Most pleasant introduction to visit Norway’s culture featuring our guest Kristin Skjefstad Edibe

Welcoming introduction to visit Norway’s past and present with our guest Kristin Skjefstad Edibe : Although modern Norway has only existed for 200 years, the story of the Nordic lands is a long one. From the first settlers of this former glacial land to the modern era of engineering and technology, there's so much to learn. The land now known as Norway emerged from the last Ice Age thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream. The glacial land became habitable from around 12,000 BC. The long coastline and good conditions for sealing, fishing and hunting attracted people in numbers. Although it is believed that people arrived earlier, the oldest human skeleton found in Norway was carbon dated to 6,600 BC. Find more information about the subject here : Kristin Skjefstad Edibe.

The Oslo region: the Norwegian capital is full of surprises. It was named European Green Capital in 2019. A cutting-edge food scene, new and funky neighbourhoods, a fully-packed event calendar, and several brand-new museums and attractions are just a few teasers of what you can expect. Surrounded by the Oslofjord and deep forests, you can easily combine urban city life with nature-based fun like cycling, skiing at some of Norway´s top ski resorts and trips to nearby regions of Østfold and Vestfold, with charming towns such as Fredrikstad and Tønsberg dotted along the coast.

Norway is becoming a hotspot for fabulous restaurants and food producers, all giving you world-class gastronomic experiences: If you are looking for a top-class international restaurant, then Maaemo in Oslo is the place for you! In 2018, the restaurant was ranked the world's 35th best restaurant. Maaemo is the first restaurant in Norway to earn three stars in the Michelin guide. As the only restaurant with two stars in the Michelin guide for 2022, the gourmet establishment RE-NAA is another jewel. It is located in Stavanger, along the west coast of Norway. Choose from a menu inspired by the local landscape that will give you a unique culinary experience. Under, with its one star, put Southern Norway on the Michelin map in 2020. Located in Lindesnes, the spectacular underwater restaurant is the world's largest of its kind. Experience the ocean as you dine, sitting five and a half meters below sea level. It's a once in a lifetime view!

Bergen in Norway is home to KODE. Ride the scenic and iconic Bergen Railway line across the country to the cultural hub of Bergen, and explore the city's KODE Art Museums and Composer Homes, which hosts one of the biggest collections of art, arts and crafts, design, and music in the Nordic countries. Almost 50,000 pieces are exhibited throughout the four museum buildings KODE 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the city center of Bergen, and in the homes of the famous musicians and composers Ole Bull, Harald Sæverud, and Edvard Grieg. Head straight to KODE 3 if you want to see Jealousy and The Woman in Three Stages by Edvard Munch. In KODE 1 and KODE 2 you’ll find temporary exhibitions featuring artists ranging from Paul Cézanne, Nikolai Astrup, and Paul McCarthy, as well as contemporary Norwegian artists. KODE 4 is hosting a take-over program with artists and students from the Bergen area.

Norwegian design is part of the minimal, functional, and aesthetic Scandinavian design which is a major force in furniture and interiors. Scandinavian design first emerged as a common term in the 1950s, when designers from Norway and the neighbouring countries toured the world with their products, characterised by minimalism and functionality. Norwegians haven’t perhaps been as skilled or eager as our Swedish and Danish neighbours in promoting our post World War II-era design icons. But this could be seen as an advantage: the new generation of designers are now able to express themselves more freely, without having to constantly live up to a legacy. Already, many are gaining international recognition. They work with multiple formats, but the common thread is the willingness to experiment and take risks. The design scene in Norway has really been blooming in the 21st century with brands like brands like Fjordfiesta, Eikund and Hjelle.

In Norway, climbing mountains feels like the most natural thing to do — so why shouldn’t this also apply to buildings? The Norwegian nature is free for everyone to walk in, and The Oslo Opera House, which opened in 2008, was built as an extension to this idea. Usually, you are likely to be arrested if you walk on rooftops. This new building in the very epicentre of the capital of Norway offers subtle variations in the structure of the marble-embellished roof signed by Norwegian artists Kristian Blystad, Kalle Grude and Jorunn Sannes. It is truly a beautiful surface meant to be stepped on. Under your feet there are three highly differently designed scenes, a myriad of public rooms and halls to explore, and a vibrant workplace for more than 600 opera and ballet professionals. This structure made for walking also offers an unexpectedly cool sit-down experience. The innovative physique of the Opera House with its marble-covered roof will unveil surprisingly different angles of the city you have come to visit.

The most popular sports in Norway are Football, Cross-country skiing, Biathlon, Ice hockey, and Alpine skiing. Cross-country skiing is de facto the national sport of Norway. Norway has some of the best athletes in the world for both Cross-country skiing, Biathlon and Alpine skiing, with the national team often being very successful in those sports.