tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25229300611370819712024-03-13T06:46:16.563+01:00Pauls Planet, inspirasjon, motivasjon, foredrag Paul Olai-Olssen er eventyrer og foredragsholder med inspriasjonsforedrag og motivasjon for utdanning og underholdning.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.comBlogger280125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-35611050283571097282016-06-28T19:16:00.001+02:002016-07-12T00:16:27.721+02:00Interrail, main target: ROMA!<div dir="ltr">
My number one advice about a months trip in Europe is of course to go by train. The other is to plan for a maximum of two main destinations with plenty of headroom for spontaneous ideas.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhyJhW9MnCow31efH5RHJ5es0mk9UZF5kKoxa92BI4jj58Hv4IL-MWAvotMw1uBBVxWDermdVbP1EdF4XALQKmxmW_ZlKrXCPZKVjwcDWWdvfnjf2V-7uCJ3T-CfxHBAYKQHArOoGPpc/s1600/DSC_0001_7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhyJhW9MnCow31efH5RHJ5es0mk9UZF5kKoxa92BI4jj58Hv4IL-MWAvotMw1uBBVxWDermdVbP1EdF4XALQKmxmW_ZlKrXCPZKVjwcDWWdvfnjf2V-7uCJ3T-CfxHBAYKQHArOoGPpc/s640/DSC_0001_7.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You have to see it once...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
In line with this, <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.dk/2016/06/interrail-2016-biking-bretagne.html?m=1">Bretagne</a> was my first goal, <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.dk/2016/06/interrail-in-toscana-by-car.html?m=1">Toscana</a> was decided in the spur of the moment and Roma was the last vital stop, leaving the rest up to chance. It's been an incredible 17 years since my last visit to the Italian capital, but the city is still standing pretty much as I left it.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIVeLuAQ24kafRnuVywqUBFHRFcUvZGzjMyvTaanwtvufgGihqs3DumvE__dCw8J-b9QPa1K_YD93MLCaEOIfiBlNWppfkgUSf5YlsHx6n9DokzXglaAXKI6aoIwyHnWQ6RGh6d0dH5g/s1600/LrMobile1806-2016-014234243377671690.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMIVeLuAQ24kafRnuVywqUBFHRFcUvZGzjMyvTaanwtvufgGihqs3DumvE__dCw8J-b9QPa1K_YD93MLCaEOIfiBlNWppfkgUSf5YlsHx6n9DokzXglaAXKI6aoIwyHnWQ6RGh6d0dH5g/s640/LrMobile1806-2016-014234243377671690.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Return at nightfall, before the sky gets black ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
Three local Couch Surfers hosted me on their sofas, my sleeping bag making my visit less troublesome for them. All being kind and very helpful, not only offering shelter but also openhearted conversations.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnoug4y4U-G31Erc-l8GK5pjiVSrCgBqG09SOuwdldJM7M_9-eotnF4kqJUl9EyZNT_zhmBzVkMYJGVi0-i88m9ieNqj6-qXTDk4QLVewUPJXJTj7tOdi5UxToJldm3KSB_palKU4CEI/s1600/PANO_20160616_082308_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUnoug4y4U-G31Erc-l8GK5pjiVSrCgBqG09SOuwdldJM7M_9-eotnF4kqJUl9EyZNT_zhmBzVkMYJGVi0-i88m9ieNqj6-qXTDk4QLVewUPJXJTj7tOdi5UxToJldm3KSB_palKU4CEI/s640/PANO_20160616_082308_0.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a 360 degrees sphere flattened out, from inside Saint Peter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
Roma is perfect for walking. You have more sights than you can dream of within the reach of your sandals. Anywhere in between, try out a gelateria in search of the perfect icecream. You will most probably succeed every single time!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlNKemXVRS-WquBnv0vLgg_qCZ2FZEAXGYHHnvyhG-3qhGGLbKubA7mNSt2Vvk0vSHBBnNToRSn9tFARBE4ImGSmDnFvvZu32T4rifNA9WgjfbYINsSmIDV47h9FBl3hAejEBFiGm-ac/s1600/LrMobile1506-2016-084598401197522942.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlNKemXVRS-WquBnv0vLgg_qCZ2FZEAXGYHHnvyhG-3qhGGLbKubA7mNSt2Vvk0vSHBBnNToRSn9tFARBE4ImGSmDnFvvZu32T4rifNA9WgjfbYINsSmIDV47h9FBl3hAejEBFiGm-ac/s640/LrMobile1506-2016-084598401197522942.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is good, so good. Good. Goodgoodgood!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
My top travel tips for Roma are: get your butt out of bed early and find a favourite piazza! You need to be first in line, not to be trampled down. Saint Peters one day (opens at 07.00), Colosseum another (look back one hour later and you will be grateful for the advice).</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqs6G_Lu9Xg9MklDLSGpVNourwEv6FQiFVFq-5nu9adELPWfMdn-lHT9DPE8kCzQhbcLaf4Xl6dolesnj7fNUImsmjHlMgOSzqo5IyPohO3oLOrk00cv6bVR8U893Gw9wSxSAGylxnV4/s1600/DSC_0025_4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqs6G_Lu9Xg9MklDLSGpVNourwEv6FQiFVFq-5nu9adELPWfMdn-lHT9DPE8kCzQhbcLaf4Xl6dolesnj7fNUImsmjHlMgOSzqo5IyPohO3oLOrk00cv6bVR8U893Gw9wSxSAGylxnV4/s640/DSC_0025_4.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have a walk in Trastevere, still a charming collection of alleys in a former worker's district.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
Find a pizzeria like "Forno" in Campo dei Fiori, sit on the edge of a fountain, watch people taking selfiestickselfies ... and just feel the atmosphere. You are in ROMA!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujygltPhXirpQNjbWlfShDs4HDuQJ8WqEI1xuTzyrXQEZckRopbXoYMnIw6vLXisl_H2w7QopPHCeshPNZrYCgL5oI5Zv-IM4d0Pa2a7T6ZYHtBUVWES-V7PyTq6Sn6Ol3JjpgpaB0Bk/s1600/LrMobile1506-2016-080598541741050545.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujygltPhXirpQNjbWlfShDs4HDuQJ8WqEI1xuTzyrXQEZckRopbXoYMnIw6vLXisl_H2w7QopPHCeshPNZrYCgL5oI5Zv-IM4d0Pa2a7T6ZYHtBUVWES-V7PyTq6Sn6Ol3JjpgpaB0Bk/s640/LrMobile1506-2016-080598541741050545.jpeg" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-53261626553955143812016-06-25T16:32:00.001+02:002016-06-28T12:29:31.191+02:00Interrail in Toscana - by car! <div dir="ltr">
Continuing from Paris, I visited dear friends in Chambery, Lyon and Toulon. It seems all French cities have an old quarter with "mantainance-free" facades, colourful shutters and pebblestones.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYng5RGeAQx3Z4Fdbaj46tMs0H8TNdYvYHG1ldSY6yfKZtyFsa_hb1WLo8XJO9RS9Jxj0zp-18qR90E1sO3Qs81JxGlUVnQbo8Fawo0vtyu8TrGZT4VEw6AfH42oJDSmB8cA9qAlGfRXM/s1600/LrMobile0906-2016-0400153118276191507.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYng5RGeAQx3Z4Fdbaj46tMs0H8TNdYvYHG1ldSY6yfKZtyFsa_hb1WLo8XJO9RS9Jxj0zp-18qR90E1sO3Qs81JxGlUVnQbo8Fawo0vtyu8TrGZT4VEw6AfH42oJDSmB8cA9qAlGfRXM/s640/LrMobile0906-2016-0400153118276191507.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Old Toulon. Good atmosphere. And some girls in pink, in a matching doorway.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuqeLBAo-ULEOyytYIsfmtrPnrn60b2XProE21UU5O9gFWk2YoqJBEKEYmm9uJBhixHbfE5TXYNCpH6ZJ-d2AsClJR_VTKfIo2f5he7zf1BenxENsfHoT4LtifIko-xoGM2Sn2ep3LZY/s1600/IMG_20160609_230820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuqeLBAo-ULEOyytYIsfmtrPnrn60b2XProE21UU5O9gFWk2YoqJBEKEYmm9uJBhixHbfE5TXYNCpH6ZJ-d2AsClJR_VTKfIo2f5he7zf1BenxENsfHoT4LtifIko-xoGM2Sn2ep3LZY/s640/IMG_20160609_230820.jpg" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Having limited time with my friends after their work hours, the conversations were intense, and each minute valueable. Sharing a physical old fashioned hug, not merely virtual, digital ones, makes a great difference to a friendship. I am priviledged to know people that I love on a permanent basis.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
One of these is a crazy Italian who met me in Livorno and took me around Toscana for a couple of days.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6P8fbWQnwPFMxxc6PYwzNJnF7XUZEhiy_INfPPjDIzulQevGQPqJHI8MvFa5VSoMd3eV1EXlYbE5qmgBu6Mua8WwDRa98u9-QU0K5ziITrnY9L5fe3oqiZKLE_B8lcbL1cp74IT5e9M/s1600/received_10156870385420276.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk6P8fbWQnwPFMxxc6PYwzNJnF7XUZEhiy_INfPPjDIzulQevGQPqJHI8MvFa5VSoMd3eV1EXlYbE5qmgBu6Mua8WwDRa98u9-QU0K5ziITrnY9L5fe3oqiZKLE_B8lcbL1cp74IT5e9M/s640/received_10156870385420276.jpeg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A roadside camp, found late at night. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We followed the winding streets in the countryside, stumbling upon spectacular towns, fortresses, towers and ruins - and enjoying the rolling hills striped with cypresses skirting roads leading to grand villas.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDPJ9uhQ9_8QOHhNIh6B8kIDtnrAbY8wLKfVFLxfw-2KO9yGeMnRKLhBfN0Kzz2u3iVMmsyJCuS0sJK1xgJ7pkEszeF7VOiMMU0JBh0B4jahZIMx4B5WVDtcsOA1i9MdFJDncisFua5Y/s1600/LrMobile1206-2016-01479480134873658.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDPJ9uhQ9_8QOHhNIh6B8kIDtnrAbY8wLKfVFLxfw-2KO9yGeMnRKLhBfN0Kzz2u3iVMmsyJCuS0sJK1xgJ7pkEszeF7VOiMMU0JBh0B4jahZIMx4B5WVDtcsOA1i9MdFJDncisFua5Y/s640/LrMobile1206-2016-01479480134873658.jpeg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4naMdp16UqfOTUNl0tgCai55k0zZ93tTqKw8dn53vlKDgBV6E6uWgRXr-aVWXUMCoGfZW6dAh4nKosKnssE64GJF2XXbC-9y2GrqX5voDl-MojgUUzCqp6qZqKynw542HPdeBXH6667s/s1600/_20160625_175614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4naMdp16UqfOTUNl0tgCai55k0zZ93tTqKw8dn53vlKDgBV6E6uWgRXr-aVWXUMCoGfZW6dAh4nKosKnssE64GJF2XXbC-9y2GrqX5voDl-MojgUUzCqp6qZqKynw542HPdeBXH6667s/s640/_20160625_175614.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Siena, of course, but picturesque towns are found on every other hilltop:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX6eV-xfbByWpxwyrBPhWyQcstrvyEbxnumbmriDYHX-5_9-yHVUrX6bxH1tS70fPKc19QQwYssPx-pHB9KCoqZHoM8bWo869UMqDD1VkYjEnUMp8HxTnthN7PWHgMa6isOpE2sCcpTw/s1600/DSC_0007_5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEX6eV-xfbByWpxwyrBPhWyQcstrvyEbxnumbmriDYHX-5_9-yHVUrX6bxH1tS70fPKc19QQwYssPx-pHB9KCoqZHoM8bWo869UMqDD1VkYjEnUMp8HxTnthN7PWHgMa6isOpE2sCcpTw/s640/DSC_0007_5.JPG" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEPNl7Kr0JV7JsF_drHOtlQRS66rI7RFqTVkjhRV4yVqpFFbYCIxrRZElosJ9f30OD9T4xaeddIf9UXR6IanQO00AlYzZoI466Qf_UzK9SBfSo7Hji-gPtqjMBoR8LI0sEpevaibh3As/s1600/PANO_20160611_125142_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEPNl7Kr0JV7JsF_drHOtlQRS66rI7RFqTVkjhRV4yVqpFFbYCIxrRZElosJ9f30OD9T4xaeddIf9UXR6IanQO00AlYzZoI466Qf_UzK9SBfSo7Hji-gPtqjMBoR8LI0sEpevaibh3As/s640/PANO_20160611_125142_0.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMkzVpIBHTBJI6SQKLYAm5xni15qGSikR6zhNwOn3ab7Es42iGRpduNHZRaAfKoJS4UxS7zjhyxX0Og8ANh9XXUSjjPwln-tegcS09EzBZQSPWPOFa09-dkJv3lLDR2pLdIV_hF-B-BA/s1600/_20160625_163859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEMkzVpIBHTBJI6SQKLYAm5xni15qGSikR6zhNwOn3ab7Es42iGRpduNHZRaAfKoJS4UxS7zjhyxX0Og8ANh9XXUSjjPwln-tegcS09EzBZQSPWPOFa09-dkJv3lLDR2pLdIV_hF-B-BA/s640/_20160625_163859.JPG" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It is so amazingly green, everywhere. The lush colours, big old treet, olives, dates, flowers and cactuses... I just love cactuses.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroJ3l8bvyUTFQqFQk7L_dP64cXfFW1Rcr5LQ-tbQvnQm-uR6XYhxDimeNqyNwEtZLmpdUsgRUJW4fyTAACQJdeZNr3oO0hxgOHUZNXnnHUzxosokme9uFyptAjfSP3vrSWYPCV-7a_NU/s1600/LrMobile2006-2016-094457138540986990.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroJ3l8bvyUTFQqFQk7L_dP64cXfFW1Rcr5LQ-tbQvnQm-uR6XYhxDimeNqyNwEtZLmpdUsgRUJW4fyTAACQJdeZNr3oO0hxgOHUZNXnnHUzxosokme9uFyptAjfSP3vrSWYPCV-7a_NU/s640/LrMobile2006-2016-094457138540986990.jpeg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We topped it up visiting a couple of thermal springs, like Terme Di San Filippo below. The Icelanders must teach them about thermal power - it's a lot of it in this region.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBacswbn0AEOAq1GHZtqctaDrkBe7-_Ak1LN8U7M81kkiUpJHRkE9EsZcuk3_krdDJGM4ihT3GtZuo9HdIx4AWNHtW8Fy7wvXSdIq2ruAtzGhwCa-lQjyKFWw-tXv4kk7Wrw5zhK2frLs/s1600/IMG_20160613_140642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBacswbn0AEOAq1GHZtqctaDrkBe7-_Ak1LN8U7M81kkiUpJHRkE9EsZcuk3_krdDJGM4ihT3GtZuo9HdIx4AWNHtW8Fy7wvXSdIq2ruAtzGhwCa-lQjyKFWw-tXv4kk7Wrw5zhK2frLs/s640/IMG_20160613_140642.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Next stop Roma. See you there!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-28101299908492402162016-06-25T14:42:00.001+02:002016-06-25T16:00:12.518+02:00Interrail 2016 - Biking Bretagne!<p dir="ltr">Arriving to Gare du Nord in Paris by TGV, I had a glass of wine in the iconic "Grand Hotel du Clermont" before meeting a good friend that took me by car straight west, were two rental bikes were ready for us on the north coast of Bretagne.<br>
I never knew this corner of France, known for an aboundance of hospitality and rain. Parisians meant we were mad to go biking in this area at a time when half of France and Germany was suffering from heavy flooding, but we had mainly sun and hardly a drop of water for nine days!</p><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVwYUmTRtCP3lTNRA54UGQi8ki0WSclLSHdKqmQ6GUAOw_i8d3WZcxGOMbOKWnrEtGXSJQfQDJbgvAH0RMSr0_Zl1Yt8OSg-BH6KCOYF1f8YOpKLJ2uqT5VBUEYCDtDASe7opXbFEaS8/s1600/_20160625_152539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; text-align: center; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisVwYUmTRtCP3lTNRA54UGQi8ki0WSclLSHdKqmQ6GUAOw_i8d3WZcxGOMbOKWnrEtGXSJQfQDJbgvAH0RMSr0_Zl1Yt8OSg-BH6KCOYF1f8YOpKLJ2uqT5VBUEYCDtDASe7opXbFEaS8/s640/_20160625_152539.JPG"></a><br></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Romantic walkway under water, and not much headroom under the bridge...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt9BUYIR-GRSZ90b5epiyMLQ4-0sabbDe7sITZwimdkVvIN9fzT99MoXEaoQIrJHcUPlV3fk3a1Eh2U9A-hfcrWvA910DK6ZYtnAfTNHRa3QRk_b1h55ukSq4rGPixSkD7C0XmLKSOvo/s1600/_20160625_151522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCt9BUYIR-GRSZ90b5epiyMLQ4-0sabbDe7sITZwimdkVvIN9fzT99MoXEaoQIrJHcUPlV3fk3a1Eh2U9A-hfcrWvA910DK6ZYtnAfTNHRa3QRk_b1h55ukSq4rGPixSkD7C0XmLKSOvo/s640/_20160625_151522.JPG"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Partly following the historic "Sentiere de douaniere" that goes all along the coast, we biked adress a tidal road, so at the time of this photo we had actually biked to an island, where I enjoyed my oyster, bought fresh from cultivator.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iMvAJ46Buw2U8nhGe56lK-8cQ5ZuGngTySzIlAvcrhAPdhoU8697T30zlvx2ZRj497lq48EC102lIcedS1JythS7oAQr7f6bcF45IJQAIDeUtnCUjzoNnegdhcYLpZKcUEQUhgrQyCg/s1600/received_10156848854535276.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iMvAJ46Buw2U8nhGe56lK-8cQ5ZuGngTySzIlAvcrhAPdhoU8697T30zlvx2ZRj497lq48EC102lIcedS1JythS7oAQr7f6bcF45IJQAIDeUtnCUjzoNnegdhcYLpZKcUEQUhgrQyCg/s640/received_10156848854535276.jpeg"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Knowing our limits, we made a shortcut by train to Brest:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_Bs9O3Ty3twPVfb5VLSwtnGl0KPI_S6bv_hZ46bWEcQptR6dCbOGV_lACxABbrrFzlWggoRc6biZYvAWBo4WM2KuBJXw5Oh8k9jW1kEzwjyr9QY_iZw9qRRlnKdtHj2Dc0XllKE1798/s1600/_20160625_151832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_Bs9O3Ty3twPVfb5VLSwtnGl0KPI_S6bv_hZ46bWEcQptR6dCbOGV_lACxABbrrFzlWggoRc6biZYvAWBo4WM2KuBJXw5Oh8k9jW1kEzwjyr9QY_iZw9qRRlnKdtHj2Dc0XllKE1798/s640/_20160625_151832.JPG"></a> (please notice my professional, multi purpose red clothesline)<br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arriving by boat to the peninsula of Crozon, the sun continued to shine. Awesome rocks and cliffs!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2XmiD8qLB0PJ7VtyhBHjx2TN9PtdUx7xhCAiESbOaSQCP_6ecinUXT2CJcv08aRN9_WYz8BNEGLQgYo_quPAC80AWIIWVC7WjR0uGru5TmUsk3svlwGX1b4S-8vctpeVFiSjb9lVgIM/s1600/received_10156848854725276.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2XmiD8qLB0PJ7VtyhBHjx2TN9PtdUx7xhCAiESbOaSQCP_6ecinUXT2CJcv08aRN9_WYz8BNEGLQgYo_quPAC80AWIIWVC7WjR0uGru5TmUsk3svlwGX1b4S-8vctpeVFiSjb9lVgIM/s640/received_10156848854725276.jpeg"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One night, after a generous amount of wine, the tradisjon of illegal camping bought us into this field of marguerittes. Apparently military area, but hard to tell, in the dark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkTDWrNwv_IjZTkxTIgnbwt19dAjNDGsRtRVtp5atHU3aZcbePiBNLTLSde9HHd5wqL7E1ApaWToG_UtUPX7nJTRuvnW8KOME5zJcN4I0dDDtWD7X9_BlbT_kgRAcOsB_UZaD-_-oNNY/s1600/LrMobile0206-2016-124667343540214957.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkTDWrNwv_IjZTkxTIgnbwt19dAjNDGsRtRVtp5atHU3aZcbePiBNLTLSde9HHd5wqL7E1ApaWToG_UtUPX7nJTRuvnW8KOME5zJcN4I0dDDtWD7X9_BlbT_kgRAcOsB_UZaD-_-oNNY/s640/LrMobile0206-2016-124667343540214957.jpeg"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Strikt time limits (somebody had to return for work) forced us to return to the car, allowing a visit to amazing Saint Malo and the absurde experience of walking adress the bay to Mont Saint Michelle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy27F0FbmsIp7abHS6yfQ8QOHR_3rUy5i3JpqerksNvhU4AM2edHfTdnN7Bnsf76YZ4O-5Z2PWO5gdqw-xbv74rJ4BOhffO3KpMhvfIpFLE2YbxKbV0_vXGh2wSB8Sm7IM7z1lLHL6xgg/s1600/LrMobile0506-2016-07355061060637599.