Norway

Things to note for next time (if there is another next time)

+ Everything is expensive!
+ You can rough camp pretty much anywhere - it is the norm.  If you look at a map, look for a view point or the end of a fjord, that is where you tend to find great rough campsites

+ Map - you need hardcopy map - way more info than sat nav, and can see the bigger picture.  The Cappelen Kart one was best by Kümmerly & Frey (www.swisstravelcenter.com)

+ Supermarkets - the Norwigans seem to like to have lots of supermarkets.  As a result most of them are small.  The national dish is frozen pizza and the supermarkets reflect this - meaning there is very little anything else.  Prices are extremely high.  I liked Rema 1000 as they tended to have a 10kr area and more offers than other supermarkets.  You have to shop smart.  If you see something cheap / on offer in a supermarket buy it there and then, as it might not be there again.  Some supermarkets have morning only offers, so best to go in the morning if you can.  A deli roast chicken is suprisingly cheap.

+ Panting.  You should ‘pant’ your empty pop bottles and beer cans etc.  Each time you buy a bottle of drink you pay a pant price.  This is redeemed at a supermarket when you hand it in for recycling.  Average 2-3Kr a bottle - so well worth it.  We didn’t realise this at first and probably forfeited a good Kr40.  

+ Everyone sticks to the speed limit and no-one seems to want to overtake you.  Apparently the police have a zero tolerance approach to speeding, so you will get fined if you are 1km over the limit!

+ Fuel is cheaper at the weekend.

+ Mobile signal amazingly good even in the middle of nowhere.

+ Signage is terrible - not every town has a welcome sign so very easy to not know where you are, it is very easy to miss parking spots due to lack of signage.  

+ There are lots of lay-bys on all types of roads and good number have WC or tourist info or bins or all 3.

+ Alcohol is prohibitively expensive - £8+ a pint if you go to a bar

+ Hotel breakfasts are amazing. So much food - fruits, yoghurts etc with all the trimmings: granola, muesli, raisins, nuts etc.  Smoked fish, hot food:eggs, sausages, bacon, beans, mushrooms etc.  Make your own waffles, a huge selection of bread, cheeses, hams, pastries, and every other breakfast food stuff you can think of (except avocado).  We stayed in a Scandic hotel in Oslo and Radisson Blu in Tromsø.  The Scandic did a better spread and a nicer atmosphere - ie more Norwegians.  (The Radisson Blu was too full of posh tourists with grumpy faces, but their hotel rooms were better equipped and bigger!)  Certainly you don’t need lunch afterwards and only a small tea!

+ Living in a motorhome was fine.  We all got on and we all enjoyed it - quite fancy our own now! 

Norway is a very easy country to visit.  Everyone speaks English, everyone is relaxed and chilled out.  Certainly can see why it is at the top of countries to live in: standard of living is high, wages high.  Alcohol is expensive but apart from that it's a great place.  Lots of people own second homes / cabins in rural / fjord locations, property is reasonably priced.  There is a lot of space.  By the end of our stay there, it felt comfortably like home - didn't feel foreign at all.