So yes, I have decided to go back to Afghanistan under different circumstances now and honestly I can’t wait for this adventure of a lifetime.. Will it be a challenging trip? Yes, it will be. Do I want complainers to join? No, I don’t. Do I want YES-people to come? Absolutely! Anyway..  I visited 9 provinces in 2019, but I still want to see so much more in this fascinating country. I will bring 7 people with me (not more, not less..) I don’t care about making money on this trip, this is just what I think is the perfect group size for a trip like this. Are you excited for more info? You should be.. This is the programme..

Included: – All accommodations – Transportations and Domestic flights in Afghanistan – Guiding and Permits – Taxes

Not included: Travel Insurance – VISA FEE – Flights in an out of Afghanistan – Entrance tickets to sites – Meals and drinks – Tips – Any extra payment.

Write e-mail to gus1thego@outlook.com to explain shortly about yourself and why you would be a great fit for our group, if you’re interested. If you get approved for the trip, you’ll get more info. TOUR INFO BELOW!

We are going to get our visas in Dubai (unless you know and want to do it somewhere else,) but the plan is to arrive in Dubai on Monday (have a few days to get our visas – I will provide the LOI) and then we go to Kabul on a Thursday.

TOUR PROGRAMME AFGHANISTAN

GUS1THEGO – EXPEDITION

Start & end Point: Kabul
Number of People 7 + Gus

Date: 9th – 18th May 2024

Day 1 – Kabul
Thursday 9th / May / 2024

Arrival in Kabul. You will be transferred from the airport to our accommodation
where we will discuss the trip.

Day 2 – Kabul:
Friday 10th / May / 2024

We will head out and explore Kabul and visit places such as Babur garden – the last
resting place of the first Mughal emperor, Sakhi Shrine historical and stunning shrine
locally believed as bypass of Ali the cousin of prophet Mohammad, the sobering
OMER landmine in Afghanistan and the famous bird market where you will see a
maze small alleyways with locals which haggling over everyday product you
imagine. Including the famous Afghan singing birds. Overnight in Kabul

Day3 Kabul – Bamyan:
Saturday 11th / May / 2024

Today we will drive from Kabul to Bamyan and it will be around 4 hours driving from
Kabul to Bamyan, the capital of Hazarajat – home of Hazaras and one of the most
interesting places with very stunning nature in Afghanistan. When we arrive in
Bamyan we will have time to look at the hillsides containing many caves in which
monasteries and Buddhist carving once situated and visit Buddha niches of
Bamyan, Shar-e-Gholghulah (City of Screams). overnight in Bamyan

Day 4 Bamyan – Band e Amir:
Sunday 12th / May / 2024

Today we will visit places we missed the day before such as dragon valley and the
re city (Shar-e-Zuhak) and then head to the national park of Afghanistan the lapis
lazuli blue water of Band-e-Amir are often the highlight of any trip to Afghanistan.
Legend has it that the dams that separate 5 lakes were made by Ali, the prophet
Mohammad’s cousin and son in law. However, the geologists insist they are natural
dams made from mineral deposits. The lakes contrast to the stark landscape
surrounding them only adds to the beauty of this area. Overnight in Bamyan

Day 5 Bamyan – Kabul:
Monday 13th /May / 2024

Today we head the road back to Kabul and then exploring more of Kabul, and now
that you have got a feel for this chaotic city well do a bit more walking and well
mingle with locals. We take a walk around the city see the daily life of people.
We will also try and visit the famous bookseller of Kabul made famous from 2002
book by Norwegian journalist Asne Seierstat. In the afternoon we head to visit British
cemetery and hills of Bibi Mahroo and overnight in Kabul.

Day 6 Kabul – Kandahar:
Tuesday 14th/ May/2024

Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan so we will be spending one night
and one day here to soak in the atmosphere. We take a flight from Kabul to
Kandahar and then we will check out a few of the local sites, including the Kandahar
Museum containing rarely seen pieces of art and the Tomb of Ahmad Shah Durrani,
the founder of modern Afghanistan. We will visit Sarphosa (Porch) Bazar. We will
also visit one of the most famous sites in Afghanistan, the mosque of the cloak of
the Prophet Mohammad. One of the holiest sites in Afghanistan during his famous
night journey. The cloak is locked away inside and has not been taken out since
1996. Overnight in Kandahar

Day 7 Kandahar – Kabul:
Wednesday 15th /May /2024

Today we fly from Kandahar to Kabul and head out of the airport for lunch in Kabul
and then visit Timor Lang tomb, hills of Bibi Mahroo and Shah-e-Do Sham Shira
mosque means the king of the two swords. Overnight in Kabul