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy27F0FbmsIp7abHS6yfQ8QOHR_3rUy5i3JpqerksNvhU4AM2edHfTdnN7Bnsf76YZ4O-5Z2PWO5gdqw-xbv74rJ4BOhffO3KpMhvfIpFLE2YbxKbV0_vXGh2wSB8Sm7IM7z1lLHL6xgg/s640/LrMobile0506-2016-07355061060637599.jpeg"></a><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrtkOYe-GZpZF3_bjzv9JfSXimISycOm9eTQDllW8eiPbuskdN_aakOPDiAN0BmNitMorpfFFDta7p-lYZGajf-TzRILawk_lswfglUSdOUPRvE-BSpzBIWbtIjUQf6ve1Zr2LBMtTEI/s1600/IMG_20160604_174933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrtkOYe-GZpZF3_bjzv9JfSXimISycOm9eTQDllW8eiPbuskdN_aakOPDiAN0BmNitMorpfFFDta7p-lYZGajf-TzRILawk_lswfglUSdOUPRvE-BSpzBIWbtIjUQf6ve1Zr2LBMtTEI/s640/IMG_20160604_174933.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Totally worthwile! No more sun, but as the rest of the continent were drenched, we did not complain!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh... I forgot Jonathan. The coolest seagull ever. Kind of polite, very smart, patient and analytical - completely different from his hundreds of friends... He had paté and nutella all over his beak, when we left...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjDBG-wKyiJv7uwQMDLrdiGihlQi9h53oc5eRxZpDxLiRoT77-RIeU3-6X4eOsD4qsqJNrOGiD8FSekaBOpn4KafRzI23EYRPnbbp1xPxxqfCrXDokU7KMrx4Lvcnhgo1EHDA_LDyiPA/s1600/Fotor_146516061289897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjDBG-wKyiJv7uwQMDLrdiGihlQi9h53oc5eRxZpDxLiRoT77-RIeU3-6X4eOsD4qsqJNrOGiD8FSekaBOpn4KafRzI23EYRPnbbp1xPxxqfCrXDokU7KMrx4Lvcnhgo1EHDA_LDyiPA/s640/Fotor_146516061289897.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">... this is my first update made from my phone. Might look horrible, but might come more...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have a great summer!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-52973015383086201912016-03-16T15:38:00.003+01:002016-03-16T15:42:14.447+01:00Folkehøgskolene i Norge 16/17<iframe height="500" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=zyVF8GTt8i1c.kM8xMedmpMRA" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.folkehogskole.no/" target="_blank">Folkehøgskolene i Norge</a> teller totalt 80, inklusive pensjonistskoler, rubbel og bit. Gjennom 20 år har jeg besøkt mer enn 50 av disse minst en gang med mitt inspirasjonsforedrag - 30 bare dette skoleåret (flere innlegg på taggen <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.no/search/label/folkeh%C3%B8yskoler" target="_blank">folkehøgskoler</a>). Jeg har hatt gleden av å følge utviklingen i elevenes modenhet, skolenes struktur og ikke minst den økte anseelsen dette skoleslaget har fått de siste årene. Nå håper og tror jeg at oppsvinget i søkermasse vil vare ved, og forplante seg til så mange skoler som mulig. Det er optimisme å spore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Høsten</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kartet ovenfor er første utkast til høstens turne (zoom inn). Planen er å starte med å sykle opp til Nordland, og bevege meg med klokka rundt Sør-Norge. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Turneen dette skoleåret gikk nemlig uventet bra (ref tilbakemeldingene i </span><a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.no/2016/01/folkehgskolene-mener.html" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">denne bloggposten</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">) jeg sykler fra skole til skole også neste høst.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Oversikten og ruta oppdateres etter hvert som skolene slenger seg på, da endres fargen fra oransje til rød ved bestillinger, og dato vises. De som blir sorte har sagt nei for dette skoleåret. Jeg er fullt klar over at opptegnede rute er all for lang, men det vil gå seg til etter hvert.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nord-Norge må vente til januar, da jeg håper å besøke dem med tog og buss, og etterslengere får sjansen igjen utover senvinteren, som i år.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Planen er deretter å legge ut på en lengre reise som lenge har murret i bakhodet. Alt til sin tid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Foredraget</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I løpet av denne siste turneen utviklet foredraget seg til å involvere elevene mer og bli mer personlig, samtidig som jeg har funnet en ny balanse mellom struktur og spontanitet. Tema som mobbing, å være alene, styrking av ens personlighet, å snakke om sex, å være kritisk til media og ikke minst å være selvstendig i sine avgjørelser og holdninger har truffet blink hos ungdommen. Jeg illustrerer dette med lettfattelig grafikk og bruker frivillige fra salen for å tydligghøre budskapet. Enn videre har det slått veldig godt an å snakke rett fra levra, være åpen og ærlig og gyve på med den energien jeg føler er naturlig for meg.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tilbakemeldningene</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hvert foredrag innledes med en oppfordring til konstruktiv kritikk. Veldig gjerne negativ. Publikum bes i etterkant gi en score på temaene nevnt ovenfor kontra reiseberetninger og eventyr. Gang på gang forteller gjennomsnittet at det er de personlige tema som er best likt. Om noe er galt, er det at de vil ha mer. Og det kan de få...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Helst doble foredrag...</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">... framover vil jeg sterkt anmode skolene om å ta meg to eller tre dager. Hovedforedraget har tittel "Umulig og Utrolig" og bærer i seg elementene nevnt ovenfor. Foredrag nummer to kalles fra nå av "I møte med verden." Her er det reisetips, kultur, mennesker, fotografering, Midt-Østen og utvalgte turer som er i sentrum. I tillegg kan jeg holde et tredje foredrag om foto og -media. Foredragene bør vises og prioriteres i nevnte rekkefølge.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Satser på at 2016/17 blir like fenomenalt som inneværende skoleår - og deretter er det ... "Inn I Verden"!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">;o)</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-78014084013237296592016-03-09T01:15:00.001+01:002016-03-09T02:05:37.459+01:00Farris Bad - sauna og isbad!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vkup0mERxBg" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
Jeg er en mann. <a href="http://farrisbad.no/" target="_blank">Farris Bad</a> er et spa. Deri ligger en motsetning. Eller snarere <i>lå</i>. Nå har jeg nemlig vært der. Jeg har klint meg inn i honning i den finske badstuen, jeg er boblet, spylt, steamet, aromafisert og nedkjølt. Om hverandre. Igjen og igjen. Nevnte motsetning fordampet i takt med min egen kroppsvæske. Attpåtil ble det rekord av det - og ganske mye kunnskap.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wiYs9rT8aGyUTbVgNfkkHbPl3LVcW1FdAQWHxqhozTP8QI_YTb0V10waSBnHo01CWlWK81teLgELZOz9kHk0bnk01ShCxrirUpv8tnW6uvRX2AqSoqu6GFiejO1eR2jsv2yUKrzC7L4/s1600/DSC_2668-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wiYs9rT8aGyUTbVgNfkkHbPl3LVcW1FdAQWHxqhozTP8QI_YTb0V10waSBnHo01CWlWK81teLgELZOz9kHk0bnk01ShCxrirUpv8tnW6uvRX2AqSoqu6GFiejO1eR2jsv2yUKrzC7L4/s400/DSC_2668-01.jpeg" width="190" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Personalet skal ha mye av æren. Oppholdet ble avsluttet med en spontan "high five" og et slengkyss fra kvinnen i resepsjonen. Alle var vennlige, tålmodige og hjelpsomme, ja enkelte endog lidenskapelige og ivrige. Men vi hadde flaks i tillegg.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
russisk banjamester</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Denne uka har Larvik nemlig besøk av russiske banjamester Peter Evstigneev. I den digre badstua som Larvik utrolig nok spanderer på byens befolkning i kalde vintermåneder tar han hver dag folk med på rituelle saunaopplevelser. Saumfulle to timer går fra varmt via hett til smertefullt. Han ertet oss med små doser av friskluft, kjeftet på russisk, bad bønner, dæljet med bjørkeris og tillot en kort forfriskning i havet, før kroppene smertet og vi nærmest tagg ham om lov til å kaste oss ut i fjordens knappe varmegrad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Alt var bra. Folk elsket ham. Vi elsket isbadegeneral Trygve Bauge. Vi elsket <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sweatforcharity" target="_blank">Sweat for Charity</a>, vi elsket honningen. Det var klissete pupper i alle dimensjoner, jeg lå splitter naken "anføttes" med en herre jeg ikke kjenner navnet på. Det var sosial ryggskrubbing med snø, pisking med bjørk, meditativ pusting og skrik og skrål i skjønn forening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWEHTrOTqcnhigtHGVMMNHxMFm6NcWMET4y2IIEktf0fRr_et4sSQomefiWXAHTiJ3e7a2H8We95Ojr1im4SuS08OdpjMO6iNJ7Yvfxm8wSCsifv_yIKtOg9OAhVbN3gpC1okPLAIQDg/s1600/PSX_20160309_000303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWEHTrOTqcnhigtHGVMMNHxMFm6NcWMET4y2IIEktf0fRr_et4sSQomefiWXAHTiJ3e7a2H8We95Ojr1im4SuS08OdpjMO6iNJ7Yvfxm8wSCsifv_yIKtOg9OAhVbN3gpC1okPLAIQDg/s320/PSX_20160309_000303.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dagen etter. Badstua i bakgrunnen på stranda.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
syrisk rekord</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Og så har jeg ikke engang nevnt helgas største event, nemlig norgesrekordforsøket i isbading. Det trengtes borti firehundre for å bringe prestigen tilbake til Larvik. Bare 304 gjennomførte (pluss meg, som glemte å registrere meg), så norsk rekord ble det ikke. En liten trøst er det at det likevel ble satt en nasjonal bestenotering, ettersom drøye <a href="http://www.op.no/nyheter/syrere-satte-rekord-i-isbading/s/5-36-189160" target="_blank">30 syrere</a> skal ha vært uti! Tipper det slo den tidligere syriske baderekorden sønder og sammen!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
min rekord</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Og så var det meg da. Min rekord. Jeg er sjokkert, om jeg skal være ærlig. I løpet av helgen hadde jeg imidlertid hele sju bad i havet, pluss kalde dusjer og frysekulp i spa'et, så jeg var så godt forberedt som jeg kunne bli og stålsatte meg for å svømme fra stranda ut til spaøya på Farris Bad. Vel ... filmen taler for seg selv. Dana filmet med sin telefon. Og ja - det var jo egentlig prikken over i'en - at spaområdet naturligvis er kamera- og mobilfri sone. Derfor ingen ringelyder. Ingen </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">bilder. Ingen statusoppdatering. Ingen instaselfies. Kun den historiske filmsnutten.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Så dra på spa og ... LOGG AV!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Takk for en herlig helg til alle som bidro!!!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Larvik, Norway59.049207708762474 10.0195312559.032878208762476 9.97919075 59.065537208762471 10.05987175tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-91746908631684667622016-01-08T13:22:00.000+01:002016-01-08T13:22:00.124+01:00Folkehøgskolene mener:<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMLbJtdPs0-0hymjt0_0CFnDqb_QtUTSkmFvXch2yBu7Zt-sc6Eda3qPtK3LNQKldtPt_fVMcKHvs_1b2LnkRIc2_d7-WWxACOqoWCyRQv06osfNq5VHeiLSQIX7OY_tlBvjrvZEomoc/s1600/folkehogskoleskjema.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMLbJtdPs0-0hymjt0_0CFnDqb_QtUTSkmFvXch2yBu7Zt-sc6Eda3qPtK3LNQKldtPt_fVMcKHvs_1b2LnkRIc2_d7-WWxACOqoWCyRQv06osfNq5VHeiLSQIX7OY_tlBvjrvZEomoc/s320/folkehogskoleskjema.png" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Folkehøgskolene var målet for høstens sykkelturne med inspirasjonsforedraget til Pauls Planet. Tilbakemeldinger er alfa og omega for å utvikle dette videre, derfor la jeg på noen av høstens 23 skoler ut skjema til frivillig utfylling.</span> Bloggtittelen viser altså til elevenes mening ... for meg er det den som veier tyngst... ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Kritikk tas til etterretning og bidrar til at jeg treffer stadig bedre når jeg møter et hundretall elever på deres hjemmebane. Nye skoler venter nå på nyåret, selv om sykkelen må hvile hjemme.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
Elevenes vurdering</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jeg bad om separat score fra null til hundre på reiseberetning og personutvikling. Budskapet er at man skal utfordre seg selv og søke kvalitet for å bli et robust individ med egne holdninger og meninger. Resultatet var <b>92,7 poeng</b> på reise og <b>93,3 poeng</b> på personutvikling!</span><br />
</span><br />
<h4>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje66bJ-Ykm7I5Vw5kXggI3aICfhT7p8EPSTQCxSytx_0hjI8Cpc4Fhx68CmBxxsmHSyudfOCUcbTKSBm8n4PSM3IBaQfPGgRMtkRVhfAWR58LkkaBOpgZXFdEO9rrnMB22RHFs-Yt9QyE/s1600/folkehogskolene-kolonne-h%25C3%25B8y.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje66bJ-Ykm7I5Vw5kXggI3aICfhT7p8EPSTQCxSytx_0hjI8Cpc4Fhx68CmBxxsmHSyudfOCUcbTKSBm8n4PSM3IBaQfPGgRMtkRVhfAWR58LkkaBOpgZXFdEO9rrnMB22RHFs-Yt9QyE/s1600/folkehogskolene-kolonne-h%25C3%25B8y.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hvorfor?</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jeg oppfordret til skriftlig begrunnelse på bak på arket, altså HVORFOR? Utdrag av begrunnelsene følger her:<br />
<br />
-Kjempekjekt at du kunne ha seminar her. Fortsett med det!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Flott med mystiske og “utrolige” historier uten religiøst vedheng.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Kjempebra powerpoint! (…) Ikke ett kjedelig øyeblikk, (…) Ville gjerne hørt mer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Fantastisk. Utrolig. Inspirerende. Spennende. Gripende.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Holdt det interessant med humor og temaer vi kan kjenne oss igjen i.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Veldig engasjerende foredrag med kule historier og inkludering av publikum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Trur ikkje me får oppleva betre seminar i år. (…) Eg elskar engasjerte menneske!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Det er veldig gøy å høre på en godt voksen man som har så mye sjarm og lager spøker og er så komfortabel.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Teoribiten var bra og spennende for meg fordi det er aktuelt. Jeg er for tiden stupforelsket.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Du klarte og få fram gnisten i hjertet mitt og få meg til å føle, le … (…) Har litt problemer med både flyskrekk og sosial angst, men har kommet lang vei på begge problemene. Du aner ikke hvor mye dette hjalp.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Veldig mye energi. Mye Glede.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Entusiasme!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Du er veldig flink å få folk med</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Utrolig bra. Morsom. Engasjert. Intressang.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Er ganske sikker på at du kommer til å bli en klok, gammel mann.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Bra bruk av eksempler med elevene.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Det føles som om jeg har fått en liten oppvekker til livet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Du var bare jævlig spennende.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Ble aldri trøtt, noe jeg vanligvis blir på foredrag.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Presentasjonen var veldig lærerikt og morsomt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Du er veldig energisk og engasjert i måten du forteller på.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Du er så jordnær og inspirerende</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Du hadde mange spennende historier å fortelle og greide å relatere det til temaer som er relevante og viktige for oss ungdomer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Flink til å bruke eksempler og legger inn mye humor. Kjempegøy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Supert med masse selvironi og hvor viktig “hvorfor” er.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Fantastisk lærerikt. Utmerket fortalt og genuint!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Til tross for fyllesyken var jeg lys våken under hele foredraget. (…) Delen om individualitet, sex etc er godt illustrert og tankegangen din er lett og følge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Vil ha mer sosialteori.
