Norway is for picky travelers who only want to see world's best. When talking about this country, first group of words entering into people's mind typically are things like majestic fjord, trolls, vikings, tunnels, car ferries, waterfalls, salmon, glaciers, oil, snow, pricey, stave churches, skiing, northern light, mountains, lakes... and so on. Pulling them together you likely will portrait a Nordic land with wild, spectacular, scenic and untouched nature, rich in history, and surrounded by productive sea water. Experienced tourists may understand that such place will enable you taste the full pleasure of travelling, from what you see, eat, stay to various activities available to experience Norway's natural beauty. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that, good stuff costs. And that's exactly what Norway is all about.

Although Norway as a kingdom was first formed in AD 890, the human habitation in this land can be traced back to 9,000 years ago. Native Norwegian are pure blood Germanic, classified as North Germanic, or so called Old Norse. Today, it also broadly refers to Scandinavian locals across all Nordic regions. Norwegians are tall and slim Caucasians, very blond, with pale skin, small and fairly good looking face. They populated in Alta region around 9,300 BC, hunting, fishing and gathering. Archaeological findings suggest that till AD 500, Norwegians had went through stone age and entered late iron age. Village, community and trading emerged, religious items, rune stone and ships were popular items of daily life. Following that was the first major transition in the history of Norway, the Viking Age arrived.

The rise of vikings marked the golden age of Scandinavian in European history, and also the first wave of attackers hit the central Europe. From 8th to 11th century, vikings shock the world by violent raids. Late on 8th wooden viking ships, long, black, single mast, tall curved prows on both sides, started appearing in the bays along European coast line. As soon as the ship stopped, tall blond men jump out; they attack churches or sleeping villages, killed males, captured youth and women, and collect all valuable items for as much as their ship can carry. Then sailed away quickly.

Meantime Vikings are outstanding sailors and played a pivotal role in European waterway trading development. In early days vikings' voyage is basically raids; that worriers rob the Christian church and ruin the villages in mainland European countries. Later on the piracy mixed with trading activities as well, or vise versa. Vikings at core are farmers, at home they farming, fishing and hunting; while in slack season they pirating or go for expedition. Vikings sailed across entire Europe including Mediterranean countries, and reached as far as Greenland or even North America.

Ship building is vikings' most proud of skills. In Oslo I saw the astonishingly well preserved Oseberg ship, built around 815-820 AD, 22 meters long, all black, good for up to 30 oarsmen. The ship is invariably symmetrical, had identical tall curved prows on both ends. This structure enable the oarsmen move the ship forward or backward without a turnaround. Ship is beautifully carved from pow to the entire stern under waterline. The Oseberg ship is found in a large burial mound, together with bodies of two females, likely royalties. In any culture a rich funeral usually associated with buried most valuable treasure for the death; For vikings, ship is their treasure, is their soul.

In AD 890 Norway was united as one kingdom. Over the next 200 years Vikings gradually ceased raiding and integrated into the greater European community, perhaps attracted by a more settled life. In the years followed, Norway competed against Denmark and Sweden for the control over the waterway, as well as the power to rule the entire Scandinavia peninsula; Sometimes win, most of the times lose. It eventually went independent in 1905.

Today's Norway is a long, narrow and north-to-south country comprising almost entire western coastline of Scandinavia peninsula, with most part of heartland deeply penetrated by numerous fjords. It is a medium sized northern European country with 5 million population, oil & gas driven economy and a robust social welfare system. Norway is among the highest per capita income countries in the world and frequently topped global Human Development Index as well as multiple other indexes of life quality. Norway has managed to assemble a most rich, civilized and trusted socialist society in the world, won them global reputation on citizen's happiness.

From September 15 to 21 I traveled in Norway for a week, and the experience was incredible. I don't have the budget and time to visit all of the cool sites but only selected some to highlight the very best of this amazing land. By landscape, I believe Norway is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Fjord is my favorite, adding to this is the historical towns, stave churches, and friendly people. This is a country I want to come back.

Norway Fjord

There are fjords and the Fjord; Norway's is the later. Norway fjords are among the most spectacular geological formations in the world, so well known that when you google word 'fjord' for image, they always occupy the first couple of rows of your searching result. Adding to this is that Norway fjords never disappoint tourists as they are more breathtaking than picture and often make many travelers say 'wow' when they actually seen them.

图片太多了,贴不上来.看我的博客吧:http://chinadiansalmon.blogspot.ca/2016/10/norway-in-nutshell.html