Day8 Kabul – Mazar e Sharif:
Thursday 16th / May / 2024

Today we take an early morning flight from Kabul to Mazar-e-Sharif and then we
have time to visit the majestic blue tiled tomb of Hazrat Ali, Afghanistan most
important religious city of Balk, called Bactria to the Greeks. Bactria was the
birthplace of Zoroaster, the founder of Zoroastrianism as well as Rumi the
Legendary Persian poet. Legacy entrance to the town, at the blue tiled shrine of
khoja Parsa and at the oldest mosque in Afghanistan, the 9th century No Gombad
mosque. Overnight in Mazar

Day 9 Mazar e Sharif – Kabul:
Friday 17th / May / 2024

A day trip to Kabul. En route you will also be able to visit Tajqurghan and the old
king’s hunting lodge. the Buddhist monastery remains at Samangan, two hours’
drive south of Mazar e Sharif. The 1500-year-old complex contains a huge stupa
carved out of the bedrock as well as a number of caves used as places of worship or
Tahmeena’s Bazar and head to Kabul but before we will have lunch at Du Shakh.
Overnight in Kabul.

Day 10 – End of trip:
Saturday 18th / May / 2024

Exploring more Kabul, and now that have got a feel for this chaotic country we will
do a bit more walking and will mingle with locals. We will take a walk down chicken
street. Once the famous epicenter of the counter-culture and free of love movement
on the opium trail in the 60s chicken street is now famous for its antique and carpet
shops. We will also try to visit the famous bookseller of Kabul made famous from the
2002 book by Norwegian journalist Asne Seierstat and we drop to the airport to
catch your flight and goodbye!

So yes, a legendary and challenging Afghanistan trip coming up. This will be crazy and epic as always with the gus1thego expeditions!

Gustav

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Men Türkmenistany gowy görýärin we ýakyn wagtda bu ajaýyp ýurda baryp görmek isleýärin.

1:  ASHGABAT

The capital of Turkmenistan of Ashgabat is the first thing to see. The city is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the whitest city on the planet. 543 buildings are built in the same style-they are lined with white marble. Absolutely beautiful architecture and extremely clean.

2. The ancient city of Nisa

If you drive 18 kilometers west of Ashgabat, you can meet the remains of the ancient city of Nisa. The monuments are protected and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The exhibits found during the excavations are kept in the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan.

3. The Ruins Of Merv

In the south-eastern part of Turkmenistan, there is another UNESCO World Heritage Site, older than Nisa. These are the ruins of the ancient city of Merv. Its top is still decorated with a brick dome. The items found during the excavations are kept in the United Museum of History. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!

4. Fiery Gas Crater of Karakum Desert

The place of the Fiert Gas Crater of Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan is remembered for a lifetime. Darvaza means “gate” in the national language. The gas crater 90 km from the village of Yerbent is very unique. Anyone who comes here at night becomes an eyewitness to an incredible sight: in the middle of the sands, in pitch darkness, an orange fiery light breaks out from under the ground.

5. Traditional cuisine

People travel to Turkmenistan to eat delicious meat and fish. Most of all, the locals love chicken and lamb. The restaurants serve game, goat and camel meat. Milk is drunk by camel and sheep. The serving plate in Turkmenistan is prepared at every step. Lamb meat is finely chopped, fried in lard and canned.

I love Turkmenistan and I hope to visit this beautiful country soon.  Bu ýurt haýran galdyryjy we ýakyn wagtda görmek isleýärin.

Gustav Rosted Soerensen

The post 5 Reasons Why I LOVE Turkmenistan – Gustav Rosted Soerensen appeared first on gus1thego.

The prices to fly in and out from Istanbul in Turkey are quite good and easy and that is what we are going to do!

WE ARE GOING TO TURKMENISTAN – GUS1THEGO EXPEDITION – 26TH OF JUNE – 30TH OF JUNE 2023

WHY VISIT TURKMENISTAN?

I mean, why not? One of the most unique and isolated countries you can explore on the planet. Enjoying a somewhat unique reputation as, not only the least explored country along the old Silk Road, but also probably the most eccentric of the Central Asian republics, modern Turkmenistan is very much the product of its ex president, Saparmurat Niyazov, otherwise known as Turkmenbashi. Spotting a gold statue of its former ruler on practically every corner, the country is awash with towns and portraits dedicated to one of the world’s most flamboyant and repressive dictators. Turkmenistan has a lot to offer!

Much of the country is covered by the large, empty and very hot Kara Kum or Black Sands Desert, which for centuries was Turkmenistan’s best defence against a long list of outsiders, adventurers and encroaching armies.

A visit to Turkmenistan holds the promise of a journey into a rich and colourful land still totally untouched by tourism, where strangers are merely friends that haven’t been introduced yet. Can’t wait to check out this special country with you!

