Happy New Year 2022! I hope I find you in good health and mood. 

I always liked January because it gives me new energy and perspective for the coming months. I buy planners, calenders, make notes and write goals, even I know that I’m not going to reach them all; it’s just the mood I get right now! 

 – Let’s escape for a while…

We were lucky to take a deep breath and relax during the last days of 2021 in Norway. This trip gave our family a good energy boost, and I’m sure we will be back there next year.

As you already noticed in the pictures, we escaped into a Winter Paradise. I almost forgot how winter feels! In The Netherlands, we have grey rainy days all December, and it feels like forever! The last time our boys could ski was in March 2019, just before the pandemic hit Europe. Even though the regulations and the covid situation are still challenging, we decided to take a little trip. We thought, let’s run away and hide somewhere in the middle of nowhere. 

 – Where did we go ? – 

We went to Norway for the first time, and since it was a very spontaneous decision, we didn’t do a lot of research on where exactly we wanted to be. We typically study and make plans for holidays, but this year was a pleasant exception. The only request we had was to see some SNOW. And boy did we succeed 🙂

We travelled by boat from Kiel in Germany to Oslo. The three hours in the car, waiting for the covid test on the Norwegian border didn’t change our excitement for this trip! 

Then after some driving on slippery mountain roads, we reached the Winter Wonderland! Gaustablik is a cosy ski centre, with few pistes, a different accommodation options: hotel, smaller and bigger apartments or chalets, beautify set on hills. It feels tiny scale, which we loved! Imagine the car parking with roughly 80 spots, a small grocery store and ski rental, and that’s all! Do you need more?

Many people told us it’s dark in the Northern part of Europe, especially in winter, but it was ok for us. It was getting lighter at 9:30, and the sun was setting around 16:00. Just after breakfast, you get ready for all winter activity 😉 Dinner is waiting for you at 17:00, and then you can relax: play games, watch movies and chill in the hotel lobby. It was just perfect for us. 

 – Frozen Lake –

We stayed in the hotel, which we chose because of the swimming pool and saunas for the evenings – which unfortunately were closed due to temporary covid restriction. Kids missed that a lot. One more reason we know we will go back there for sure! The hotel has a fantastic view of Gausta – the highest mountain in Norway.

And a large lake is just beneath it. The lake was frozen and covered in snow. Can you imagine? We walked on it every day in absolute white silence; what a dream! 

I tried for the first time cross-country skiing. Did you know that it’s a national activity in Norway? I believe like ice skating or cycling in the Netherlands. There were plenty of tracks prepared for it. Picture snow-covered forest track ready for you to explore. And the dogs! Yes, people cross-country ski with their puppies here. I honestly never saw such happy dogs running around and puling their owners. 

– Cozy Perfection – 

In recent years, the Gaustablik Hotel, where we stayed, was bought by Swedish owners, and it is in the process of rebuilding. You can find the entirely new concept for this complex > here. No, it was not a sponsored stay 😉 we found the interior of the hotel very stylish and beautiful. I didn’t expect such a high visual treat on top of a Norwegian mountain. 

The interior is dark and smells of wood! The floor and ceiling are covered in this fantastic dark timber. Most of the furniture used in the space were upholstered with soft fabrics, which is what you need after a day spent in the cold! We loved the interior, full of Swedish and Danish design. &tradition, Bolia, Ji to mention just a few. So super stylish and elegant. 

The winter cosiness was created by blankets and animal skins – everywhere. I was particularly charmed by different sorts of light: small lamps on the tabes, on the corners of the space, the tiny candles grouped together and of course, the fireplace! 

– Night Walks –

I always say that people are either walkers or runners. I’m the walking tape! At night this place was as charming as during the day. I couldn’t get enough.