Adventure - Lewis Carroll

"You Can" Travel.

From the archives of Monika D.

You Can.
18 June 2013 at 02:08

Did you know, you can quit your job, you can leave it all? 

You aren’t legally required to stay, it’s a social pressure and expectation, not the law, and no one is holding a gun to your head. You can sell your house, you can give up your apartment, you can even sell your vehicle, and your things that are mostly unnecessary. You can see the world on a minimum wage salary, despite the persisting myth, you do not need a high paying job. You can leave your friends (if they’re true friends they’ll forgive you, and you’ll still be friends) and make new ones on the road. You can leave your family. You love them, they love you, it'll be okay. You can depart from your hometown, your country, your culture, and everything you know. You can sacrifice. You can give up your $5.00 a cup morning coffee, you can give up air conditioning, frequent consumption of new products. You can give up eating out at restaurants and prepare affordable meals at home, and eat the leftovers too, instead of throwing them away. You can give up cable TV, Internet even. This list is endless. You can sacrifice climbing up in the hierarchy of careers. You can buck tradition and others’ expectations of you. You can triumph over your fears, by conquering your mind. You can take risks. And most of all, you can travel. 

You just don’t want it enough. You want a new degree or a well-paying job or to stay in your comfort zone more. This is fine, if it’s what your heart desires most, but please don’t envy me and tell me you can’t travel. 

You’re not in a famine, in a desert, in a third world country, with five malnourished children to feed. You probably live in a first world country. You have a roof over your head, and food on your plate. You probably own luxuries like a cellphone and a computer. You can afford the $3.00 a night guest houses of India, the $0.10 fresh baked breakfasts of Morocco, because if you can afford to live in a first world country, you can certainly afford to travel in third world countries, you can probably even afford to travel in a first world country. 

So please say to me, “I want to travel, but other things are more important to me and I’m putting them first”, not, “I’m dying to travel, but I can’t”, because I have yet to have someone say they can’t, who truly can’t. You can, however, only live once, and for me, the enrichment of the soul that comes from seeing the world is worth more than a degree that could bring me in a bigger paycheck, or material wealth, or pleasing society. Of course, you must choose for yourself, follow your heart’s truest desires, but know that you can travel, you’re only making excuses for why you can’t. 

And if it makes any difference, I have never met anyone who has quit their job, left school, given up their life at home, to see the world, and regretted it. None. Only people who have grown old and regretted never traveling, who have regretted focusing too much on money and superficial success, who have realized too late that there is so much more to living than this.

Per Person Sample Budget/Itinerary for Norway

So, since I've had some questions regarding budget...here's some info on pricing that we encountered.  I've divided it up to give you a per-person amount but will tell you that some of the prices were originally split between 4 people (groceries, lodging, taxis, etc.), so we may have a lower amount than you would if you paid solo.  Feel free to ask if you have questions!


Round Trip Tickets from NJ > Oslo in March (bought in December on SAS airline): $696

Wednesday Evening (12):  Leave US

1-Way Transport to Airport via Train/Train/Airtrain: $9/$12/included in previous = $21
Dinner at the Airport before boarding: $19*there is dinner on the plane, but our flight was near 8pm
________________________________
$40


Thursday (13): Arrival at Oslo Gardermoen Airport(early am), Visit Viking Ship Museum

24 hour Oslo transit pass bought at airport: $16
Airport Express Train to Oslo: $28* you can save money by not going Express
Viking Ship Museum: $6
Groceries at Kiwi Supermarket: $14
1 drink at Underwater Pub: $12
1 Night Lodging with AirBnB: $51
_______________________________
$127


Friday(14): Visit Opera House, Fortress, Ski Jump, Nice Dinner, Oslo Ballet

24 hour Oslo transit pass bought at Oslo S(entral Train Station): $16
Oslo Opera House Outside and Main Lobby Visit: free
Fortress Visit: free
Coffee at the Fortress Info Shop: $2
Holmenkollen Ski Jump & Museum Entrance: $21
Holmenkollen Souvenirs/Jacket (obviously varies by person): $110*you can save money by not buying souvenirs here/at all
Dinner & Sangria at San Leandro Tapas Restaurant (including 10% tip): $59
Oslo Opera House Standing Room Only Ticket to the Ballet: $17
Oslo Opera House Intermission - Glass of Wine: $14
Groceries at Kiwi Supermarket: $15
1 Night Lodging AirBnb: $51
________________________________
$305


