Stokka - Stavanger, Norway


Leaving Behind Canada

On Jan 28, 2012 we moved our family across the big pond to Norway.  It was a long 17 hour flight with 2 dogs, and a 20 month old.  After a few claustrophobic instances from our sweet pug Mika, and several hours of crying, we landed the next day to a damp, but green world. Arriving in Norway presented 3 problems. 1) we had 9 bags, and a Suburu Forester is not as big as you think. Well , the dogs took one for the team, and bunked together in their carrier. 2) The GPS seemed straight forward, but still wouldn't highlight the route. Luckily, Stavanger is small, and this was one of the places we have been. 3) Superstore on a Saturday when the stores are closed on Sunday... In Norwegian;) I'll leave it at that. So, five hours later, everyone is asleep, and I now know that a Troika is really just a Big Turk chocolate bar.

Two days later, I felt like we were home.  It snowed 12 inches in twenty four hours, but there were several differences.
1) They actually ploughed the streets before morning commute, during and after.
2) Within a few days it turned to six solid inches of ice that would last for several weeks.

Luckily we moved into our house within a week.  A house we are going to spend the next three years in.

14 Eføysvingen

Our house is 213 sq meters, which I now understand to be big... unless you compartmentalize it into 12 rooms in a 1950's design.  It is complete with a half floor that we have turned into a playroom for Elena.

Getting Out...

was treacherous for at least two weeks, but we braved our new ice world and ventured into the countryside.

Byrkjedal - Kjøttboller

Norwegian meatballs have become our favourite dish, well, pannekakken trumps that, but Kjøttbollers are a close second.  I would never have eaten at Ikea in Canada, but in Stavanger, we have been there at least half a dozen times now, and it is one of Elena's favourite saturday events.

Byrkjedalstunet is a local tradition.  A restaurant that was originally a cheese factory, and is now a can dal factory, gift shop, and a place to find everything hand crafted.

Family Bike Rides

For those of you who know us well, you know that we like to try new things, but it doesn't always pan out.  So when we went to Bow Cycle in Bowness and bought brand new Electra Cruisers, there was a moment of doubt that we would use them.  I am glad to say that we got a week after our goods arrived.  We went riding in the snow, the rain, and even on some nice sunny days.  Stavanger is set up with trails everywhere.  Sometimes the bike trails are even wider than the roads :)

Stavanger Sentrum is the centre of this town of about 120 thousand people.  On a sunny day it is colourful, vibrant and full of history.  It is centred around a cathedral from the 12th century that is truly beautiful.

Our house is within five minutes walk from three lakes, Stokkavatnet, Little Stokkavatnet, and Mosvatnet, which are providing endless adventures to see the ducks and swans.

This sums up our first month in Stavanger.  More to come!