Journey to the Scandinavian Wonders: An Artist's 25 Days in the North

I haven't written a blog in ages, but after the biggest adventure of my life, I just have to share what happened. I'm not much of a writer, but this 25-day trip to Scandinavia (well, 23 days actually in the region) deserves a little reflection. I doubt I'll ever forget it, but this way I can always revisit it to draw strength and inspiration. This trip was also significant for the development of my illustration style, even though I barely had time to draw. I tried to visualize and store every moment in my mind.

Everyone knows about well-organized trips and the big cities – Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm... but these, and the crowds, didn’t appeal to us! Big cities can be visited anytime with a short flight. We, on the other hand, planned a road trip to reach places that are difficult or nearly impossible to get to by plane. Plus, let's be honest, self-designed trips are just cooler, right?

We were driven by our love for nature, and I had always dreamt of Scandinavia – not the big cities, but the real, wild landscapes where nature and northern culture dominate. I started planning this kind of trip two years ago, and though I didn’t spend much time on it back then, I had some notes, saved accommodations, and, of course, dreams, especially about the Dalarna region in Sweden.

We began seriously planning the trip in early January 2024 because we needed a little escape from the chaos of everyday life and the “Easternized” reality of Hungary. Also, we wanted to celebrate our 10th anniversary in a memorable way. :)

The original plan was a week and a half in Sweden, renting a car from Stockholm. However, we quickly learned that car rental companies usually only accept credit cards, not debit cards (understandably, but we didn’t want that), so we scrapped that plan. Instead, we set out in our own car, with the aim of reaching Norway as well. The car is a 13-year-old Volkswagen Polo with relatively low mileage, so the only concerns were an older part breaking down or tire wear. Oh, and whether all our luggage would fit! :)

A Scandinavian road trip required at least two nights in Germany, and we timed our journey to catch sight of the puffins on Runde Island (as they leave by early August) and to find ripe blueberries in Sweden. Late July and early August were the ideal times, especially since our work was naturally slow during that period.

The trip needed detailed planning (which is not like me): fuel costs, accommodation fees, booking lodgings, creating a detailed itinerary, servicing the car, arranging EU health insurance cards (Norway is in the Schengen zone). We left buying travel insurance (with car assistance!) to the last minute and picked accommodations that could be canceled 1-2 days before arrival, just in case.

And of course, I couldn’t forget about the care of my teenage child, our four cats, three axolotls, and other aquatic creatures. Several family members and friends helped out, and without them, this trip wouldn’t have been possible. I didn’t plan any gourmet adventures, as we opted for a more budget-friendly approach to meals instead of dining out, given how expensive Scandinavian countries are. The benefit of having our own car was that we could bring some ready-made meals along. Still, we tried a few local specialties from the shops. :)

All in all, it was a huge adventure, and although I didn’t have time to create art along the way, I drew a great deal of inspiration from the Scandinavian landscapes. Much of it will likely surface only in the coming weeks and months. Soon, I’ll share more detailed stories from the trip and how it has influenced the evolution of my illustrations.