Destination: Norway
This is a trip that has been over 20 years in the making. A return to the homeland and getting to show my family the Vick heritage in Norway. I stayed in Sweden for an extended period to help start a Young Life camp and after it was up and running, I flew to Norway with my backpack and hiking shoes to hunt down the town of Vik, my family’s namesake (we added the c later). Now 20 years later, I get to experience the joy of discovery all over again through watching my boys explore this magical place for the first time.
This is a country of hikers, adventure seekers, and some of the best culinary artists out there. We started our journey in Bergen where we were surrounded by water and seafood. Known as being one of the rainiest cities in Europe, we were well equipped with our rain jackets and I was ready to dive into the fresh findings at the fish market. I happily enjoyed the best fish and chips I’ve ever had, made from fresh caught haddock, while the boys became butter noodle connoisseurs. The grocery store quickly became the boy's favorite pastime and their discovery of the pick-n-mix candy aisle was more than they could have ever imagined. While they sorted through gummies that would put sour patch kids to shame, Janelle and I tried to figure out how to buy milk. Spoiler alert, we accidentally bought yogurt on our first try! Bergen was the perfect launching point for museums, fisheries, a gorgeous tram, and even learning about the life cycle of salmon. Did you know that Norway exports the largest amount of salmon to the rest of the world? This is a fact they’re very proud of.
Once we had our fill of the little city, we got in the car and traveled to the town of Vik. Vik means small bay or inlet, which seems fitting because we rented a little cabin on the water in just such a place. The house even had a traditional Norwegian sauna that saw a lot of action during our stay! The boys were thrilled to jump in the icy water after sitting in the sauna, but were surprised when they came up and their eyes were stinging. We had to explain that even though this looks like a giant lake in Minnesota, it’s actually salt water. I can see why my ancestors settled in Minnesota though with views like this.
Rarely do I say that photos don’t do a place justice, but I think I may have met my match. Norway is gorgeous and rugged. From the snow covered mountains to the icy salt water below, everything is somehow better in person and yet still unbelievable. One of the best tips I could give young families about traveling is to bring a journal so they can spend time each day documenting their experiences and memories. So after the last night of quiet as the boys journaled in their rooms, we were on our way back to the states with our hearts full and duffle bags even fuller.
