Norway

Norway (Kongeriket Norge, Kongeriket Noreg)

Location : Northern Europe
Capital: Oslo
Language: Norwegian
Population: 5,367,580 million
Total Area: 385,252 km2
Currency: The Norwegian Króne
Annual average liquor consumption per capita: 7.5 liters per year
Annual Beer Consumption Per Capita: 56 liters per year
The most popular drink: Akevitt containing beverages – best enjoyed with our Norway shot glass souvenirs

Credits: WatchMojo

The Country

Norwegians are characterized by their willingness to live in contradiction.  For example, outsiders notice it in many aspects of Norwegian life.  Governmental structure follows a system of Constitutional monarchy with Parliamentary democracy.

Norwegians have an immense national pride and will be very offended if you mix them up with Swedes. However, many cross the border to do their grocery shopping in Sweden.

They can grocery shop Monday through Saturday at a supermarket. However, on Sundays, only at a gas station or kiosk or across the border.  They are simultaneously one of the largest exporters of oil and have the highest prices on petrol at home.

The People

Oslo is a hub of Norwegian banking and maritime industries.  It also holds a questionable honor of being the world’s most expensive city.

That, however, does not deter its population from growing at one of the fastest rates in Europe of 2% annually, mostly by immigration, now accounting for more than 25% of residents.  Norway is recognized as one of the rainiest part of the continent.

The weather can change in just seconds, and in one day, I have experienced a mind-boggling midnight sun, then pouring rain, and immediately following that a midnight rainbow basked the town.

What To Do:

Drinking

Norwegians have long associated drinking with religion.  Olaf Triggvason who was the King of Norway from 995-1000, according to the sagas, converted Vikings to Christianity by getting people drunk and burning their houses down if they dared to refuse.

Two of the Norwegian drinking customs that I truly enjoyed are vorspiels and nachspiels.  For example, vorspiel is when you get drunk at someone’s house before going to a bar and nachspiel is when you continue drinking in someone’s house after going to a bar.

Both can and do happen on the same evening.  For example, very low alcohol content beer that tastes like soda can be purchased at a supermarket, but for anything stronger, Norwegians are forced to shop at Vinmonopolet.

Therefore, it is a government owned monopoly with a license to sell alcohol.

Outdoors

Norwegians are avid outdoorsmen and cabin owners.  While some cabins have been renovated and are equipped with modern luxuries such as a coffeemaker, refrigerator and running water, I wanted to stay in one that has been passed from generation to generation.

However, it was a decision I later questioned.  My cabin had tiny rooms filled with near antique furniture.  It was easy to imagine ugly trolls messing around after sun set turning brown moldy furniture into their playground.

In fact, after having some alcohol to warm myself up after a “warm” summer day, I could swear that my tea kettle itself was a troll in disguise making very strange swearing noises at having to perform its duties.

Interesting Things About Norway

-According to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), Norway is the best country in the world to live in.
-Even though it is one of the largest countries in Europe, Norway has a population of just 5 million.

Driving

Driving in Norway outside of the city to explore its extensive coastline is a deceiving experience.  Everything takes longer than one would expect. Domesticated animals and roads carved into the mountains in Fjord religion make for very slow drives.

Therefore, speeding fines that are higher than punishment for heroin usage also take away all of the desire to speed.

Norway souvenirs

Moreover, Norway, with its several iconic symbols and landmarks, has always been and remains one of the most popular places to purchase souvenirs. However, among the many options of Norway-themed souvenirs, shot glasses are considered particularly and intriguing items for collecting or gifting.

Story By Marina Balzac
Special thanks to our contributors:
Adebayo Ahmed Adebola (Ilorin, Nigeria).
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