Saturday(15): Norway in a Nutshell Tour Oslo to Bergen

Starbucks: drink $ smoothie to-go in the morning at Oslo S: $17
1 Way Norway in a Nutshell Pass from Oslo to Bergen: $250*reduce this by taking the direct train
Small Hot Chocolate on the NSB train to Myrdal: $5
Soup and Burger at Flam Cafe: $26
Taxi from Bergen Station to AirBnB including tip: $8
1 Night Lodging AirBnB: $53
________________________________
$359


Sunday(16): Wandering through Bergen (mostly eating/drinking/talking and trying to stay dry)

Footlong Sub and a soda at Subway:  $20
Hot Chocolate at a Cafe/Bakery near the Fish Market: $10
1 Night Lodging AirBnB: $53
________________________________
$83


Monday(17): Bryggen, Fish Market, Floibanen, Night Out

Groceries at Ica Supermarket: $17
Old Bryggen: free
Souvenirs at Old Bryggen: $15
Round Trip Tickets to the top of the Floibanen: $15
24 hour Bergen bus pass: $19
2 slices of Pizza and a cinnamon roll at 7-11: $10
Starbucks Drink: $8
Beer at Barefot Bar: $15
Beer at Rick's Bar: $16
2 slices of pizza at 7-11: $7*yes it was that good, we went back for more
1 Night Lodging AirBnB: $53
________________________________
$ 175


Tuesday(18):  Walking tour of Bergen

Fish Market: free
Pond Park: free
Art Row: free
Lunch and drink at Cafe Aura: $26
Night Train to Oslo: $42
Smoothie and Hot Chocolate on the Train:  $12
_______________________________
$80


Wednesday(19):  Last day in Oslo, Walk to Castle/Karl Johan, visit Vigeland Park

Starbucks drink: $8
Groceries at Rimi Supermarket: $4
Groceries at Lime Supermaket: $3
Souvenirs at Lime: $10
Vigeland Park: free
National Gallerie: free
1 Night Lodging AirBnB: $32
_______________________________
$57


Thursday(20):  Leave Oslo 

FlyToGet Train from Oslo S to Gardermoen Airport: $15
Chocolate at Duty Free: $5
Transit from Airport Airtrain/Train/Train: $21
______________________________
$41


Total for the trip per person 
(including lodging, transportation, activities, and food):  $1,963

This could easily be brought down a few hundred dollars by avoiding the Nutshell Tour (a $200 additional cost over a $50 direct ticket), and decreasing spending on souvenirs (which I calculated at over $120).  Avoiding alcohol or extra beverages at cafes (and opting to buy an extra box of instant hot cocoa from the grocery store), could also save you around $50-$100 based on this budget.  And not eating out at all and killin' it with your cooking skills alone could save you a bunch of money, too!  So it IS quite possible to visit Norway on a budget...it all depends on what your budget is.  If you're traveling in a group you can spread out the groceries and lodging costs between more people and get even more for your money.

Save up, then get out and see the world, already!

The TripRebel Manifesto!

Visiting Norway: Bergen & Oslo Firsthand!

So, I know I shared the info. that I found from others in a previous post...and now, post-trip, it's time to share the knowledge that WE gained while traveling in Norway (specifically in and between Oslo and Bergen).  In no particular order, here are some things worth knowing:


The local currency is Krone.  I don't believe that dollars or other currencies are accepted.  Credit card-readers are available at most commercial locations, but you'll need a credit/debit card with a chip.  I don't have a pin, so I still needed to sign the receipt.  Also, you'll put the tip directly into the machine at restaurants.  So calculate the total including the tip to input.

On tipping:  our local guide in Bergen informed us that people don't typically tip and that the service is considered paid for in the cost of the food.  Our Spanish server in Norway told us that 10-15% is typical.  So...I'll let you decide.  Comment below if you have more info!

Trains and buses are very clean.

Transit systems are extensive BUT not easy to navigate without assistance.
Here's a Norwegian website in English for some different transportation opportunities around Oslo.

Day 1 in Oslo around 9 am.

Trying to figure out where we're going and how to get there.

