The Nordic Company

Monday, November 24, 2008

Grand Scandinavian Capitals Journey - A New Take on a Classic Getaway

We have a new Blog about Scandinavia and our insider's view with our custom travel and tours. Please continue to follow our blog posting on our new blog Insider's Scandinavia - Great Places to Go and Things to do!

We have worked hard to put together an impressive collection of tours for the upcoming 2009 season, but we have also kept on a few of our old favorites, with some new and exciting twists. Our Grand Scandinavian Capitals Journey is a timeless tour that has been with us from the beginning and this year, it is only bigger and better.

Scandinavian culture is so rich and intertwined throughout northern Europe that it often makes more sense to grab a little of each of the great cities so that you can have a taste of what each country has to offer, instead of only traveling to one or two. This is the type of journey that our Grand Scandinavian Capitals Journey can offer you. With fourteen nights accommodations, you get the best of the best. Starting out in Copenhagen, you will stroll the city and enjoy a festive dinner on the spectacular grounds of Tivoli. After another day, an overnight ferry will take you into the enchanting Oslo by way of the fjords.

From Oslo, you will venture into the breathtaking Norwegian countryside, ensuring that you get the best panoramic views of its stunning mountains and serene fjords. Your time in the countryside will act as a refreshing balance to the time that you spend in the cities. After an in-depth look at Oslo, you make your way to Stockholm for a few glittering days, and onto Helsinki by boat.

By the time you are finished with your Grand Scandinavian Capitals Journey, you will have experienced all of Scandinavia in a very intimate and friendly way. Our clients return to this tour year after year by way of referral. They enjoy the length, breadth, and depth of the tour, often expressing that our guides simply know when to stop and know when to keep going and always know how to make them laugh. The 2009 season can only promise more of the same wonders from this classic tour, with even greater service. We have been around long enough to know what works and what doesn’t and where the best memories are made. The Nordic Company can’t wait to bring you along!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Scandinavia - The Perfect Time to Plan

As the holiday season approaches, we at the Nordic Company like to impress upon our clients that there is no better time to start planning that memorable family vacation. By November, our dazzling 2009 brochure is off the press and ready to deliver to your door. We’ve just spent the last few months organizing new tours and revamping old ones, so we are practically bubbling over with eagerness to share with you this year’s latest knowledge and greatest tips. Furthermore, the generally gradual start to the travel season enables us to put a lot of care into your itineraries.

The holiday season enables you to get together with your family and discuss trip ideas in detail. Many of our clients come to us after Thanksgiving and having spoken with their family, they present us with a list of their travel ideas. The Nordic Company takes these ideas and turns them into a beautifully crafted, exceptionally memorable travel itinerary that will suit the whole family. Next time the family gathers, whether it be Christmas, Hannukah, or New Year’s, they can discuss the itinerary proposal, make amendments, and come back to us with a fine-tuned trip. Once all are in agreement, the Nordic Company will make the necessary adjustments and present the final product.

The best aspect of planning in the winter time is that you beat the springtime rush and you give yourself something to look forward to, just as the New Year begins. In the next few blogs, I’ll talk about some of the phenomenal tours we have for 2009 and some of the more unique independent itineraries that we have designed this past year. With a country as beautiful and rich as Scandinavia – there is bound to be something to catch your fancy.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Scandinavia - An Economy Apart

Given all of the news about the economy these days, we thought it might be useful to give you a window into the basics of Scandinavian economy. All the countries of northern Europe – namely Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland – typically enjoy free health care and education in addition to a high standard of living. Living in a socialist democracy allows them these benefits, but at the cost of a heavy income tax on Scandinavian paychecks. Income tax can range anywhere from 40 – 60 percent.

Business is also strong in Scandinavia. Low corporate taxes and minimal violence make Scandinavia a popular place to relocate and invest in. Job creation is based on a system called “flexicurity” which includes ample unemployment benefits, but also insists that workers take government sponsored training for new available jobs.

Although the sustainability of a socialist welfare state is contested by some economists, over time, the Scandinavian countries have done well to support themselves. Even in the current economic decline, Scandinavian countries remain strong and relatively rich due to their valuable natural resources and of course, their spectacular tourism industry.

Come enjoy the beauty of Scandinavia, still as timeless and pristine as ever, with a Nordic Company holiday today. It’s never too early to start planning your much-needed summer getaway or putting together a travel package sure to delight your grandparents – like a pilgrimage to their homeland. The Nordic Company is well-versed in special spots of Scandinavia and we are ready and waiting to share our knowledge with you!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Do Scandinavians Celebrate Halloween?

You would think in a land characterized by Norse mythology and tales of goblins and trolls that a holiday like Halloween would be easily embraced, but it is only recently that Scandinavians have warmed to the idea. Halloween has arrived primarily in a commercialized sense, providing an opportunity to host elaborate parties and attract curious consumers - and even the major sightseeing attractions have commandeered many of its festive qualities.

The best place to celebrate Halloween in Scandinavia? Tivoli Park in Copenhagen also known as Europe's oldest amusement park. Imagine a magical night time land lit up with glittering lights and whimsical characters - then add an incredibly eerie, ghoulish twist. On your stroll through Tivoli, you will be met with leering scarecrows, grinning pumpkins, and dancing skeletons - oh my! Like their festive Christmas twist, Tivoli goes above and beyond to make your holiday memorable and unique.

