My sincere apologies for the delay in respond...

Norway | Jun 24 - Jul 7, 2024

My sincere apologies for the delay in responding to your invitation to review our KimKim-organized trip to Norway of June 24-July 7. The truth is that there is little I can add to the glowing and comprehensive account Robin submitted. The experience made me regret that – and wonder why – I had delayed so long in visiting Norway, having always wanted to.

The country was even more beautiful than I had anticipated (I was particularly struck by the abundance of flowers, both wild and cultivated, everywhere we visited), but more striking still was the unfailing friendliness, warmth, efficiency and readiness to be of help of everyone with whom we came into contact, from hotel staffs to guides to taxi and transfer service drivers, all of whom were knowledgeable, personable, flexible and utterly dependable. (In my case they courteously fielded requests for assistance that I’m sure a less technologically-challenged guest would not have troubled them with – I came away with a deeper appreciation for the achievements of Scandinavian bathroom-fixture and lighting design, and renewed chagrin at my dim-wittedness in mastering its use!)

I would find it difficult to single out any particular guides for praise, but was most grateful for the unflagging energy and enthusiasm of Ole in showing us the highlights of Hamar and Lillehammer (from the glorious sunlit morning exploring the Domkirkeodden to displaying the view from the apartment he has had purchased atop the “world’s tallest wooden building” Mjøstårnet – where he also showed us a video introducing us to the Norwegian comedy team Ylvis – to plying us with delectable jordbær and cream), as well as for Randi’s astuteness, aplomb and adaptability during our damp but delightful short stay in Ålesund. She is certainly someone I would keep on your short list of guides for anyone visiting that area.

In brief, it was hard to return home (and would have been hard even had “home” not been as unsettled a place as many of us now find it). I can only hope I will be granted enough years to make another trip over, in which I can see some of the things we had insufficient time to get to in the two weeks we were there – e.g., to see more of the three great open-air museums (the Norsk Folkemuseum, Maihaugen, and Sunnmøre) we were introduced to, and to visit the sites associated with great Norwegians that we noted in passing but couldn’t include in our schedule, such as the homes of Ibsen, Kirsten Flagstad, Sigrid Undset, Grieg and Ole Bull, among others.

You and your colleagues surely merit the highest praise (and quite possibly canonization) for your patience and professionalism in putting together a travel plan that met such a complex set of requests, and for dealing so promptly and capably with such small emergencies as arose while we were there. I would be only too happy to recommend your services to anyone I knew who might be hoping to visit Norway.

With many thanks and sincere best wishes,

Jennifer Boger