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Hey barefoot walkers!
We had been thinking about going to Norway for some time, but the opportunity never came up. Before heading back to Portugal for Christmas and New Year's, we had 10 days without any plans and thought: why not drive from Germany to Norway? So we did. We took the ferry from Denmark, in Hirtshals, to Kristiansand (Norway). We rented a simple but incredible house in the middle of the forest, very comfortable and with absolute silence, interrupted only by the wind and the birds.
The house was between two lakes, and of course, we wanted to get close to the water. The day after we arrived, we took a walk to one of the lakes, which was almost entirely frozen. This was great because we didn’t get our feet wet. This lake has small islands, most of which have wooden houses perfectly integrated into the surrounding landscape. As always, we brought our thermos bottle with tea to warm us up from the -5°C temperatures and sat contemplating what nature offers us, completely free and incredible. When the sun went down, we returned home and lit the fireplace.
After a day resting at home and catching up on our work, we tried to reach the other lake. This time, we weren’t as successful. It’s always nice to be surrounded by nature, but we couldn’t get close to the water because, although we were very near, there was a huge cliff that was impossible to climb down. We went back home, knowing we would return and try another way to reach the water.
Norway is famous for its beautiful forests and is ideal for those who enjoy hiking trails. Since we were there, and after doing a bit of research, we decided to hike a trail near our house. We had to drive to the trailhead.
We arrived at the trail around 11 a.m. Funny enough, it starts at a gas station. Unlike our walks to the lakes, this trail was marked with blue points on trees or rocks, and we just had to follow them. I say “just” because there was no pre-made path or human intervention (apart from two small wooden bridges), and many times we saw the blue points and thought: “How are we supposed to get there?” It was quite challenging, and I wouldn’t recommend it with children because some parts are dangerous, and the trail is exhausting. After two hours of hiking, we stopped near a lake (this area has many lakes) and had our tea along with some leftover pizza from the previous night’s dinner. It felt amazing!
Continuing the hike, we found a map and realized we were halfway through, and going back wasn’t an option. The problem was that by 4 p.m., it would already be getting dark, and of course, we didn’t want to be in the forest after sunset. We quickened our pace, but even so, it was difficult at the end because we could no longer see the blue points guiding us to the finish. At the time, it was a bit scary, but it made us feel alive, taking us out of our comfort zone.
After 6.1 km, we reached the car, tired but with full hearts because we were doing what we love most: being surrounded by nature.
It’s true that this trip was mostly for resting and hiking. As you might remember, we still had to find the way to the water at the lake near the house.
We had two days left in Norway. We asked the landlord for the best path to the lake, and according to him, we had to follow the watercourse that flows into the lake. So we did, but we had two problems: first, the path was extremely difficult, with many slippery rocks and trees that sometimes seemed to form a wall with their branches; second, our feet got soaked. Honestly, it was our fault because we didn’t wear the proper footwear.
We were very happy to have reached the lake and enjoyed our delicious tea. That day, it wasn’t very cold, but tea always feels good. We always hike with caution, aware of our limits.
This trip showed us that you don’t need a big plan, a famous place, or to spend a lot of money to have a trip that makes you happy.
As a curiosity, during our entire time in Norway, we spent around €300, including the house and food. Here’s a tip that can help you make your trip much cheaper: if you’re traveling by car or campervan, bring food with you to avoid going to Norwegian supermarkets as much as possible, they are super expensive. Also, choose a place with attractions you like nearby. In our case, it’s being in touch with nature, but your case might be different. Now don’t tell me traveling is too expensive. Most of the time, it’s people who make trips costly, but with small tricks, you can make a big difference for your wallet.
This trip is over, it’s time to return to Portugal. Although I’m almost always away from the country where I was born and far from my family, it’s always nice to go back to where it all began.
The next year is full of new adventures, places to discover, and moments to remember later.
After all, life only makes sense when we do what truly makes us happy.
Don´t forget:
Walk barefoot. (when possible)
Carlos
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