People who have never been to Norway don’t realize what a beautiful country it is with a rich history that goes back thousands of years. Our son married a Norwegian woman and now lives there. We’ve been lucky enough to visit twice and spend quality time with him and his family as well as see some of the country.
After a stressful departure from Canada, we made it to the first leg of our vacation, his summer house on the fjord. Handyman that he is, he fixed the place up, even building a gorgeous and very modern shower outside. We stayed in the guest house and had a wonderful time. It was cooler than we’d anticipated, but my husband got to go fishing at the mouth of the fjord, help catch the 20 mackerel that made up supper that night, and even go in swimming. Sorry, water that’s 14 degrees Celsius is too cold for me. A family of swans came by to say hello, and the jellyfish which looked to me like a raw egg out of the shell were fascinating. But, when it appeared, I took the time to bask in the sun and soak up some after dinner rays while polishing off my wine.
While we were in Norway, we took a trip along the historic Telemark Canal and spent a night at the Dalen Hotel. From the site, here’s a quick history of the place. Here’s the link. Check it out.
The flow of tourists to Dalen was large already in the 19th century due to the completion of the Telemark Canal. The newly built Canal system became popular among royalty around the world, but Dalen lacked a luxury hotel to accommodate this prominent clientele. Inspired by stave churches and the Viking Age, the Dalen hotel was introduced to the world in 1894. The hotel became known throughout Europe and the English aristocracy came here. King Oscar II was a guest here, as were Emperor Wilhelm of Germany and King Leopold II of Belgium. King Haakon VII and Queen Maud also came here with the then Crown Prince Olav.
During World War II, the Germans took over the hotel, and the interior was removed while the buildings fell into disrepair. The preacher Aage Samuelsen had faith in the future of the hotel. He bought it, but did not succeed in raising capital for the restoration of the buildings. But he gave the hotel a lot of attention and PR. At the end of the 1980s, restoration was started and in 1992 the hotel reopened.
In 2000, the hotel received the conservation organization Europa Nostra’s highest award – a silver medal – for preserving the hotel as a unique cultural monument. Dalen Hotel has also been awarded Olavsrosa as a lighthouse in the Norwegian Cultural Heritage’s product range. Holders of the quality brand Olavsrosa have a strong profile in the dissemination of Norwegian cultural heritage. The motto “Olavsrosa – our best experiences” places high demands on product quality and maintenance of this quality. The National Heritage Board has described Dalen Hotel as the most powerful, magnificent and best-preserved of all the old dragon architecture hotels.
The canal trip showcased the beauty of this part of Norway. From the sites along the water to the mouthwatering cinnamon rolls, everything about the experience and our night in Dalen was amazing. Note the quaint vehicle that met us at the dock, the exceptional cleanliness of the room, and the truly awesome meal, each course paired with the appropriate wine. If you ever get the chance to go to Norway, this is an experience not to be missed.
The week we spent in Norway with our son, granddaughter and other members of my daughter-in-law’s family who have become friends was truly a memorable one. We hope to be able to return in a couple of years. In the meantime, we have pictures and our memories to sustain us!
This is just a taste of what we experienced. Later this week, I’ll give you a peek at the wonderful things we saw on the second part of our vacation, a cruise around the UK!
Living the Dream 
Lovely photos! Thanks for sharing your trip. I enjoyed the post. Jillian
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