This August, I decided to do something I had never done before…I signed up for a Tour of Scandinavia! The tour was offered through Luxury Gold, and included 24 fearless travelers from around the globe. We started in Copenhagen, Denmark, then on to Stockholm, Sweden, and finished in Norway. We stayed in hotels overlooking waterways and a 19th century manor, stopped in Lillehammer (home of the 1994 Olympics), took a train and ferry to Geiranger (more on this in a second), and finally ended in Oslo. Of all the places we visited, hotels we graced, city tours we took, shops, meals, and general sight seeing, it was the tiny town of Geiranger, Norway that won my heart!Geiranger sits at the end of the Geirangerfjord, a magical place that seems to date back to the dawn of the age! The photo tells the story! The hotel was spectacular in every way, taking my breath away when I entered my room. Actually, I simply walked back out the entry door, turned my iPhone to video, and walked back in to capture the entire interior and exterior so I would never forget how enraptured I was at that very second in time.
In addition to hopping on a Zodiac, with a life vest strapped tightly across my chest, to tour the Geirangerfjord at breakneck speed, I absolutely loved my experience visiting Annette & Willy, owners of a traditional Moll Farm preserved to represent life as it was 100 years ago. When we were escorted into what looked like a very primitive barn, we discovered a rustic but warm and inviting room set with long and square tables with chairs or benches in some cases, beautiful china, homemade apple cake and vanilla ice cream, plus coffee and tea. The lighting was mesmerizing, as was the view of the countryside and fjord out the windows! It actually brought tears to my eyes!
Another element of the Moll Farm, and Scandinavian living, at least in the country, are grass covered roofs. They could be seen in all three countries, and I never tired from looking at them. This kind of roof helps to keep the homes warm in the winter and cold in the summer. Interestingly enough, it made me think of a growing trend of grass covered roof designs springing up in other areas of the world…even in Hawaii! Green Magic Homes has a dome home under construction in the Kuwili Lani subdivision. In addition to grass, there are small shrubs and flowers that intertwine to create a living roof that is attractive, functional and unique. Biotek is another designer/builder leading the way in bringing this type of living to the forefront.
So, it seems that if we wait long enough, traditions of the past come full circle and become part of the present…whether vacationing in Scandinavia or living in Hawaii!
Click on the arrows to view the full gallery below.
