• Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
en English US▼
X
sq Albanianar Arabichy Armenianzh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)da Danishnl Dutch en English US en English UK tl Filipinofr Frenchfy Frisiande Germanel Greekiw Hebrewhi Hindiit Italianja Japanesekk Kazakhko Koreanla Latinlv Latvianlt Lithuanianml Malayalamne Nepalifa Persianpl Polishpt Portuguesero Romanianru Russiansm Samoanes Spanishsv Swedishtr Turkishuz Uzbekzu Zulu
No Result
View All Result
  • Travel News
  • Travel Tips
  • Destinations
  • Travel Ideas
  • Entertainment
  • Finance
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • Tickets
  • More
    • Shop
    • Video
    • Food & Drink
    • Style & Culture
    • Cheap Deals
  • Travel News
  • Travel Tips
  • Destinations
  • Travel Ideas
  • Entertainment
  • Finance
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • Tickets
  • More
    • Shop
    • Video
    • Food & Drink
    • Style & Culture
    • Cheap Deals
Wingman Travels
No Result
View All Result
Ticketmaster FR
Home Style & Culture

Lessons of summer travel, Florida to Norway, during COVID

enpassant by enpassant
July 27, 2022
in Style & Culture
0 0
0
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Banner 2


Park-goers in Oslo, Norway, view “Cecile,” a poignant sculpture of Cecile Flatval, a woman diagnosed with incurable cancer and who had a mastectomy.

Park-goers in Oslo, Norway, view “Cecile,” a poignant sculpture of Cecile Flatval, a woman diagnosed with incurable cancer and who had a mastectomy.


Fabiola Santiago

fsantiago@miamiherald.com

Finally, this window-seat girl returned to the skies, stepping into the world for the first time since 2019, the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic would become our all-consuming reality, grounding intrepid but conscientious travelers like me.

I escaped to Norway, a new direct service from Fort Lauderdale to Oslo on no-frills Norse Atlantic Airways making the more than nine-hour trek easier — and, at $930.13 for an economy round-trip ticket, a bargain in inflationary times.

Now I’m back from a life-affirming journey to the mythical land of Vikings and majestic fjords, a place as different from the United States and as far from Florida and its hallucinatory politics as I could find on a flight map of outrageous airfares to Europe.

Almost 5,000 miles away — and no culture wars over sexuality or religion being stoked by divisive politicians.

No hang-ups with sexuality

In fact, nudity is elevated to its rightful stature — fine art, and not only Renaissance-style but more daring playful and erotic modern sculpture and installations. They’re showcased with grace and style — even in family-friendly parks. No gangs of medieval moms are vetoing them or sex education policy like in Miami-Dade County or trying to shut down a poetry festival like in Sarasota.

Norway heavily invests in cultural institutions accessible to all and in public art in recognition of the power of the arts to uplift the human condition.

Diversity of lifestyles isn’t an electoral issue, nor is the legality of same-sex marriage — permitted since 1993, with rights to adoption and artificial insemination expanded in 2009 despite objections from some Christian groups — under threat and at the whim of political winds.

There’s only one love: the one you choose to give and receive.

Despite the fact — or perhaps because — a gunman went on a rampage at a gay club on Pride Day in June, killing two and injuring 21, the rainbow flag remains an organic part of the landscape in Oslo as a show of widespread support.

It’s on the facade of the National Theater, painted on an excavator at a job site and on decorative lions, one named Pride, the other Proud, in front of a city-center restaurant.

“We must protect the right in Norway to love whomever we want,” Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon told journalists.

IMG_6908 National Theater LGBTQ+.jpg
Oslo’s National Theater sporting the rainbow flag of the LGBTQ+ community long after Pride Day, when a gunman went on a rampage at a gay nightclub, killing 2 and injuring 21. Gay unions have been legal in Norway since 1993. Fabiola Santiago fsantiago@miamiherald.com

In other words, the unequivocal response to incivility and criminality coupled with the rights bestowed on all to live free and safe lives feel like paradise for the weary American soul.

READ MORE: Americans, reflect on the hate-filled country we’ve become | Opinion

Inflation & COVID

But, surely, there’s no escape from inflation — or COVID.

Inflation is, I confirmed, a global phenomenon.

Norwegians protested at a Bergen town square the high price of petrol and electricity. People I met from all over the world also complained of price increases in all areas of life, from real estate to groceries. But those from Scandinavian countries didn’t feel the sense of constant insecurity we do. They have a strong safety net built into their lives. No politician is campaigning successfully on taking it away.

Another lesson learned: Ours is a world that wants to feel — and in this we’re all alike — that we’re now living in post-pandemic times. We’re not. COVID-19 is still with us in another highly contagious mutation, the BA.5 variant.

