Posts Tagged Oslo
A good start
For once I was home the whole month of January (apart from a quick visit to London). It’s been nice, but the weather was so-so for my taste – very, very cold. Once again I confirmed that I’m not made for Nordic winters.
Being home it’s been quite interesting to follow the changes in the river running past the house. One evening it was just amazing to listen to the crackling ice. I wish I could record it for you all. I haven’t heard anything like it.
February is off to a very good start. Work is busy and interesting. Held a lecture at an event organized by the Embassy of Canada in Oslo on Wednesday and two days later I was at Cambridge University, holding a lecture at Judge Business School. The event in Cambridge was very rewarding. The passion, the interest, the curiosity, the participation, in general the vibe in and surrounding the different colleges is very inspiring and if I win the lottery something I would love to get better acquainted with. £50K is not something I just have laying around… :)
After a nice dinner with friends on Saturday night I enjoyed Oslo from its best winter side, cross-country skiing in Nordmarka with my dad and brother. On days like these I forget all about what I wrote earlier. It’s one of the best places to be. Sparkling white snow, bright sun a clear blue sky.
No pictures this time around, but I’ll make up for it in my next blogpost. In five days I travel again – going back to the more “natural” life of being here and there.
Nordmarka
Posted by NN in Personal, Photography on 090907
There are many things I love about my hometown Oslo. Nordmarka, the protected forests surrounding the West, North and East of the city, popularly called “Marka” is one of them. It’s a true haven for outdoor activities all year around.
This past weekend the sun was shining and I spent the better part of the day with my family, walking, enjoying the silence the smell of pine and the beautiful landscape. Of course, brought my little compact camera.
Snowing in at Arctic
Some of the top snowboarders in the world travel to Norway each year to compete in The Arctic Challenge. This year we traveled up to Linderudkollen above Oslo for a few days of great sport, fun and snow – lots and lots of snow.
Below you’ll see Terje Håkonsen, one of the true legends of the sport and founder of The Arctic Challenge in the air over the monster quarter pipe. In 2007 Terje flew 9.8 meters over the coping, setting a new world record. Sadly the weather conditions did not permit heights up to 20 meters (65 feet) above ground but the pro’s put on a spectacular show. Truly amazing athletes.
The tenth anniversary was literally covered in snow. For almost a week heavy snowfall have pounded Oslo creating a true winter wonderland – Beautiful to watch, but tough for the crew and shapers making the conditions as good as possible for the riders.
A walk along the river
Posted by NN in Home, Photography on 080428
A few weeks ago the new pride and joy of Oslo opened its doors. The new home of opera and ballet premiered with pomp, circumstance and a firework display not known to man north of Skagerak.
It is truly a magnificent building. Set in one of the dreariest places in town, it’s a white hope of what to come. I’ve seen the building plans and I can’t wait to see and feel the difference it will make to my dear hometown. It will be great… in ten years time.
What difference a little sunlight do. After a fairly grey winter we got the taste of spring last week. People were smiling, eating ice cream – I had one every day last week, I took my bike to work and all was well. The past weekend I followed the river running outside my house down to the city center. A 30-minute walk, and what a walk it is. Anyone visiting should join me for a stroll.
Den Norske Opera & Ballett
A walk along the river from my home to the center of Oslo
Listening to: Explosions in the Sky / First Breath After Coma
Coming down the mountain
It was very nice to spend time with friends at Øknevann. It’s been a while, a few years in fact, since last I was up at there. A three, four hours drive up through Hallingdalen from Oslo. Close to Torpo, between Gol and Ål for those who know their way.
We arrived in the early afternoon on Thursday. It was snowing hard, the sky as white as the ground below us. Flurries everywhere, and quite cold. Started the vacation with digging room for the car through the two-, three-meter high bank of snow next to the narrow road. After a quick lunch we started on the roofs of the three cabins, digging and sawing of the heavy piles of snow. Surfing on top of the large blocks of snow, sliding of the roof was great fun, and a bit dangerous. One time I landed right before the massive slab of snow knocked me down, before collapsing over my legs. I lay there laughing my stuck ass off…
The day after was just as white, with stronger winds. After a long breakfast we put on our skies and went separate ways. Some farther than others, one lifting his kite and sailed into the landscape. Back at the cabin, I swapped my skis with snowshoes. I went for a walk in the deep snow with my camera. Much to my dismay the wind picked up making it very hard to photograph. Spent the time to dig trenches through the snow between the cabins instead. After shuffling the rooftops and digging deep walkways I was wondering what kind of vacation this would be.
Then, waking up the next morning to a clear blue ski, blistering sun and -11 Celsius I finally got the vacation I wanted. It was absolutely fabulous to walk into the mountains, surrounded by white landscape with majestic snowcapped mountains in the distance, the warm sun in the face. In short, the days following gave us a very nice Easter vacation.
Now, back in Oslo I have a day left before I head back to work. It gives me time to enjoy some good weather in my city too, and if all goes well, spend some time with my photography.
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Listening to: Sigur Rós / Vaka
Euro road-trip, leg 8
62 hours spent driving over 5800 kilometers (3600 miles). The two-week road-trip ended 00:10, Saturday August 11. A trip from Norway through Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and back. It’s been great fun, interesting, informative and at times tiring behind the wheel. More on that a bit later.
Euro road-trip, leg 1
Friday morning, the little red wonder car sped out of Oslo. Heading south, vacation had just begun. Less than one hour later and we were rolling on Swedish asphalt. Only seven hours more and we made it across to Denmark and drove into Copenhagen. It went surprisingly fast.
Færder’n
The weather was perfect. Sun, sun, sun. A gentle breeze and a fabulous weekend ahead of us. The Færderseilasen is the world’s largest overnight regatta, with more than 1100 boats taking part. A few professionals followed by a bunch of happy amateurs and of course a few dead serious not so happy amateurs. The four of us in “Villedagur” an Albin Vega built for leisure rather than speed were definitely not in the last group. Hardly even amateurs, but definitely happy =)
Snow, snow and I’m off
Yup! The snow is finally here. Or should I say there, since I’m not there now – more about that in a sec.
Peritonsillær Abscess
The last month of 06 had it, so did the first in 07. What you might say. Look at the title. No idea what it is? That’s good, because it’s pretty nasty throat infection. Tonsils grow to the size of mini-vans and the, well no point of going into details. It sucks and that’s it. I checked a medical journal on the Internet and what it told me was that less then one percent of the world population get this, and then only once. Well… I’ve had it six times the past ten years. So I’m pretty fed up with this by now. In the beginning of February I’m finally going under the knife. YAY – and I mean it.
Oh, one last thing. My Wii (Nintendo) is the bomb! So cool.