Trondheim, Norway 2019

Seoul, South Korea to Trondheim, Norway

It was not my first time in Norway. During the previous trip, my husband and I drove to the tundra above the Arctic Circle. We went south to Bergen and the famous fjords, and of course we visited Oslo.

We also passed through Hell, a small village with the population of about 1,500. The word ‘hell’ in contemporary Norwegian means ‘luck’ but it originated from the Old Norse word ‘hellir’ which means ‘overhang’ or ‘cliff cave’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell,_Norway). The usual joke about this place is “Welcome to Hell that freezes over”. Winter temperatures do drop below freezing in this place.

This time, the purpose of my trip was specifically to see my aunt who wanted to discuss something with me. She went straight to business at breakfast on the following morning after my arrival. The matter turned out to be simple and it was resolved within minutes. It did not require my presence in Trondheim in person. A conversation over the phone would have sufficed. This did not surprise me in the least. I prepared myself for something like this and planned to enjoy my stay in Norway regardless.

Norway is a beautiful country and early October was a good time to visit it. The temperature was mild; it did not rain; the leaves just started turning gold. Strolling along the banks of the Nidelva River and Trondheim Fjord was pure pleasure.

Before I could enjoy those walks, I had some shopping to do. All counties visited en route to Norway did not require warm clothes. Hence, I did not carry any in my backpack. Norway definitely needed something heavier than a thin track jacket. Also, my next stop was London. I had to equip myself for the nasty weather there. So I went to Trondheim Torg.

The word ‘torg’ means ‘marketplace’. Centrally located in the river mouth, this area probably was a market for centuries. Now, the Torg is a spacious modern building that incorporates under its roof several charming old houses.

Soon, I got a nice long raincoat with a hood to protect me from the elements. The selection of fashionable clothes for women was so extensive that I kept walking from one store to another and trying on a skirt in one place, then a blouse in another. In the end, I bought myself a pretty floral dress, something that is hard to find in Colorado where I live. Who would have thought that Trondheim was a place to shop?

Trondheim is an old city, founded in 997 as a trading post. Its coat of arms dates back to the 13th century.

To the left, there is an archbishop with his staff and miter in a church archway. On the right, a crowned king holding scales in a castle archway. These two pictures rest on a base which forms an arch. Underneath that arch, are three male heads which symbolize the city’s rank as Norway’s first capital and the archbishop’s place of residence. The scales symbolize justice and the motif is based on the political philosophy of the 13th century, where the balance of power between king and church was an important issue (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trondheim).