Our stay at Aaslaug’s reclaimed cabin exceeded our wildest dreams. She is a true beacon for understanding the Lofoten Islands, a repository of knowledge of cultural and artistic heritage who will help you understand the history of the place. Her hospitality was boundless. And her space, The Steamery, is one of the most beautiful we’ve ever had the privilege of staying in. You can hear the wind above you and see the rush of the water below you, look at the herons and gulls and eagles fly through the windows, and sense everything from within its cozy confines except the taste of the salt itself. Then of course there’s the landscape, which exceeds description by virtue of its sublimity. Kvalnes, where The Steamery is located, seems secluded even when compared with many other locations in the Lofoten islands; in any event, it is not touristy by any stretch of the imagination and has very little light pollution at night and so made for a perfect place to stay up to look for the aurora borealis. We can’t wait to make the pilgrimage back to Lofoten for a longer stay!

- Jonathan Schroeder and Sheida Soleimani