-Gode poenger bygget opp av erfaringer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Du er en person med mye energi og lidenskap (…) og så var denne seminaren mest inntresange seminaren.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Elsker mennesker som er som deg. (…) Sykt bra foredrag!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Kunne gjerne vært lenger. Kunne tenkt meg å høre mer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Jeg har aldri opplevd at elevene har vært så interesserte og stille under et foredrag.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Synes seminaret var det beste til dags dato (…) Rask med gode svar fra spørsmål fra tilskuerne.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-god kritisk tenkning (…) fantastisk fotografi (…) spennende fortellermetode med mye variasjon (…) kunne ønske det varte lengre.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Måten du fremstilte reising på får det til å virke som dei aller fleste kan reise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Trur alle satt i ro og hørte på … for engangskyld.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Ikke minst kunne jeg sittet å høre i flere timer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Du har en personlighet som er mangelvare blant folk flest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Tak for et berigende møde! (…) Tak for din ærlighet og forståelse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Det var et utrolig bra tema, som ble presentert på en genial måte.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Tack for att du på ett äkta sätt delade med dig utav livet - på riktigt</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-Det kunne vært enda lengngeeere! (…) litt brutalt i starten (…) så åpnet du universet ditt for oss og for et interesant budskap! :)</span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHwwiDXaR0CFuF0OFw-M4w8A_5mMsII7VEfDzz1B-OEnS9QYyApCC-lqNNadire5ovsiqlhSr8avPxV4li4ShA_wLvxuhKa3IXTyxQo4tz4-znTVaQOtb-aZOlioBf_CKf_bS2KbMjWw/s1600/folkehogskole-kommentar.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHwwiDXaR0CFuF0OFw-M4w8A_5mMsII7VEfDzz1B-OEnS9QYyApCC-lqNNadire5ovsiqlhSr8avPxV4li4ShA_wLvxuhKa3IXTyxQo4tz4-znTVaQOtb-aZOlioBf_CKf_bS2KbMjWw/s640/folkehogskole-kommentar.png" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... noen av synspunktene jeg fikk inn.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... ja, er det rart jeg er inspirert til å fortsette?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">:o)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God Reise!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-22507987091492758512015-10-31T17:14:00.002+01:002015-10-31T18:03:32.313+01:00Tour of schools 2015<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 15 years of giving inspirational travel talks in "folk high schools", I am now doing a hard core tour by bicycle. Let me explain that a "folkehøgskole" is a one year boarding school with students averaging 19 years of age, with less focus on grades and more on personal development and activities. The concept works well and is pretty unique to Norway. We have such schools all over the country. So. I am now going from school to school by bike, and the map show my route. The yellow "theatre emos" are this year, the purple ones are to be visited next year (without bike).Blue is biking, black is bus, boat or train.</span><br />
<br />
<iframe height="556" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=zyVF8GTt8i1c.k_yOi5-ip6v8" width="556"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being in Jæren as I write this, 12 schools have had my visit, meaning I've biked about 2000 kilometres. It has been truly interesting, both getting to know the backroads of southern Norway, and to develop my presentation, meeting lots of students every week! Be sure to follow <a href="https://instagram.com/pauls_planet/" target="_blank">pauls_planet on Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PaulsPlanet/" target="_blank">Pauls Planet on Facebook</a>, in addition to popping by here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any questions or requests? Use the comments option below or write to me, contact info available clicking "mail" above.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Safe travels!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-86470545008158404142015-05-07T20:00:00.000+02:002015-05-07T20:00:05.949+02:00The toughest man.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="313" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ExlPJA_8AFc" width="556"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Imagine you live on one of the most remote spots in Europe. You tend your sheep farm, as your parents before you. Then, one slippery winter day you slide off the steep road leading away from the wind blown bay where you manage to make a living.<br />
<br />
You are paralysed waist down, after a miraculous survival. Your insurance company refuse to pay up. Everybody expect you to succumb, move to town, get the social services and benefits where the system wants you. So that is what <i>you</i> do, 'cause your name is not Ástþór Skúlason. He is a stayer. The toughest man I have ever met.
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOcKob49TaJwygBXQhikozFoEBPbes36Q_xxP0WjcMwjyLhPgguH0ZD3F83_Jkfs1rFzlDI1e7CpClQg9cJBoFChshma0ce8n8Q6OJLYTAx8KyTL_xqdvXLtOhr_oJLf7uGnSEP0fbRg/s1600/Melanes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOcKob49TaJwygBXQhikozFoEBPbes36Q_xxP0WjcMwjyLhPgguH0ZD3F83_Jkfs1rFzlDI1e7CpClQg9cJBoFChshma0ce8n8Q6OJLYTAx8KyTL_xqdvXLtOhr_oJLf7uGnSEP0fbRg/s1600/Melanes.jpg" height="400" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The farm Melanes has the exceptional view of Europes longest bird cliff, towards Latrabjarg.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OYT5pA6-8RM_N0pv_o8sXM5s3UC442haiiSHm1rL6N6Qsx-FyFj9qALLXdAmRxKUApcBGgvkMCr17mf4hIpXmJTyQapNjQJCnh30CJu2CldiwjwH66VSB7wdKFNAL_9fEqpt07Xu6wo/s1600/Astor+slaughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3OYT5pA6-8RM_N0pv_o8sXM5s3UC442haiiSHm1rL6N6Qsx-FyFj9qALLXdAmRxKUApcBGgvkMCr17mf4hIpXmJTyQapNjQJCnh30CJu2CldiwjwH66VSB7wdKFNAL_9fEqpt07Xu6wo/s1600/Astor+slaughter.jpg" height="260" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Àsthor slaugthering a ram.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHeX3ptfXBXep_b7YLaRiJeAiBeb-wYAJRuuejD4OYjuDX2xM4ZMFxzyUahx1YG_xxID4YHNbv6_PTxYQ_vP2Wc5_he3TpkZV5VbPFSTZUFQkHgJNm1vtQ5dfSaxqALEQa7hAaQu3p_I/s1600/balls+of+ram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHeX3ptfXBXep_b7YLaRiJeAiBeb-wYAJRuuejD4OYjuDX2xM4ZMFxzyUahx1YG_xxID4YHNbv6_PTxYQ_vP2Wc5_he3TpkZV5VbPFSTZUFQkHgJNm1vtQ5dfSaxqALEQa7hAaQu3p_I/s1600/balls+of+ram.jpg" height="260" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh testicles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7-3GozeqqZ3wXLKr1Dec2DHga8gUMGpTSfdQEMCcDrR92tRTpjgPIGseKHVZ-XyXALgR8OtTxj-VdORxb_dAanH5R3vKigVs84glKFm92kQ_jP5LA6YDCCFJ1_I9k1NmiXDYmHS_yeE/s1600/Raudasandir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7-3GozeqqZ3wXLKr1Dec2DHga8gUMGpTSfdQEMCcDrR92tRTpjgPIGseKHVZ-XyXALgR8OtTxj-VdORxb_dAanH5R3vKigVs84glKFm92kQ_jP5LA6YDCCFJ1_I9k1NmiXDYmHS_yeE/s1600/Raudasandir.jpg" height="400" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No wonder it is called Raudisandir - Red Sands. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Be safe.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Westfjords, Iceland65.4502740940149 -23.94847869873046965.4370805940149 -23.988819198730468 65.4634675940149 -23.90813819873047tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-86390722617924391202015-05-05T20:04:00.000+02:002015-05-05T20:05:44.474+02:00Iceland's Wild West<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vTG8ggOuBpk?rel=0" width="558"></iframe><br />
<br />
It was late in the season, but I pushed on and reached Làtrabjarg, which is the end of the road in Europe when you go west. Few people inhabit this part of Iceland and I got to know a fine selection of them. They brought me to search for stray sheep before they were sent off to the slaughterhouse. I can't imagine you get better meat than this.
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXoWA9dQ1M2cKFUjlTfAiTpOlvoz9zVkLqlrBcXdTKdPpL9TFUeVeLjz8Lip3HkWLSo8GJiuv_ibMyzLTwFA_8xD2i5vfRvNrBi49K3kwNv_GQR4l2RJM1xBcfd1wF-IHwlHFHBiY7ao/s1600/Lautraberg+360panHF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXoWA9dQ1M2cKFUjlTfAiTpOlvoz9zVkLqlrBcXdTKdPpL9TFUeVeLjz8Lip3HkWLSo8GJiuv_ibMyzLTwFA_8xD2i5vfRvNrBi49K3kwNv_GQR4l2RJM1xBcfd1wF-IHwlHFHBiY7ao/s1600/Lautraberg+360panHF.jpg" height="60" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view of Làtrabjarg, an amazing bird cliff and Europe's westernmost point.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQsL_uDKxofA3tXnZ-eDiG0jUMql37kDLZf-Oj7Q6IYOHgvlifQTgv4iKvvVmicaZUW3vp5JUquCPtxEmpxS39BxPpeC41YuL0gyVR83scXy7K8AGZtp9XnRvzgqVVypcQHbFtbBX5Hg/s1600/sign+end+Europe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQsL_uDKxofA3tXnZ-eDiG0jUMql37kDLZf-Oj7Q6IYOHgvlifQTgv4iKvvVmicaZUW3vp5JUquCPtxEmpxS39BxPpeC41YuL0gyVR83scXy7K8AGZtp9XnRvzgqVVypcQHbFtbBX5Hg/s1600/sign+end+Europe.jpg" height="410" width="556" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Be warned, this could easily be a literally DEAD END. Well, the road surely is. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcK7vbdVn_EXpG13-IDRbdt-gGyY0h-bhR5L2VMkOU5nGwmG0pJjkK5jN0Dlbe7vPHeYzgPzLTOCejilYUGHJ5yClGQ97jfxp55_4r0Qxu_T9FolScpuu5ZcJ9qNEi_POuVhrpWjfxbY/s1600/Eyvi+and+Paulo+and+Jakob.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcK7vbdVn_EXpG13-IDRbdt-gGyY0h-bhR5L2VMkOU5nGwmG0pJjkK5jN0Dlbe7vPHeYzgPzLTOCejilYUGHJ5yClGQ97jfxp55_4r0Qxu_T9FolScpuu5ZcJ9qNEi_POuVhrpWjfxbY/s1600/Eyvi+and+Paulo+and+Jakob.jpg" height="250" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eyvi and Jacob took me sheep spotting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjbDn0DEdre_W9tgJDF6WF86O9nAB7Bn20mvVFPelj7JNUfgD9UHUwf4bD7sylI6ytFkH9jQ4w-yURNR6WSHHzajraMAgIS4X65fC4i3zJUsU0zMe8HLeGyk4kdiEBKpbEtuXWrjAbmY/s1600/Eyvi+over+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjbDn0DEdre_W9tgJDF6WF86O9nAB7Bn20mvVFPelj7JNUfgD9UHUwf4bD7sylI6ytFkH9jQ4w-yURNR6WSHHzajraMAgIS4X65fC4i3zJUsU0zMe8HLeGyk4kdiEBKpbEtuXWrjAbmY/s1600/Eyvi+over+home.jpg" height="250" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ocean is 300 meters below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Borgar, a most peculiar guy in an isolated farm introduced me to some of his skills and interests. Making window frames from driftwood, restoring tractors and bulldozers, making the finest hangikjøt you can dream of. This is sheep meat hung in the smoke of sheep shit. Yes, you heard me. And it tastes like heaven. Check it out in this episode of Paul i Vesterled - Pauls heads Westwards.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcia-HWVJfOwfXdOXq2pSdowWq02gU3C0kNvftTQzfdo2nm7jDsJ-pqGtaYgB9h8IAf6IPgCQgpMr3AAyjR43aptnlvHW_WhpP99J13OCRuPOqQMQdICeALmxYzC2VEWZQwSLj3I7GgSM/s1600/borgars+place+3pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcia-HWVJfOwfXdOXq2pSdowWq02gU3C0kNvftTQzfdo2nm7jDsJ-pqGtaYgB9h8IAf6IPgCQgpMr3AAyjR43aptnlvHW_WhpP99J13OCRuPOqQMQdICeALmxYzC2VEWZQwSLj3I7GgSM/s1600/borgars+place+3pan.jpg" height="170" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borgar lives here, opposite Patreksfjord town. As he says; "Maybe it is not worse than anywhere else".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKX55NP7SQeZs35qjEU-MmE52mCbTE5Nk51OENEPVj-r8OlUUBhsMWtC_DqEP-1nlIhhcxIlNrmOuqnsXI5Qr8Th_jdR_fIyHuA6rx7UiOs6A18Ef9mysyoyPOoEHcXuJMSZyr1rilG48/s1600/Hangikjo%CC%88t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKX55NP7SQeZs35qjEU-MmE52mCbTE5Nk51OENEPVj-r8OlUUBhsMWtC_DqEP-1nlIhhcxIlNrmOuqnsXI5Qr8Th_jdR_fIyHuA6rx7UiOs6A18Ef9mysyoyPOoEHcXuJMSZyr1rilG48/s1600/Hangikjo%CC%88t.jpg" height="750" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hangikjøt made by Borgar. Meat does not get any better than this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Westfjords, Iceland65.503853575551631 -24.515991210937565.293601575551634 -25.1614382109375 65.714105575551628 -23.8705442109375tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-55628961505291256632015-03-27T00:35:00.000+01:002015-03-27T01:08:23.799+01:00Skagafjordur horse gathering<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uDpKV1MKdPg?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
All episodes of this series are subtitled in English and Norwegian. Sharing is caring, make sure to subscribe to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/PaulsPlanetLive" target="_blank">PaulsPlanetLive Youtube channel</a> and follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PaulsPlanet" target="_blank">PaulsPlanet on Facebook</a>.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXyOfw76mX_VHoFnCBahooZsii9FofETwg5DnPOZ9l4E4as6Y1wfjEVmLBu7EEu4-crH8epCtizezTa51-uZFPtlvvrV730cJEOvl3Glk8k5bxodF069WsBC-KP8DkEwfagQmiZr_5MM/s1600/lommelerke+kvinne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXyOfw76mX_VHoFnCBahooZsii9FofETwg5DnPOZ9l4E4as6Y1wfjEVmLBu7EEu4-crH8epCtizezTa51-uZFPtlvvrV730cJEOvl3Glk8k5bxodF069WsBC-KP8DkEwfagQmiZr_5MM/s1600/lommelerke+kvinne.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">click to ENLARGE!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sometimes on your trips, you meet people that just take care of you. They fix things for you, introduce you to fun activities, makes amazing stuff possible and over all contribute to radically improve your experience of a place.<br />
I already introduced you to Gunnar, who invited me to motorised outdoor action with big tyres and water splashing in the "<a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.no/2015/03/big-trucks-in-iceland.html" target="_blank">Monstertruck-episode</a>", but Samuel Örn Erlingsson was no less of a door opener. He is into the other kind of horse power. The one that comes one by one, on four legs...
