מסקנה שבדיה/נורווגיה

We spent the last few days on our Scandinavia trip in southern Norway. The weather was changeable as always and about 3 degrees below the comfort point. Or rather below my comfort point.

Yes, actually I can't tell you much spectacular. We somehow lived a lot in the day, drove a little further every day in small stages, used the sun as soon as it fought its way through the cloud cover, swam in the lake a few times, went on small hikes and Oslo, as well as a nice fishing village (Smogen) visited.

And even if there are no big highlights to report, we have enjoyed the last few days very much. When you've been on the road for so long, a break from powerful impressions is really good. Sounds funny, but that's how it is. From time to time the mind needs a little time to process what has been seen.

And yet I want to be honest and say that David and I are a bit tired of Scandinavia at the moment. Maybe it's the weather, the cool landscape, not enough variety or maybe it's just the thought of us both sitting in our camp chair with a glass of wine, in pleasant, warm temperatures and a southerly breeze and looking at the sea. Maybe the rainforest or the coconuts are missing. Maybe it's just time to move on.

My personal conclusion about Sweden and Norway is: beautiful, but not necessarily made for me. Or I'm not made for this, either way.

That sounds a bit negative at first, but it's not supposed to be. I enjoyed my time here in Scandinavia and am glad to have been here. The freedom that the country offers when traveling by campervan is truly brilliant. Being able to camp almost anywhere, feeling like having a lake to yourself, mountains, fjords, beautiful nature. We were allowed to experience and enjoy all of this for the last 5 or 6 weeks (guys, I don't know myself).

I thought it was all nice and yet I have to say that I don't have the desire to come back so soon. I can't tell you exactly why that is. The weather definitely plays a big role for me. In addition, the people seemed less open than in the countries we had already visited. And the landscape? Beautiful, but very much the same.

I found Sweden incredibly cute and likeable. Red wooden houses, midsummer nights and Bullerbü.

I found the landscape in Norway to be very powerful and cool with gigantic views of fjords, surrounded by a great rocky landscape. I always liked the view from above over the fjord. Also, the hike to Preikestolen was really awesome.

As already mentioned, I can only give my opinion on the south of the two countries.

Unfortunately, waking up and falling asleep in the rain was not uncommon and I rarely had a day when I wasn't cold at all. And now someone is telling me that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. As soon as you are somehow aligned with the weather every day, what you are with our camper, then you will eventually have enough as a shiver. For me, that's a big downside in the long run. Many don't mind that, unfortunately I do.

I often had to think back to New Zealand here and sometimes I really have a little longing for it. New Zealand just enchanted me. Sometimes I missed this variety here. However, I have always tried to focus my perception on the now.

Certainly the longing was strengthened by our regular work on our film about the countries we have traveled to so far. We're hard at work and I'm really looking forward to showing you the film.

So Sweden and Norway, I'll say goodbye for now and I'm glad to have been here. In a normal 3-week vacation I would not have dared to come here, after all you are aware of the climate in the north.

But yes, one thing could rather lead me on a trip to Scandinavia again. Scandinavia, maybe we'll see each other again in winter. Yes, Olle, complains all the time about the cold temperatures, but wants to go to Scandinavia in winter.

Yes, but what do you think of me. If in winter, then right. Cozy accommodation with a stove, a sleigh ride with reindeer and hopefully lots of Northern Lights.

We spent the last 2 days in Sweden near Gothenburg. This morning the alarm clock rang at a really inhuman time. At 3 a.m. we took the ferry from Gothenburg to Frederikshavn (Denmark). The only consolation for the short night was the really nice evening in Gothenburg. Somehow we ended up back in the cinema, once again.

In addition, I was very happy to continue sleeping on the ferry. One thing David and I are particularly good at is falling asleep anywhere.

Now we are on our way across Germany again.

We make a short detour in Freiburg so as not to miss the wedding of David and Louisa. So the globetrotters have everything under control again when it comes to planning. Well, as always, we work with the same tactics. Not having an exact plan is also a plan and lo and behold, everything fits!

So we were able to integrate the wedding of the two into our trip, which we are very happy about!

After that we will continue straight away, because we don't have enough yet.

We want a little more...

And then I just say: "eeeehhh, off to the south !!"