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Canada meet Norway

Never have I found a place on my travels that has made me homesick. I have been to other temperate rainforests on the south island of New Zealand, but nothing come as exact as Norway does to BC, Canada.

The textures of the moss on the rocks, the colours of the dirt, the evergreen trees, the cool crisp air, the dramatic mountains. And yet, even with all this resemblance I still feel like a foreigner. Towns are not where they should be, valleys and mountain ranges are different, and Sounds are replaced by Fjords.  It’s a strange sensation to be in an environment so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. This is how I felt about Norway and our first few stops through Lillehammer and the Geiranger Fjord.

Vlog #2: Contiki Scandinavia: Lillehammer, Norway

httpvh://youtu.be/–d_Z5viup0

Geiranger Fjord

Geiranger Fjord, Norway

Geiranger Fjord, Norway

Geiranger Fjord, Norway

Bobsledding in Lillehammer

You know those safety disclaimers you have to sign before partaking in any sort of dangerous activity? Well here is my words of warning, when it comes to bobsledding you should really listen to them.

Olympic Bobsled Ride- Lillehammer, Norway

Now I have had back troubles all my teenage and young adult life. Disks and ribs out of place, chiropractor and physiotherapy visits, you name it. However, it has never really been an issue with any of the sports or high risk activities I have done, like skydiving. Bobsledding is a completely different story. 3Gs of force compressing your spine is quite possibly one of the most painful things my back and neck has undertaken. Although the ride last less than 60 seconds in total, it felt like an eternity and all I wanted to do was get off. When you ride a bobsled it’s not the feeling of your head bashing around the cage at each turn, it’s the immobilizing, pinned down feeling that you experience when zipping through the track that frightens and hurts you.

Now I am making this sound rather unpleasant, but in reality for a lot of people they very much enjoyed it. In the end thought, I am very glad I did it, regardless of the pain.

Olympic Bobsled Ride- Lillehammer, Norway

The 94′ Olympic track we sled on.

Team Sweden, Olympic Bobsled Ride- Lillehammer, Norway

Team Sweden! Our bobsled team.

Team Sweden, Olympic Bobsled Ride- Lillehammer, Norway

Pss. Wanna see what these tracks look like in the winter? Check out my blog from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic games!

6 comments

  1. Alex says:

    I guess I never really thought to compare Canada with Norway, but I guess that is because I have never been to BC. If it really looks anything like these photos, I will definitely have to make a trip there soon!, since I probably wont have a chance to go to Norway anytime in the near future :P

  2. Mark says:

    Yea still with ya Nadine–Scenery is breathtaking– God has a really good day creating Norway. Love your new neon pink tennis shoes–Thanks for bringing me along via your vlog.
    Enjoyed it—Mark

  3. Ruben.M says:

    Great that you liked norway Miss nadine :) glad you had fun there, you might have heard of us norwegians as unfriendly or something like that. but that is not true. we just take a while to get to know. and when you know us you will never find a better friend for life :) also if you are ever in norway again you should check out the silver mines in Kongsberg in norway, this mine was also used in the ww2 as a hideout of sorts. but you can get the backstory there :) i think i speak for everyone you are most welcome back here anytime ^^ wishing you the best on all your other adventures, norwegian fan :)

  4. sammy says:

    sounds like a lovely place! the photos are just beautiful! even though the bobsled ride sounds painful i still want to try it for the adrenaline rush :)

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