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The Crown Jewel of Norway (Berlevag)
various Norwegian web-sites | May 8, 2005 | self

Posted on 05/08/2005 8:19:13 AM PDT by franksolich

Okay, before going on to describe Berlevag, the Crown Jewel of Norway, I must comment that this particular town, Berlevag, has the most-excellent web-site of all the Norwegian web-sites I have "visited."

One pulls up the first page, and there it is, all of it, everything one needs, without any bells, whistles, and flashing lights. No gimmicks, just straightforward information.

Berlevag, population 1,200, is too small to be on many maps, but anyway, it is near the center of the circle below, a little bit to the north and the east of Gamvik, which is another town smack in the center of the circle. On the globe, Berlevag is as high as Barrow, Alaska.....Barrow being the northernmost town in that state.

Berlevag is only the second town in Norway I have encountered in which "furniture making" is not listed as a principal part of the local economy.

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Here one stands looking south, at the northernmost extremity of continental Europe.

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A dead fish in Berlevag.

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I have no idea what these things are called in English (in Norwegian, they are, apparently, called "tetrapoder"); they must be concrete blobs onto which one can tie boats (remember, being from Nebraska, in the center of America, I am not familiar with sea-faring phenomenae).

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Mountains south of Berlevag.

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This, from the Berlevag web-site:

Berlevag is a lively fishing community in the north west of the Varanger peninsula facing the powerful Arctic Ocean. Situated at 70o N Berlevag’s 1.122 km2 is mainly made up of untouched nature of an arctic character.

The open terrain is excellent for recreation both in summer and winter and for those interested in geology this is an exciting area. Angling opportunities are good both in mountain lakes and in the Kongsfjord river, which is a renowned salmon river.

The approx. 1200 inhabitants live in the fishing port Berlevag, which is also the administrative center of the municipality, and in the fishing village Kongsfjord.

The most important sources of income are fishery, fish processing, trade, as well as public and private service.

Communications to and from Berlevag are very good. The Costal Express ”Hurtigruten” has daily departures, a STOL-port (Short Take Off and Landing) which is connected to the scheduled flight network by Widerøe’s daily flights to Kirkenes and Tromsø, daily bus departures to Tana (E6) and Batsfjord on the RV890, a high standard road which is open all year.

What we have to offer:

A population welcoming new inhabitants.

Good healthcare services with a nursing home / old peoples home, home-based care, physicians, psychiatric healthcare.

Kindergarten with room for 36 children aged 3-5 years, and 9 children aged 0-3 years. Two primary schools, Kongsfjord and Berlevag with a total of 150 pupils.

Day-care facilities for school children both before and after school hours.

A community school of music and arts, giving lessons both to adults and children. Secondary school, foundation course 2000/2001.

Cinema every Thursday and Sunday.

The sports hall ”Ishavshallen” offers opportunities to participate in different kinds of sport, like badminton, soccer and weight lifting. Berlevag has many active scuba divers and many exciting dive sites along the coastline.

Youth club every Wednesday and Friday.

Berlevag library: open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays Saturdays. The library in Kongsfjord is open on the second Monday of every month.

Community hall for different kinds of activities.

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After reading the following restaurant review, I wished to find a photograph of the local hotel:

Berlevåg is such a small community that the places where you can find food can be counted on one hand.

They have a fast food place, a café (open only during the day) and there's the hotel restaurant. The night we dined here, we were the only guests.

Despite outward appearances (the hotel looks a tad shabby and weather-beaten on the outside), the food was surprisingly good. My travel companion and myself both had fish and we suspect the animal was still enjoying its morning swim when we arrived in town several hours earlier.

Like anything in Norway, dinner was expensive but not outrageously so. Staff was friendly and helpful in making the correct menu choice.


Unsuccessful at finding a photograph of the local hotel, I found a photograph of the local airport instead.

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You know, I am utterly flummoxed; I have absolutely no idea what this is.

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Church in Berlevag.

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Christmas in Berlevag.

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Winter in Berlevag.

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The sun in Berlevag.

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TOPICS: Outdoors; Travel
KEYWORDS: berlevag; bison; norway
Another in the "tour of Norway" series.

You know, seriously and honestly, if one goes to Norway, he should forget about all the "touristy" places and head straight north to Berlevag.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know; I am probably of a small minority opinion, but Berlevag looks fine and comfortable to me.

1 posted on 05/08/2005 8:19:13 AM PDT by franksolich
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To: 68 grunt; beckysueb; Born Conservative; Charles Henrickson; cinives; Constantine XIII; dennisw; ...
Ping for the Norway ping list.

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I have on "the back burner" Bergen, Hvaler, and Tonsberg, and hope to get to those places later today (Sunday) or tomorrow (Monday).

In case anyone has missed it, a member of the Norway ping list added photographs to the "tour of Kristiansand," and they are much better than what I had put there, well worth going back to look at.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1398372/posts

In fact, if anyone has photographs of a particular place or event or thing being featured in the "tour of Norway" series, please feel free to add to our illumination.

2 posted on 05/08/2005 8:27:56 AM PDT by franksolich (crime never pays)
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To: franksolich

I am enjoying your Norway series, the photos are wonderful, I too found the people everywhere friendly, and the scenery spectacular... so thank you for I am reminiscing... if I knew how to post photos I would!...lol.


3 posted on 05/08/2005 8:45:43 AM PDT by DKNY
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To: franksolich
This small village on the outskirts of nowhere (driving to the nearest somewhere takes hours) has a noted male quoir with members up to 90-something in age. On tour in the US they spontaneously performed at Ground Zero on 9/11, or maybe 9/12, being the first to do so. The audience took comfort in their song, as can be seen in the feature movie made about them, called Cool and Crazy. Improbably, this film became an international hit and is well worth checking out.

Thanks for a fine entry as usual, Frank.

4 posted on 05/08/2005 9:44:20 AM PDT by Tamberlane
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To: franksolich

I like life down south.


5 posted on 05/08/2005 11:14:48 AM PDT by tomjohn77
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To: franksolich

More wonderful pictures.

My Norwegian friend and I looked at the pics of Gamvik the other day. I believe she became a little homesick.

Once we graduate, she is urging that we take a boat tour up the Norwegian coast (the Hurtigruten steamer, if folks know it) and visit Tromsø, a very northerly town. Probably best to do so in summer!


6 posted on 05/08/2005 11:26:25 AM PDT by radiohead (revote in washington state)
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To: Tamberlane

You know, that really confused me.

On the internet, there were all of these "Cool and Crazy" logos along with sites about Berlevag, and I could not understand the connection.


7 posted on 05/08/2005 12:24:13 PM PDT by franksolich (crime never pays)
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To: Tamberlane

Cool and Crazy is a wonderful movie. And look at those boats. They sure aren't pleasure boats.


8 posted on 05/08/2005 5:22:06 PM PDT by norge
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