hvorforikkes

[hvorforikkes]

Not deleting anything.

Today I opened my old blog with the intention of obliterating it. Thats not happening. Ever. At least I hope not. This random public diary I’ve had for years will be online as long as WordPress keeps it up! Autumn is a beautiful time.

[hvorforikkes]

Summerhome

It’s been a while since I’ve seen my mom. Mom’s scheduled flight to visit me back in April was canceled because of the COVID-19 situation and I myself have travelled nowhere since March. Then came the day when restrictions were lifted, air companies started flying in Norway almost like before the pandemic (way more expensive though)

… and masks are a must wear.

Curious fact: It’s the first…

[hvorforikkes]

Hello quarantine

This is pretty much what life looks like nowadays.

I have much to do, but little space.

Fortunately, we can leave our homes if we stay away from other people, which is not to hard in a city with around 3500 inhabitants and lots of space. #countingblessings

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Introducing my SCARF-obsession

I have always loved scarfs and shawls. Not only because I hate freezing and having a scarf can instantly save the day, but for their brilliant ability to brighten up any outfit. Also, they look great in photos. As a photographer, I really appreciate that.

Until recently, my scarf collection consisted of random pieces. Although carefully collected over the years at various sales around the…

[hvorforikkes]

Geneva

Do you have this one special friend that you have travelled a lot with? My partner in adventure is Caroline. We met studying journalism in the same class in Oslo back in… 2010. Wow. Time flies. Since that time, we’ve travelled to Haiti together, spent a semester studying in Amsterdam, been on vacation in Spain, Cuba, Russia…

Caroline has recently moved to Geneva for an internship, which is why…

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DESUCON 11

https://flic.kr/p/HyJezL https://flic.kr/p/JuQiJc https://flic.kr/p/Jo3DH4 https://flic.kr/p/JvCwLn https://flic.kr/p/JmEoRm https://flic.kr/p/HztzkR https://flic.kr/p/HCRpHd https://flic.kr/p/J9kNhh https://flic.kr/p/HCCUe6 https://flic.kr/p/Hzvcu3 https://flic.kr/p/HzvdYW https://flic.kr/p/J9kVr7

More photos on Flickr: https://www.flic…

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leaving alta

It seems that my time in Alta is coming to an end, but I am not leaving the north. I’m moving to Kirkenes, the mysterious city that lured me up north in the first place. Kirkenes is special because it lies right next to the Russian border, and the street signs there are written both in Norwegian and Russian. The times I’ve visited, I’ve heard Russian language everywhere. The first time I went to…

[hvorforikkes]

What a Farewell

I can’t believe my farewell party at Anker studentboliger (Anker Student Homes) ended with a security guard yelling at me and my guests while threatening to call the police. Our crime was drawing on the pavement with chalk. It was quite upsetting, but somehow a fitting end to the time I’ve spent living here, a year full of ups and downs.

Anyhows. My party became quite the exercise ≈ running up…

[hvorforikkes]

Ulyanovsk // Simbirsk

Slightly hangover, we grabbed some of the wedding bouquets (obviously for photo-ops) and left Imperial Club Deluxe to discover Ulyanovsk city..

I got to go to Ulyanovsk for the fairytale wedding I wrote about previously. It was a get-in-get-out operation. I would have loved staying longer, but since I had business to attend in Norway, I only got one day to explore the city of Lenin.

Sunday…

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Wedding in Ulyanovsk

Remember my friend Nina? Guess what, she just got married!

This is great for many reasons. Personally, I appreciate the fact that I got to visit a new city and that I got to be a wedding guest for the first time in my life. Somehow I missed the weddings of my Russian friends because of travels and exams (everyone I know over there got married in the beginning of those summers when I was…

[hvorforikkes]

city of dead

It’s customary to bring something to the table when you visit someone in Russia, also when you visit your dead. Notice how many graves in the photo are furnished with tables and benches? Mom and I brought some pirogs (Russian pie – пирог) with cabbage and potatoes with us when we visited grandfather. And we planted lilies – a beautiful and quiet day.

Når du går på besøk til noen i…

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New sights

so here I am…

while on the other side it looked like this…

view from Oslo Opera House

bridge back to Oslo S

Forgetting to leave the bus at the right stop is my speciality. Sometimes it’s an adventure. Like today: the sun was shining and I was in no hurry (until my fingers and toes started to hurt that is). Happy Winter Wednesday, everyone 😉

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Hooray, the sun is back to stay

Hooray, the sun is back to stay

We’re in the season of sunny nights. The snow is still lingering around many places, but when the sun is shining 24/7 and the thermometer is showing two digit numbers, I think we are seeing the last of it.

People can now meet up in groups since Norway has lifted many of the corona restrictions. After many weeks of social distancing and self isolation, I guess we just needed an occasion to get…

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We can establish that Kirkenes is all ready for Christmas when it comes snow.

Let it snow, oh We can establish that Kirkenes is all ready for Christmas when it comes snow.

[hvorforikkes]

In May It May

In May It May

This is probably the toughest time to live in the north. It feels like the spring will never arrive. We’re in May. My feeds on social media are filled with green grass, bare toes and balcony beers that belong to people living outside the Arctic Circle.

Meanwhile up north:

I quickly realized this was a bad day to wear sneakers.

  Last Friday I woke up to a white world. On the previous day, I was…

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Løkkekiosken in Tromsø

This little kiosk in the centre of Tromsø was originally built in 1911, by the eighteen year old Marit Løkke. Nowadays it’s called «Raketten» – the rocket, because of its onion shaped roof. Tromsø is known as the Arctic Paris. I’ve been told it’s because the density of bars and cafes versus citizens is the same here as in the original Paris. Raketten is the tiniest bar town and one of the oldest.

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Have to post another pic from May 17th.

It’s the last one, promise!