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17 tips for 5 Norwegian cities
On the 17th of May 1814, the Constitution of Norway was signed, declaring the country as an independent kingdom. On the 17th of May 2000, an elderly assassin positioned himself at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in Oslo in an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Norway’s Crown Prince. Of course, this only happened in Jo Nesbø’s crime novel ‘Rødstrupe’ (‘The Redbreast’). The 17th of May, known as Syttende Mai (Seventeenth May) or Nasjonaldagen (National Day), is a day of national pride and festivities. Across the country, the streets are filled with people of all ages dressed in festive attire and celebrating. Having travelled to Norway many times in the last few…
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Trondheim: Alex’s Top 7 Tips
My love affair with Norway and its music dates back to my early childhood. I must’ve been about six when I became interested in maps, geography, and the countries of the world. Soon afterward, my aunt traveled to Norway (admittedly without me). Trondheim was one of the places she visited. Amongst the presents she brought back was a jigsaw puzzle of a map of the Nordic countries. I had to wait for a few years until I finally visited four of these five countries, and the one I liked the most was – you guessed right: Norway. I remember I vouched to return and stay (not for long, but…
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Take me to Church (or a chapel)
Two weeks ago, the Netherlands won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with the song ‘Arcade’, performed by Duncan Laurence. This was arguably the best song in the competition, yet the highlight of the final was Madonna’s somewhat pitchy but poignant performance of her classic ‘Like a Prayer’. Released 30 years ago, it remains an iconic song. Sometimes I wonder how it’d feel if Madonna performed ’Like a Prayer’ in a church. Although (or perhaps because) I am not a religious person, I enjoy going to a church not for religious purposes but for cultural ones. I particularly enjoy listening to music (from classical to country, and from jazz to…