Our first foray into the almost too beautiful for words fjordlands began in Alesund, a fishing town on Norway’s west coast. While not actually emerging until the 18th Century, the area surrounding Alesund is mentioned centuries before in Viking stories as a wealthy trading site. A catastrophic fire in 1904 destroyed the city, but Ålesund rose from the ashes as one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau inspired cities. Alesund’s Art Nouveau design is recognized by:
- Curved and asymmetrical lines, often inspired by nature, which can be seen in the building facades and decorative elements.
- Elaborate details, such as floral patterns, geometric motifs, and figurative sculptures, .
- The buildings are often painted in soft, pastel shades.
- Many buildings feature decorative turrets, towers, and spires, adding to the fairytale-like atmosphere of the town.
Fortified, we began our walk through the town of Alesund, it is didn’t disappoint:
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Of course our visit would not be complete without seeing trolls:
Trolls are a significant part of Norwegian culture and storytelling, and can be found in various forms but are often depicted as seen above as large, grotesque humanoids (or dwarf saves or pixies) with bushy hair, large noses, and sometimes tails. These beings dwell in mountains, forests or caves.
Legends of these creatures date back to the 13th Century Norse folklore. Originally they were portrayed as hostile to humans and many Norse children were frightened out of their wits with stories told of trolls eating bad, misbehaving children. Trolls were also used to explain natural forces of nature and humans, often dark and destructive.
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