Girls Weekend in Stavanger, Norway

JUNE 2016

Sometimes your best friend in the whole wide world texts you and says, "Hey, lets meet up in a small town in Norway!" and of course, you answer "YES!" That is exactly how this getaway to Stavanger, Norway came to fruition!

I arrived in Stavanger around 6 pm on Friday, and headed straight to our hotel, Thon Hotel Maritim. I met my bestie Jenny in the lobby, and we were immediately giggly with excitement. My first impression of Norway: HOT. What? Let's just say I packed according to the temperature forecast, and totally forgot to look at humidity. Highs in low 60s, lows in the mid 50s to me meant "jeans and shirts/layers". Nope. The 77% humidity made Stavanger feel drastically warmer, and started the weekend on an interesting note!

Jenny had scoped out the restaurant Egget, and it was perfect. It's a super small and intimate restaurant (maybe 5 tables) whose menu varies each day. Actually, there is no menu. You let the waiter know what kind of wine you would like, we opted for a fruity red, and then await your feast. The waiter then brings you different courses until you tell him to stop. Kind of like a healthy seafood version of Fogo di Chao.

We truly ate by candlelight!

All of our food was fish-based, and seemed to have a lot of Asian influence. We had versions of halibut, cod, and prawns, paired with kimchi, seaweed, sesame, and other vegetables. It was all delicious, and perfect for the warm summer evening!

After dinner we decided to explore Stavanger. It was only about 9 pm, but the sun was shining and the golden hour was upon us!

We worked our way to the harbor, and elbowed our way to a little table on the patio at a bar called Back Stage. We indulged in lots of prosecco, and caught up for hours! 

11:45 pm in Stavanger

On Saturday, we recovered until about 2 pm. Apparently, there is a large difference between being 21, and being 27. Noted.

We ventured out in search of some kind of refreshment and stumbled on Coffee Berry. We both enjoyed raspberry smoothies, which hit the spot! We were hydrating all day, so it was nice to have something that was cool and sweet.

The city was bustling! There was a giant cruise ship docked in the harbor, a heavy metal music festival (GREAT for a hangover), and lots of local vendors set up through the pedestrian streets.

We headed to the west side of the harbor, to an area known as Old Town Stavanger. No matter where in the world you are, I can guarantee that any place called "Old Town" is definitely going to be adorable! 

Stavanger reminded me of a small town in Maine - lots of white siding, vibrant flowers, and bright blue doors!

Exploring Old Town Stavanger was a great way to get out and enjoy the sunshine, without exerting too much energy. We headed back to the hotel to freshen up one more time, and then headed back to the harbor for dinner.

Initially we tried to have dinner at Fisketorget, which looked like the most popular restaurant on the water. From what I read online, its famous for its fresh ingredients and shoppable fish market. We sat at a table on the patio, and when we asked the waitress for food, she said all they had available was fish soup. I'm sure it would have been delicious, but after the evening/morning we had just experienced, that was just not the right dinner for us!

We walked a few meters over to our backup restaurant, and it was a complete homerun. Jenny spotted Tango's wide white umbrellas on the rooftop of what looked like a fairly ordinary building, and we made our way up the elevator to the grill on the top floor. 

The restaurant was super cute, and had a stellar view. We loved the blankets that were draped over our chairs, and definitely put them to use when it began to get chilly.

Tango offers small plates that are meant for sharing, and it was a great way for us to eat fairly lightly, but enjoy lots of different flavors. We enjoyed halibut sashimi, steak tataki, steak thai salad, a steam bun, and chicken sliders. It wasn't the most Norwegian meal, but it was delicious and totally hit the spot.

Oh wait, I need to take a picture!

After dinner, we decided we desperately needed ice cream, and that gave us just another excuse to wander around this precious city. We didn't find any ice cream shops (which made me miss Italy a little bit), so we popped into a convenience store and grabbed single serve Ben & Jerry cartons. We took them out to the harbor that we spent so much time admiring, and enjoyed the ice cream while people watching. 

Since our day started so late, we were so happy to continue catching up while exploring the city at a leisurely pace. Jenny and I have been friends for almost 13 years, and the best thing about our friendship is that we can go months without seeing each other, but when we get together its always like no time has passed. I am so grateful for our friendship, and as always, I want to be just like her when I grow up :)

Final Thoughts. 

Girls trips should be a requirement! They are just good for the soul. Have a stay-cation! Meet halfway between your cities if you live apart! Go somewhere totally new! Share a room, drink an appropriate amount of prosecco, and have "girl talk" until the sun comes up. It's definitely hard living this nomadic military lifestyle, but I am so thankful every single day for my friends from home who keep me grounded, and are always available for a good time. 

I definitely get by with a little help from my friends. I love you, Jenny Lynn! Thank you for a great trip!