TOUR PROGRAMME – TURKMENISTAN GUS1THEGO GROUP TRIP – SUMMER 2023 – 26TH OF JUNE – 30TH OF JUNE

Day 1: Arrive in Ashgabat

We will do sightseeing in Ashgabat, visiting the main monuments and sites including the Arch of Neutrality, Independence Monument, Wheel of Enlightenment, Earthquake Memorial. The capital Ashgabat is all over the Record Book of Guinness. It has The World’s Largest Indoor Ferris Wheel, The Largest Architectural Star, Largest Building in the Shape of a Horse, Highest Density of White Marble-Clad Buildings and The Tallest Unsupported Flagpole. Just to name a few of them!

Does it sound interesting to visit a place with that many Guiness World Records?! Well, then you should maybe consider joining my group trip to Turkmenistan! We have limited spots, so be fast as they will be taken quick.

Day 2: Ashgabat – Darvaza

In the morning visit Nissa and the Turkmenbashy Mausoleum and Mosque. Return to Ashgabat for Lunch. In the afternoon drive roughly 4 hours to the Gates of Hell, camping overnight.

Day 3: Darvaza – Ashgabat

In the morning we’ll visit the other two craters at Darvaza, then continue on to Ashgabat. We’ll be taken to the Russian bazaar to explore and have lunch. Free time in the afternoon. We’ll be able to explore sights you might have missed on the first day or just explore this extraordinary city taking in life.

Day 4: Depart Ashgabat

Day 4 we are going to say goodbye and fly out of Ashgabat after an once in a lifetime travel experience in Turkmenistan! Are you excited? I really am! Hope to see you with a new GUS1THEGO EXPEDITION IN TURKMENISTAN. Be aware that the trip might sell out fast and we have limited spots, so sign up as fast as you can.

INCLUDED

Those prices are all based on twin share. It will include tents, transportation, sleeping bags and equipment for camping. Breakfast. The hotel is Ak Altyn 4Star (used to be the Sheraton before the government took over.)

EXCLUDED

PCR-tests (if needed – not as it is right now)
Flights in an out of Turkmenistan.
Lunch and dinner.

Guys, it’s now or never! We don’t know what will happen with Turkmenistan. Will it remain open, will it close again? Come with me now and let’s visit Turkmenistan now while we can! Are you ready to join us 26TH OF JUNE – 30TH OF JUNE? Send an e-mail NOW to gus1thego@outlook.com explaining a little about yourself and why you should join our EPIC EXPEDITION!

Best regards

Gustav Rosted
gus1thego

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Socotra Expedition (gus1thego)

Monday the 4th of October 10 am > Abu Dhabi – Socotra and back

After spelunking we will return to Arher – the afternoon is yours to relax in the surrounding serenity or join another hiking to the top of the plateau. The hike to the mountain ridge offers a bird’s-eye-view of both sides of the northern and southern shorelines. A highlight of the trip unique to our tour. Afterward we will dine and camp once again at the stunning Arher beach.

After filling our cameras with as many pictures of the Dragon’s Blood Trees as we can, we will continue by road towards Derhur Canyon. After Dixam Plateau, the road plunges 400 m (1312 ft) into a profound chasm slicing through the granite, giving a completely different atmosphere from the airy heights of the plateau. The lush canyon floor has been planted with palm trees, in the shade of which lay Bruce’s Green Pigeons and Laughing Doves. We can refresh ourselves by swimming in the wadi’s deep pool, escaping the midday heat.

Day 6: Qalansyia/ Detwah Lagoon/ The Golden Beach of Shuab

How does it feel to wake up on such a remote and idyllic beach?

In the morning, we will continue to neighboring Detwah Lagoon, which is a marine protected area renowned for its magic landscape. You will be charmed by a white sandy tongue surrounded by turquoise waters of the bay. This surely is one of the best views on the island. You can jump in the shallow sea there and enjoy the paradise. Only be careful with sting rays that can be seen in the lagoon. There is also an array of sea birds to be seen in the lagoon. 
We can take a boat to Shuaab area to see the dolphins playing and swim in near a very pure and clean long sandy beach, once arrive Shuaab area we can have a look on the mangrove area. Be sure to look out for Spinner Dolphins along the way. Cormorants also frequent the area. Once at Shu’ab we will have lunch and the afternoon is free to swim and enjoy this pristine beach setting, complete with mangroves. In late afternoon we take the boat ride back to Qalansyia. Line fishing may also be possible from the boat, if you want fish for dinner of course.
Dinner and overnight in Detwah campsite.

Day 7: Delisha Beach

In the afternoon, we will visit Hadibo city and Delisha beach with pristine white sands full of crabs. You will relax while swimming both in the sea and in a freshwater lagoon. If you are full of energy you can climb a huge sand dune overseeing the beach. There is also a possibility of watching a fabulous sunset from Delisha.
Dinner and Overnight Delisha or Adeeb camp.

