A trip to Norway

Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referendum held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.
Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf); despite dialogue, Russia and Norway continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone.

This is shortly introduction among the sea of variety of options this country can offer to a simple tourist like me. The first shock I admit were the prizes I didn't aware how hi they were according to common Europe standard. So my dear visitors, if you are not ready to spend a lot of money for a short time visit, please check prize list for different offers :-).
Anyhow, landing in Oslo went well with the midnight run with friend of mine since I had to wait for a train till morning. Oslo is a capital full of immigrants all over the world in a battle of better life conditions, Saturday night fever explosion with massive drinking parties in all pubs and bars where all people are equal. Didn't like the garbage around and lost look of party drinkers but I realized that those people are busting their ass five days in a week, so they just need some way to get out from everyday working rhythm.

Next morning I felt better entering the train after I hardly found where it's departing from since the computers on a main railway station were out of order. Yes, as a Balkan person where everything seems normal if anything goes for wrong, Norway convinced me that machines do have a problem even in the richest countries in the world. So I moved on!
Scenery's of a wonderful landscapes changed in front of my eyes mixed with different colors of small cute houses of wood, rivers, camping sites and little fjords announcing the sea trying to cut the land into pieces. Simply lovely long journey which I will try to describe in giving some basic information about the places I've seen. Far North but still far more from the Polar circle.
Then after long day of travel, Bronnoysund as a sparkle from a ferry boat that divides the land from the peninsula and the lights of a small cute city with traditional architecture style, forest and seaside in the heart of Norway, with a name originated from the many wells (bronn) and springs used by mariners.
Bronnoysund is a small modern city with an atractive marina, Coastal Voyage docks, an airport and excellent service facilities.

Brønnøysund is a town, and former municipality, in Nordland county, Norway.

Brønnøysund was separated from Brønnøy as a town (ladestad), and municipality of its own, in 1923. It was again merged with Brønnøy January 1, 1964 - and it then lost its status as a town.

Today it has approximately 5,000 inhabitants, and it is the administrative and commercial centre of the municipality of Brønnøy. A new township was declared in 2000. Brønnøysund has daily visits by the Hurtigruten (Coastal Express), northbound at night and southbound in the afternoon. It has its own airport, Brønnøysund lufthavn (BNN), and a direct eastbound connection to the E6 highway. It is best known in Norway as the location of the Brønnøysund Register Centre, also known as Brønnøysundregistrene. Kredittinform and Dunn & Bradstreet are the main commercial spin-offs of this register, in which the new e-government portal "ALTINN" is the newest addition.

During the viking era, Torgar, by the foot of the legendary mountain Torghatten, was a nationally powerful chieftain seat and an important commercial center along the coast. The original inhabitants were wiped out in an outright massacre by Duke Skule and his men in the Norwegian civil wars that raged around 1240, in the high medieval era of Norway. The region was repopulated by immigrants from southern Norway, Trøndelag and Sweden, which could explain the unique and somewhat odd dialect. In recent years, Brønnøysund has managed to create a certain economic growth. Fjord Seafood originated here, as well as the largest limestone mine in Northern Europe and the highest foodstuff production in Northern Norway are examples of entrepreneurship and well-run economy in this somewhat prosperous region. Additionally, there is a local heliport and an airport, but oddly the authorities had removed the direct flight to the national capital, Oslo, which is causing serious delays to Norwegian flows of documentation, due to one of Europe's least effective postal services.

Modern agriculture, hydroponics, the large TTS transport corporation, wood-processing and tourism are the main driving industries.

Brønnøysund Airport is located only about 2 km from the town centre, and is a vital communications link not only for the township, but also for a large region surrounding the town. The airport opened in 1968, providing modern and much needed, time-effective transportation to the region, and making it possible to reach both the capital and medical services within an acceptable timeframe. However, the authorities managed to close down the direct flight to Oslo in 2000, causing serious delays to the general flow of business-critical documents to and from Brønnøysund, and effectively contributing to increased bureaucracy, unwarranted delays and the blunting of economic growth in the region.

To be continued.