We found Oslo to be a very amiable city, though it is also becoming more and more apparent to us that many European cities are different dishes of the same cuisine. So while it is interesting to have a wander and find those interesting differences, we realise the countryside and smaller towns hold more appeal for us. We really liked the city fortress though, which is open free to the public and being used as a venue for art installations.
We also enjoyed the statue-park, with it's famous angry baby depiction and nude column, which was a particularly nice place to relax and listen to the tour groups as they were herded past.
Our couchsurfing hosts were located outside of Lillehammer, next to an enormous lake. They taught us a lot about nutrition, and we really enjoyed some gluten-free brownies (recipe below).
The weather stayed superb and I took the opportunity to jump in for very brief swim.
We also explored the forest, following the numerous forestry tracks and walking paths.
It was a lovely mix of broad leaf and pine, with dense moss and dozens of species of mushroom. It was hard to believe how many there were, but the chantarelle eluded us. We had finally tasted them the night before, but never seen them in their natural habitat, so were still unsure as to how they grew and where.
Luckily, our hosts had their secret spots, so we went picking with their adventurous cats. The mushrooms were delicious fried in butter and a little garlic.
We were also introduced to the ancient viking game of Kubb (pronounced cube), which was quite addictive. I will certainly make a set for home.
Gluten-free Brownies, by Hilde from Norway
Mix:
75gm Almond flour
75gm Coconut flour
225gm Dark chocolate
225gm Butter
Sweetener to taste - could use honey, sugar, or for sugar-free - erythritol or other
1/2 teaspoon vanilla powder / vanilla essence
Bake for 20 minutes at 170 degrees