IMPORTANT! If you want to be one of the fortunate travelers selected for the Socotra Expedition be sure to:

• Understand the destination and the risks involved.
• Make sure the dates work for you! You need 100% assurance that you can take off on those dates.
• Send us your travel resume and your background (nationality of your passport, city you are based in, age, previous travel experience, usual travel style…) on the contact email as we’ll carry out a selection process.
• A negative COVID test will be required for everyone’s safety prior to visiting.
• This is a one time opportunity, but make sure you’re responsible enough to understand what it entails. If you have any doubts, just email us on the contact below.

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1: Africa’s Biggest Open Air Market

Mercato is the biggest outdoor market not only in Addis Ababa or Ethiopia, but in the whole of Africa. The must see parts of Mercato include the Spice Market, the hand made baskets market and the second hand items market. It’s closed on Sundays, but totally alive on most of the others days. You can meet different people who come from the more than 90 tribes of Ethiopia and communicate in Amharic language. You can buy some really cheap local stuff here, bargaining for a good price is how buying/selling goes here.

2: Tomoca Coffee

I’m not the biggest fan of coffee, but this place is a must-visit in Addis Ababa. Being the oldest Coffee Shop in the capital, Tomocca Coffee serves deliciously brewed different flavors of Ethiopian coffee. As Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, you have to taste your delicious (even for me) cup of coffee in Addis Ababa here. You may also ask for “Macciato,” which is a great mix of coffee with milk. This place’s coffee is ‘black gold.’

3: Entoto Hills

Mount Entoto is the best spot to enjoy the great scenery of Addis Ababa. Mount Entoto is also where two of the oldest Ethiopian Orthodox Christians Churches are found at – St. Raguel (Elias) and St. Mary of Entoto. Hiking in the eucalyptus tree forest is a great experience and just in general a really nice place to go, to get away from the hassle in the big, busy city of Addis Ababa. Stunning views over the city!

St. Mary Church of Mount Entoto has a Holy Water which is widely believed in Ethiopia to have a miraculous healing power, including curing HIV.

4: Unique Dancing

Ethiopians are superb dancers. Regardless of age, all Ethiopians appear to relish the chance to dance, or on a night out in Addis Ababa hit the dance floor (or turn any location into a dance floor basically.)

Ethiopians love it when a foreigner joins in to dance, or at least tries to. At night – especially at the weekend – the city’s old central Piazza neighborhood becomes super alive with neon lit bars emitting booming music styles from across the country. Ask for Jambo House or Arada if you want to see locals letting their hair down in style! You can’t beat to witness the wild, eye-popping traditional iskista dance of the Amhara people.

5: Try The Local Food

Addis has a number of well-known traditional restaurant options, which typically also put on traditional dancing displays while you eat. My favorite Ethiopian foods is first of all the Ethiopian tibs. Tibs is a sauteed beef or goat, sometimes cooked with onion, garlic, and peppers. You can also get Tibs grilled in a clay pot with hot coals. And I really like the raw meat too..

Ethiopians eat lots of raw meat and has a kind of love affair with eating raw meat combined with super spicy spices. It’s considered one of the most delicious delicacies by most people in Ethiopia. I really like the raw meat too and I ate it every day on my first and second stay in Ethiopia, without any problems at all.. Even though food experts claim you are risking salmonella and listeria infection by eating this, I just feel like getting a lot of energy from it and I enjoy it so much! But yes, there’s a small risk of course..

You might ask yourself why Ethiopian eat meat raw? An Ethiopian myth is that warriors didn’t cook meat because the smell and the smoke of cooking meat, and the light and smoke of their fires, could be seen and smelled by their opponents from far away. The Ethiopians have just continued eating it raw ever since…

That’s It For Now, Addis Ababa

After you have tried these 5 most fun things to do in Addis Ababa, you’re ready to explore the rest of Ethiopia. One of my favorite countries in the World, so whenever you have the chance to go here, GO!

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My Realizations From Traveling

I’ve made some realizations during my last 7 years of traveling, living a lot of the time out of a backpack, which I’m really grateful for I’ve experienced! When going back to Denmark, I sometimes had a place to stay and sometimes not, having to move all of my things from one place to a storage room or crash friends or even my parents place. It’s difficult to move around all the time with too much material stuff you have to carry with you. For me too much stuff doesn’t really match with my travels around the World.

I know if I want to travel, I have to drag my stuff along or make sure it’s in a safe place before I can leave. It’s annoying, especially if you have a lot of things! I’ve seen the material possessions I have decrease more over the years. When I was younger it was mostly about impressing friends with expensive things, but now I mostly don’t care about material stuff, except clothing to some extent, and even if I see a nice car, I think of expenses, rather than how awesome it looks! Working more hours to afford it = Less travel.

