Sharing Our Corner of Norway

Since my mom's visit, we have had two more visitors - Jeff's sister, Jamie, and her friend Jen!  We already overcame our first-time-hosting-in-a-foreign-country jitters so we were ready to enjoy seeing our little corner of Norway discovered by new eyes again.  Here are a few highlights that we think every visitor should experience because a) they are close to Stavanger; b) they include ferries, tunnels, and breathtaking scenery and c) we don't mind doing them over and over because they are so fun!

First and foremost, we love showing off Stavanger (1).   Jeff and I laugh that we could be ambassadors for this small city we now call home.  What's not to enjoy? Drinks on the harbor. Walking along the cobblestone streets. Window shopping (take it from me, don't come to Norway to actually shop). Watching the fishermen sell their day's catch right off the boats.  This town is so different from any other that we (or those we know) have lived so we enjoy soaking it in.  Jen and Jamie were here on May 17th so the town was especially alive with the holiday's festivities.  We even had our picture taken with a lovely Norwegian in her bunad.

A visit wouldn't be complete without a scenic drive, and one of our favorite destinations is Byrkjedal (2), a candle factory amid the mountains.  On the way is the hike to Manafossen (3) and, if you're lucky, a little lamb friend to pet and *almost* take home with you.  

Last but not least, Preikestolen (4).  The last time we hiked Preikestolen, there was snow on the ground so this time it was like a completely different hike.  I thought I knew what to expect when we got to the top though, having seen it before. But, like Jen and Jamie, I couldn't look away. 

It's weird how something can go from foreign to familiar in such a short time.  I'm glad for the familiarity but sharing our little corner of Norway just reminds me of why I love it in the first place. So, past and future visitors - thank you for coming!