To travel is to live – How Scandinavians became globetrotters

“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, to roam the roads of lands remote: To travel is to live.”
– H.C. Andersen (1805-1875)

Many people know of Danish author H.C. Andersen’s classical fairy tales “The Little Mermaid”, “The Ugly Duckling” and “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, but who can honestly say they have read his travelogues?  Andersen was indeed a keen traveller – just like Scandinavians of today.

I’m Scandinavian myself. I know this to be true mainly because of two reasons:
1) My hair is blonde (with a little help from chemicals, but that’s besides the point)
2) I like my holidays

Scandinavians like their holidays.
A lot.

Even though the modern Swede, Dane or Norwegian travelling in a foreign country tweets his or her observations rather than write a proper travelogue, the wanderlust that H.C. Andersen suffered from has not left the building. Quite the opposite – we travel more than ever. January shopping in Paris, skiing in the Alps in March, the compulsory last minute holiday to a Playa de Wherever in August… and not to forget the twelve hour flight to Thailand in winter!

Obviously you must wonder why we even bother leaving Scandinavia in the first place. I mean, with lovely temperatures of -30 º F and the opportunity to enjoy £25 pizzas, who would ever want to leave such a place?!
Well… we do.

Why? First of all, we all want to feel like royalties every once in a while. As Scandinavia is the most expensive region in the world, the solution to the problem is simple: go somewhere else. Preferably to a country in financial crisis. Up-to-date suggestion: Greek cooking holiday on Poros.

Also, the rest of the world has made it pretty clear that they have no intention of learning to speak Viking.
A shame really, but your loss. (If you dare – click here)

So to avoid missing out on things, we have to learn other languages. Many Scandinavians study at language schools or universities abroad, I’ve done so myself and think it’s the perfect way to improve your language skills and experience new cultures. Scandinavians are a curious bunch! And adventurous as well (whatever the rumors may say), so combining language and surfing would surely appeal to many Scandinavians.

Last but not least, here’s a scenario for you:
Imagine an early January morning. It’s so cold that the thermometer has stopped working. It’s pitch-black when you leave for work. It’s even darker when you get home at 5 pm.
You know what comes next.
Whether intentional or unintentional, Scandinavians survive the darkness through holiday hunting online. It’s a good thing you can buy sunshine online these days!

(If H.C. Andersen were alive I bet he would fancy something like a yoga and scuba diving holiday in Egypt. That would make for some travelogue!)