Planning Norwegian Ski Trip (with 6 year old)

[Paul_B]

Yes, potato seemed a key ingredient for the food served in a Swedish country town we ended up in. The kind of food to keep you warm and keep you going for some time. I guess in cold countries you eat food too keep going but also to keep warm. I learnt years ago in the English hills that food is a much about keeping warm in bad winter conditions. You need more too.

It's a big but traditional looking 4 star hotel right next to the ski jump in Geilo I think. Can't remember the name. Vestlia rings a bell. A ski in and out place. Great for families and child free couples apparently (just looked and I think that's the one, certainly one we were looking at).

 

[vestlenning]

Very similar. The Swedes think they are much better. The Norwegians too of course.
Us Swedes used to call the Norwegians 'little poor brothers across the mountains'
Then the Norwegians found Oil and gas in immense amounts, the fish they catch and cultivate became sought after and profitable.
Most of the Swedish industry got sold or moved, so I am not so sure what they say these days.
The Norwegians do not say much, they just smile........

IMO the oil has made Norwegians more materialistic and less nice (the typical story). This doesn't mean that Norwegians are terrible but I think Swedes and Danes of today have a more modest core. This is mostly an internal issue, as a foreigner you will be treated with courtesy and respect so have no fear.

 

[vestlenning]

Going to Geilo in the end flying from Scotland to Oslo then train to the resort. Amazing hotel in half board so lunches when out and about. Any good lunch spots?

Geilo is a popular winter sport spot so eating out is more expensive than elsewhere, ask some locals on the street about where to get value for money.

Do not go to Peppes Pizza.

+1 ... ugh!

 

[vestlenning]

Technically I am a MD with a dentistry and oral surg postgrad qualification. With a previous other career of serving neutral Sweden during the Luke warm War .

... so what's it like being a dentist in the Caymans?

 

[vestlenning]

Double post ...

 

[Janne]

It seems most bread is made using Graham flour.
Up north where I go it is difficult to find French style bread, or the heavy dark bread.

Maybe it is different in the south?

 

[Janne]

... so what's it like being a dentist in the Caymans?

Nice. Wake up, eat breakfast, drive to work.
Work. Meet wife for a quick lunch.
Work some more. Go home.

So basically same as in Sweden or UK. And Norway.
Drill, fill & bill.

 

[Janne]

Vestlia looks like a nice hotel, but the dinner menu online seems to very small, and uninspiring, to be frank.
Well, plenty of other restaurant choices in Geilo!

The Norwegian hotdogs are almost as good as the Swedish ones. 99%.

The petrol station have a good selection. Go there to fine dine one evening!

 

[Paul_B]

BTW Janne, you really shouldn't have tempted me with oyo and brusletto. They look a bit to the east of the geilo ski area with brusletto just a bit further down the line. One is an outlet /shop the other looks like a manufacturing facility. Brusletto is only open to group tours if pre-arranged. I can't see an outlet shop there. Just as well because I can justify not visiting if only one is open to visits but two open with shops? Hmmm!

The corrupting of me moment has passed. My interest in brusletto and oyo knives has passed. I think I can withhold a visit. It's a family skiing holiday not knives (temptation is always there).

 

[vestlenning]

It seems most bread is made using Graham flour.
Up north where I go it is difficult to find French style bread, or the heavy dark bread.

Maybe it is different in the south?

Differs, from decent to not so good. There used to be many smaller local bakeries but then mass produced lower quality took over.

 

[Janne]

They used to stock wonderful rye ‘gifflar’ in the local supermarkets, but not since 2 years.
I guess not enough customers bought them.

When I check Geilo online, it reminds me of Åre.

Does not the member Arya live in the vicinity?

 

[vestlenning]

Geilo is where I tried snowboard for the first time. Hard packed snow, plain clothes, gloves meant for the city but luckily generous mouthfuls of Jägermeister to ease the pain.

 

[Paul_B]

Never tried Jägermeister before. Is it a necessary drink to have before learning to snowboard or ski? Might have to find out when I get there.

 

[vestlenning]

Not necessary but good medicine after a few unpleasant falls.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jägermeister

 

[Janne]

All medicine is necessary!

Jagermeister or Gammeldansk.
Equally efficient.

I tend to enjoy a Gammeldansk when I have overeaten in Norway.

 

[vestlenning]

Gammel Dansk is good stuff, Paul_B you should check that out as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gammel_Dansk

 

[Janne]

Paul, if you enjoy a tipple in the evening, take a bottle with you. Alcohol is EXPENSIVE in Scandihooliganland!

In worst case buy it at the English airport.

Want a beer to your food? About 90 NOK for 0.6l.

 

[vestlenning]

Want a beer to your food? About 90 NOK for 0.6l.

At Geilo it's probably NOK 100 or more ... for a 0.45 l.

 

[Janne]

F###.

Up in Reine we pay 105 for a 0.6 of the excellent products from the local craft brewery Lofotpils As.

Superb stuff. Normal 'wifebeater' beer is around 95NOK.

'husbandbeater' beer is less.
Alcohol free.

 

[Paul_B]

Yes, I heard there's a government involvement in alcohol sales but can't remember what it was. It makes alcohol very expensive. Part of a way to try and reduce alcohol intake levels in the population I heard.

Fortunately we're not big drinkers. In fact we're almost tee total. We have a couple of small glasses of wine at the weekend and a bottle lasts at least a couple of weeks. Not sure the wine lasts that well over that period of time. A bottle of beer gets shared between us too. So that's 225ml of beer each and we're happy with that.

How much does soft drinks cost? UK they're often more expensive.