(Norwegian man in blue eavesdrops and saves the day - after first allowing us to figure it out ourselves).

Bergen is THE RAINIEST city in Europe.  It's true.  Look it up.

Attitudes in crowds are similar to those in NYC: "get out of my way or I will push through you to get past you...even if there is nowhere to go in front of you, either."

Oslo is super-walkable.  European views on walk-ability, however, are not equivalent to those of the US (where going long distances to work, shop, and visit friends/family is typical).  Plan accordingly, by checking out distances before paying high prices for bus rides or taxis.  That being said, there are a lot of twists and turns in both of these cities, and it can be difficult to find your way even when you've been somewhere before.  Give yourself extra time to get places!

It's illegal, and if they check there are heavy fines involved, but you CAN get on and off the bus without a pass in both Bergen and Oslo if you act like you know what you're doing.  OTHERWISE, you can buy a pass at electronic ticket machines near many bus stops, at the bus station (one block southeast of the train station in Bergen), or at some small shops (you'll have to ask around to locals to know where they are cheapest).  You can also buy a pass on the bus for an additional fee (currently at about 20 extra krone (about $3-4 at present).

I highly suggest going to the bus station if you need tickets in Bergen (it's inside of a mall) and asking all of your questions and calculating out the options to see what works best for you.  **Getting a 24 hour or longer pass will almost always be worth it based on the high prices of bus rides at slightly less than $10 for a one-way bought on the bus.**

Ask the bus driver for help or learn Norwegian before trying to use your bus card in Bergen.  Oslo's bus pass use is simple...just touch the card to the little reader when you enter the bus starting with your first ride and it activates.  In Bergen, there are a few small steps, but they are all in Norwegian.  Even with instructions from the guy at the bus station on how to activate, I attempted it and still had no idea when I was done if I had activated it or not.  I ended up leaving it behind for my amazing AirBnB Host, Adelheid.

On long train rides, ask the conductor/ticket-checker if there are any unbooked sets of seats.  They will happily point out or even lead you to open seats so you can spread out, lay down, or sit with friends!

The Oslo Pass and/or Bergen Pass is only worth it if you plan to try to do multiple museums and galleries in one day (and generally within a very small time frame as many museums open in late morning and close in the early afternoon).

Some of the most recommended things in Oslo are free or low-cost: the Vigeland Statues at Frogner Park (go during the day as the park, though lit, does not have the statues lit up) -free, national gallery (open til 6pm-a few hours after many museums)-free, and the Viking Ship museum (open limited hours, small, and informative) - ~$10 USD.

Viking Ship Museum

The Underwater Pub is a really unique bar experience on certain days (tues/thurs?) where professional opera singers show off their skills for free while you drink moderately-priced drinks at approximately $10-$15 USD each in a 2-story, dark and cozy atmosphere with friends and fellow bar-goers.  (Sitting on the top floor will give you a better view but you have to arrive early).  The show starts at 9:30 pm with a cycle of 3 songs followed by a break.  You can't help but feel cultured hearing opera in a bar!

Underwater Pub "Stage"

People are generally quiet.  Not being the loudest of our friends, we still found ourselves the loudest around and lived up to the "loud Americans" generalization.  It might also be because there were more than 2 of us....maybe...maybe not...

There are buttons for everything!  Trains, buses, doors...Norwegians have also mastered revolving doors which are especially useful in cold conditions!  Thank you.

Get to the Oslo airport early.  There are literally TRAINS full of people arriving at the same time every 15 minutes throughout the day.

The Oslo Airport (Gardemoen) & Central Station (Oslo S) are beautiful and very busy!

Rimi, Rema, and Kiwi are the least expensive grocery stores.  Ica and Lime are also reasonable.  7-11 is gold:  you can get two slices of pizza, bacon-wrapped hotdogs, or other freshly-cooked baked goods at GREAT prices by Norwegian standards.  My mistake?  Not realizing this sooner.

Pizza at 7-11...because it actually IS open til 11.

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day...even if they don't know what St. Patrick's Day IS...UNLESS they call themselves an Irish bar and then they "celebrated it only on the Saturday before" and did not at least make it a 4-day celebration of Irishness...go back to Ireland for training, you're drunk (yes, I'm looking at you, Scruffy Murphy's of Bergen!).

