern, but it also has its problems, or rather, it does not seem to be in a hurry when it comes to delivering packages quickly. Everyone here speaks really good English. No matter who you talk to. That makes it incredibly easy to find your way around. I am now looking forward to all the new impressions and experiences that are waiting for me on my cycling journey.