"Best experience of my life" a Kristiansand Travel Page by hailsbails

I arrived in Kristiansand, Norway, at the start of June. With a population of 70,000 inhibitants, i settled in rather well. It wasnt too big nor too small!! I made friends easy and found myself in love with the most wonderful people!!

I wasnt supposed to spend much time in Norway, but as the days went on, i just couldnt wait to see what every new day would bring. As my group of friends grew, the need to stay in Norway grew stronger, i felt so safe and secure there, and the thoughts of London seemed over wheelming to a small town girl like me!! In the end the huge standard of living killed my pocket and i had to move on to London and Dublin, i hated both places and returned to Norway by end of August. I was in desperate searching for a job in Norway, but the language was an issue as i didnt know hardly any norwegian, which was a shame..But i have no regrets about going back. I really recommend Norway to any traveller. Its a very expensive country but its well worth it. Its so understated at the beauty of it!! Kristiansand is considered the summer spot of Norway, and has the most sunshine hours of norway, when the weather is good its so so so good!! And you can spend weeks out at sea, parking up to all the little islands that are scattered around the coast!!

Whether you want to go for two weeks, or two years. Norway is just a great place to be. The people are extremely relaxed, and once you break the ice and get into a good group of friends, your set! As i went to Norway firstly in September 2003, it was hard to get to know people, especially because it was there for only 3 weeks. So i felt people werent so friendly and a bit cold. Then when i returned in June 2004, for 5 months and i realised how much i really loved everyone!

The scenery is beautiful, the people are beautiful, and even the buildings are still restored from the days when the Nazi dominated Norway. Kristiansand has survived bombings, and fires that devastated the city. But everything has been restored to its old self and the main church in Kristiansand, was bombed, but was built back up and has been donging every hour for the last hundred years!

The picture, is the label of the beer i drunk. Norwegians quite enjoy their beer, but for a whooping 50 kroner (12 nz dollars or 6 USD) for one in the pubs, certainly leaves you short. Somehow i survived, and lived off this beer for most of the time i was there. It was summer and that meant one thing. Wake up drink, party, party, party, sleep, wake up drink! So on for 2 months solid!! Also didnt have 1 cooked meal, just lived off Grandiosa pizza, a big hit with all Norwegians. All and all GOOD TIMES!!

Although Norwegians arent the party animal type. They are quite reserved, and straight people, where its not custom to talk to strangers! I somehow broke through this barrier, and people were rather stunned at how open i was with strangers. It grew on my group of friends and they started to talk to strangers. So as i say once you make some good friends, you are set! Not only do you have a great experience, you are bound to make friends for life. Norway is by far and so far the best thing and experience i have ever had in my life. So i conclude, Norway = BEAUTIFUL!!!