Take Me To The Mountain

Do you ever do that - be a tourist in your own town?

We've had the most amazing weather lately, and today we headed together with the rest of the tourists to the mountain with the lift. I felt like we saw it for the first time too.

There are still snow up there. People were skiing.

You can climb the mountain sacred to the sami people too. But that would be another five hours. And we had kids with us.

Afterwards we barbequed on the veranda.

Tomorrow it's back to the hamster wheel - but that's ok too.

Have a nice week:)

My Uncle's Cabin II: Vintage

When they bought the cabin it seemed untouched from the 60's - filled with typical Norwegian objects from the time. They've decided to leave it like that, and the result is a real "hytte" feeling.

I'd like to welcome all new readers who's entered via Trift Core: Thrifters around the world and my feature there. Please stay if you like!

And when I said I'd hurry up to capture the Arctic summer in my last post: It seems that back to stockings before you know it is now.

See you soon!

My Uncle's Cabin I

Another summery blogpost. I can't help it. I need to document my children in a summer dress. It's back to stockings before you know it.

The Arctic summer is all over the place right now. Like at my my uncle's cabin not far from here. It's a true paradise, with spring water running by.

The cabin is filled with vintage treasures - coming up next.

Are you still watching the Hurtigruten voyage? I traveled last autumn.

It's Summer Baby: Four More Weeks

Four weeks to due date. I'm not excactly Mrs sittingonmybumalot, even though my official maternity leave has started. I have a vague memory of being pregnant with my first: We watched DVDs in the middle of the day.

That's ok. I like activity.

The sudden Arctic summer helps, with warm winds sent from Kola in Russia. It seems to last forever, and we hang out by the shore.

For five more days you can tune in to the live documentary from the coastal trip along Norway with Hurtigruten: Follow the beautiful voyage minute by minute. I know I will!

The Shop on the Wharf

Bryggejentene (The Girls on the Wharf) is a well kept secret: A small shop and coffee house in a tiny village a 30 minute drive from my town.

The girls decided to start their own business, and now it's a charming tourist attraction. The children can play on the beach while you eat home made carrot cake on vintage plates, overlooking the sea. Or you can do like me: Bring home some large sitting cushions.

And sometimes you'll meet some confused kayak paddler who wonder how they landed on that beach.

How to get there? Cross the bridge, take left then right and drive until the end of the road. Then you're on the wharf.

Back to life. Back to reality

Hi everyone! I'm back from denial (charter holiday in Gran Canaria, looking very pregnant in ridiculous hat, not my most elegant moment). We had a wonderful time, sun and pool all along.


Some observations:

* Scandinavians don't talk to eachother on charter holiday. Any ideas why? I presume a combination of uncertainty of social status at home, (he could be a carpenter, he could be a manager) and general shyness (openness and smalltalk is not for Scandinavians). We swore we'd act differently, but ended up like everyone else. It's a little bit sad.

* Las Palmas is a beautiful capital. Had the best lunch ever at "El Herreno". I got my squid, and it was heavenly.

* Reading Michel Houellebecqs disturbing novel on tourism "Platform" is interesting on a holiday like this. I recommend it. Or not.

* Spring not sprung in the Arctic as I imagined in my holiday euphoria. Will it ever? Read my next chapter in a couple of days!

On 78 Degrees North

Svalbard is the northernmost populated place on earth. Longyear has three kindergartens, a school, cafees, library and a big tourist industry. It's isolated, and the only way to leave is by plane.

I need a few more ways out, so living there wouldn't be for me. But I loved to visit! And I see why people get addicted to the Extreme Arctic Lifestyle.

It's a magnetic place.









As you can see from the sign above, there is a good reason for the fence surrounding the kindergarten.







I'm somewhere behind that "hat".

More pictures on Flickr.!

An Ego Trip to The Capital

I just spent two days at a web conference in Oslo, as web is my day job. And you can never underestimate the healthy effect of two ego hotelnights, with breakfast all to oneself. Nor a catch-up date with a good friend. Simply a cure for tired mothers.

I like the Royal Palace and the park around it.

Nice to get home to these two, especially when thinking of Japan. It makes me so sad. You can help here.

Have a good week!