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9drMsvjxmUii9-5InmEp6MAYhAYYtt2eyJPYD4qzCASLhzAlSBZWNbUGKQ1yQyJmaIhx-cChAqlSPWD-G1H3KibDxYOXE2cMbFuG_pKd-01BWOetzGz24NPe3eM8bMe4IYHfQXJ8RpP0/s1600/mountain+horse+SQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9drMsvjxmUii9-5InmEp6MAYhAYYtt2eyJPYD4qzCASLhzAlSBZWNbUGKQ1yQyJmaIhx-cChAqlSPWD-G1H3KibDxYOXE2cMbFuG_pKd-01BWOetzGz24NPe3eM8bMe4IYHfQXJ8RpP0/s1600/mountain+horse+SQ.jpg" height="556" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A classic pose. It is time to leave the high pasture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZCBqFPw4l3Eih3h8GttsDX3-_YlyfkLvryyyiBP60BF0xzFknwRR33TchGrfTeNEThmyOnxWsL5MbHal-Ugxw0-YNH5921ePcdt9VBO2W_Y4DPPXwMAQRSDIvXT3I-khyeTI7fYrKPQ/s1600/horses+and+people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZCBqFPw4l3Eih3h8GttsDX3-_YlyfkLvryyyiBP60BF0xzFknwRR33TchGrfTeNEThmyOnxWsL5MbHal-Ugxw0-YNH5921ePcdt9VBO2W_Y4DPPXwMAQRSDIvXT3I-khyeTI7fYrKPQ/s1600/horses+and+people.jpg" height="360" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The horse gathering is a social event.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25A0TqLINK65w31KerZ8GC38oYZ1BmtH_Y2bZ38V5KJjRq69GtUdJSxY-XUz1wD_w_nI_OnQexZz0rVzzj5x64P1u3C9SZ6hbRyNCW8p9SHnHOtCQtIqpxU8jJoYmEUtbzTEs1lSoHuw/s1600/horses+mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25A0TqLINK65w31KerZ8GC38oYZ1BmtH_Y2bZ38V5KJjRq69GtUdJSxY-XUz1wD_w_nI_OnQexZz0rVzzj5x64P1u3C9SZ6hbRyNCW8p9SHnHOtCQtIqpxU8jJoYmEUtbzTEs1lSoHuw/s1600/horses+mountain.jpg" height="360" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herd of Icelandic horses in Skagafjordur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1R4zuu60eFZNd5t_CxKmWDQo3Tum1s9XGJEP7zVLWHLapyH2oBKqJP7N2_RFQEFmziv4Gl6fUP93MnrVSaCmbK2C1tTVqjHNIYVIjqTx56W008YhyQEJxTKezKmyxsrmeIHlpMQh8H4/s1600/Samuel+horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1R4zuu60eFZNd5t_CxKmWDQo3Tum1s9XGJEP7zVLWHLapyH2oBKqJP7N2_RFQEFmziv4Gl6fUP93MnrVSaCmbK2C1tTVqjHNIYVIjqTx56W008YhyQEJxTKezKmyxsrmeIHlpMQh8H4/s1600/Samuel+horses.jpg" height="400" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samuel Örn Erlingsson in his right element.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiRDt1rnf46eEcbs4fuKcmyqHFIULtDfixGl6Xxi9bMT4fsUAIttV-PaYh0nHi677YKGW_Ef-45IfwFjt3as9LKB2xzK04_t4d3nCHlLxape6gOVmu6LRFKdIwoVcjyckZSSkMnxexeI/s1600/horses+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiRDt1rnf46eEcbs4fuKcmyqHFIULtDfixGl6Xxi9bMT4fsUAIttV-PaYh0nHi677YKGW_Ef-45IfwFjt3as9LKB2xzK04_t4d3nCHlLxape6gOVmu6LRFKdIwoVcjyckZSSkMnxexeI/s1600/horses+snow.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sun - snow - rain ... in one day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Samuel Örn Erlingsson</h3>
The days spent with Samuel were truly rewarding. Just by being himself he demonstrated the Icelandic culture of hospitality. It was an adventure from the first time we met, when Samuel was one of the drifters <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.no/2015/03/riding-across-iceland.html" target="_blank">riding across Kjølur</a>.<br />
We had delicious, tender horse meat in his home with his wife Ásta (a famed athlete), we made traditional food - Slautur -with his mother and sisters and we travelled to the south and the north in order to ride and check out horses.<br />
<br />
Wherever we came, Samuel had friends, and I slowly realised that he is some kind of a hotshot or celebrity on "The Rock", after serving many years as a sports commentator and "horse man" in Icelandic TV. It is said a book could be written about all his fun/erroneous statements when he was the "expert commentator" of all exercises in the winter Olympics, years ago, when they only could afford to send one reporter ...<br />
<br />
<h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2Usf6IamNBzA1Xoc9s-SAnYdTN43K3uR-3eghUa2MRuIub9EmBM-jxyU6X76UZvE0opXwQF-H3fQhGTb7k3VyRAfHuT1_pwRz3AeKS8Y0qWR5-o_R26qma33CLgj1UVuGdOB2b7gqj0/s1600/horses+heads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2Usf6IamNBzA1Xoc9s-SAnYdTN43K3uR-3eghUa2MRuIub9EmBM-jxyU6X76UZvE0opXwQF-H3fQhGTb7k3VyRAfHuT1_pwRz3AeKS8Y0qWR5-o_R26qma33CLgj1UVuGdOB2b7gqj0/s1600/horses+heads.jpg" height="556" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They breed both for physical quality and looks, making a thousand shades of brown ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Skagafjordur horse gathering</h3>
Going to Skagafjordur was special. You will see in the episode that the horses are driven down from the high mountains and gathered in the valley, before split between the farmers. There's singing og the great local tenors, drinking, competitions and an extremely social warmth. I was allowed to do pretty much whatever I wanted, and riding across Iceland some weeks before had made me rather comfortable on horseback, so this was pure fun.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Eating horse meat</h3>
Yes, I am a horse lover in double sense. The dinner in Samuels place was among the best. The cut is rough, but tells you a little story about the tradition of eating the horses:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IATyJmljTZQ?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Travel well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Northwest, Iceland65.390237323976535 -19.21508964687495864.968680823976541 -20.505983146874957 65.811793823976529 -17.924196146874959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-15084223674789593392015-03-20T05:06:00.000+01:002015-03-20T05:09:57.533+01:00Big trucks in Iceland<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UYTOK3KqkTs?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XjNN3mn-1jxOtlvW0OacjB5US5NPpdyuyhUEKeeeNUElg4MJlXOXLlEUooOG4hIfT_TfQGEz1NLAKVrbnUllbaMlRvLhQVL0aGmqxj15Oju-Ie_TDjSr8a43m57TcJIdWLT-QOWnNLQ/s1600/Econoliner+mountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XjNN3mn-1jxOtlvW0OacjB5US5NPpdyuyhUEKeeeNUElg4MJlXOXLlEUooOG4hIfT_TfQGEz1NLAKVrbnUllbaMlRvLhQVL0aGmqxj15Oju-Ie_TDjSr8a43m57TcJIdWLT-QOWnNLQ/s1600/Econoliner+mountain.jpg" height="145" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunnar's Econoline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Icelands first television sets were installed after the US base in Keflavik was established and they started broadcasting the kind of stuff the USAnians are served by their broadcasters. Iceland did not produce until much later, and this is probably an important factor shaping the Icelandic culture. They are much more "americanised" than the rest of the Nordic countries, and differs greatly from Norway when it comes to experiencing nature. Where we would walk, they drive.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hp_KODzy2d6e8Iat8tGAymI_NdTNXuLEg-9QvAmXJcPp4kAivOLLG6YdtX7wrRFY4y5894AvsaPc4fUaZ7Cg3oFWjaV0bRNTaB9eqMkSsAkZgkXgaEs7qnYrmywStkMwx6YheYMeOrY/s1600/cars+snow+5pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hp_KODzy2d6e8Iat8tGAymI_NdTNXuLEg-9QvAmXJcPp4kAivOLLG6YdtX7wrRFY4y5894AvsaPc4fUaZ7Cg3oFWjaV0bRNTaB9eqMkSsAkZgkXgaEs7qnYrmywStkMwx6YheYMeOrY/s1600/cars+snow+5pan.jpg" height="80" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rush our traffic jam in the mountains ... Click the images!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWA4Iln5_YsjwK2GzY50TtleDNeeUMXhYIXOSHkmimRVkJFViek01Gve1bFniamU3A3KQQq5ve2vNEVbAd-tt1lf2yljFa_4m6DOtu0ZVU95ADUTqOMjSeZTyGrhi0cpqqaExzb7H6Ow/s1600/Gunni+funny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWA4Iln5_YsjwK2GzY50TtleDNeeUMXhYIXOSHkmimRVkJFViek01Gve1bFniamU3A3KQQq5ve2vNEVbAd-tt1lf2yljFa_4m6DOtu0ZVU95ADUTqOMjSeZTyGrhi0cpqqaExzb7H6Ow/s1600/Gunni+funny.jpg" height="255" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunnar Birgisson - my kind of guy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsU1eoUIwtsRYPd7n2OQuLY79tXYSU7ZZPPsrD0RfHFALKoVfCn93SGoWm-5qpcouf1hXST_6cg_6-pZC_4jjgG7R8Yb8s51CRoBJqmZa88Ng5wDI90cvbh_Z5iRSY4lFYM66IAObDXB4/s1600/Gunni+and+ATVs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsU1eoUIwtsRYPd7n2OQuLY79tXYSU7ZZPPsrD0RfHFALKoVfCn93SGoWm-5qpcouf1hXST_6cg_6-pZC_4jjgG7R8Yb8s51CRoBJqmZa88Ng5wDI90cvbh_Z5iRSY4lFYM66IAObDXB4/s1600/Gunni+and+ATVs.jpg" height="255" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why walk when you may race?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yEhmC9_D3oWXy6j_hxSnHi8zRYeg22kALIFCFfIpFdYl9PJtpC3hCAOReCz0VUg0a8O7-jCBYiXMf8I4myiWT4cojyKkQ5vvKRAGsR-unSkRWWSrpUo2h_zzsm1Sz8HsmRn5N0bzZjk/s1600/ATV-fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yEhmC9_D3oWXy6j_hxSnHi8zRYeg22kALIFCFfIpFdYl9PJtpC3hCAOReCz0VUg0a8O7-jCBYiXMf8I4myiWT4cojyKkQ5vvKRAGsR-unSkRWWSrpUo2h_zzsm1Sz8HsmRn5N0bzZjk/s1600/ATV-fun.jpg" height="90" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ATV fun x 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlVz4Vj-WgiwVbUVrNGzQW5_YgnQdt4G3dqkq43jmETSVnQtZdZU11bwT31w7L21ORz8_-OOc2wfcTxnuJXM8vEjrep4bpS8bN_L6uOGaaq44EIUz-j3L-hcadbHh_N54nirxisRr5V8/s1600/Paulo+Gladiator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwlVz4Vj-WgiwVbUVrNGzQW5_YgnQdt4G3dqkq43jmETSVnQtZdZU11bwT31w7L21ORz8_-OOc2wfcTxnuJXM8vEjrep4bpS8bN_L6uOGaaq44EIUz-j3L-hcadbHh_N54nirxisRr5V8/s1600/Paulo+Gladiator.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Olai-Olssen dressed up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Welcome to the Machine</h3>
Horse power is the magical word. Monster trucks. Big wheels. ATV's. Their complete fascination for these noisy machines is in total contrast to the love of the Icelandic horse, which is more up my alley. Conflicts between these two groups of "horselovers" are frequent, as far as i experienced, the situation is rather clear cut. You love the animal or the machine. In this episode, it is all about the machine.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx3ResBT0IJLSV2J-3nlNQ8FnoNxSJbNkXSps8joMFRTt0DJsqhxWLlVD4sAUZyDTyKWcD7aRPmbKh53WYdi4UPXHwI2MMhbDsHChz5x-Z8SZBZVwtRkq8dKMTrUNdJaMQ270x5ly_4o/s1600/Gunnars+tattoo+ICELAND.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbx3ResBT0IJLSV2J-3nlNQ8FnoNxSJbNkXSps8joMFRTt0DJsqhxWLlVD4sAUZyDTyKWcD7aRPmbKh53WYdi4UPXHwI2MMhbDsHChz5x-Z8SZBZVwtRkq8dKMTrUNdJaMQ270x5ly_4o/s1600/Gunnars+tattoo+ICELAND.jpg" height="400" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunnar Birgisson is totally local!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYZvR8QTUx76uCLa0MDxZOcQgRK5rbuyUds2JdaD16l_kAOerN_JwoBkZbRMuKOEUKa_qF0qRUDy6RU-wnZuXO-LKCvUmyRRgA0cUwHammEqWfBleLmdi0CuL8Ybihtq9CnvgRfL3Xi4/s1600/Gunni+and+friends+in+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYZvR8QTUx76uCLa0MDxZOcQgRK5rbuyUds2JdaD16l_kAOerN_JwoBkZbRMuKOEUKa_qF0qRUDy6RU-wnZuXO-LKCvUmyRRgA0cUwHammEqWfBleLmdi0CuL8Ybihtq9CnvgRfL3Xi4/s1600/Gunni+and+friends+in+pool.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stripped of their engines and horse powers...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Icelandic men...</h3>
... are not men at all. I mean, they love to play. They are surprisingly childish and do not take themselves very seriously. At least none of the numerous guys I was lucky to get to know.<br />
As always, men behave more relaxed and are generally more fun when women are not around, that is a universal fact, but the interesting thing about these fellows, is that they may look like a bunch of brutes at first glance, which they soon prove not to be at all. Just overgrown kids, basically. Great to be around. Helpful, caring and considerate. Experimenting, daring and drinking. Problem solving and self ironic.
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MRPEcrz-2jD-jqwkVriXdFA6apGsjGe8QqMvDh0p0FnrERzoh56Ya1gYGT4ng-GdcXRy38xorAFM0nrG9hLRP7xLTFP5GF9-twbEtICtcFdN0766uLGW_RzWMBn3mjngekOVh1Aijzw/s1600/cars+on+top+360pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_MRPEcrz-2jD-jqwkVriXdFA6apGsjGe8QqMvDh0p0FnrERzoh56Ya1gYGT4ng-GdcXRy38xorAFM0nrG9hLRP7xLTFP5GF9-twbEtICtcFdN0766uLGW_RzWMBn3mjngekOVh1Aijzw/s1600/cars+on+top+360pan.jpg" height="60" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atop Tindfjöll the easy way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XNiJ2JbUrfswi37Lf_E_5DAD73zjtULH4XgaEvqN8zvB7HJ0QwtkmN36_nraGFV36rmgBjaMPtlD5YSWsgv0Q1q5s_uN4UmSsR8CUkB6gaIDYjEmVfLLahwIV3vQBUiJWDoZdq1f-e0/s1600/canyon+Paulo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XNiJ2JbUrfswi37Lf_E_5DAD73zjtULH4XgaEvqN8zvB7HJ0QwtkmN36_nraGFV36rmgBjaMPtlD5YSWsgv0Q1q5s_uN4UmSsR8CUkB6gaIDYjEmVfLLahwIV3vQBUiJWDoZdq1f-e0/s1600/canyon+Paulo.jpg" height="364" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Olai-Olssen in a leaking outfit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8uCpFcWB0Udt-GxP-WIOqM_gOaXN3LXqJr8mjZRSKPD-KDdi-65fY3y0qgX7coudoeFTm0RVCoCHmL0tQKbhO8-__xIJffhtQv3tkO0DOeNMCtt2lJYKbFFjiP_MRKcTrQ0y9eGO3hc/s1600/Canyon+Gunnar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8uCpFcWB0Udt-GxP-WIOqM_gOaXN3LXqJr8mjZRSKPD-KDdi-65fY3y0qgX7coudoeFTm0RVCoCHmL0tQKbhO8-__xIJffhtQv3tkO0DOeNMCtt2lJYKbFFjiP_MRKcTrQ0y9eGO3hc/s1600/Canyon+Gunnar.jpg" height="364" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunnar Birgisson the cave man.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Gunnar as cave man</h3>
Gunnar Birgisson had more to show me. Let me explain that I first met him on the Faroes, where he and a bunch of guys arrived by zodiacs, after crossing from Iceland. A mad venture, obviously. He told me that he could fix and arrange whatever I wanted to in Iceland, if I wanted to come. I wanted to come. He fixed things. And we naturally became good friends. Gunnar is a one-of-a-kind kind of person.
<br />
"I have more to show you," he told me. "Come on, it is going to be fun!" I knew Gunnar by then, so I was naturally sceptical. My death wish is very, very weak, and the expression in his face made it clear that what he had in mind was more than a walk in the park. Have a look at the video below. I am not going to tell where it is, as people are not encouraged to go there. If you do, please bring rope, helmet and a non leaking dry suit!
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="420" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A2m_8HglIF8?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
And that was all for for now. Next episode next week. Here's the sunset over Vestmannaeyjar:
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJqwrjaJoEVVKQUXKMtYFBOg4FKrhMZGrTEkNIZO0dmOtnIOIlG4BBFbTJP0oojpBCZeimlPLOk0JaiqS7Y_lgz6CeZPKOax4dp1SGKlz-EcsfBPoDV-dA-qLuMK15dAFgS6GP83oKmM/s1600/Vestmanaeyjar+sunset+2hfpan+SQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJqwrjaJoEVVKQUXKMtYFBOg4FKrhMZGrTEkNIZO0dmOtnIOIlG4BBFbTJP0oojpBCZeimlPLOk0JaiqS7Y_lgz6CeZPKOax4dp1SGKlz-EcsfBPoDV-dA-qLuMK15dAFgS6GP83oKmM/s1600/Vestmanaeyjar+sunset+2hfpan+SQ.jpg" height="556" width="556" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Have a good journey!<br />
<br />