No way!

I still have some things I’m not willing to let go off (Airpods, Sony A6000 Camera, Osprey Fairpoint 40 L Backpack, etc.. Basically these 20 things in this link, but I’ve become more of a minimalist nonetheless by traveling the World over the years. I now have more stories to tell and less stuff to show.

Your Choices?

Ask yourself: Did I really buy this Mercedes car or that Rolex watch, because I genuinely love it so much? Am I so truly passionate about this thing and is it TOTALLY for me, not for others? Or did I actually buy it to fill out an emotional gap I have, or maybe to impress a person I don’t even like? Why did I spent money I don’t have, now having to work extra hours, having less hours to do what I really love? Everybody is probably guilty on buying something to impress others, to boost their ego for a short period, for the sake of getting compliments and mostly fake recognition from their friends. Maybe it’s time to change.

Will Material Stuff Make You Happy?

Most people have this false belief that the more they own, the happier they’ll be. Material stuff will NEVER make you happy! Imagine having the mansion, The TVs.. But having no real friends or family? How would your life be? So many people are slaves to their stuff. But the truth is the more you have, the more you’ll have to manage and worry about. It complicates life.

Have Some Memories

When you go on a vacation, you’ll remember it for years. Those unique experiences become the story you’ll tell forever and a big part of you and I can assure you that nobody will remember your expensive, yet uncomfortable designer couch or $10.000 flat-screen you just bought in 8 years from now. It’ll be garbage!

On the other hand you’ll always have the memories to look back on from traveling.

Shoes And Bed Are Kind Of Important

All being said: Choose your shoes and bed wisely. That’s were you spent most of your life and I really love my travel shoes, most of all the Nike Air Max 97 (on the pic) or the Nike Airmax 270. Both perfect travel shoes for men! Just thoughts from me on a Friday evening, preparing myself slowly in Sweden to go back for a new ride in Africa. Starting with going back to Ethiopia and then I’ll see where the roads will take me..

Do you agree with some of these thoughts? Guilty, not guilty?

Gustav

gus1thego.com

The post The EXACT Reason Why You Should Travel MORE! (With Solution!) appeared first on gus1thego.

3. Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is a beautiful, colorful city in southern Croatia fronting the Adriatic Sea. All houses with red roofs and it’s looks stunning from above. It’s known for its Old Town, encircled with massive stone walls you can walk on completed in the 16th century. The place is well-known as the “King’s Landing” in Game of Thrones.

Furthermore there are a lot of activities you can do in Dubrovnik. I met my cousin by a strange incident and we took a long scenic kayak-trip around the cliffs and inside the massive caves. To round it off I went for some cliff jumping.. So much fun. Dubrovnik is getting more crowded now than when I went in 2017, but it’s still one of the most stunning places in Europe for sure! With lots of cool activities to do!

2. Cinque Terre

In the Liguria region in Italy you’ll find Cinque Terre, laying on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. 5 small centuries-old seaside villages with super colorful houses and vineyards cling to steep terraces. Absolutely scenic and with harbors filled with fishing boats. The Sentiero Azzurro cliffside hiking trail links the villages, but you can also take a small train which goes through the villages every 30 min. I went to all of the 5 villages, but I fell completely in love with Manarola, which was my favourite of the villages.

1. Oia, Santorini

Oia is an iconic coastal town on the northwestern tip of Santorini. For me going to Oia was top of my bucket-list. Ask my parents and my friends, I’ve been stalking this place for a long time and even had a background photo on my computer of this picturesque Greek place for a year.

I love the whitewashed houses carved into the rugged clifftops overlooking a vast caldera filled with water.

This place is something special and if you can avoid the tourist crowds, a sunset view here is very hard to beat! I still remember having an extremely expensive lunch on a restaurant here with one of the best sights I’ve yet experienced. I ate that Greek salad extremely slowly and there’s a good reason why. So stunning!

These are 3 of my favourite places in Europe that came to mind right now sitting here in Stockholm Airport, but I have so many others also. Europe is a fascinating continent and even though I’ve been to every country and capital here (most +2 times), I feel like I still have a lot more to experience in Europe!

What’s your favourite places in Europe?

Gustav

gus1thego.com

The post The 3 MOST STUNNING PLACES In Europe appeared first on gus1thego.

Remember to download the free Swedish transportation app ‘SL’ to get around Stockholm in bus and metro. You pay 45 SEK ($4,5) and you’re able to use the ticket for 75 min in any bus/metro. Super easy!

Stockholm Is A Must-Go Destination

Stockholm is made on 14 islands and with more than 50 major bridges connecting the different parts, which make the city unique. After spending a few days here on my 16th visit to Sweden, I wanted to share with you ‘The 7 Unmissable Things To Do In Stockholm.’ An absolute MUST-GO destination!

