Dan Listwa
Western Norway is one of the most affecting regions on earth, and I owe my immersion in that awesome landscape to Anne/Mortisgarden. The coliving is wonderfully affordable (a novelty in Norway), rustic, and charming. More importantly, it is built and managed to foster authentic connection and community among its guests, the highest calling of any coliving space; nearly eight months after leaving, I still communicate semi-regularly with friends from my stay, and I hope to see some of them again when I return to Mortisgarden. You’ll notice how many disparate accounts are posting in reaction to a neurotic review by a roommate everyone (except, honestly, me) tried to understand and accept. I think that reviewer has a lonely, isolated life ahead of him. But I’m thankful his slanted negativity created an opportunity to rally and show affection for Mortisgarden. I see four of my roommates among these reviews and suspect I’ll see more shortly. Mortisgarden succeeds for its historic, rural ambiance. Unless you hate old country homes, you’ll be charmed by the living space. My room had a comfortable bed (I have back issues but slept wonderfully), an excellent desk and ergonomic chair, and big windows facing mountains where, after every rain, a half dozen waterfalls appeared. (I regularly sent waterfall videos to my family in the United States, expressing awe and good fortune at having stumbled across Anne’s webpage.) The common spaces were used frequently for group meals, movie nights, and long discussions. During weekday mealtimes there were sometimes too many cooks in the kitchen, but it took only a little strategy and negotiation to manage this. Meanwhile, the big refrigerators and two freezers meant everyone could stock up on food without difficulty, and the yard was filled with berry trees and mint bushes. Finally, the car. Among the best and happiest moments in my recent life were driving the car Anne so generously provides along winding mountain roads. Going for groceries in that little car was an opportunity to marvel at Norway’s stunning nature. Organizing trips to local spas or fjord-side saunas was as easy as sending a WhatsApp message. And when roommates wanted to see glaciers or cliffs covered in puffins, all they had to do was ask. There is more to say: the wood-fired hot tub on the lake, the mountain cabin, the crystalline swimming spots, the hillside mists, the ferry rides up to Älesund…so many details that made Mortisgarden one of the best decisions of my life, and a home away from home I will visit again.