<br />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-DNiTqW_1-rw%2FVQuVFzDsfZI%2FAAAAAAAAQZY%2FdmpVG-Durak%2Fs1600%2FGunni%252Band%252Bfriends%252Bin%252Bpool.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYZvR8QTUx76uCLa0MDxZOcQgRK5rbuyUds2JdaD16l_kAOerN_JwoBkZbRMuKOEUKa_qF0qRUDy6RU-wnZuXO-LKCvUmyRRgA0cUwHammEqWfBleLmdi0CuL8Ybihtq9CnvgRfL3Xi4/s1600/Gunni+and+friends+in+pool.jpg" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Westfjords, Iceland66.000150356526589 -21.6677856445312565.897046356526587 -21.990509144531249 66.103254356526591 -21.345062144531251tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-9234018778440512362015-03-12T14:32:00.000+01:002015-03-13T01:20:27.393+01:00Diving in Iceland<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gWjPeET-23Y?list=PL0UpDQnveZRxJx-nu-2GShNz_2dYxuQvS" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGp0qWKOlf_G52msEATMZz2X-see9AwS-vxX0Xp0oVCNahMVn6NffU2stb183qMjTz5r54wtBjG_TDp2aE8fCqcC00Y44NcH6wd1QrdQNabkfd24U5F7yvwLzKZsD8kv5zVlgkyOYjKw/s1600/Thingvellir+camp+crack+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGp0qWKOlf_G52msEATMZz2X-see9AwS-vxX0Xp0oVCNahMVn6NffU2stb183qMjTz5r54wtBjG_TDp2aE8fCqcC00Y44NcH6wd1QrdQNabkfd24U5F7yvwLzKZsD8kv5zVlgkyOYjKw/s1600/Thingvellir+camp+crack+crop.jpg" height="640" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crack camping</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">See the episode above, and click on the images for better viewing, as in all my blog posts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This time, I have visited Thingvellir, or rather Þingvellir, which has a special place in Icelands history. Since 1930 it has been </span><a href="http://www.thingvellir.is/english/" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">a national park</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, and since 2004 it has been listed as a a </span><a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1152" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">World Heritage Site</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. This amazing place lies in a rift valley on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, literally in between the continental plates.</span>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNhzgqE8jMsxdF7EAfjEiTA63oYVobMvNOUPAdrJALDDG6FJO60zPdLcn_HDZvYnLOsQsYn8bxVwxhUPReMSBX86nW2wIuzYxFZMQvg7kIpOYTKUz68gIZDW65o3E71kUmauMKdNvBso/s1600/Thingvellir+katedral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNhzgqE8jMsxdF7EAfjEiTA63oYVobMvNOUPAdrJALDDG6FJO60zPdLcn_HDZvYnLOsQsYn8bxVwxhUPReMSBX86nW2wIuzYxFZMQvg7kIpOYTKUz68gIZDW65o3E71kUmauMKdNvBso/s1600/Thingvellir+katedral.jpg" height="440" width="323" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">diving through the crack in Silfra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Diving in Silfra</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are many good dive spots in Iceland, most of them related to some kind of geothermal or seismic activity. I met Tobias Klose that is running <a href="http://www.dive.is/">dive.is</a>, a great company providing the best of equipment and security. It is fun to get to know people that show true enthusiasm for their work, and Tobias seems to have found his place in the world. He sent Andri Ómarsson to guide me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Silfra is one of the most spectacular destinations for any diver looking for spectacular scenery. No live to see at all, but who needs fish when you can stretch your arms out and touch two continental shelves?! This is unlike any dive, any place - strongly recommended.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOvt7vXZ1KLgRFqRuYXhlTyYkHHRORTBJnU61aGJ9n9b4F3bh5i3pAFtLjRu2nR9jv0ERURYUeglN95L4Gp2Mg1qS_r4JfUMEOyaphnPRcQzaAL3G5O_lmw12jhaxeZq3iFS4HJlm7TY/s1600/Thingvellir+lagune+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOvt7vXZ1KLgRFqRuYXhlTyYkHHRORTBJnU61aGJ9n9b4F3bh5i3pAFtLjRu2nR9jv0ERURYUeglN95L4Gp2Mg1qS_r4JfUMEOyaphnPRcQzaAL3G5O_lmw12jhaxeZq3iFS4HJlm7TY/s1600/Thingvellir+lagune+8.jpg" height="400" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the crack on the bed of Thingvellir</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpico36AhzcEtBW1GsvAmCZ7TZQPfBUWN9l_np-rwwMG-gPVmhdh0XgEntJ8UVS86NTy5kco-GJq_vmLwFOO2pDm9tDaqege9yZo5nvCQmiQCCLsluNDCp_nmMl2EADYQLzgdKw939U8U/s1600/Paulo,+Gunnar+og+Andre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpico36AhzcEtBW1GsvAmCZ7TZQPfBUWN9l_np-rwwMG-gPVmhdh0XgEntJ8UVS86NTy5kco-GJq_vmLwFOO2pDm9tDaqege9yZo5nvCQmiQCCLsluNDCp_nmMl2EADYQLzgdKw939U8U/s1600/Paulo,+Gunnar+og+Andre.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andri Ómarsson and Gunnar - great buddies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kleifarvatn</span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This lake is found only half an hours drive south of Reykjavik, in a desolate volcanic landscape.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> After an earthquake in 2000, </span><a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/10/1001_lostlake.html" style="font-family: inherit;">the lake started draining</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> by one </span>centimetre<span style="font-family: inherit;"> per day, but it is still there, so I assume the crack has later been clogged up. What emerged in the southern end of the lake </span>after the quake<span style="font-family: inherit;">, was some holes from where gas and hot water stream out, followed by shivers and rumbles.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5N4kaH_txfiPt-dJY7LtzJklmRyuAOwNgTfR3hYOvse8khQxuL-wgZZuU0BCbkG7ZAJQOXtpjvr3y5ox5PKK-9hXp-v9jcnBDrPo1CfxVMo2x04ZK7i5tEiP1K2MCaCFL60zwqrexlsc/s1600/Skogafoss+three+persons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5N4kaH_txfiPt-dJY7LtzJklmRyuAOwNgTfR3hYOvse8khQxuL-wgZZuU0BCbkG7ZAJQOXtpjvr3y5ox5PKK-9hXp-v9jcnBDrPo1CfxVMo2x04ZK7i5tEiP1K2MCaCFL60zwqrexlsc/s1600/Skogafoss+three+persons.jpg" height="730" width="556" /></a></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Alþingi</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What Thingvellir is most known for, is that the "Althing" found place here from 930 until 1798, being the parliament of Iceland from the time when it took 17 days for the most remote chieftain to reach the supreme legislative and judicial authority of the country. Iceland was not easily travelled back in those days, so it took a while, even if this place was chosen partially because of its convenient location...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The law speaker spoke from the Lögberg, the law rock, and was elected for periods of three years, in an amazingly open </span>democracy<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi264kdOEfWlZ-lB7Gz-esTGFcvfNUwO27CKWy8lrLtrKBvcJD8MFLxLYpZz0gqPxzkl7CuP6ZOSD36W23XVNODXQYwgdXN2TgUYtUDft323jFYO2o1-7CTuvMPDFtMxeJuORtw8D4hcMI/s1600/geotermisk+kraftverk+fasade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi264kdOEfWlZ-lB7Gz-esTGFcvfNUwO27CKWy8lrLtrKBvcJD8MFLxLYpZz0gqPxzkl7CuP6ZOSD36W23XVNODXQYwgdXN2TgUYtUDft323jFYO2o1-7CTuvMPDFtMxeJuORtw8D4hcMI/s1600/geotermisk+kraftverk+fasade.jpg" height="400" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hellisheidi geothermal power station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
Geothermal power</span></h3>
Five major geothermal power plants provides about a quarter of the nation's energy. In addition to electricity, the geothermal water heat up and provide hot water for most buildings in Iceland. Hydro power makes up for the rest of the electricity need, making Iceland close to 100% nice on the environmental clean energy scale (read more in <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/iceland-geothermal-power/">Scientific American</a>). If they only could run those monster trucks on batteries, then I would be really satisfied with them (more about those monsters in a later episode...).<br />
<a href="https://www.extremeiceland.is/en/information/about-iceland/hellisheidi-geothermal-power-station">Hellisheidi geothermal power plant</a> is actually the biggest of its kind worldwide, quite a cool thing to visit, bot to see the drill holes all over the mountain (vulcano) and the station itself, with its visitors centre.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingYg0nwvohRTR-95ffnpj_51bVULyTosQi9kwRcyRCq6sPoVF95ByCucGo5xzI70BGmibDO6r1bZqf6PkTAUWvdMigaLGfEBUEUmwjAVx9VmQTI8oVTGxaZ603QF6176eo13w2UInUH8/s1600/power+plant+interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingYg0nwvohRTR-95ffnpj_51bVULyTosQi9kwRcyRCq6sPoVF95ByCucGo5xzI70BGmibDO6r1bZqf6PkTAUWvdMigaLGfEBUEUmwjAVx9VmQTI8oVTGxaZ603QF6176eo13w2UInUH8/s1600/power+plant+interior.jpg" height="360" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">inside Hellisheidi geothermal power station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyDrdYvkYfLyR0zN9C5mQgXDmHzvK6gy7dmNQN45E1sLBsYkzu_2ZZGyFprHzGkIR7Iyr4BdDOtr7y7ZAJ3RmtbVJLgSSLyGphirTkF4pOUiZK4Dv1clpCKDi8cRJK913RBlUXde4cyM/s1600/geotermisk+kraftverk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyDrdYvkYfLyR0zN9C5mQgXDmHzvK6gy7dmNQN45E1sLBsYkzu_2ZZGyFprHzGkIR7Iyr4BdDOtr7y7ZAJ3RmtbVJLgSSLyGphirTkF4pOUiZK4Dv1clpCKDi8cRJK913RBlUXde4cyM/s1600/geotermisk+kraftverk.jpg" height="360" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">above Hellisheidi geothermal power station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Thingvellir, Iceland64.257271 -21.14429100000006738.7352365 -62.452885000000066 89.7793055 20.164302999999933tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-92025472003629930902015-03-10T22:30:00.000+01:002015-03-12T17:20:51.473+01:00Diving in Dahab II<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6INFYG31XcLs4K6Nmg77YTRGVvOj2DCFTaPLXpKRkaCxJ7sNqAYa29Rt09KKOqNw96sNI3L-x9XPpqHALJZYOUmnKXW24uXg7DBgp7rRkvE9EK7AM6lwP1aeLf2mNFTJn6TqXYvlnwI/s1600/fish+koffert+rock+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6INFYG31XcLs4K6Nmg77YTRGVvOj2DCFTaPLXpKRkaCxJ7sNqAYa29Rt09KKOqNw96sNI3L-x9XPpqHALJZYOUmnKXW24uXg7DBgp7rRkvE9EK7AM6lwP1aeLf2mNFTJn6TqXYvlnwI/s1600/fish+koffert+rock+crop.jpg" height="400" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffer Fish, only deadly if eaten.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PHnt9zdBLXkgLqcSz6faODkMXzJUKmnOKgfAOJzE7mUrxHCdYwFKOokC2UrVNDXbutEXGWuYW4JscmVw1Te7othyphenhyphen7M-Ug2PiHcTF4Y0RlPZ1FO1GWgk3roXb9T91qCLpRNkCWsEdptk/s1600/Bishbishi+sign+fix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4PHnt9zdBLXkgLqcSz6faODkMXzJUKmnOKgfAOJzE7mUrxHCdYwFKOokC2UrVNDXbutEXGWuYW4JscmVw1Te7othyphenhyphen7M-Ug2PiHcTF4Y0RlPZ1FO1GWgk3roXb9T91qCLpRNkCWsEdptk/s1600/Bishbishi+sign+fix.jpg" height="339" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what to look for.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were only in Dahab for three days, of which two were diving. The <a href="http://www.bishbishi.com/" target="_blank">Bishbishi camp</a> was recommended to us, and I will gladly pass on the recommendation, as Jimmy and his mates offer a safe and inexpensive place to sleep, with whatever advice and arrangements you would need.
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIN21HjNCN-lmJlJUBif7cO55eY3Vwp5aBa4koAtYbtUR25SeKhqoOGWRgeHwK3bZGSk6cbK53jMXTDzaj18U2wBRD5j4tKPtfGyKATTHSAHCzv_hodr3e095htQNEAQBUffGItVi3m0/s1600/Bishbishi+Jimmy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIN21HjNCN-lmJlJUBif7cO55eY3Vwp5aBa4koAtYbtUR25SeKhqoOGWRgeHwK3bZGSk6cbK53jMXTDzaj18U2wBRD5j4tKPtfGyKATTHSAHCzv_hodr3e095htQNEAQBUffGItVi3m0/s1600/Bishbishi+Jimmy.jpg" height="230" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimmy Dahab with hat, and Oula Dahab.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKnlmVYC5W3ZeQOJmKjPYYJDQLy8H3O7ClBhERCvOIXq4S0QTa8NzBg9btOA3IUNbW5JCLPbSUwEY67PFrM5v8mC0uDVi2l-rmgq58qeWl0e2HHq37sHwN3OlqiJMl-Xmnt4qyw9Iuwk/s1600/fish+many+yellow+coral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKnlmVYC5W3ZeQOJmKjPYYJDQLy8H3O7ClBhERCvOIXq4S0QTa8NzBg9btOA3IUNbW5JCLPbSUwEY67PFrM5v8mC0uDVi2l-rmgq58qeWl0e2HHq37sHwN3OlqiJMl-Xmnt4qyw9Iuwk/s1600/fish+many+yellow+coral.jpg" height="363" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is typically your first impression.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT91TOrg-ukU36z4OPAPMGRPGgtGNSqGsvvBEUqEzhE1PH9tCh42R88BtnIxY_4z9X5NDXLYoT48dmeSZMPJofQYjtZAw7OoOfOocHPwbGxY5DvkKx_UU5CRSiC9Awrz8CLAjgUSQ5ecI/s1600/Jim+diver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT91TOrg-ukU36z4OPAPMGRPGgtGNSqGsvvBEUqEzhE1PH9tCh42R88BtnIxY_4z9X5NDXLYoT48dmeSZMPJofQYjtZAw7OoOfOocHPwbGxY5DvkKx_UU5CRSiC9Awrz8CLAjgUSQ5ecI/s1600/Jim+diver.jpg" height="363" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim was the best possible buddy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the first perfect days, the wind picked up, but <a href="http://www.aqua-divers.com/" target="_blank">Aqua Divers</a> knew of a sheltered spot a short drive to the south. Visibility was reduced because of the agitated water, and the waves kept some of the sunlight out, but the experience was never the less very good.<br />
<br />
Jim, my experienced buddy from yesterday (read <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.no/2015/03/diving-in-dahab-i.html" target="_blank">Diving in Dahab I)</a> took me on a drift dive along the corals, not much deeper than 25 meters, reducing air consumption. The first of two dives lasted just about one hour, which is more than I've done in one single dive before.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEmwgzUrPf0y-cGekyG5HwDNlge-Voyvf8ZdfTpU-9dJDVWX3HH-bMyDeiWT2mRtkykchk1rbo0wGR8JSRapaQF36mfc-MBZXHNdfAXCkmnN9wWVopK-GlEKRCSKPegaMilvWilyiSzg/s1600/fish+koffert+spine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEmwgzUrPf0y-cGekyG5HwDNlge-Voyvf8ZdfTpU-9dJDVWX3HH-bMyDeiWT2mRtkykchk1rbo0wGR8JSRapaQF36mfc-MBZXHNdfAXCkmnN9wWVopK-GlEKRCSKPegaMilvWilyiSzg/s1600/fish+koffert+spine.jpg" height="200" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">porcupine fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAHEnHDd4HdQrMGyU25-F8oa9pup2AAhOxwV9ZnuUUSQSo0-7JCWtJw9ev6Cdnmo3lkxx0Ee4Equk-Lrzs-x1Nwb2qoJx6W53PL4B8NKoxgqJe01n4U76P1QsaNZDNRMXl5e0Bg_7EcA/s1600/fish+pink+spotted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAHEnHDd4HdQrMGyU25-F8oa9pup2AAhOxwV9ZnuUUSQSo0-7JCWtJw9ev6Cdnmo3lkxx0Ee4Equk-Lrzs-x1Nwb2qoJx6W53PL4B8NKoxgqJe01n4U76P1QsaNZDNRMXl5e0Bg_7EcA/s1600/fish+pink+spotted.jpg" height="200" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">colourful one ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIaNhcv5vatynCtE3YijVJi5L5n7E_gkiCB8N6WzHAidvTCQWQAar3gFXHIkXPBdBSig1S7kfvBNELs76zYi7M0GA_VJ24DIs1OIiMK3VCmUrAxe9MZ5NJFOUSvjYvExV7uNhV9Lwr3g/s1600/Paulo+dive+OK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIaNhcv5vatynCtE3YijVJi5L5n7E_gkiCB8N6WzHAidvTCQWQAar3gFXHIkXPBdBSig1S7kfvBNELs76zYi7M0GA_VJ24DIs1OIiMK3VCmUrAxe9MZ5NJFOUSvjYvExV7uNhV9Lwr3g/s1600/Paulo+dive+OK.jpg" height="320" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">total relaxation</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7HbbVtpGqZTCQs1N90Ub0_YC7pjQ188PiaMrZY4mWmzcAAZtpLZBSgETDewabsupqBz4Op2JP_6zllA-Zk1dHqVOjhHWvoiJYW7fEpU9wMwkCfIisidsWg_s2Vrv-_mczVPit8ob8GA/s1600/octopussy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7HbbVtpGqZTCQs1N90Ub0_YC7pjQ188PiaMrZY4mWmzcAAZtpLZBSgETDewabsupqBz4Op2JP_6zllA-Zk1dHqVOjhHWvoiJYW7fEpU9wMwkCfIisidsWg_s2Vrv-_mczVPit8ob8GA/s1600/octopussy.jpg" height="200" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">octopussy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBtqYuioGqQ4dQMMmsfhq6N-kMzcwgQWNXFeD2Mwtxrm-dQT86n6BZPwtg9vDQmKbGpX82l3P33Q2gdOgjz21mNs87u_ZRD1lybo-zahQxsI5gzwgROn0_nkZfUKJBIPrs-4tUXk6iic/s1600/worm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBtqYuioGqQ4dQMMmsfhq6N-kMzcwgQWNXFeD2Mwtxrm-dQT86n6BZPwtg9vDQmKbGpX82l3P33Q2gdOgjz21mNs87u_ZRD1lybo-zahQxsI5gzwgROn0_nkZfUKJBIPrs-4tUXk6iic/s1600/worm.jpg" height="200" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">funny wormlike thing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Even if nothing appears out of the big blue, there are so much to look at, and having a buddy you trust makes the pleasure even greater. One has to wonder why nature has created all these colours and shapes. The intricate systems of fish depending on certain corals for survival, the fine balance with water temperature and acidity of the seas. All these accurately tuned mechanisms that our generation of humans are putting at grave risk, in our selfish quest for "higher living standard". Our wonderful planet would for certain be much better off without homo sapiens.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBfm2o4vhCl2GQEX59umfARG7e8r5tNYYLp20H_3AYYPRsRZi6K_cbakrF1xoyz7o5s7NpfmEJDt2_T0E8gYa01oSt0XiSoPp2lg2pAF7fgIMcin-9_H-r7xXGcuas6NHtfMBljZSyqA/s1600/murene+morray+SQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBfm2o4vhCl2GQEX59umfARG7e8r5tNYYLp20H_3AYYPRsRZi6K_cbakrF1xoyz7o5s7NpfmEJDt2_T0E8gYa01oSt0XiSoPp2lg2pAF7fgIMcin-9_H-r7xXGcuas6NHtfMBljZSyqA/s1600/murene+morray+SQ.jpg" height="556" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geometric Moray, the most common moray in the Red sea.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInCaXtnj_3LzJVKJQD0z7bq_Cpgkdk8zD6jRQiTG9Y3fmGwUdH8v7JleZH_8qh9uT41sy7aNcdTk_H6w280Hhz8K0A4Dl5APoGSVCoK36TVWShRQM1hHur8OC36FCUMYkD4O4Vex3GVQ/s1600/fish+scorpionfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInCaXtnj_3LzJVKJQD0z7bq_Cpgkdk8zD6jRQiTG9Y3fmGwUdH8v7JleZH_8qh9uT41sy7aNcdTk_H6w280Hhz8K0A4Dl5APoGSVCoK36TVWShRQM1hHur8OC36FCUMYkD4O4Vex3GVQ/s1600/fish+scorpionfish.jpg" height="200" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">small scorpion fish, according to Jim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxebf32bkNWiMfAFbfEU7xWzo9uCPoUOQ5Gi76HD6d-naScFQCF8_vHlY-ImRdIkJQaOQl5dvqq9kVyZsB7non2lrykaPhFSIFcEYbdQK9ysuGOW0zz2bIHI6EH1zKZiRjIT8wIQ-rBs/s1600/fish+spotted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxebf32bkNWiMfAFbfEU7xWzo9uCPoUOQ5Gi76HD6d-naScFQCF8_vHlY-ImRdIkJQaOQl5dvqq9kVyZsB7non2lrykaPhFSIFcEYbdQK9ysuGOW0zz2bIHI6EH1zKZiRjIT8wIQ-rBs/s1600/fish+spotted.jpg" height="200" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blue spotted puffer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Maybe the fight for the water world is already lost, or maybe it can still be saved. The word "maybe" is popping up far to often, when it comes to human interference in nature. There is so much we do not know, and science has a hard time keeping up with accelerating changes. We remain ignorants in so many fields, but still act as if we knew. Or actually ever more often do even worse than that, when we <i>do</i> have the knowledge, but ignore it for the sake of short term benefits.