Friday, October 24, 2008

The Nordic Company Presents-Learning How to Make Lefse

Now that the holidays are fast approaching, aside from travel, The Nordic Company has also been thinking about food. Specifically, with the potato being one of the most readily available produces of the Midwest, we find ourselves craving some smooth Scandinavian lefse!

Lefse is a traditional, soft, flat potato bread made with flour, butter, and cream that has been carried over from the homeland. Well into the 1800’s, approximately 30,000 Norwegians immigrated to Wisconsin – where the Nordic Company is located – and consequently, nearly 10% of the Wisconsin population can claim Norwegian descent today.

This also means that a lot of us are highly skilled in the art of lefse-making. Lefse can be used to compliment a holiday dinner, to satisfy a late afternoon craving, or even to excite you for your upcoming, Scandinavian vacation! The Nordic Company knows there are many ways to prepare you for your wonderful holiday travels and lefse is not a bad place to start. Delight you taste buds with the following recipe…

Lefse

Give yourself approximately 1.5 hours to complete. You may use a lefse griddle, grooved lefse rolling pin, and flat wooden lefse turners, but they are not essential. You can also use an electric frying pan, a pancake turner, and a large mixing bowl.

Yields: 24 pieces of bread

- 4 cups of mashed or riced potatoes
- 1 stick of butter (or margarine)
- 1/3 cup of milk
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 2 cups of flour
- extra flour for rolling out the dough.

Measure out the potatoes into a large mixing bowl. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter in the milk; stir in the sugar and salt. Then pour over the cold potatoes and mix well. Stir two cups of flour until the dough becomes sticky and soft.

You may now heat the griddle or frying pan, but do not add any oil. Lefse is baked only on a dry surface.

Grab an egg-sized lump of dough and place a teaspoon of flour on the surface where you intend to roll out the lefse. Starting in the center, roll dough outward until the lefse is about the size of a dinner plate. Careful not to roll the lefse out too thin. If it breaks when you pick it up, start over. When sticking occurs, add more flour.

After you roll out your lefse, transfer it to the griddle and bake until brown freckles start to appear. Turn lefse over and complete the same on the opposite side. When done, remove from the griddle and place on a dishtowel and cover with another towel.

Stack the lefse pieces within the dishtowel and wait for it to cool. Once cool, wrap it in aluminum foil to keep in the moisture. When you’re ready to eat, spread it with butter, sprinkle a little sugar or cinnamon on it, and roll it into a log. Once the lefse is cooled, you may also freeze it for later use.

Enjoy!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Norway - Solstrand Smiles Back

With the flurry of an election year and the hurry of fall upon us, most of us find ourselves yearning for a life simpler. There is no inconvenient time to plan a relaxing retreat and in fact, right when you’re at the peak of your stress is probably the best time for it. Imagine a quiet view of calming fjords and a delicious plate of fresh mountain berries waiting for you at breakfast. This is only the beginning of what delights you will find at Solstrand Spa Hotel, just outside of Bergen in Norway.

Many of our clients are in a rush to see all the best of what Scandinavia has to offer, but for those who prefer a more languid, luxurious pace, The Nordic Company is sure to send them out to Solstrand. Located a short drive out of Bergen (or a scenic express boat ride), Solstrand Spa Hotel has been satisfying travelers for years with their friendliness and professional services, an expertise that could only come out of four generations of the same, dedicated family care.

Take a walk down by the water, enjoy a sailing excursion, or hop a ride on a sea plane. After you’ve ignited your adrenaline, indulge in one of Solstrand’s unique spa treatments or delicious Scandinavian meals. Nordic purity and simplicity remain at the core of Solstrand’s values and they work hard to bring this serenity to you.

So when you ‘round the bend in your rental car or disembark at the express boat dock after a few days of exhausting city traveling and you see the perfectly adorned white trim of Solstrand’s smiling yellow demeanor, you can smile right back. Relax because the Nordic Company has just delivered you to your home away from home. For more photos and information, go to www.solstrand.com. Solstrand is proud to be a member of the De Historike hotels and one of the prominent hotels of the fjords.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Shopping in Scandinavia - The Silver Lining

I am starting to get nostalgic for Scandinavia. It was around this time last year that we began planning our trip to visit our favorite countries for the holiday season. There is nothing more memorable than visiting Scandinavia at Christmas/New Year’s time when everything has acquired that festive holiday glow and there is no better way to find that special gift than shopping abroad – safe in knowing that there is no chance someone else will get your friend or spouse the exact same thing!

With the current uncertainty of the economy, it is natural to meet the holiday season with more worry than anticipation, but that does not have to be the case. The recent falls in Scandinavian currencies have made Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and others favorable shopping destinations for foreigners. Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, reported that Iceland, in particular, would be likely to receive a higher volume of foreign visitors during the holiday season with the intention to shop. This will prove healthy for Iceland’s wavering economy.

So the message is simple: “In every cloud, there is a silver lining.” With all the election hype and economy drama, a relaxing shopping getaway may be exactly what the doctor ordered and the Nordic Company knows just where to send you.