Our final travel day in Norway we traveled like the locals – two busses and two trains to the Oslo airport. Armed with sandwiches, we boarded the bus in Alesund. After riding for awile, we stopped, and another bus pulled up. The driver told us to get on the other bus, which meant getting our bags from the hold and transferring to the next bus. From Andalsnes we transferred to a train and then another train, which let us out at the Oslo airport. (Thanks to UpNorway for coordinating all this!) Although this day was heavy with travelling, the beautiful scenery made the time go by quickly.

After an overnight stay at an airport hotel, we finally made our way to the gate to fly home. Our flight was delayed, we got into CDG late, and hurriedly rushed through immigration. We arrived at our gate as the gate agents were announcing that gate was closing. A security guard was yelling at two men and would not let us, or anyone else, approach the gate until he had finished yelling at the men. We finally got on the plane and breathed a sigh of relief as we settled into our seats for the flight home.

Final thoughts

• If you ever have a chance to visit Norway, do it! It is an incredibly gorgeous country. The fjords and historic cities delight.
• The food was good. It favors seafood (no surprise here). If you are looking for spice, Norway is not for you though.
• Norway is very child friendly. In Oslo, the library has a stroller parking lot and playground for the kids and the ferry and national museum both have a room for kids. Since parental leave is so generous you will see young men and women out with their children all the time.
• The air was so clean. Downtown Oslo was also quiet since there are not many cars on the street since they rely on public transportation.
• Almost all Norwegians speak English.
• Talking with our guides about the country, they expressed wonderment over people experiencing homelessness and high medical bills.
• Preserving a pristine environment is important to Norwegians. In Bergen our guide pointed out a boutique that sold used clothing and said that the government encourages citizens to buy less clothes and second hand.
• Go ahead, try the reindeer hotdog!