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbdZouqKVx2FMY28Ke28N5DrvOHbyUrNzjtlYVm1UWUqhIpwEoRxrzcpOBh0QnV8rpZN_Zk7uApts577INaYihxOr4AjLcUiDmMWX-6rqUwspXggrKQyc3sK_wEgPYke5mN1QBMtCfmY/s1600/Milad+Sawires+dive+instructor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbdZouqKVx2FMY28Ke28N5DrvOHbyUrNzjtlYVm1UWUqhIpwEoRxrzcpOBh0QnV8rpZN_Zk7uApts577INaYihxOr4AjLcUiDmMWX-6rqUwspXggrKQyc3sK_wEgPYke5mN1QBMtCfmY/s1600/Milad+Sawires+dive+instructor.jpg" height="380" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milad Sawires is diving instructor at Aqua Divers in Dahab - recommended!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Go get your dive mask, be sure not to touch anything and try to understand what our pollution, plastic, CO2 and overfishing are exterminating. Then use your vote, your shopping habits and your voice - in order make a difference!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Qesm Saint Katrin, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt28.4807726607478 34.48685522519531328.4249526607478 34.406174225195315 28.5365926607478 34.567536225195312tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-20888795036859337452015-03-05T22:30:00.001+01:002015-03-05T23:05:44.716+01:00Riding across Iceland<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q17kCGQ29OI?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRSnZyxs1HR5Y3Io5ULV10nfg0sb-fy8PzvdeTsgkBDVIdAkEioAmhdgc1lsdF2yxTxLf74MGqnjFm0gMaASWMdcmQY2YpWOY9lgF8W4XCf522fh4CbO49_n33oH2bqYKfQeTWjhRnos/s1600/Paulo-Asta-Strokkur_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRSnZyxs1HR5Y3Io5ULV10nfg0sb-fy8PzvdeTsgkBDVIdAkEioAmhdgc1lsdF2yxTxLf74MGqnjFm0gMaASWMdcmQY2YpWOY9lgF8W4XCf522fh4CbO49_n33oH2bqYKfQeTWjhRnos/s1600/Paulo-Asta-Strokkur_web.jpg" height="200" width="122" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My stuff and Strokkur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Most tourists spend far to little time on Iceland, barely allowing time to visit the "The Golden Triangle" of Gullfoss, Geysir and Thingvellir. These are all well worth seeing, but please show this island of sagas more respect, and venture further and stay longer. Let my series be an introduction, even if my three months there only allowed me to explore the western half of Iceland.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The bike</h3>
I chose the bike, with a trailer as main mean of transport. A Trek / Gary Fisher Genesis 29" was the perfect bike for the job, along with my Bike Bob trailer, with suspension on the wheel. They did a great job on the long stretches of rough gravel and wet dirt.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXkGYYwuQj9UMFlZhAWzhmzYzdCc0A-95ohYYuBbKveATSoZRlOtwrc03TMscM-0rSL8a99bnxy2mV9MqrUH8tYVwxTidWAr1qaRrXlL6sgsl5K84q8gleA1t2LBOUvEwKR3E_L9QlnQ/s1600/Gullfoss+5HFpan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXkGYYwuQj9UMFlZhAWzhmzYzdCc0A-95ohYYuBbKveATSoZRlOtwrc03TMscM-0rSL8a99bnxy2mV9MqrUH8tYVwxTidWAr1qaRrXlL6sgsl5K84q8gleA1t2LBOUvEwKR3E_L9QlnQ/s1600/Gullfoss+5HFpan.jpg" height="170" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The powerful falls at Gullfoss.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKuApvSYaVaaeIUlcINApRvneYZjaWHLRfSIshvDQ13tjNJipdpDIsKA_WBtsUEsIZe1GMfO1HF5ZOVSa551Oc7kdmaLJz25TlTRgx78meZCXAedxmFno8SAJ-m1hQHlLj6G3ZZRzGas/s1600/Paulo+horse+hug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxKuApvSYaVaaeIUlcINApRvneYZjaWHLRfSIshvDQ13tjNJipdpDIsKA_WBtsUEsIZe1GMfO1HF5ZOVSa551Oc7kdmaLJz25TlTRgx78meZCXAedxmFno8SAJ-m1hQHlLj6G3ZZRzGas/s1600/Paulo+horse+hug.jpg" height="364" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Olai-Olssen and a "teddy-horse".</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwomgJzspRuNP9XZioZIl8ISTlcREJe3MCMRCRcpTWjOoqUK7k3TrXFJAJmNpN6HY4ZKP_mNmkzktisZEt1vQ4u4IyEM0Z-HqnoiX8z6TIcNn-rv28YmpTQ9QTJ_hFTWCZ_jd-VZqP9Ow/s1600/horse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwomgJzspRuNP9XZioZIl8ISTlcREJe3MCMRCRcpTWjOoqUK7k3TrXFJAJmNpN6HY4ZKP_mNmkzktisZEt1vQ4u4IyEM0Z-HqnoiX8z6TIcNn-rv28YmpTQ9QTJ_hFTWCZ_jd-VZqP9Ow/s1600/horse.jpg" height="364" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful multitude of colours.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
The Horses</h3>
Riding an Icelandic horse is one of the most Icelandic experiences you can have. This cosy creature reminds of a crossing between a teddy bear and a camel. For hundreds of years, it has been bread towards reliability and sturdiness. It should "tölt" (the typical Icelandic gait) well and generally behave as a nice horse. If it fails in this, it will be eaten, as horse meat is among the best I have eaten. The result is a wonderful race of multicoloured, hard working horses that has been kept isolated from all other horses ever since the viking-era.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26iA62RCl2Puzzj33xeSWoWC6P8pxEYuHgRYwleYznJBI_9mxDMARfvrkTAvinvtcby6pYviPqo_7rCFMxBfN4sOpWKiBXIQYe8-Ma8GhDVaUwLdhsuA893GY5ziGgfuvThISXZ9LePo/s1600/Samuel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh26iA62RCl2Puzzj33xeSWoWC6P8pxEYuHgRYwleYznJBI_9mxDMARfvrkTAvinvtcby6pYviPqo_7rCFMxBfN4sOpWKiBXIQYe8-Ma8GhDVaUwLdhsuA893GY5ziGgfuvThISXZ9LePo/s1600/Samuel.jpg" height="240" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samúel Örn Erlingsson became a good friend.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPPt3Pqldur6BeRgQuvtvGS8jgwUkKGI6vPWgOfHKZ837e7eDby_YNksYoyZFEXrO3mnyBKJ7wflgr-8eQ5v3xaeSBvFAqUgZxLsQ5cSUkCrCRDw74KF3HV1x_8vxtOIQr2VgATtC5Q0/s1600/crossing+of+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPPt3Pqldur6BeRgQuvtvGS8jgwUkKGI6vPWgOfHKZ837e7eDby_YNksYoyZFEXrO3mnyBKJ7wflgr-8eQ5v3xaeSBvFAqUgZxLsQ5cSUkCrCRDw74KF3HV1x_8vxtOIQr2VgATtC5Q0/s1600/crossing+of+river.jpg" height="240" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing one of several rivers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gSn_FiE3-zCObvjQCBWFB01WNV8sUERPjvYwDBTnyNxxU7wbIMx0pGhuJ5Az4yFsEvog88ms6V_Y9W-6VZNYIl0mh9NjJwR1Dm82ZrbWdZrtOoVDc-b3QFvV8AdxsBf2bgMOQBiDOrY/s1600/Asa+tired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gSn_FiE3-zCObvjQCBWFB01WNV8sUERPjvYwDBTnyNxxU7wbIMx0pGhuJ5Az4yFsEvog88ms6V_Y9W-6VZNYIl0mh9NjJwR1Dm82ZrbWdZrtOoVDc-b3QFvV8AdxsBf2bgMOQBiDOrY/s1600/Asa+tired.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Àsa and her dog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
The trip</h3>
Arranging a ride in Iceland is very easy. I contacted <a href="http://www.ishestar.is/tours/countryside-riding-adventure" target="_blank">Ishestar</a>, but you can find several alternatives. What seemed a good alternative to me, was to join the trip from <a href="http://www.geysirhestar.com/#!this_is_us/c42f" target="_blank">Kjóastaðir</a>, situated near the southern end of the Kjölur trail. You should of course choose route according you your riding skill, in order to complete and enjoy the adventure. This I did not, but my background as a kayaker (balance) and long distance biker (endurance) did to some extent compensate for my total lack of horsemanship.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlCEKA17H9bi9OhA9JZYfSPR2MseWFIBBwZrxsoUd37aTG1zVkwQP5kz_FxRkKBmTipY_McLn4eUxRddiawqOvbZqJK4QQbzMVjIzGOmg7dzhEH5y4p1HipCmU0U6_Lit_Mu1k33lZt0/s1600/Hvervavellir+Paulo+beer+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlCEKA17H9bi9OhA9JZYfSPR2MseWFIBBwZrxsoUd37aTG1zVkwQP5kz_FxRkKBmTipY_McLn4eUxRddiawqOvbZqJK4QQbzMVjIzGOmg7dzhEH5y4p1HipCmU0U6_Lit_Mu1k33lZt0/s1600/Hvervavellir+Paulo+beer+girls.jpg" height="312" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot pool and women - and cold bjór!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Undertaking a somewhat tough journey with 25 people you never knew before is a fascinating social experiment. The participants differed greatly in age and background, but ...<br />
<br />
... a pleasant and surprising bonus for a single male traveller, was to realise that the majority of horse-tourists consist of charming women from all over Europe. This definitely boosted my spirit in times of hardship and pain... ;)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOlib6-MEBfPD3RsqeP6HutfihEiqlp4FyOyyAeagE26N4y8O48uUc7jhZDIWMUOA3lVn4NBKG4PHYUp8aB9XxQBBBSy7kbcCPM_xiPlgwo2iLKeL99h700x4vzs4Vm3tzgzXhDuWMHs/s1600/A%CC%80sa+and+her+men.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOlib6-MEBfPD3RsqeP6HutfihEiqlp4FyOyyAeagE26N4y8O48uUc7jhZDIWMUOA3lVn4NBKG4PHYUp8aB9XxQBBBSy7kbcCPM_xiPlgwo2iLKeL99h700x4vzs4Vm3tzgzXhDuWMHs/s1600/A%CC%80sa+and+her+men.jpg" height="400" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Àsa, Hjalti and their bunch.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
The nature</h3>
Landscapes of Iceland are something else. From the plane it seems that the lava flows have just frozen, and on the ground you will many places se steam and hot springs, escape routes in case of volcanic eruptions or other signs of thermic activities. The Island (referred to as "The Rock" among locals) are alive, in multiple meanings of the word...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSBrJ5_86yfpEMaS8_qub7wDEGvIg4H8XIIaeJr5AhfY3rqu3yCd01OGdwHEeTNhKvqhYoVvhUYWCy7iyFcuvvg6wvk9CzrWmK4nFC3X75SXvnLMMMw6NEqEE5H7iErUEMFLCXZuRtfM/s1600/horse+landscape+6pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqSBrJ5_86yfpEMaS8_qub7wDEGvIg4H8XIIaeJr5AhfY3rqu3yCd01OGdwHEeTNhKvqhYoVvhUYWCy7iyFcuvvg6wvk9CzrWmK4nFC3X75SXvnLMMMw6NEqEE5H7iErUEMFLCXZuRtfM/s1600/horse+landscape+6pan.jpg" height="70" width="556" /></a></div>
<br />
No place is like Iceland, go explore, and make sure to enjoy the following episodes that will be presented her on Pauls Planet Blog!<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Northwest, Iceland64.816232590329065 -19.3579101562564.601194590329058 -20.00335715625 65.031270590329072 -18.71246315625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-26013904167986096142015-03-02T03:41:00.001+01:002015-03-02T04:55:44.479+01:00Diving in Dahab I<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEU5Di9gRZvjJhpfF56T_U4NDVKk6O5j_dN_nKzsOxlS4LqtHw8O-YtQCHYz9XXBOOR4u4Md-z86OO9b5gLUOOCA1HYn_5vS2UKXhZhYZEZsOSx4vkM_d0UoyScb43ypQN-6OMUbWZOM/s1600/turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEU5Di9gRZvjJhpfF56T_U4NDVKk6O5j_dN_nKzsOxlS4LqtHw8O-YtQCHYz9XXBOOR4u4Md-z86OO9b5gLUOOCA1HYn_5vS2UKXhZhYZEZsOSx4vkM_d0UoyScb43ypQN-6OMUbWZOM/s1600/turtle.jpg" height="400" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first encounter under water - just snorkelling, not even scuba-diving!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzrw5QXhPuijceFf0_2f5WN1LTib8F3gA9BC_GnUAnux6bXl4oJTi7H-RyKrFbLNP21AWpMOdK0irlzHy0Xw9ZwRPXIlGvCWjHlp2zawhwId_YSWKfehW1lG79hwQiI82srM9FRVP6Fg/s1600/fish+school+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzrw5QXhPuijceFf0_2f5WN1LTib8F3gA9BC_GnUAnux6bXl4oJTi7H-RyKrFbLNP21AWpMOdK0irlzHy0Xw9ZwRPXIlGvCWjHlp2zawhwId_YSWKfehW1lG79hwQiI82srM9FRVP6Fg/s1600/fish+school+up.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim pointed upwards ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dahab is a far more relaxed and laid-back dive site than Sharm el Sheik, which is also situated in Sinai. Formerly known for pot-smoking and hippies, the place is still easy going and welcoming, teaming with diving activities. "Teaming" might be somewhat exaggerated, by the way, as tourism is still low following the revolution and unrest in the northern part of Sinai. I am sorry on behalf of the locals that live off this industry, but happy for the coral reef, that enjoy a small break from intensive diving.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEXtC8PI1PSdZoA1tETPWiBD7pCt8GYaX-4pi_eAR-iGWaOfp6bpYkyWLhdIA_x3DS70v1K6Gv9wR3bXKciHQ_eLi0ggA9m6chOig2oyst64yyV0g1rSbGUH6j7kJQQdXpes78ghj6T8/s1600/elephant+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEXtC8PI1PSdZoA1tETPWiBD7pCt8GYaX-4pi_eAR-iGWaOfp6bpYkyWLhdIA_x3DS70v1K6Gv9wR3bXKciHQ_eLi0ggA9m6chOig2oyst64yyV0g1rSbGUH6j7kJQQdXpes78ghj6T8/s1600/elephant+close.jpg" height="210" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yep - an elephant submerged</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I arrived by night bus from Cairo with my friend Haneen and we settled in the famed Beshi-Beshi camp. The first day we spent snorkelling at the blue hole. Water temperature is at the lowest at this time of the year, but still well above 20 degrees Celcius. The very first thing I bumped into was a huge turtle, which let me swim along until I was out of breath.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoygFbBFPHCRG3LS34ehEBbVvChvqwUpq9GTuntDniU9DGPk4G1Hf0WAWdt3emRs4jCuMjfDpbJrmsdI9-U24X_BKmrDWFNHUxzfUmLGoacsgvEIZM9tfEmu6eev_y0YgF3Qo4UwEg4iw/s1600/fish+bushy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoygFbBFPHCRG3LS34ehEBbVvChvqwUpq9GTuntDniU9DGPk4G1Hf0WAWdt3emRs4jCuMjfDpbJrmsdI9-U24X_BKmrDWFNHUxzfUmLGoacsgvEIZM9tfEmu6eev_y0YgF3Qo4UwEg4iw/s1600/fish+bushy.jpg" height="190" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A well camouflaged ugly bastard...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWkWctjXTNrLpGrUv3Lt20CQ5LzQ5DGAyj9vm5atpUtCM7DgKiwn0DuFQmTSt57B0s90ECmzQVofMbzZzzRYb_sihbBA5DbFcOU-1-rMOGenvRY8oUw272w5arO6t5vk3_F1Kk9YigKQ/s1600/fish+lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWkWctjXTNrLpGrUv3Lt20CQ5LzQ5DGAyj9vm5atpUtCM7DgKiwn0DuFQmTSt57B0s90ECmzQVofMbzZzzRYb_sihbBA5DbFcOU-1-rMOGenvRY8oUw272w5arO6t5vk3_F1Kk9YigKQ/s1600/fish+lion.jpg" height="190" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… next to a lion fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6Xd1b68TnjIhVYgLHmGrBzQOpFhf_IBMWwSxTi0Z83RX85o3LC2UBpRLZuQjS5Cnvq5OQn2xeFgBb6pXEEQgF3AuxldhAqfkM7jBh2Z7ZQmnBBpHkriBTnJUkhF5wa6iFnIxXQZZzSA/s1600/Haneen+intro+dive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6Xd1b68TnjIhVYgLHmGrBzQOpFhf_IBMWwSxTi0Z83RX85o3LC2UBpRLZuQjS5Cnvq5OQn2xeFgBb6pXEEQgF3AuxldhAqfkM7jBh2Z7ZQmnBBpHkriBTnJUkhF5wa6iFnIxXQZZzSA/s1600/Haneen+intro+dive.jpg" height="400" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning to dive before she can swim!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvO2F7Bzc7-r8diEAMLatAUHyODRc1ML_xdOITL6B8ObF74bi_v0P4VNpCLv_m5WHQqkQOo0ov3zaqpPw-quS2zG78TGp2avbiqA7lTpAkXiAJ92iZMeyyFvTOO_z_XEifIv6BqW7UFM/s1600/rokke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvO2F7Bzc7-r8diEAMLatAUHyODRc1ML_xdOITL6B8ObF74bi_v0P4VNpCLv_m5WHQqkQOo0ov3zaqpPw-quS2zG78TGp2avbiqA7lTpAkXiAJ92iZMeyyFvTOO_z_XEifIv6BqW7UFM/s1600/rokke.jpg" height="190" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like it when I get to photograph ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pv7zhkkHyECI1h1u8aBZJiJelwrT0P3jN-t6I8PwIn10AiCOI6sw7Ad7B4PE36bkswERzt1d2Ijog-C25eO7gQESXJMJ1UhiTDrEpoJWWsjsBBrjAaFzHaFVSIexK0tjaSg0tzdEOjg/s1600/unicorn+fish+eating.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pv7zhkkHyECI1h1u8aBZJiJelwrT0P3jN-t6I8PwIn10AiCOI6sw7Ad7B4PE36bkswERzt1d2Ijog-C25eO7gQESXJMJ1UhiTDrEpoJWWsjsBBrjAaFzHaFVSIexK0tjaSg0tzdEOjg/s1600/unicorn+fish+eating.jpg" height="190" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… the fish facing me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In our second day, Haneen - who yet do not know how to swim - did a introduction dive with a great guide. He carefully monitored my skills on my first dive before giving me Jim as a buddy and letting us explore the area around the lighthouse. This spot is pretty much in the centre of town, but there were fish everywhere. Nothing big, but nice stuff. The wether was surprisingly much hotter than in Cairo and the wind was still, so we had really good conditions.<br />
<br />
In the evening, we paid a modest 100 EGP (barely 13 Euro) per person going on a ATV-safari up in the wadi between the cracked mountains, where dinner were prepared beduin style. Lots of good food under the moon and the stars, and some jolly guides singing songs for us before the return. Very touristic, for sure, but fun and nice, with no stress or hurry to anything. My bike needed a few fixes on the way (leaking gasoline and no head lights), but in this country you can make miracles with a string and a wire.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudKODI8vQu6g0nzd06GhTKIuPj00UNRNPWm90lFto-KUGKVeCZc0AdIQZLowsqeq1VBURffqfAs6yQF8tjGc6CC75D3HTNUU26JVOIjNKJhWzRbdaQxdxLvh0HXfY-P7GQOwXgVKZe6w/s1600/Haneen+and+Paulo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudKODI8vQu6g0nzd06GhTKIuPj00UNRNPWm90lFto-KUGKVeCZc0AdIQZLowsqeq1VBURffqfAs6yQF8tjGc6CC75D3HTNUU26JVOIjNKJhWzRbdaQxdxLvh0HXfY-P7GQOwXgVKZe6w/s1600/Haneen+and+Paulo.jpg" height="190" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusty after ATV-safari. Mainly me, driving behind ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KP0bzTN-rgU-Xrjwrc8VbDpcFcNrLFMU89xSbli6xtHnKCTyfahjCvIky8AvZTJIrJawfLuwOECi9l6-nvgeU2JRydvE6yxzE-y_GdeOdz3DnACpatmZdSIJcVc3X96yw2SGqNZ4680/s1600/night+camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KP0bzTN-rgU-Xrjwrc8VbDpcFcNrLFMU89xSbli6xtHnKCTyfahjCvIky8AvZTJIrJawfLuwOECi9l6-nvgeU2JRydvE6yxzE-y_GdeOdz3DnACpatmZdSIJcVc3X96yw2SGqNZ4680/s1600/night+camp.jpg" height="190" width="272" />
</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Total stress-less! :o)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I will tell you more in the next post, this is only to give a taste of what is so easily available, at a very reasonable price.<br />
<br />
OK, here's the turtle again:
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CFAhvJJaO8c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br />