Spending nearly 3 days here in end of July, 2019, I can tell you already the weather is not Stockholm’s greatest attribute. Nonetheless it’s a really cozy place with lots of charming streets and places that you’ll love!

Weather – Is Stockholm Cold?

I was literally two seconds away from not bringing a jacket to Sweden on my 1-hour flight from Copenhagen to Stockholm, thinking “hey, it’s Swedish summer,” but in less than seconds before leaving to the Airport, I made the decision to bring a jacket. Smart choice! Even though July/August are Sweden’s absolutely best summer months, Stockholm is located pretty north and bringing a jacket here is recommended in my opinion, unless you’re a true Swedish Viking which I’m not apparently. Danish viking though!

Shielded From The Worst Of The Arctic Weather?

Stockholm in sunshine is absolutely tremendous. The capital is actually shielded from the worst of the arctic weather by the mountains of Norway, so the weather here is more pleasant than foreigners first think.

Summers typically average from 17 to 25 degrees Celsius (63 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit,) which usually feels a bit colder with the wind in this extensive Baltic Sea archipelago. Winters are usually cloudy with rain and snowfall, with January and February being the coldest months, with the average minimum temperature of -4°C (24 Fahrenheit) and with some freezing storms moving in over the capital. 

7 UNMISSABLE Things To Do In Stockholm

This is the list of the ‘7 Unmissable Things To Do In Stockholm,’ and it’s the most perfect inspiration for a few days in the Swedish capital to keep you busy!

1. Gamla Stan

Begin your trip by going back to Stockholm’s roots at one of Europe’s great medieval centres, spread over three small islands. The bustling, compact island of Gamla Stan is the city’s old town, with cobbled streets and colorful 17th- and 18th-century buildings, yet still the Old Town is actually dated back to the 13th Century.

Gamla Stan is home to the medieval Storkyrkan Cathedral and the Royal Palace, the King’s official residence. Gamla Stan is Stockholm’s original city centre, and with its glorious labyrinth of charming cobbled streets, alleyways and rust-colored town houses, it’s one of my favourite places in Stockholm!

2. Skansen

Skansen is the World’s oldest open air museum, and it attracts more than 1.3 million visitors each year, which is a very high number for Swedish standards.

Skansen was founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius to provide an insight into how Swedes once lived. You can easily spend a day here and not see it all. Around 150 traditional houses and other exhibits at this hilltop – it’s meant to be ‘Sweden in miniature’, complete with villages, nature, commerce and industry.

Note that prices and opening hours and days vary seasonally; check the website before you go.

3. Royal Palace

With more than 600 rooms Stockholm’s Royal Palace is up there with the largest palaces in Europe.

The King of Sweden still lives here, most royal events and receptions happen at the palace and all the various departments associated with the royal family operate in these plush environs. Furthermore there are 5 museums to go and see.

4. Vasa Museum

Not the biggest fan of museums usually, but the Vasa Museum and this awesome relic from the 17th-century of the all-conquering King Gustavus Adolphus is super cool! It’s been revived at this museum in the west shore of Djurgården, Stockholm.

The Vasa was a 64-gun warship that went down on its first voyage in 1628. It remained in the deep for 33 years, until it was lifted to the surface and slowly was restored. The Vasa is only 17th-century ship of this scale to make it to the present day, which is indeed fascinating. The only negative thing is you can’t get a boat ride in ‘The Vasa’ in the plenty of canals in Stockholm and feel like an old Swedish pirate! Damn it!

5. Gröna Lund

Djurgården is also the scene for Sweden’s oldest amusement park, and although Gröna Lund first opened in 1883 it’s very much up to date.

New roller coasters are unveiled every few years, like the state-of-art “Insane” on which you’ll spend half the ride upside down.

Another, “Eclipse” is a swing ride more than 120 metres in height.

6. Södermalm

Södermalm, where Greta Garbo grew up, has a few ultra-cool neighborhoods with quirky shops and interesting places to go out.

Try SoFo (South of Folkungagatan) for one-of-a-kind designer boutiques, vintage shops and hip restaurants and cafes. Södermalm is, after all, more than just trendy shops, cozy cafés and some of the best bars in Stockholm. Walk around in Södermalm in Stockholm – I’ll recommend you a nice walk in the sunshine.

Nytorget Square here is a fun night out in summer. Yes, I said it! Check it out!

7. Stockholm Public Library

The last thing on my ‘Top 7 List of Things To Do in Stockholm’ is with a free entry and what a place!

The Stockholm Public Library is one of the World’s most beautiful libraries, and changed the city’s relationship with books when it opened in 1928. That’s down to the monumental rotunda at the top of the building.

