This yarn shop was exactly what I was looking for. A place that had local yarn, was easy to get to…read moreand was very close to the Petroleum Museum. They had a beautiful selection of yarns in every possible weight. I was visiting Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and I bought a beautiful handspun local alpaca in each country to make a fair-isle hat.

I visited on my recent trip to Norway, I had a pattern by Helle Siggerud that I needed to find yarn…read morefor. Store had helpful staff and Beautiful yarn!

As I said previously, bookstores are everywhere in Norway. I am a huge fan of Norwegian crime…read morefiction so I always run to the English section to see if they have any books that aren't available yet in the US and I was in luck! The Bat by Jo Nesbo (with a British translator) was for sale! This book isn't going to be available in the US for another year. This store had a great selection of English titles. I also browsed some Norwegian titles and have a list of books that I am not so patiently waiting to get once they become available in English!

Fantastic jewelry store in the heart of downtown Stavanger. I passed by several times and was…read morealways enchanted by the heart pendant display in the window. On our final day, we went in and inquired as the pendants were very unique - actual physical hearts as a pendant and not the normal variety. The employee who helped us was so good. She explained everything about the unique design and Bjork the designer. Helped me try it on, showed us other products and when she rang us up (of course it was purchased) she even told us about the tax program and how to fill out the paper. We'd been in dozens of stores during our trip and she was the only person to tell us about this. Very lovely store - so many unique items. The price was very reasonable. Before going in I had feared it would be too expensive but it really was in our range and not overly pricey for the quality and how interesting the pendant is. I recommend stopping in and picking up a unique piece of Norwegian jewelry if you're visiting!

for staples like milk, eggs, and certain non-perishables for the food pantry, obs is good, but as…read morefar as produce goes, most of the time they're not very well stocked so if you're looking for specific items you should probably go to the vegetable market across from the parking lot. obs is a type of cooperative so if you're a member, it pays to shop here as you receive a small % back and there's also a few other member only benefits.

Small house in the multicultural street Pedersgaten. Go here to find secondhand cartoons, movies…read moreand books. The place is full of stuff and full of charm.

As Americans in Norway, we were made to feel at home at this fashionable H&M. We didn't shop till…read morewe dropped, but we had an interesting conversation with clerks and other customers, who shared tips about places to visit and things to see. The store is part of a large mall with many dining options and a good wine store and grocery store. Try the spicy tuna and a smoothie at Joe and the Juice! Tell them Al sent you. If you shop at Macy's or Nordstrom's or the like, you'll feel at home in H&M. It's amazing that almost everybody speaks either functional or fluent English. Prices are high when you dine or drink, but the prices at H&M are comparable to what you'll find in the States. If you've read The Nordic Theory of Everything, you already know that Norway has a social system, supported by conservatives and liberals alike, that beats the U.S. all to hell because it provides the greatest good (universal health care, tuition free education, parental leave and affordable childcare) that leaves the U.S. crying in its beer. And, of course, things are only getting worse in the U.S. Thank you, H&M.

want to add to your home's landscape? you're bound to find some type of plant, flower, or tree at…read moreplantasjen. there's a large outdoor area for outdoor foliage on one side and on the other side is another outdoor area where you can find huge sacks of dirt, mulch, rocks in various sizes, and some storage sheds. inside you can find plants and flowers for the indoors, plant food, gardening tools, accessories, gadgets, patio furnitures and decorations, an assortment of grills; both gas and coal burning models. the store itself feels spacious and airy. since most stores and businesses are closed on sundays here in norway, plantasjen tends to get a bit crowded, but of course it's great if you need to stop by to pick up some things you need if you're spending your sunday gardening.