Inferring the Norwegian

All people who know me know that I'm interested in languages generally, as well as, in learning them. So whenever I'm traveling I try to pick up something of the local language, to associate it with those I already can speak to a certain extent or, at least, to get something of the structure of the language.

"HOCHSPANNUNG LEBENSGEFAHR" "HIGH VOLTAGE LIFE DANGER"

In Norway wasn't different. I made my efforts to understand a bit of the Norwegian (in Norwegian Norsk).

My first attempts we're directed to the listening since I first heard the people talking, still in the German airport, before being able to read in some sign, advertisement. Result: I totally failed! I couldn't understand a single word.

"DU STEHST/BIST HIER" "YOU ARE HERE"

Nevertheless, since I knew that Norwegian is has the same background as German I should be able to understand something from the written language. Baaaam! As soon as I landed in Trondheim I began inferring based on my German skills and it worked out pretty well.

"WARME SCHOKOLADE" "HOT CHOCOLATE"

In the shops, menus, advertisement, newspapers, food packages, etc. I could find a lot of similarities between words in Norwegian and German and in the situations when the similarity wasn't there, it was possible to infer the meaning of an certain word by the context.

"WIR WÜNSCHEN ALLE EIN GUTES NEUES JAHR" "WE WISH EVERYNOE A HAPPY NEW YEAR"

So, at the end I wasn't that disappointed for not being able to understand the spoken language. Apparently, there is the same kind of relation between Norwegian and German that we have in South America between Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish. We, Brazilian, can understand the Spanish speaking neighbors but it doesn't work the other way round.

"FUSSGÄNGERFELD" "PEDESTRIAN AREA"

The reason for that is that we have all the sounds on which the Spanish is built and many others they are not familiar with. Plus point for us! :)

"SCHWARZER KAFFEE" "BLACK COFFE"

Anyway, to speak a proper Norwegian I still had to put a lot of effort in it. since I was there only for holiday, it not going to happen any soon. For nor I have another linguistic priorities. Swahili here I come!

Cheers everyone and "tuse takk!"

Photographing the other side of Trondheim

Below you guys will find a little collection of random photographed I took while roaming around in Trondheim, Norway. They show some graffits, alternative advertisement and funny stuff.

The Norwegians are at a first glimpse very relaxed people and maybe a bit distant. But after the first first greeting word being pronounced they really friendly and helpful.

Imagine a in Germany living expat Brazilian traveling to Norway. This is how I felt. To be that far north on the globe gave the kinda "Fuck I made it this far! Baaam!" feeling.

The NO THANKS! (Nei takk!) picture.

Putting that kind of stickers at their bells people signalize they are not interested in having their post boxes filled up with advertisement, catalogs, flyers, etc.

I think this poster was related to the "Movember" mustache campaigns.

Windy, windy Trondheim.

Parking area ... for bicycles.

I baptized the next one "the suspicious grandma."

The next one is for the Star Wars fans.

"We wish you everybody a good new year."

Cheers lovely peeps!

Norway and the wooden houses

So far, two full days in Norway exploring the central part of the country and trying to make the best out of the 5 hours daylight.

With a rent car we, Anja, Frauke and I, managed to do short road trips and visit the cities Røros, Kristiansund an its surrounding islands, as well as, great landscapes along the Norwegian western coast.

The city of Røros in the county Sør-Trøndelag, not far from the border to Sweden, was famous for the mining activities and is also known as Bergstaden (the mining city).

The typical Norwegian wooden houses are also predominant here. It reminded me of the architecture I've seen in the countryside of Lithuania.

Once in Røros I had to think about my German hometown, Freiberg, for being also traditionally connected to the mining.

Through the road E39 from Trondheim we had to take the ferry between Halsa and Kanestraum to reach Kristiansund. The ferry leaves hourly and take 20 min to connect both point. Price for a car and three people 148,0 NOK (approx. 17,0 €).

Kristiansund, on the west from Trondheim, is a very pictoresc harbor city composed by a few islands.

Wether in the countryside, or at the coast, the wooden houses are the most characteristic part of Norway. Besides the Norwegian pullovers and the reindeers, of course.

At the Varde, the highest point in Kristiansund.

From Kristiansund we headed further towards the Norwegian Sea crossing small islands an villages like Averøy, Bruhagen and Kårvåg. Beautiful! More detail and a few pics in the next post.

P. S.: now sitting in the car a heading north to see prehistoric paintings on the rocks.

Cheers peeps!

Arrival in Trøndelag

Anja, Frauke and I landed safe and sound in Trondheim, in the county Sør-Trøndelag and easily got into town with the city bus from the airport in Værnes.

The trip took along the Trøndheimsfjord took half an hour and costed 130,0 NOK (15,45€)

Maybe it's important to remind that Norway is not a member of the European Union, furthermore, the local currency is not the Euro (€) but the Norwegian Kroner (NOK). Exchange ratio today1€ = 8,42 NOK.

On route to Norway

I didn't plan any further trip in Europe after being in Ireland in November but, unexpectedly, my dear friends Anja and Frauke just came up with the idea to spend New Years eve in Trondheim (Norwegian Trøndelag), Norway.

Since I haven't been to Scandinavia before and wasn't counting on visiting any part of it before I leave Europe next January it's going to be great to see the Fjords and, with some luck, the northern lights. A perfect farewell trip!

Now sitting in the bus (meinfernbus.de) and heading from Dresden to the Schönefeld airport in Berlin and from there taking the direct flight to Trondheim.

Along the way again!

And I thought I wouldn't make to Scandinavia: Norway here I go!

Oh yeah! Heading up very, very north to Norway over New Year's Eve to see the northern lights.

Destination Trondheim! There we go!

Thanks to my dear travel gals, Anja and Frauke, which came up with the idea and sorted out all details.

Now it's just to cross the fingers and hope for northern lights to show up.

Vuuuush!