"I Dream of Lofoten" Top 5 Page for this destination Lofoten by yooperprof

Lofoten Travel Guide: 142 reviews and 289 photos

Open Your Eyes and Dream

Sometimes my travel instinct - my travel "gut" - gives me odd instructions to visit a certain place. Before summer of 2002, I had never heard of Lofoten, but it suddenly became clearly pressing to me that I make a visit to these offshore Norwegian islands. Why? I couldn't really tell you. I don't have any Norwegian ancestry, I don't have any real interest in fish or fisheries, I certainly didn't know anyone in Lofoten. But I heard stories of the place from Norwegian friends, I saw photos of Lofoten in books and on VT, and I even started to have dreams of this place. It became a very important locus in my inner mindscape. Has that ever happened to you?

Islands of the Mind

Looking out toward Værøy

I think everyone has their own private "mythological geography": places where we act and re-enact our own psycho-traumatic dramas. (Maybe I'm a little more psycho-traumatic than most. . . .) Islands have always had a special place in my own "mythos" - places of simultaneous yearning and contentment. Ironic perhaps, in light of the fact that I grew up "in the heart of the heart of the country". Like Dorothy Gale, I'm a black-and-white Kansan in search of a technicolor paradise. No doubt about it: my "Oz" would certainly be on an island. Perhaps that's part of the attraction of Lofoten for me.

streaky rocks

As if it were poured in place

The rocky coast of Moskenesøya - the southernmost island of Lofoten - reminds me of some of the shoreline of Lake Superior close to where I live. In both places, the underlying rock strata is very very old - billions and billions of years. It's interesting how other minerals are embedded in the fundamental granite - here is a prominent streak of white rock that stretches visably a long distance. (My guidebook to Moskenesøya says that this is "white pegmatite" and was created during cataclysmic geologic events "about 500 billion years ago.")

Pros and Cons

Pros:Still unspoiled, quiet

Last visit to Lofoten: Jun 2003
Intro Updated Aug 22, 2003
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Reviews (24)

Moskenes Church Favorites (4)

The interior is dark and rather Bergman-esqe (originally constructed in the 16th century), but the exterior is bright,... more travel advice

Midsummer bonfires Local Customs (5)

A local tradition is the midsummer bonfire. These are held both in village centers and also in private yards and dock... more travel advice

Responsible Tourism Favorites (4)

I picked up an excellent and informative guide to Flakstad and Moskenes, the southernmost islands of Lofoten, It was... more travel advice

Rorbuer - Fishing Cabin Accomodation Hotels (3)

Staying in a traditional Lofoten fishing cabin - a rorbu - is a popular option for many who come to these islands. The... more travel advice

Restaurants (3)
See All Good eats and drink in Reine
Things to Do (7)
See All The Kjerkfjord, Reine

Travelogues (2)

1 - 2 of 2

Comments (34)

violilian May 12, 2008 at 11:26 AM Report Abuse

The ATM (still the only one in this part of Lofoten) has been moved to the petrol station!
Nemorino Oct 22, 2006 at 12:29 AM Report Abuse

Fine photos and texts! Yes, there must be some kind of story behind those two fishing museums. The two Shock-Haired-Peter museums here in Frankfurt are just now being merged after 30 years, since the feuds of a generation ago are no longer any hindrance.
bilgeez Jun 6, 2006 at 10:08 AM Report Abuse

Holy mackerel! You are a cod! BTW smashing outfit! What was that for? The fairy party? One serious question, do they have hot springs on Lofoton? Didn't notice that you mentioned that.
travelfrosch May 30, 2006 at 5:59 PM Report Abuse

Enough with the puns, for Cod's sake! 8) Cheers, Mark
GoodGirl16 Apr 25, 2006 at 9:29 AM Report Abuse

Really really nice pages on Lofoten !! I wish so much that i would get the chance to visit there really really soon lol
Pawtuxet Nov 12, 2005 at 4:32 AM Report Abuse

HI! Just saw your fisherman's cottage on front page of VT. Loved that page...and cottage. Good job!
tini58de Sep 13, 2005 at 2:50 AM Report Abuse

Interesting page of an area that I want to visit one of these years! Great information and wonderful pictures!
Gerrem Apr 5, 2005 at 11:20 PM Report Abuse

Hi Chet, great pictures and informations !!! Regards from Lower Saxony
may1273 Mar 10, 2005 at 4:00 AM Report Abuse

Wow... Your pictures are so lovely :-)))
CALSF Nov 28, 2004 at 9:35 AM Report Abuse

Hi Chet, nice scenic place that's well-represented on your page. Not so crazy about all that cod especially cod liver oil samples! :))