Still afraid of Egypt? Don't be! I feel as safe here as at home.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Qesm Saint Katrin, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt28.498274036576561 34.51638098203125128.44245403657656 34.435699982031252 28.554094036576561 34.597061982031249tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-12056369557840142162015-02-26T00:00:00.000+01:002015-03-27T01:12:19.773+01:00Art in Reykjavik<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9TLcTpQt8c4?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UlNXW9tZ6Fs43B_LSndnL7SgbLWevJVTjfgXYxFIyNI7_zhKq1RyV-8LB63VRNDzGEA8c_Hrw3evwjQMIa3bQjZk7zUGDGUCrH6KAh_cFLdcYIYNGp52xyToF38-6i6j1THLc80EYok/s1600/Olsen+sjokolade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UlNXW9tZ6Fs43B_LSndnL7SgbLWevJVTjfgXYxFIyNI7_zhKq1RyV-8LB63VRNDzGEA8c_Hrw3evwjQMIa3bQjZk7zUGDGUCrH6KAh_cFLdcYIYNGp52xyToF38-6i6j1THLc80EYok/s1600/Olsen+sjokolade.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">local chocolate ... :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"Paul i Vesterled" has now arrived in Iceland. I will explore many characters, places and phenomena in this and the six next episodes. But let's start with Reykjavik, literally "the bay of smoke", as the vikings found it.<br />
<br />
<h3>
hard times</h3>
At the time of my visit, Iceland had recently been through some tough shit brought upon them by some true assholes running their own banks. The spirit was nevertheless strong, and the colours and artistry seemed to strengthen the morale.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1Z6FvW9orjqcQlibUH8m_UJP_eCCpPA90SWJQilQ0kpq1xF-ARfIGPrpxsiXyyHGDnuHVPafF9amo8wVQ8qqbm-SvCnXHXPoIkJtzNm7CrQROXRONb0dZVr8y6uuJKItjGp6PC4wCP4/s1600/sheep+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1Z6FvW9orjqcQlibUH8m_UJP_eCCpPA90SWJQilQ0kpq1xF-ARfIGPrpxsiXyyHGDnuHVPafF9amo8wVQ8qqbm-SvCnXHXPoIkJtzNm7CrQROXRONb0dZVr8y6uuJKItjGp6PC4wCP4/s1600/sheep+head.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fast food (not kidding)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In later years, the economy have proved to bounce back in a way few others would have managed. They work like maniacs and simply refuse to do as told. This must be where the viking guts went, when we waved it off from Norway.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQw0v9JQ4gaVz_rWrAe_yOTV03VM2JUYSUMUbQjIQvTmkSm5A8fRA_Zka42aqCqdfIFSOPCw67730gwbuxGIzQ11LTZ6EEXhKLo-aAHXpFoBPGvzV4qgtx-rohs-B3um3NkINqP3xCr6g/s1600/Tobias+tattoo+desat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQw0v9JQ4gaVz_rWrAe_yOTV03VM2JUYSUMUbQjIQvTmkSm5A8fRA_Zka42aqCqdfIFSOPCw67730gwbuxGIzQ11LTZ6EEXhKLo-aAHXpFoBPGvzV4qgtx-rohs-B3um3NkINqP3xCr6g/s1600/Tobias+tattoo+desat.jpg" height="560" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fjølnir Bragason - my tattoo artist in Reykjavik</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB9LdkynC-0C_KN5jwgI34rBuOpdWf_T8jYLyy1dBobnrRp0M0JMDemCISv7ZR9zvFjnOAwef9RyWTnDCN2H1HP7MX2WjgousHMETm7xx6dH7XItsGg5FL9OygLk0V5sgRgYbin67ffg/s1600/side+depth+nails+BW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpB9LdkynC-0C_KN5jwgI34rBuOpdWf_T8jYLyy1dBobnrRp0M0JMDemCISv7ZR9zvFjnOAwef9RyWTnDCN2H1HP7MX2WjgousHMETm7xx6dH7XItsGg5FL9OygLk0V5sgRgYbin67ffg/s1600/side+depth+nails+BW.jpg" height="345" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kolbrun and Ragnheidur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Chaemsri & Fjølnir</h3>
I always go looking for people with a story. I met several in Reykjavik, and could have chosen others for this episode, like my band-playing hairdresser. I was taken aback by the creativity all over the place and found my designer and my tattoo artist just perfect, presenting what goes on in this tiny big city. That is what it is - a mini metropole ...<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="186" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J2nD4pVmiRI?rel=0" width="252"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
So ... something for everyone in Reykjavik! Do follow Fjølnir on Facebook and see the great work of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/icelandic.tattoo" target="_blank">Íslenzka Húðflúrstofan</a>, and as usual click on these photos to see them better.<br />
<br />
Go visit.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Reykjavik, Iceland64.133333 -21.93333299999994864.022489 -22.256056499999946 64.244177 -21.610609499999949tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-58475431129612504542015-02-19T00:00:00.000+01:002015-03-27T01:13:08.985+01:00Sailing to Iceland<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CZEn4Q1z3dM?list=PL0UpDQnveZRxJx-nu-2GShNz_2dYxuQvS" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrhbb5N4m1VvMAtAR0sVvMCji5XDtOC3BOCFVpFyMXaT8Zkv6cXqQ4RmSNH4h0Xgfkc0rRIeLuSdw7mZZ-Lebs4Z6-QzaBZ6AsjA5twTvmZfVIp2K29IBov7ldywDUVbvW6VWJ8R8Ukk/s1600/Magnar+and+Paulo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrhbb5N4m1VvMAtAR0sVvMCji5XDtOC3BOCFVpFyMXaT8Zkv6cXqQ4RmSNH4h0Xgfkc0rRIeLuSdw7mZZ-Lebs4Z6-QzaBZ6AsjA5twTvmZfVIp2K29IBov7ldywDUVbvW6VWJ8R8Ukk/s1600/Magnar+and+Paulo.jpg" height="135" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We "clicked" immediately</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMe4G_6ShaRCR1t-2AYbt7KU5b9WBQ2VVf0s9vgIwY0rg6ydpx5Quukz27nJky69m3V90CHAwSv_1Hn97YsMytJccq0YFBSdvs03264X_EJ8iKcpO7_MMp3Ivhik0biIpn1hFjJCPeW8I/s1600/Medvind+in+To%CC%81rshavn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMe4G_6ShaRCR1t-2AYbt7KU5b9WBQ2VVf0s9vgIwY0rg6ydpx5Quukz27nJky69m3V90CHAwSv_1Hn97YsMytJccq0YFBSdvs03264X_EJ8iKcpO7_MMp3Ivhik0biIpn1hFjJCPeW8I/s1600/Medvind+in+To%CC%81rshavn.jpg" height="190" width="143" /></a>What makes a big difference from one life to another, is each individual's ability to react to opportunities. I believe that an interesting life depends on profiting from surprising possibilities that sometimes appear from seemingly nowhere. Or from a small sailboat, like in Thorshavn in the Faroes, the day Magnar showed up.<br />
<br />
<h3>
"Can I get a lift?"</h3>
My plan was to go to Iceland, I just had not figured out how. When the charming "Mevinn" moored in Thorshavn, and the solo sailor aboard would let me come along, the problem was solved before it even became one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5ScBVMe3VkfUSSHblLaZFvtHk_1zmG7eQR2zdswCEAZH4g3njtUeJ5XdZABXYMvPe2_ctyJR40jqqnA3WxsVeG9DNFcoflBierMFcnYDPtQBJldTfOl_mTDX-2lG3gLC3KLvfU4-4Sc/s1600/Mevinn+360pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP5ScBVMe3VkfUSSHblLaZFvtHk_1zmG7eQR2zdswCEAZH4g3njtUeJ5XdZABXYMvPe2_ctyJR40jqqnA3WxsVeG9DNFcoflBierMFcnYDPtQBJldTfOl_mTDX-2lG3gLC3KLvfU4-4Sc/s1600/Mevinn+360pan.jpg" height="68" width="560" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
in memory of Magnar Grødem</h3>
I was lucky, not only to get an adventure under sail, but to get to know a young man who followed his dream. Magnar named his boat "Mevinn", which he explained as a spelling of the Norwegian word "medvind" in his local dialect. It means "tail wind" in English. When I think of Magnar, however, I like to think of another meaning of the word, also derived from his dialect. "We win". And I do believe that Magnar, and other people who follow their heart, win. There can be no losers when you stand up for your desires and do what you know is right for you, just as Magnar did.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOWmBqJy-KLF_uDVNxzeUq00SiJ0tKPS2MqlDArqNyHVMPcoL6NqYkVFB7fVgkMbWo4b1GaVuFAmHxYJJ7_Dxs6owMqTtifNtVRDN6ylD4iamh1J6P6n4OQmkFE1yZg6QWZJOpntKa5I/s1600/atlantic+sunset+late.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOWmBqJy-KLF_uDVNxzeUq00SiJ0tKPS2MqlDArqNyHVMPcoL6NqYkVFB7fVgkMbWo4b1GaVuFAmHxYJJ7_Dxs6owMqTtifNtVRDN6ylD4iamh1J6P6n4OQmkFE1yZg6QWZJOpntKa5I/s1600/atlantic+sunset+late.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Magnar only got to be 30 years old. He is lost at sea, after kayaking north of Stavanger not long after this episode was recorded. His kayak was found, but what actually happened remains a mystery.<br />
<br />
The family got to see the episode only after his assumed death, and approved with the way Magnar is shown. They also agreed to include the raw interview from the boat, which follows below.<br />
<br />
As I later understood from his twin brother, Magnar was not much of a talker, but during five days at sea he could not escape my questions. So, mostly for friends and family, with no subtitles and crude edit, here is 25 minutes of small talk in the boat.<br />
<br />
Sail in peace, Magnar.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YjQWhWua_XA?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Europe62.186013857194226 -13.710937558.689677857194226 -24.038086 65.682349857194225 -3.383789tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-75379112990380079142015-02-18T20:06:00.000+01:002015-02-18T23:49:51.893+01:00People of CairoNote: Please do click on the images and enjoy them as an album!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgff8uKfftXRHW3N_QcqzGf0GpkzNbViKFHhMH_cufFTlS3W1OqoPqAXKcJggZ3xvwUaL5iDEJzT38VC4ery9QpLZ9Lwfpru-01pt1fB5nlEFs3aDcS6Kfk27Way8EKV2elas5PxgAUE/s1600/girl+red+out+Ali+SQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgff8uKfftXRHW3N_QcqzGf0GpkzNbViKFHhMH_cufFTlS3W1OqoPqAXKcJggZ3xvwUaL5iDEJzT38VC4ery9QpLZ9Lwfpru-01pt1fB5nlEFs3aDcS6Kfk27Way8EKV2elas5PxgAUE/s1600/girl+red+out+Ali+SQ.jpg" height="272" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">… or a smile veiled in a higab.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNj75YcDFj21kH2AtbdmLAnuURbE_MaOrvFzIhnLCZZ4e2FvxQW-tVApRNTY6y_8HKiW2H9G5VzOARfbqJzuorpex165T9CZo7dt7QLfJtI8Zuf6AVylrkWW2A7JmYMpc4-6pfQ12cSpc/s1600/Dina+II+SQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNj75YcDFj21kH2AtbdmLAnuURbE_MaOrvFzIhnLCZZ4e2FvxQW-tVApRNTY6y_8HKiW2H9G5VzOARfbqJzuorpex165T9CZo7dt7QLfJtI8Zuf6AVylrkWW2A7JmYMpc4-6pfQ12cSpc/s1600/Dina+II+SQ.jpg" height="272" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">curly as Dina ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBeogts5dDOlFFaubbdHY92EJe3paQdsdBj8dD3aBg4P9JzO3HP3xLU9XYqbw3WHi_LFLADnHhyAq2zkYtTrcG8SHYYw5BmpeqWj6Ed5hX8nBip9avB78-iwx7ntIM3P56VI83JRimJs/s1600/girls+CotD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBeogts5dDOlFFaubbdHY92EJe3paQdsdBj8dD3aBg4P9JzO3HP3xLU9XYqbw3WHi_LFLADnHhyAq2zkYtTrcG8SHYYw5BmpeqWj6Ed5hX8nBip9avB78-iwx7ntIM3P56VI83JRimJs/s1600/girls+CotD.jpg" height="375" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two kids in the City of the Dead</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndqCNf5HUyhpMe6-w9Dmg18dGvj95t-1YyY0iwmtWJP45Adhvbg5bR1wK3x2_l8pz7g9tXJDiywfCf-efcm1aEJC8bVENhSEJsx6cuLcCwY7oA7PVy3OJJjqgwSJUvlbyhAL_UjiP1H8/s1600/women+mosque+dust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndqCNf5HUyhpMe6-w9Dmg18dGvj95t-1YyY0iwmtWJP45Adhvbg5bR1wK3x2_l8pz7g9tXJDiywfCf-efcm1aEJC8bVENhSEJsx6cuLcCwY7oA7PVy3OJJjqgwSJUvlbyhAL_UjiP1H8/s1600/women+mosque+dust.jpg" height="400" width="171" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the colours of a sand storm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Each photo comes with a story, maybe a deep conversation sharing a sheeshaa or an amusing encounter on a street corner.<br />
<br />
More often than not, my subjects have broken the ice. The usual "Welcome to Cairo" is often heard, or maybe just a look and a giggle, making me be the first to speak. Invitations to participate in peoples selfies are very common. Egypt is experiencing a selfiemania at the moment, much as the rest of the world, it seems.<br />
<br />
The fact that I am such a sought photo object myself, has a sad explanation, as there are not many tourists in Egypt these days. In the areas and the hours I am out and about, I see extremely few, if any at all.<br />
<br />
I know my way in these streets. The rubble does not distract me and the cats amuse me. What I appreciate is the multitude of businesses, faces, activities and the make-do-attitude in the old part of town. It is a mystery to me how people cope on incomes as low as the standard here. But they apparently do, and many with grace, in spite of truly hard conditions. I will give examples later in the blog.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6vheYON5_5TxtoC0qPbhw51CaMXLLmOvvdTRiQMvUqgOzuoo4Y7NpTAxsP9AdoktBF00mvefSXkiWIEHjEYFcnUrzLhPUwbNLqCyHV0yvN307uYRsUx0ZmGzPEwsCNndTi4F2BN4PhQ/s1600/men+Hussain+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6vheYON5_5TxtoC0qPbhw51CaMXLLmOvvdTRiQMvUqgOzuoo4Y7NpTAxsP9AdoktBF00mvefSXkiWIEHjEYFcnUrzLhPUwbNLqCyHV0yvN307uYRsUx0ZmGzPEwsCNndTi4F2BN4PhQ/s1600/men+Hussain+night.jpg" height="230" width="384" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">buddies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvupzwy3-znmv5e5NVFW0lNvq0w2DB561WrnBTcSGPWObvXmyCUf_XCkyG-vjqEcH-OZrVHaRhDgLIHFOGGgf5uaaUA81_8_3g7sb88Flw-JGkBO1nPUqMC0fD_ChQ5Kg6kZwplp5ffEU/s1600/woman+Hussain+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvupzwy3-znmv5e5NVFW0lNvq0w2DB561WrnBTcSGPWObvXmyCUf_XCkyG-vjqEcH-OZrVHaRhDgLIHFOGGgf5uaaUA81_8_3g7sb88Flw-JGkBO1nPUqMC0fD_ChQ5Kg6kZwplp5ffEU/s1600/woman+Hussain+night.jpg" height="230" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grandma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrSN39MNA4xk6ZUeiaWjoQ0e7bC11F2EiXJVff2G8henY38gVyXfSF7qasBs9iDyuQ-oZf24iimAxGLjzghL5nOxglXWtqhxzEOkJ4sf6TXlNMmu4Du0wSvM-YX0NlLE584QvZmhyphenhyphenWxw/s1600/women+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrSN39MNA4xk6ZUeiaWjoQ0e7bC11F2EiXJVff2G8henY38gVyXfSF7qasBs9iDyuQ-oZf24iimAxGLjzghL5nOxglXWtqhxzEOkJ4sf6TXlNMmu4Du0wSvM-YX0NlLE584QvZmhyphenhyphenWxw/s1600/women+selfie.jpg" height="185" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hot group selfie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpUUy0crVLWG4JQtQFG_bNWwunb-VlFkIDJomIBLGZSkvSV864MJhD62DU5nWB4RTUx4N8Nv_zrLCupRlbpE7rIJRT0Cr4e7YTLSHrC1qi0aVOHYPQ91UscMLOex8CSqv3iyU8UBLNU4/s1600/women+Pablo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpUUy0crVLWG4JQtQFG_bNWwunb-VlFkIDJomIBLGZSkvSV864MJhD62DU5nWB4RTUx4N8Nv_zrLCupRlbpE7rIJRT0Cr4e7YTLSHrC1qi0aVOHYPQ91UscMLOex8CSqv3iyU8UBLNU4/s1600/women+Pablo.jpg" height="185" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hot guy in a group. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rcHZs7USPCwqqx_ultoUDxqO5uGKnzJNnvmQs9zmUJtMO4W9CIDu3Q3FasUNO7Xi4wKRZgLxByw6nIl9dU_0V_6Bfg2Q2oFFb4QNeC6SXi-Juh6eI3pFZlcdR5nGtWHZt9eCcuIM3mY/s1600/_PPN8896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rcHZs7USPCwqqx_ultoUDxqO5uGKnzJNnvmQs9zmUJtMO4W9CIDu3Q3FasUNO7Xi4wKRZgLxByw6nIl9dU_0V_6Bfg2Q2oFFb4QNeC6SXi-Juh6eI3pFZlcdR5nGtWHZt9eCcuIM3mY/s1600/_PPN8896.jpg" height="170" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group of hot guys.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrSN39MNA4xk6ZUeiaWjoQ0e7bC11F2EiXJVff2G8henY38gVyXfSF7qasBs9iDyuQ-oZf24iimAxGLjzghL5nOxglXWtqhxzEOkJ4sf6TXlNMmu4Du0wSvM-YX0NlLE584QvZmhyphenhyphenWxw/s1600/women+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7R4Mk9y50EYEdDs-bnWsJH5qPhSERcmUKAB-D27cZuIAiuLQdhS-EmkRyKP_v9X3qoiR3eDzcFeAzCt4bSsUhWITCHIvkvdCKf3pFxle1ZmjT0cOHAGwJrX-1rbNy3cPjoyNYCguA4BU/s1600/girl+hats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7R4Mk9y50EYEdDs-bnWsJH5qPhSERcmUKAB-D27cZuIAiuLQdhS-EmkRyKP_v9X3qoiR3eDzcFeAzCt4bSsUhWITCHIvkvdCKf3pFxle1ZmjT0cOHAGwJrX-1rbNy3cPjoyNYCguA4BU/s1600/girl+hats.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a teasing hat vendress</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One thing is bumping into spontaneous social craziness and fun, another is to really get to know people and making friends. I am privileged to know people here that I very much care for. Esraa's family is one of them, and Sunna's another. They live in the old town and in the cemetery, areas that several of my other friends in Cairo have never ventured into. It's the hard core Cairo.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4p6pucAeO_MxyansHzAKI8wuPBrZcN24bMbL1kKN0SYloKaR27sG-2az0zQv2qQWpkEyI5rGdmfe27t8FB6xYMnNkNg6ortvAynVfuOsN56wrMbgPUtqieU3pv9iLlFaeB4AvbFy1Rk/s1600/girl+orange+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4p6pucAeO_MxyansHzAKI8wuPBrZcN24bMbL1kKN0SYloKaR27sG-2az0zQv2qQWpkEyI5rGdmfe27t8FB6xYMnNkNg6ortvAynVfuOsN56wrMbgPUtqieU3pv9iLlFaeB4AvbFy1Rk/s1600/girl+orange+night.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she made me her friend</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is my fourth visit here, and each welcome is as warm as the previous. Sunna never seems to get used to me never getting married, but greets me with the greatest smile in town. Esraa's mother and sister are both full of fun, even if they follow a slightly more conservative path than the youngest daughter seems to choose. Esraa is going for president, backed by me!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopWa_g45pqhjpwN-hnAok9uOpWijGvdMys4Sou2PC0trlLd9ZrJWdsY-wcmuCZTZqP4HQLjoVzuSr6ju_cVRa1FLy-FAWtgfztBM9mSs8YEClTZH_YAftdAA9rLTVjIEJtsQZGZBXfqc/s1600/Sunna+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopWa_g45pqhjpwN-hnAok9uOpWijGvdMys4Sou2PC0trlLd9ZrJWdsY-wcmuCZTZqP4HQLjoVzuSr6ju_cVRa1FLy-FAWtgfztBM9mSs8YEClTZH_YAftdAA9rLTVjIEJtsQZGZBXfqc/s1600/Sunna+II.jpg" height="234" width="384" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunna in the City of the Dead</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAs3zjJ131Z0lRaDoUKXOh0Pt-SEp9J9tC9AYxkpI8BYHTzZWwJ5O5kAqlaJYNVMmxoMvyJg56q6XJ1s0N0SG2fiTylsHA2xVZEsNVsdPMyq1pqtaBQFWi4pFdYKkOIZE99Q-_sDP9bRQ/s1600/Esraa+glasses+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAs3zjJ131Z0lRaDoUKXOh0Pt-SEp9J9tC9AYxkpI8BYHTzZWwJ5O5kAqlaJYNVMmxoMvyJg56q6XJ1s0N0SG2fiTylsHA2xVZEsNVsdPMyq1pqtaBQFWi4pFdYKkOIZE99Q-_sDP9bRQ/s1600/Esraa+glasses+II.jpg" height="234" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esraa in Darb al Ahmar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtscOevO5Stmj7xo7aHvh_5QwUxqlm-kP8AIY0vxb4TIVSukXFtzdgG2qDRf_gQBk_iSsOTSuTeFoHvu-7pY5sUsqVBHOhim3_yTpqeDn70yIh1cthwCcG0C2H94ak9S9SnccfiHI89SI/s1600/Ay+Awatef+and+Esraa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtscOevO5Stmj7xo7aHvh_5QwUxqlm-kP8AIY0vxb4TIVSukXFtzdgG2qDRf_gQBk_iSsOTSuTeFoHvu-7pY5sUsqVBHOhim3_yTpqeDn70yIh1cthwCcG0C2H94ak9S9SnccfiHI89SI/s1600/Ay+Awatef+and+Esraa.jpg" height="375" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aya, Awatef and Esraa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Meeting people is what travelling is all about. Do it!
