To Norway’s Fjord Kingdom with Samsung

This time, September 21-25, the most active Samsung display purchasers traveled to Norway, known as the Land of the Midnight Sun. The tour was coordinated by the Samsung representatives Grigory Gubankov (IS and corporate sales manager) and Irina Odorodko (marketing specialist at the IT department).

The Scandinavian Peninsula, as viewed on a geographic map, resembles the still image of a jumping lion. Look closely, and you’ll see that the “head” and the narrow strip of the Animal King’s “back” are bordered with the lace of gulfs. Here, at the edge of Europe, is where our travelers arrived to discover the small, but fascinating country of Norway. Here, in the shrouded mountains one hears the heartfelt melody of the howling wind and the mighty voice of magnificent waterfalls; see the reflection of passing-by snow-white clouds in the fjord waters and the emerald meadows scattered across the seaside slopes. Even the ancient name of the country, - Nordhrvegr, meaning “the Northward route” in Old Norse – is chilling. The very sound of that name feels like northern wind and resembles the muted call of the ancient Viking horn. You’d never believe that the fabulous Solveig belongs to the Norwegian folklore.

The first station of the trip is Oslo. Our travelers’ acquaintance with the country started in its capital, a slightly timid, but none the less attractive city. Oslo may lack architectural beauty and dominating structures, but this small and, to an extent, provincial capital of the Norway Kingdom still deserves our attention. Only here one can visit the unforgettable open-air museum, - the Vigeland Sculpture Park. The unique sculpture park in Oslo is a life’s work of the world-famous Norwegian, Gustav Vigeland. It presents over 200 works that symbolize emotions in human relationships. It is truly a gift to be able to materialize grief and suffering in bronze, anger and hatred in forge iron, happiness and repentance in granite. Our IT travelers did appreciate the world’s largest open-air collection of sculptures by one author. They also viewed Oslo’s other sights: the Royal Palace, the City Hall and the famous National History Museum.

The next day, MERLION Travel Club members took part in an ice sculpturing workshop session. Our ancestors are known to have enjoyed this traditional and captivating form of entertainment during the harsh Russian winter. Our Northern neighbors, the Scandinavians, also excelled in this field. Norwegians are the masters in the art of creating intricate sculptures out of crystalline blocks; they have adopted it from the Nature itself, the most expert ice-sculptor. Our travelers decided to materialize their inspirations in ice as well, so they received special thermal suits and warm boots. A school-standard lesson (45 min) later the newly-fledged ice craftsmen presented the results of their hard work to the public. The sculptures embodied MERLION’s symbols in Norway: a beer tumbler, a crab, a boat and, of course, a display.

The third day of the trip was dedicated to seeing “the miniature Norway”. Voss, a small provincial town in the fjord region, was the first station. Imagine a mountain range surrounding a wide valley with a lake, on the banks of which stands the town of Voss. Only our travelers could see this with their own eyes. Stern Norwegian landscapes in the train window shifted as if in a zoetrope. In several hours we saw the outline of the modest Myrdal Station hiding in the mountains; our next stop is Flam. It’s very crowded, but the atmosphere is still serene. Even the echoing sounds of fog horns don’t disturb the overall tranquility. And the final stroke in the picture of miniature Norway is the provincial Undredal with its ancient cult structures. This quiet village houses only 67 people, and four times this number of goats and sheep. The place is famous for the local diaries producing white and brown goat cheese. The latter is favored by the Scandinavians and, for true gourmets, is a symbol of Norway. Our travelers also enjoyed the rich taste of this unusual cheese, made from probably the most fresh and natural milk possible.

Why does this route attract tourists so much? Obviously, the miniature Norway’s major sight is the fjords, which were naturally formed when the glaciers pulled back and seawater filled the valleys. Witnessing these views, your breath is taken away by the immense and majestic beauty of the place, which also had a great impression on our travelers. Vertical, almost polished rocks, mountains crowned with glaciers, waterfalls rushing down. Viking legends that absorbed the stern and primordial immensity of the Northern land, of the brave seafarers and warriors, appear to come alive here. The captivating, almost mystical beauty of the fjords makes one believe in the Scandinavian tales. It is as if you could hear that special music, resembling the melodies of Edward Grieg, the great Norwegian composer, whose work is inseparable from the very nature of this country. According to a biographer, each summer Grieg would move to a small house near a deep fjord with a view to a shining glacier crest. He could only work here. Sometimes, he also came in winter, seeking tranquility, a state of mind essential for creative work. In the heart of this unparalleled natural amphitheatre surrounded by the majestic Norwegian landscapes Grieg placed his piano and writing table. This is the birthplace of his immortal music that incorporated the gusts of wind bringing fjord’s fresh air, the shining glacier, the clamor of the waterfalls… The fjords inspired our travelers as well and, hopefully, this inspiration would soon materialize.

Bergen, Norway’s ancient capital, obviously deserves to become the next station in MERLION’s Northern route. This is one of the country’s most beautiful and distinctive cities and is rightfully dubbed the Southern Gates to the Fjord Kingdom. Here our tourists visited the famous wooden quarter of Bryggen located on the quay in the very centre of the city. This tourist favorite is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. This quarter housed the local Hanseatic League office for a long time, which proved beneficial for the city’s economy. This and other historical facts of this old Hanseatic city were told to our travelers during a sightseeing trip. Bergen is also known for its fickle weather, so its reputation is literally dampened. Three hundred days a year it drizzles, showers and rains here. Bergen locals would say ironically, - “There is no bad weather, just wrong clothing”. However, MERLION has a wonderful trait of bringing sunny days with it, as if in a suitcase, and so it was bright and shiny for the whole journey, even in the Rain City. The last day’s main event was a fishing trip on a real whaleboat, which had been sailing the Norwegian waters for many years. Each was allowed to try and catch a fish (a cod or a pollack) with a spinning rod. In the evening the ship’s crew prepared a regular maritime feast: whale meat stew, various fresh seafood and the fish that our travelers had caught.

Unfortunately, all good things are ultimately coming to an end. It was time for our tourists to leave the hospitable old Bergen. The unforgettable journey to the Kingdom of Norwegian nature was over. Obviously, one cannot hope to see all of Norway’s sights in one trip. That is why our IT travelers hope to keep coming back here to cruise the fjords, climb the mountain peaks, conquer glaciers and catch fish. Maybe, also learn something from the locals, like their stoicism in life or a meditative view of the world and people in it.