A wonderfully immersive collection of short stories describing the otherworldly beauty of Norway's arctic fjords and villages seasoned with the comedy of an inexperienced group of international volunteers trying to run a remote island hotel.
The shockingly turquoise, almost tropical, water of the Norwegian Sea provides the background to these stories as they crash into the dark and foreboding mountains that form Norway's famously rugged fjords. There, nestled on the sharp edge between harsh arctic ocean and daunting peaks, sits the tiny island of Manshausen, where Daniel Purdy found himself after taking a leave of absence from engineering. With no experience or much semblance of a plan, Daniel joins an indomitable local Norwegian named Jesper, almost as tall and broad as the mountains themselves, as he tries to scrape together a team to keep a small hotel on the island running.
Once there, Daniel details his experiences in this artfully descriptive and exhilarating travelogue: The Nomadic Notebook - Norway. His adventures and observations include everything from the stunning arctic Norwegian landscape to the colorful and often comedic international characters that joined him.
His stories include:
- A beautifully liberating tale of Jesper surprising him with a trip to the mountains to begin training as a mountain guide.
- An exhilarating speed boat journey to Norway's famous Lofoten Islands.
- Solemn reflection as he explores ruins from the Nazi occupation with the first Norwegian woman to ever summit Mount Everest.
- Colorful and amusing descriptions of chasing sheep with the French carpenter Jozef and searching for a runaway boat with the comic English chef Antony.
- Exploring the midnight sun by kayak during a rare calm in the turbulent Arctic Ocean.
The Nomadic Notebook - Norway is a fantastic read for those looking for short, easily-digestible travel stories that captivate, inspire, and amuse with their vividly rich descriptions and dialogue.