Tidbits About Scandinavia / the Baltics

• Exchange rate 1 USD = 7.74 NOK (Norway), 9 SEK (Sweden), 69 RUB (Russia)
• Some stats about the northern lands we visited:
  

  Item	Place	Latitude/longitude
  Capital (of an independent nation)	Reykjavík, Iceland[1]	64°08′N 21°56′W
  Capital (of a constituent country)	Nuuk, Greenland[2]	64°10′N 51°44′W
  Permanent settlement of any size	Alert, Nunavut (CFS Alert), Canada[3]	82°28′N 62°30′W
  City > 1,000 people	Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway[4]	78°13′N 15°33′E
  City > 5,000 people	Tiksi, Russia[5]	71°38′N 128°52′E
  City > 50,000 people.	Tromsø, Norway[citation needed]	69°40′33″N 18°55′10″E
  City > 100,000 people	Norilsk, Russia[6][7]	69°21′N 88°12′E
  City > 250,000 people	Murmansk, Russia	68°58′N 33°05′E
  City > 1,000,000 people	Saint Petersburg, Russia[8]	59°57′N 30°18′E
  City > 10,000,000 people	Moscow, Russia[8]	55°45′N 37°29′E

  
  
• In terms of how far north the cities we visited were: - Tromso - 69.6828° N, 18.9428° E - Bergen - 60.3894° N, 5.3300° E - Oslo - 59.9500° N, 10.7500° E - Stockholm - 59.3294° N, 18.0686° E - Helsinky - 60.1708° N, 24.9375° E - Tallinn - 59.4372° N, 24.7453° E - St Petersburg - 59.9500° N, 30.3000° E * each degree of latitude is 69 miles - In comparison, the north-most point of the US - Barrow, Alaska - 71.2956° N, 156.7664° W , Point Barrow - 71.3889° N, 156.4792° W
• About Norway - sea of blondes. It makes you realize how much of a melting pot the US is when at Stockholm (ARN) airport, waiting for your flight to Chicago, you notice that the blondness is replaced by people of numerous nationalities and therefore looks.  Quite a contrast.
• In general, Norwegians do not talk to strangers, no hugging, - don’t hold doors open for each other (even women to women.) - ski in the dark in lighted ski slopes/trails - like outdoors - hiking, biking, bus (frequent schedule during summer months) - value free time, spend lots of time with children - have smaller homes, but have a second home on the islands - less poverty, but still have beggars - most people on buses and trains have bread or pastry in a bag and a small coffee with them- Very few police are seen - anywhere
  - No ID or passport asked anywhere
  - No jaywalking when red lights
  - Construction happens only during their short Summers.
  - Services (tourists as well as bus and other services) provided only in Summers
  - Revenues from North Sea oil and high taxes pay for all social services

• Everything including food is very expensive - Eating out - breakfast 100-125 kr, lunch 175-200, dinner 200 up - At 7-11 - subway sandwich 50 kr, soda 20-30 kr - Rema 1000 are the cheapest grocery store.  Others are Meny, Fresher. - Typical prices - Doughnut 10 kr, 4 sandwich breads or 6 , pizza 40-50 kr, 1.5L soda or juice 20-30 kr, 100 gr sandwich meat 20 kr, 250 gr cheese 35 kr   - In Bergen - we had Reindeer, Whale steak for lunch ($80) Bryggeloftet & Stuene - Near Bryggen, and around the corner from the Visitor Center, is where you can "taste Norway" - specifically Whale and Reindeer steaks. They claim to be the only place in Bergen that serves Whale steaks. - The restaurant overlooks the harbor, if you can see beyond the crowded street. We had an early lunch and had a window seat for ourselves to enjoy the views. The service was excellent and fast. Our very nice waitress spoke good English and answered all our questions - about food and other things in Bergen. - We came specifically to try Whale and Reindeer - luckily they serve those for lunch as well. Whale was described as a "different" taste, whereas Reindeer as "wild." - and they were. With the first bite you notice the difference, but after that you get used to it. Reindeer was noticeably tough, but Whale was NOT blubbery as you might imagine. Enjoyed both! - Presentation was nice, but both dishes were pricey. (Was surprised that we got a bowl of potatoes to share - not individual.)
• In Lubeck, Germany, there were a lot of ambulances
• On Stockholm-Chicago flight, US passengers were noticeably aggressive

You know you've been in norway too long when:
1) You start to believe that if it wasn't for Norway's efforts the world would probably collapse pretty soon.
2) You can only buy your own drink at the bar even when you are with a group of people.
3) You can't remember to say "please" and "excuse me".
4) You always prepare to catch the closing door if following closely behind somebody.
5) When a stranger on the street smiles at you, you assume that:
a) he is a drunk
b) he is insane
c) he is American
d) he is all of the above
6) Silence is fun.
7) You use "mmmm" as a conversation filler.
8) You think there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.
9) You know Norway's results in the last three years in the Melody Grand Prix Song-contest (Eurovision).
10) It seems nice to spend a week in a small wooden cottage up the mountains with no running water/loo and no electricity.
11) You know at least five different words for describing different kinds of snow.
12) An outside temperature of 9 degrees Celsius (ca 45F) is mild - in mid June.
13) You know the difference between blue and red ski wax.
14) You don't fall over when walking on ice.
15) You associate Friday afternoon with a trip to Vinmonopolet (Government liquor store).
16) You think nothing of paying 400 NOK (ca $ 50) on drinks one night.
17) You know that "religious holiday" means "lets' get pissed".
18) You find yourself more interested in the alcohol content than in the name of the wine.
19) You enjoy the taste of lutefisk (jelly-like, bad-smelling fish).
20) You think it's acceptable to wrap your hot dog on a cold pancake.
21) You associate warm rice porridge with Saturday and Xmas-eve.
22) You can prepare fish in five different ways without cooking it.
23) You don't question the habit of always making "matpakke" (Sandwiches wrapped in paper).
24) It feels as natural to wear sport clothes and backpack in the Cinema as everywhere else.
25) You find yourself speaking halfway Swedish with Swedes.
26) You can't understand why foreigners haven't heard about Bjorn Daehlie.
27) You know the meaning of life has something to do with the word "koselig" (cozy).