IMG_9395 Oslo city center.jpg
Tourists and locals jam the streets of Oslo’s city center unmasked on July 16, 2022, despite another highly contagious COVID-19 mutation, the BA.5 variant, circulating. Fabiola Santiago @fsantiago@miamiherald.com

I was surrounded by plenty of sick people on planes, museums and trains, and I saw a family’s lonely quarantine in their hotel room a few doors from mine. First, a COVID test was dropped off at their door, the free kind the Biden administration last mailed to homes, then came a steady stream of deli orders and room service for the duration of their stay.

I stayed healthy for only one reason: I masked up in close quarters.

I double-masked on flights, and this became crucial to survival on the return flight as an unmasked mother and her daughter sitting next to me nastily coughed for the 10-hour duration, as did the guy behind me. But he had the decency to wear an N-95 mask to protect others.

I also doubled-masked on a train from Oslo to Myrdal, from where you switch to the scenic Flåm Railway — one of the most stunning train trips in Europe — because a woman in my compartment was visibly very sick.

I didn’t mind.

Small price to pay to jet, sail and cruise through stunning fjords, to climb mountains and get lost in city streets, averaging 22,000+ steps a day to offset the fabulous bounty of first-rate buffets and dinners paired with European and African wines.

Small price to pay to clear my head from Florida fatigue.

IMG_7830Norway’s famous fjords.jpg
One of Norway’s famous fjords. Fabiola Santiago @fsantiago@miamiherald.com

Santiago.jpg
Santiago

This story was originally published July 26, 2022 6:01 PM.


Profile Image of Fabiola Santiago
Award-winning columnist Fabiola Santiago has been writing about all things Miami since 1980, when the Mariel boatlift became her first front-page story. A Cuban refugee child of the Freedom Flights, she’s also the author of essays, short fiction, and the novel “Reclaiming Paris.”
Support my work with a digital subscription





Source link

Previous Post

I Quad Biked 250 Miles Across Botswana’s Salt Flats — Here’s How to Plan Your Own Epic Adventure

Next Post

Rarotonga holidays: A budget-friendly villa on popular Muri Beach

Next Post
Rarotonga holidays: A budget-friendly villa on popular Muri Beach

Rarotonga holidays: A budget-friendly villa on popular Muri Beach

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Tornado tore through 200 miles of Kentucky. Here’s its path

Tornado tore through 200 miles of Kentucky. Here’s its path

December 11, 2021
Can I travel to the USA? The rules for travelling from the UK

Can I travel to the USA? The rules for travelling from the UK

June 2, 2021
SpaceX Launch Tracker: Follow Live Updates

SpaceX Launch Tracker: Follow Live Updates

September 16, 2021
Woman with life-threatening injuries after single vehicle crash on Tampa Road in Oldsmar

Woman with life-threatening injuries after single vehicle crash on Tampa Road in Oldsmar

November 7, 2021
Questions to ask before your first family RV trip | Lifestyle

Questions to ask before your first family RV trip | Lifestyle

0
Candace Cameron Bure: Does she still talk to Lori Loughlin?

Candace Cameron Bure: Does she still talk to Lori Loughlin?

0
Cherryville Sports Hall of Fame announces 2021 induction class

Cherryville Sports Hall of Fame announces 2021 induction class

0
Jenn Drummond, Park City mom, on top of the world

Jenn Drummond, Park City mom, on top of the world

0
Hawaii holidays: Eco-friendly tips and regenerative travel ideas – New Zealand Herald

This Is How To Travel In Style – SheerLuxe

February 8, 2023
Hawaii holidays: Eco-friendly tips and regenerative travel ideas – New Zealand Herald

Roads, Planes, Ships, & Trains: How to Get Around Alaska – Travel Alaska

February 8, 2023
Top 10 Best Vacation Places To Visit During Christmas! – Christmas 2022 Travel Guide

Top 10 Best Vacation Places To Visit During Christmas! – Christmas 2022 Travel Guide

February 8, 2023
Hawaii holidays: Eco-friendly tips and regenerative travel ideas – New Zealand Herald

Authentic New York-style bagel shop opens in Oakland – SFGATE

February 7, 2023

Links

Wingman Travels
Wingman Travel Agency
Car Rentals
Tours
Virtual Experiences
Tickets

Categories

  • blog
  • Destinations
  • Entertainment
  • Finance
  • Food & Drink
  • Sports
  • Style & Culture
  • Travel Ideas
  • Travel News
  • Travel Tips
  • Video
  • Weather

Newsletter

To stay on top of the ever-changing world, subscribe now to our newsletters.

Loading

*We hate spam as you do.

 

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

© 2022 Wingman Travels LLC All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Travel News
  • Travel Tips
  • Destinations
  • Travel Ideas
  • Entertainment
  • Finance
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • Tickets
  • More
    • Shop
    • Video
    • Food & Drink
    • Style & Culture
    • Cheap Deals

© 2022 Wingman Travels LLC All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In