How I fell in love with Beautiful Norway

by Bob Peers
(Stavanger, NORWAY)

Old House on the Fjord

When someone mentions how beautiful Norway is, what thoughts spring to mind? Yes I know, snow, mountains, fjords, lakes, rivers, wooden houses, even Eskimos.

My first visit to beautiful Norway was in 1971. I met a Norwegian girl in London and I remember well the thoughts that sprang to mind when she told me how fascinating Norway was.

What do you think sprang to mind?

Yes you guessed it, snow, mountains, fjords, lakes, rivers etc, etc.

we became very close friends and when she returned home to Norway we often wrote letters to each other.

Eventually she invited me to Norway and I accepted.

I decided to explore the west coast, including Stavanger and Bergen.

I soon found out that beautiful Norway had much, much more to offer than I ever imagined.

Not surprisingly I fell in love with this fascinating country and after several more holidays I decided to live here. Now I am happily married with children and grandchildren in both countries.

The oil town of Stavanger lies 20 miles to the North.

The City has become a very popular tourist attraction and visitors arrive from many parts the world to experience it.

The number of cruise ships visiting the city has steadily grown over the years from just a few, to well over 70, and it is expected that in 2009 the number will reach to over 100.

As this city is so close to the European continent and the UK, it is very nicely situated in the south-western corner of Norway.

Many of the attractions are very close to each other, and cruise ships dock right in the city centre near the oldest part of the town.

Take a short stroll along the harbour, past the numerous pubs and restaurants and you arrive at the lovely market place with the fish market right opposite. This used to be an open air market but recently it has been moved indoors.

The charming city centre, with its narrow cobbled streets and main shopping centre lies at the back of the market. Again a word of warning :=( in this part of the city it is very expensive in both the pubs and the shops. but having said that, the products sold at the market are very reasonable.