Gunnar Asplund designed the stunning library, and it’s held as a shining example of the Swedish Classicist movement. Again there’s no fee to enter, and many of the titles are in English if you’re in need of a quiet, rainy day activity, which of course can happen in Stockholm!

I hope you you will have a perfect time in Stockholm with great weather and I’ll see you next time, Sweden!

Gustav

gus1thego.com

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1: The Weather

Let’s take Oslo: The weather and darkness in November; wet, chilly and dark. No bright snow or crisp air, no leaves on the trees; mostly windy, rainy and dark, with some wet snow (sludd) that clings to you and feel wetter than rain, but melts on the ground. Hate it! Or even worse, snow in May. I want Summer in May, not a massive snowfall. I’m sure most Norwegian people think about immigrating to Italy or somewhere else down south, when they have snow in May! Other than that, I have no trouble with the oddities of the Norwegian weather. Or if I have, I’ll check the weather forecast and dress properly!

At the same time 2 meter snow in Winter time and skiing in Geilo is wonderful, but overall I’m not the biggest fan of the rainy, cold weather most times in the south of Norway.. Go to Lapland in the North in the winther months and you’ll have lots of snow, but it’s nearly totally dark for half a year..

This negativity is coming from a guy who just had the most perfect summer weather on his latest Norway-trip, with 20 hours of day lights and sunshine. The irony! The advantages of going in July!

2: The Insects

Having Faroese blood (Faroe Islands), which is the only country in the World along Iceland where mosquitoes (culicidae) don’t exist, makes it always a shocking experience to go out in the wild in Norway.
I always get a lot of mosquito bites in Norway, which really sucks! The Norwegian sand fly ‘knot’ (ceratopogonidae) is literally my worst enemy with the mosquitoes on a close 2.nd spot!

I hate biting insects.. Yet still, I visit the Norwegian wilderness a lot! I’m a weirdo! I know, right?

3: The Prices

This image shows the downside of Norway’s prices.. You arrive to Norway with money bills and leave with small coins.. Norway is expensive! I still remember my night out in Oslo with my friend Tor in 2013, where the absolutely most normal Domestic Beer you could get (1 pint draught) was around $13-15.

I remember buying 3 cucumbers in Egersund, Norway in 2012 for around $15 too, when I did a football trial for their local football team there. Insane! They offered be a pretty well-paid contract offer, but when I experienced the Norwegian prices on my own, I quickly figured out I wouldn’t have much money left anyway. So it was a no from me! After I had a big injury and had to quit my football career, which was the start of my travels, which I’m so thankful for looking back. Anyway, back to the prices!

When I say I’m happy I didn’t move to Norway at that time, it was because Norway is simply too pricey! This is more than 5 years ago and Norway isn’t cheaper now.. The Norwegian salaries are of course very high and one things is to live in a place, another thing is to visit. End of story, the Oslo cost of living index is 19.78% higher than my city Copenhagen, which is NOT a cheap place, in fact Oslo is considered to be the most expensive city in the World, and a city like Bergen is pretty much on the same level as Oslo.

Prices: Don’t Forget The ‘Bompenger’

Another thing I dislike when driving around Norway is the ‘bompenger’ (a tax you need to pay when driving around Norway) for use of the roads. It’s of course good for the nature that people maybe reconsider taking their car out and pollute the nature, but it’s pretty annoying getting a letter, when going back to Denmark with a bill you need to pay. And sometimes it can be a lot of money. Normally it’s $5-10 once around every 35-40 min, but I remember when driving from Bergen towards Oslo there was a point where it was $25. It adds up quickly and makes the most beautiful road trips a little less enjoyable!

All being said Norway is a beautiful country, I’ve been there 22 times and I hope to come back soon again!

The nature, the scenery, the fjords, the waterfalls, the people, the adventures.. Too many good things about Norway to not to come back. But these are some of the honest, negative sides about the country from my point of view.

Any thing you hate about the beloved Norway?

Gustav

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What Makes Bergen So Special?

Norway’s second biggest city with less than 300,000 inhabitants has seven mountains surrounding the city centre of Bergen, which makes an unique scenery, and therefore it’s often called ‘the city between the seven mountains.’

Bergen has the most beautiful fjords, colorful houses, plentiful museums, and innovative gastronomy all served up alongside a heavy dose of Scandinavia! There are plenty of things to do in Bergen…if you can get past the weather there is!

One Of The Most Beautiful Countries On Earth

After arriving to Bergen from the north of Norway (Vassfaret) and spending more than 3 days here on Norway’s southwestern coast, on my 22nd visit to Norway, I’ll admit I have a weak spot for Norway and its beauty! Now I have a very soft spot for Bergen too! But don’t get too excited before you’re off to Bergen!

