Otto Bentsen (66) can hardly wait to travel abroad on new adventures. He retired two years ago – then he had one goal in mind: To travel as much as possible.
Then came the corona pandemic, and he had to put his dream on hold. Now he is only weeks away from being able to travel again, and he is going on holiday to the Canary Islands.
– Trips to the south are necessary trips
– The main holiday will be with my wife in August, but I have to take a trip already now. Finally I get to travel, and hope that there will be no flight cancellations. I go down for two weeks, to travel around, go for nice walks and enjoy nature, says Otto Bentsen to Dagbladet.
– Got the covid in the back hat
Bentsen tells Dagbladet that his wife, Elin Dragland, is still working and does not have the opportunity to travel with him at the end of June. Now they have planned an original holiday trip in August, as they can both travel. Then they will go on a car trip to Mongolia, if possible.
CAUCASUS: The couple loves to travel. Here they are high up in the Caucasus Mountains, from a holiday in 2017. Photo: Private
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– This year, my wife and I will drive to Mongolia, through Russia and Kazakhstan among others. We had actually planned the trip last year, but then we got the covid right in the back of our minds. It was a real downturn.
Bentsen, who has recently received dose two of the Pfizer vaccine, is a well-traveled man and has been to several countries in the last ten years, which he has written about on his own blog, Inditravel.
– If you were to recommend a country to travel to – which country would you choose?
– Then I have to choose Georgia. There is fantastic nature, the people are very pleasant and the capital Tbilisi is full of exciting food. I was there in 2017, and we had a great time.
TRAVEL IN NORWAY: The cohabiting couple over the age of 30 also like to travel in Norway. Pictured here from a ferry trip along the Helgeland coast. Photo: Private
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– Do not agree with Høie
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ advice to avoid all travel that is not strictly necessary to all countries applies in principle until 1 July.
Exceptions have been made for countries and regions in the Nordic countries and countries in the EEA / Schengen area that meet FHI’s criteria for low spread of infection.
– I want to encourage people to limit their travel activity abroad, because there is a lot that can be changed. You will be able to experience that things change in the country you travel to, and you will be able to experience that there will be queues when you return to Norway, says Bent Høie (H) to Dagbladet.
The Minister of Health reminds that the rules may change if the infection situation does.
Bentsen says he is aware of which travel advice applies, but still believes that it should be up to each individual to consider traveling to “safe countries” at this time.
– I do not agree with Høie, and think it is okay to travel abroad, where there is no high infection pressure, says Bentsen.
– But I agree with him that you have to pay close attention to the infection pressure picture in the country you are going to. I will do that on my journey, and I think it will be unproblematic, says the 66-year-old.
CONCERN: Minister of Health and Care Services Bent Høie is concerned that quite a few are now planning to travel abroad, even though the government advises not to do so unless it is strictly necessary. Photo: Gorm Kallestad / NTB
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Tired of being locked up
In one of Bentsen’s latest blog posts, he writes that he is tired of being locked up.
– This being trapped is linked to the fact that I finally looked forward to being able to travel, in my retirement life. But then I was denied on all fronts. I think the travel councils in Norway have been more or less conservative, but all countries have been blocked down, so it has been almost impossible.
Bentsen wants to emphasize that he understands that the rules are in the best interests of the people.
– I just miss traveling. And now I’m really looking forward to it.
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