Explore the other Riviera

LANGESUND: Norway has a holiday region with just the right ingredients to solve a perplexing perennial problem for many families, namely where they should spend a vacation together.

It has all the makings of a good compromise, with something for those who want to head south and soak up the sun and for nature-seekers anxious to heed the call of the wild.

The region is called Sorlandet or "the Southland" - an attractive coastline of sheltered harbors and inlets in the southeast of the country on the shores of the Skagerrak Strait between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark.

Whether they want to hunt, fish, spend time on their own or with others, visitors are sure to find something to suit them hereabouts. The sporting activities on offer range from swimming, scuba diving, hiking, river rafting, canoeing and cycling, to name just a few.

This is a region where the Norwegians themselves like to relax and unwind, and locals refer to the 200-kilometer-long strip from Sandefjord in the east to Kristiansand in the west as "the Norwegian Riviera".

What makes this "Riviera" so different from its Mediterranean counterpart is that it manages to combine two different worlds in such a compact area. Instead of glamour and flashy yachts there is the solitude of the forests, just a 20-minute car drive from the bustle of the coastal resorts.

The visitor can watch the world go by while enjoying a drink at a harborside beer garden and find himself shortly afterwards on the banks of a deserted lake surrounded by lush woodland - just the place to cast out a fishing line and have a fine chance of catching supper.

The best way to explore the area is to turn off the E18 European Highway, which winds its way through this Norwegian landscape but offers little insight into its charms. The numerous narrow byways, which branch off from it, give visitors a genuine taste of the region.

Sometimes it is much better to take a boat instead, since the Southland's waters are a delight, too. Tours to the countless offshore islands are provided from most resorts, and there are plenty of places to hire a canoe for those who prefer to set off inland.

The resorts resemble a pearl necklace strung out along the coast. The attractive white clapboard houses with their characteristic red-tiled roofs stand out against the gray rocks and green vegetation. Nestling between them are rose gardens in full bloom and sun-bleached rocks.

The air around these parts is filled with the aroma of freshly-painted wood, the scent of flowers and the salty tang of the sea. Not surprisingly, many Norwegians have vacation homes here.

The historic and picturesque resorts along the coast begin with the former whale-hunting center of Sandefjord in the east and the port of Larvik. Meanwhile, Brevik and Langesund are famous for their fish and shanty festivals.

Placid lakes bordered by trees are as common in the Southland as shells on the beaches. They invite visitors to go swimming, fishing or canoeing. The quiet forest district of Vegarshei is special, too.

The lake of the same name is dotted with tiny islets; it is claimed that there are as many of them as there are days in the year. It's certainly possible to spend the whole day plying these waters, pottering back and forth, and always discovering something new. The rhythm of the paddle determines the day here, and in the evening, it is time to pitch a tent and listen to nocturnal sounds of the wilderness.

DPA

(China Daily 07/26/2007 page19)