While the girls and I are exploring our friendly neighbour Scotland, Sophie’s World is staying at home. This week’s travel photo is from our homebase in the cool river city Drammen (Norway). The River Harp The large pedestrian bridge Ypsilon is a Drammen landmark. Next to Ypsilon is the River Harp, a sound sculpture comprising [...]
The streets of Oslo are filled with love
A month ago, the worst tragedy since World War II hit Norway. A mad man set off a bomb near the Prime Minister’s office, killing 8. He then travelled to Utøya and murdered 69 more. This afternoon, the victims were honoured in a national memorial ceremony. Each name was read out loud, their faces on [...]
17 May – Hip hip hooray!
For a secular country, Norway observes many religious holidays (and by “observe”, I mean get days off work). Spring is full of holidays – religious and otherwise, including 1 May (international labour day), Ascension Day and Whit Monday. But the most important of all is 17 May. Bigger than Christmas, New Year and your birthday, [...]
Open-minded Oslo
I’m taking a break from the Middle East for a bit to do a post closer to home for the cool World Reviewer. No worries, I’ll return to the exciting Arabian world shortly, with posts on Egypt, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. And maybe Qatar. But for now, here’s my World Reviewer take on Norway’s open-minded [...]
Oslo On the House – 10 Great Free Attractions
With the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony coming up this weekend, Oslo is the obvious choice for this chapter in Magic of Cities. The focus of this post will be free attractions. That’s right: low-budget, or rather no-budget, Oslo attractions. Norway is not exactly famous for being a budget destination, so you might be surprised how [...]
Blog carnival: Your favourite place on earth
It’s my great pleasure to host the 10th Lonely Planet Blogsherpa Carnival. For this edition, I asked my fellow bloggers: Which is your favourite place on earth? Is it a country, a city, a village, a beach, a hut, a mountain, a hotel? Do you return all the time – or do you dream of [...]
The country that loves soccer the most is Norway
A boyfriend once made me sit through an entire football match at Oslo’s Ullevål stadium. It was decades ago, but I remember it was Manchester United. I also remember it was possible to stretch out and take a nap. Oh, and did I mention, he’s an ex-boyfriend now? I just didn’t catch the fever. Still [...]
Let women jump: Oslo’s Holmenkollen Ski Jump and the Gender Debate
Earlier this week, Holmenkollen Ski Jump, possibly Oslo’s best known attraction, reopened. The old ski jump from 1892 was torn down in 2008 to make room for a new, improved hill to be ready for the 2011 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
Welcome! I'm Sophie - writer, dreamer, negotiator, wanderer - mostly with my daughters, sometimes solo.
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Autumn leaves in Kew Gardens
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Three Terrific Christmas Markets
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From Aberystwyth With Love
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A Quirky Christmas Market in Paris
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Urbino – a secret Italian hilltop town
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No more: The natural bridge of Aruba
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Travel photo – Brimstone Hill Fortress, Saint Kitts
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High Tea at the Old Cataract in Aswan
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Warsaw’s Jewish cemetery: a memorial to a cruel past
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A to Z of Sophie’s World
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Anne-Sophie Redisch: It really is a pity. I think it was very popular a...
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