Finnegan's, however, knew what was up for St. Patty's 

(and had a fabulous indoor AND outdoor turnout even with the constant rain)

Both the Flobanen in Bergen and the Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo are totally worth it.  I might even be willing to say that this is true of the highest point in any city on the planet...but I'll withhold ultimate say-so having not been to and experienced every city on the planet (yet).  Let me know if you know a time when it ISN'T worth it by commenting!

Floibanen Overlook of Bergen Port (not raining*)

Holmenkollen Ski Jump (That's a ginormous amphitheater way down there at the bottom).

I think taxis only accept cash.  They often park near bus stops after the buses cease to run for the night, so they are generally easy to find.  Also--avoid them when possible as they are much more expensive than other options when available.

The Oslo Opera House has SUPER-reduced-price standing-room-only and student tickets around $20-$30 USD (and when the show isn't sold out you're allowed to take any open seat after the 1st act.

Oslo Opera House

You can't bring glasses or food into the auditorium of the Opera House so if you're going to bite the bullet and pay for it, make sure you finish it before the end of the intermission.

Opera House Interior

Walk the entire roof of the Opera House.  

Every corner has a cool new view and photo opp.

Opera House Roof (1)

Opera House Roof (2) 

Opera House Roof (3)

Norway may be the MOST bilingual English-speaking country I have been to thus far!  I didn't meet a single person who didn't speak at LEAST enough English to be helpful (except maybe the drunk girl who directed us incorrectly while in search of a specific bar...but we'll blame that on her directional impairment and not a language barrier).  In fact, even signage was bilingual (and I don't mean exact translations like in airports, I mean, actually intertwined English/Norwegian advertisements).  I'm impressed, Norway.  I wish I could convince the US to take multilingualism so seriously.

Food is not included in the Norway in a Nutshell tours, but it also isn't any more inflated on the train than anywhere else in the country.  A hot chocolate, for example, cost approximately 30 kr.

You can save daylight hours by taking an overnight train between cities and you can ALSO save a night's hotel fare IF you don't pay for a sleeper car. (See comments on talking to the train-master near the beginning of this post for more info).

Overnight NSB train (Bergen to Oslo) at Dawn

March is winter in Norway.  This means very few crowds but very unpredictable weather (except, as we now know, in Bergen, where rain is nearly always in the forecast).


Count yourself lucky if you get a cloudy day without rain in Bergen.  Count yourself luckier if you get a glimpse of sun in Bergen.  Buy a lottery ticket if you have an actual sunny day in Bergen (and remember me when you dole out your fortune).

Sunset our last night in Bergen (I've never been so happy to catch a glimpse of the sun)!

Stay up late on your night-flight and keep your window open to catch the Northern Lights!  From the ground it can be hard since rain and snow clouds can block your views OR you could be too far south to catch them.  I spotted them from the plane around 2 am local time!

Norwegian Sundays....OHHHHH joy.  I hope you have nothing planned for this day because it's unlikely you'll be doing much of anything that you can think of except some excessive walking, hiking, or outdoor fun!  Nothing is open on Sundays and holidays in Norway.  Plan for this and be pleasantly surprised if otherwise proven (an all-day Norway in a Nutshell tour, for example, would be a perfect use of this day).

Everything closes on Sunday.  

If it isn't closed...count yourself lucky for finding it.

When crossing streets:  at a stop light: you need to wait for either ZERO traffic (please be careful!!) or for the little green "walk" symbol.  Any other crosswalks WITHOUT A LIGHT are considered "yield-to-pedestrian"-zones;  You can walk and the vehicles are expected to stop.  (No need to be wary, people here actually follow their traffic laws unlike in SOME places we know...eh-ehm....)

Norwegians are super-helpful: Just ask!

Unless you are traveling at night, don't expect to want to sleep much once you get onboard!  The views are constantly changing and ALWAYS spectacular.   Norway definitely lives up to the pictures and then some!

If they wanna' roll, they roll...

Eric Hutchinson: Rock & Roll

 

For all of you out there who

"can roll with the punches, as long as they feel like they're in control..."

and

"don't care how they get there, as long as they get somewhere they know."

Travel kills...

Need reasons to travel or live abroad?

Just in case you don't have enough already...here are some more.  I'm sure some of them will be new ;)

Nostalgia.  Love.  Wanderlust.