The Weather

Yes, there is no denying it, Bergen is allegedly either the wettest city in Europe or the entire world (depending on your internet source.) Around 240 days of rain on average a year, guess I was extremely lucky to have 3 days in the most beautiful sunshine I’ve ever seen with no rain whatsoever. But don’t worry, the hardy Norwegian Vikings have developed plenty of alternative activities for a rainy day!

Furthermore I’ll strongly recommend you to go in July. August is doable too, but July is the best chance you’ll have for no rain!

5 BEST Things To Do In Bergen! (3-Days Itinerary)

These are some of the unmissable things to do in Bergen. Of course, there are plenty more things to do – but for 3 days in Bergen, this should keep you very busy!

1: Take Fløibanen Funicular To Admire the Views From Mt Fløyen

If you’re unlucky to have lots of rain, wait for a break in the weather and head to the Fløibanen funicular, which whisks you up to the top of Mt Fløyen every 15 minutes for the best views of Bergen. Bonus points if you can time it for sunset, there is truly nothing else like it in the world. Beautiful views!

2: Admire the UNESCO World Heritage Enclave of Bryggen

Bryggen has been ravaged by many fires, the great fire of 1702 in particular. The whole of the city was reduced to ashes, but the foundations had been there since the 12th century, which means that Bryggen is basically unchanged despite the passing centuries. This magical place of wooden buildings and walkways on the harbor front is easily Bergen’s most iconic attraction.

Though there has been plenty of fires over the last 1000 years, (I like to imagine they partied too hard every time,) Bryggen is still the best example left remaining of the overseas Hanseatic Offices and is protected with an UNESCO World Heritage status.

Today it is filled with boutique shops, souvenirs, and cafés, but still has plenty of charm…especially at night when the place is completely deserted and you feel transported back in time. Magic!

3. Try The Freshest Seafood at the Bergen Fish Market

In a country known for the quality of its seafood, you simply can’t visit Bergen without checking the fish market out! There is no better place to try seafood than the ultra-modern Bergen Fish Market with over 30 specialty shops selling small-scale Norwegian produce.

You can try the expensive +$100 Norwegian King Crab or you can go for some cheaper options. Remember Norway is considered one of the most expensive countres in the World, so it probably won’t be cheap no matter what.

I tried a bit of the legendary Norwegian Atlantic Salmon, which is 2. in the World, after New Zealand’s King Salmon, which is the creme de la creme of all salmon. Top choice still!

Enjoy a meal here of some of the freshest seafood in the world, or simply walk through and try to spot as many weird fish species as you can. It literally blew my mind to see the options here! In the summer months there is a large outdoor fish market that takes place every day, but in the winter months there is only the iconic Mathallen Food Hall to keep you warm and dry.

One of the best things to do in Bergen, and given it’s location – you would be sad to miss it! 

4. Take a Road Trip Around The Fjords (Or Boat Trip)

Bergen is the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway! The best starting point to experience the most magnificent fjord landscape, with narrow fjords, glaciers, steep mountain sides, beautiful islands and spectacular waterfalls.

From Bergen you can pick from several fjord tours in the Bergen-region, a journey to one of the World’s most popular tourist attractions Nærøyfjorden – the world’s narrowest fjord, which was voted ‘The World’s Top Unspoiled Travel Destination’ by National Geographic in 2004.

Or Just Drive Through The Stunning Landscapes

Nature itself has provided the first letter for many of the superlatives used to describe the fjords and the landscape near Bergen: Stupendous, stunning, spectacular!

You can drive a little further to ‘Hardangervidda’ and the landscape changes completely from mountainous fjords to becoming a huge flat mountain plateau, it largest of its kind in Europe.

Or you can drive to one of Norway’s most famous and majestic waterfalls, Vøringsfossen. An absolute stunner!

5. Take A City Walk In Bergen

Put on your best shoes and get moving in Bergen! It’s not for fun it’s one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Historic wharves and colorful wooden houses in a beautiful Scandinavian design! If it wasn’t for the 240 rainy days in a year here, I would strongly consider moving here after my 3 days here! So cozy!

Bergen has some undercover artistic hot spots too, and I was surprised to find out that the Bergen street art has burgeoned over the last decade largely thanks to a Bansky visit in 2000. Head to Sentralbadet to see one of Bergen’s only legal street art walls or explore around the University of Bergen or the Skostredet neighborhood to spot more creative pieces of art. This city has it all!

See You Next Time, Bergen!

I can’t wait to visit Bergen in winter time too one day and watch the World’s biggest Gingerbread City – the Pepperkakebyen in Bergen, which unfortunately is only a seasonal attraction, but if you’re visiting Bergen in the winter months (November-December,) you should definitely go. It looks amazing.

Bergen, it was a pleasure. I can’t complain too much after 3 sunny days in the World’s wettest city!

Gustav

gus1thego.com

 

 

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