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Kairo, Al Qahirah, Egypt30.0444196 31.23571160000005929.9344751 31.074350100000057 30.154364100000002 31.39707310000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-11677627259474665272015-02-13T03:06:00.000+01:002015-02-13T03:24:08.756+01:00One day in Cairo<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl_u9NZB9bMmY-wa2NgYe8YZUQbpX-WODBVOiyZXRRcJAzWiTiEENnMAxr9oacaI56-iFM8yyfn9BJhYf6QlTj8EvnSyhfy5IC7KJkv8PeCnAVZpg1xaf_hPsBDmU3tLa6nQW49xSGco/s1600/family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl_u9NZB9bMmY-wa2NgYe8YZUQbpX-WODBVOiyZXRRcJAzWiTiEENnMAxr9oacaI56-iFM8yyfn9BJhYf6QlTj8EvnSyhfy5IC7KJkv8PeCnAVZpg1xaf_hPsBDmU3tLa6nQW49xSGco/s1600/family.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">home cooked pigeons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This has been one of my best days in a while. It started last night, with eating home-cooked pigeon on the floor in the home of my dear friends in the old part of Cairo. Maghdy and his family repeated the treat I got (and filmed - <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/pp-3-egypt.html" target="_blank">see the programme and read about the family</a>) about eight years back. I have seen them since and keep in frequent touch, especially with Esraa, their youngest daughter. If you have my last book, they appear there. I was so glad to see that they are doing good, in spite of the hard times Egypt still struggle with.<br />
<br />
<h3>
first date</h3>
As dinners here tend to stretch well beyond midnight, mornings are slow. I planned to visit the City of The Dead, but got a call from a couch surfer I had contacted. She invited me to Zamalek, the island in the Nile, for tea and a chat. The girl did not wear a higab (headscarf), so her giant curly hear (who would need a HUGE higab to be concealed) where flying in all directions. She lives in the better part of Cario, and has never seen the neighbourhoods I frequent, so I volunteered to be her guide later (read about <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/kairos-gamle-bydel.html" target="_blank">Old Cairo</a>). That will be interesting.<br />
<br />
<h3>
first taxi</h3>
The taxis here are an adventure, and I believed something was wrong with mine, as it did not rush forward at any given opportunity. Suddenly I realised that the driver occasionally let competing cars pass him, where the street obviously were to narrow for two cars. He used what in Norway is called the "zipper-prinsiple", meaning the first car goes first, and you give way peacefully. You rarely see that here, and he was very pleased that I complimented this behaviour. Here is my previous experience of <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/taxi-i-egypt.html" target="_blank">Taxi in Egypt</a>.<br />
<br />
<h3>
second date</h3>
I had to kind of rush from my first appointment to the next, with another wonderful woman born and bread here. We were soon joined by a female friend of hers, this time in downtown Cairo. They both prefer to cover their hair, and as practically all women I talk with here, I got the stories about why they are not married, why they do not trust men and why they are kind of desperate to let go and live in a more liberal community.<br />
These two are from families that are somewhat less liberal than my first appointment, but dress like many modern women in Cairo, in tight western clothing, except for the hijab. If a man stick a paper note in their hand, it can be one out of two. Either his phone number or a quote from the Quran, advising them to dress more properly. All women here have stories of harassment, they get nowhere if they complain to the police about such incidents and they often need to use connections to get things done that is not "fit" for a woman. Like getting a license to drive a motorbike.<br />
<br />
<h3>
second taxi</h3>
I had to rush again, for my third appointment. This time the taxi driver was an older man, who hesitated a bit when I jumped into his front seat. I checked his meter (the white taxis have meters now!) and started arguing at once, as it did not start at 3 pounds at it should. I kept on bitching about this, until he pointed behind me, where another passenger already had a couple of blocks to go. All three of us burst out laughing.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0mNZU4VPw0AD3GFftdYFEcVpnOPiBWNktsyrDHUg4aBNH1TrBD4-VPzNOMiF3Yk6Tttcl7Dq6-IjuoicW85kQHtSY6Ml8f8xuKDfaF58BHJ3pIlGTdgllkdS7-moB6DHetWcZFXG1NE/s1600/Caroline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0mNZU4VPw0AD3GFftdYFEcVpnOPiBWNktsyrDHUg4aBNH1TrBD4-VPzNOMiF3Yk6Tttcl7Dq6-IjuoicW85kQHtSY6Ml8f8xuKDfaF58BHJ3pIlGTdgllkdS7-moB6DHetWcZFXG1NE/s1600/Caroline.jpg" height="320" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caroline :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Again heading for Zamalek, a car in front of us were utterly slow (for being in Cairo) so I put my head in my hands and made snoring sounds, which made my dear driver laugh so hard I was worried he would completely loose control of the car. His laugh changed into a terrible cough, bringing up age old nicotine from his suffering lungs, that had to be spit out the window, again endangering our safety. He looked at me and with a body language that was easy to interpret, made it clear that I was his most entertaining passenger in a while.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
third date</h3>
<br />
We got there well before Caroline, the belly dancer that is also pictured in my book. She is Australian, loves Egypt and teaches and dances both here and abroad. It was lovely to meet again, and enjoy what most probably will be my only beer in these three weeks. She experience another side of Egyptian life that all others I know, both running <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/animal-shelter-in-cairo.html" target="_blank">a shelter for animals</a> in need and doing her touring and teaching.<br />
<br />
<h3>
afterparty</h3>
It was getting late, and tomorrow will be a busy day, so I headed "home" to Hotel Hussein. I have to walk around the local alleys to see if something is going on, and settled in one of the cafes for a tea, after grabbing the waiter and waltzing around with him. Our performance was applauded by all the shop workers around us, and he gave me a nice seat in a group of men (of course).<br />
So, here follows the explanation why I contact women (I have written about <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/kvinner-i-egypt.html" target="_blank">Women in Egypt</a> here and <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/menn-i-egypt.html" target="_blank">Men in Egypt</a> as well). At least part of it. Women have a complete different version of life and culture than males, in this country. And getting in touch with men is easy-piecy. They love to talk. I can not, however, sit down in a group of women, at least not in this, more traditional part of town. The waiter would normally tell me to sit at another table. The trick is therefore to contact interesting women on Couch Surfing and ask them if they would lie to meet. Three out of five said yes, and they are simply great. Next step is to bring them to my cafes, in order to provoke a slight little bit. It is especially confusing to the guys here if my friend is wearing a higab. I just love that.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-ih5I-DroHTS1b9Rnjh9EkpnG0v1iJEBEqtBmTUaH1v9xYoe99uwYkGyhI9C8a-zgsNN8DEmspRhqB_VR-o5MVqpnrkT3ZjloAyNcKwT_TK6ENxqJugU8M9cw1Tf3z3n5Y0TQwPGbVQ/s1600/guys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-ih5I-DroHTS1b9Rnjh9EkpnG0v1iJEBEqtBmTUaH1v9xYoe99uwYkGyhI9C8a-zgsNN8DEmspRhqB_VR-o5MVqpnrkT3ZjloAyNcKwT_TK6ENxqJugU8M9cw1Tf3z3n5Y0TQwPGbVQ/s1600/guys.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>But, back to the four guys sitting at my table. Really nice guys. One speaking English well, the others not so much. Again, the conversation goes from sexual harassment, bodily needs, politics, caricature drawings to practice of Islam. Super interesting. They are polite, fun, honest and direct, and totally confirm ALL the problems and difficulties my female friends have shared with me earlier today.<br />
We laugh, we drink tea, I smoke sheeshaa (water pipe) and tell them exactly what I think is wrong with the way I do things. At the same time I understand their side, I understand which standards they live up to and I understand their political views. Typically, the most educated of them is against the present president Sisi, while two of the non English speaking loves him and the third, with a big smile, says "No comment".<br />
While we sit there, they are constantly approached by vendors of all kinds. As a tourist in Egypt, you must not believe that these touts are targeting tourists more than Egyptians. It is like a theatre of offers and rejections, bakshees (tips) and haggling. One boy is simply totally amazing, trying to sell some plastic propellers with coloured lights on them. Awesome salesman at the age of six.<br />
<br />
<h3>
my street vendors</h3>
It is way passed my bedtime when the guys leave. One of the street vendors, and older woman that I know from previous visits, sits down with me. She has had a good day, with no more flowers to sell. Her English is a bit better than two years ago. One colleague of hers ask if I want to buy paper tissues for a pound. I can't find any coins in my pocket, so I refuse. She gives me the tissues for free, and says I can pay to Allah later (if I understood it right). Then this wrinkled old woman ask if I need money, and try to give me five pounds! You have to love people like this, even if it is a joke. Of course I reject.<br />
<br />
I ask them if they know Shadia, a girl I photographed eight years ago. She was selling head decoration of perls here in the bazaar. They know her, and the flower woman takes me out in the square and looks for her. After a few minutes she appear, totally beautiful, with great dimples and a wonderful smile when she see the big photo of herself in the book I have with me. I will definitely give the book to her later in my stay here.<br />
<br />
So that is it. The flower woman has asked nothing of me, but a woman with scars after burns in her face, that has no husband but a kid on her shoulder, ask me for money. I ask my flower woman if this beggar is a good person worth giving too, so I give her a five pound note. That is actually too much, almost one Euro, but she is the only one today. The flower woman is just being helpful, not asking me anything, just being kind. I sure will buy roses from her one of these days, hopefully for one of my friends, when I bring them to this part of the city, that they know so little about.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Tomorrow is Esraas day, we will go to a fun fair and meet up with one other friend later. Esraa is smart and already speak well English, so I will introduce her to my modern friends, hoping she will be encouraged. Two years ago, we went to the pyramids together. She was fourteen, and that was her dream, as she had never been there. <a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/esraas-greatest-dream.html" target="_blank">Read about that here</a>.</div>
<div>
<br />
<h3>
My hotel:</h3>
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sJTPVqlaGRE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<div>
<br />
Just forgot I lack a cable to connect my main camera, so you will have to do with these superqualtiy mobile-phone shots for now … :)<br />
<br />
<br />
Have a look at my links to former blogposts, keep your mind open and be sure to come and have a look for yourself!<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Kairo, Al Qahirah, Egypt30.0444196 31.23571160000005929.934475600000003 31.074350100000057 30.1543636 31.39707310000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-23318244652751407402015-02-12T00:00:00.000+01:002015-03-27T01:13:46.566+01:00Olavsøka<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vU1UWe6R6j8?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CGdyv-kRqEUXVR-RQ04mGArvTwoGET6tSDR6s1JoygyJPceAA2t7VEJBcKrQ7d9_OQV7bD8YTt1219ZYLnZyJ5aWF0oA_IPJSlZ_HGW3XmDxFAA47PDzQLNWoRiDfGW_fyrKRsOT-1o/s1600/custom+costume+tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4CGdyv-kRqEUXVR-RQ04mGArvTwoGET6tSDR6s1JoygyJPceAA2t7VEJBcKrQ7d9_OQV7bD8YTt1219ZYLnZyJ5aWF0oA_IPJSlZ_HGW3XmDxFAA47PDzQLNWoRiDfGW_fyrKRsOT-1o/s1600/custom+costume+tattoo.jpg" height="250" width="185" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a top 10 of traditional awesomeness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are three main reasons why The Faroe Islands are so special to me. I will not rank them, as they depend on each other, but I tell you, that you never experienced people, traditions and nature like you do here. And then there's the combination, when wonderful people do traditional stuff in spectacular surroundings!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
Ólavsøkudagur</h3>
</div>
<div>
Being proud of their Norwegian ancestry, the Faroese tend to guard the traditions better than we do. To honour a long gone, once common king Olav - the holy Saint Olav - they have their biggest annual celebration in late summer in his memory. They actually made it their National Holiday (never mind the Danes), and the party goes on for three days, with July 29th being the main thing.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCyS_wn1-MI5UAOC_ApehxgwGuwcqZiF5SjQOd1XZkYvWZWb6ba7ZdI35qiT7O0xIC6BAKN1UaxWpyagUHKjfFRQJfDs6XQB28Hv0ToDf8Mt2VeqMXOotIsWsrZ3-v-Z0hU70cqqmqMM/s1600/Brynhild+costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBCyS_wn1-MI5UAOC_ApehxgwGuwcqZiF5SjQOd1XZkYvWZWb6ba7ZdI35qiT7O0xIC6BAKN1UaxWpyagUHKjfFRQJfDs6XQB28Hv0ToDf8Mt2VeqMXOotIsWsrZ3-v-Z0hU70cqqmqMM/s1600/Brynhild+costume.jpg" height="240" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beloved Brynhild (hif)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42nFKgGpRFwv7QEgiV8y1Qm04RnEcZ7t6x-hahEOxWDjcwgjpdcuxb0TZqwaXLajK7SUOPxlRLwP3BVCiV_2MnXH723jb28triLiet_NyKkC7_7u5f7d3NemeFLpl5_moFGS-B56M8_0/s1600/man+with+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42nFKgGpRFwv7QEgiV8y1Qm04RnEcZ7t6x-hahEOxWDjcwgjpdcuxb0TZqwaXLajK7SUOPxlRLwP3BVCiV_2MnXH723jb28triLiet_NyKkC7_7u5f7d3NemeFLpl5_moFGS-B56M8_0/s1600/man+with+hat.jpg" height="240" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">true Faroese ...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblqvXsudBOIehhbmqFrjRx0cdpLISMUwCAZC01JXExslT9HzsGrxacLek6CdU2Wa5byxBSi2T2wExCOPSLrkpU__LuPoMNQWuQWv-dgzEu6S_RbK6_J4bJpozJZnHiJC-zqEmNC4xhCI/s1600/costume+red+hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblqvXsudBOIehhbmqFrjRx0cdpLISMUwCAZC01JXExslT9HzsGrxacLek6CdU2Wa5byxBSi2T2wExCOPSLrkpU__LuPoMNQWuQWv-dgzEu6S_RbK6_J4bJpozJZnHiJC-zqEmNC4xhCI/s1600/costume+red+hair.jpg" height="240" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and "Faroein"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<h3>
Rowing competition</h3>
Again based on old Norwegian customs, there is a Faroe Championship in rowing the "færing", a slender rowing boat for six to ten rowers plus cox. There are classes for youngsters, female and male and the teams have been through a cup every weekend the last two months, before the grand final in Thorshavn the 28th of June, as Olavsøka begins.
<br />
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-TyVClUWC0eo_xoYaIy3vEUm9nCWl01uwjyotFld4py8citXhAsHjXDxizikVGn7YS07pyzDTZwuPg6sbH_PRSIY5NxCLeUOcTIKmrCeH-olvrfpewdPY8Ec_8cumK1Wn9nRo22z23k/s1600/Esben+and+brother+in+costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-TyVClUWC0eo_xoYaIy3vEUm9nCWl01uwjyotFld4py8citXhAsHjXDxizikVGn7YS07pyzDTZwuPg6sbH_PRSIY5NxCLeUOcTIKmrCeH-olvrfpewdPY8Ec_8cumK1Wn9nRo22z23k/s1600/Esben+and+brother+in+costume.jpg" height="130" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esbern í Eyðansstovu </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiWIY7KtqesPXPsan1uhFerM2_-4atpy4g1m9-SFvXm7KdBkdg4Typp7A-sw70NHw6fcs99I8RirbOE9lKxTfeAGm4wBnhgkjg3bmrt-_v-GGiTYjT_CtYne8w7yIey00IANs9ercb9Q/s1600/costume+Stockholmssyndromet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghiWIY7KtqesPXPsan1uhFerM2_-4atpy4g1m9-SFvXm7KdBkdg4Typp7A-sw70NHw6fcs99I8RirbOE9lKxTfeAGm4wBnhgkjg3bmrt-_v-GGiTYjT_CtYne8w7yIey00IANs9ercb9Q/s1600/costume+Stockholmssyndromet.jpg" height="130" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stockholm Syndrome Medal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-4ZisIPNff9GHHkLcakRcZxI7XWuDGVgzxut6lel6lgmHvDU_c8eGh10E9kmuLV1ByfRnFnK-nC4HwWtKM5cNdTxqs3Z6qc4tcrkoFSkVI8oW8vi8qhBkDq9NIRu9VKuCWn1PHttIDY/s1600/female+collection.jpg" height="130" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="178" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">open home...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Chain dancing</h3>
<div>
It is hard to describe all the simultaneous events going on through the days, but choir singing, concerts and speeches are an important part of it, as well as happily mingling in and around the houses in Thorshavn. This all culminates with massive participation at midnight, when a considerable amount of songs are sung with all verses, bottles are emptied and armes are hooked into each other for an impressive group - no, mass - chain dance. Gotta s<br />
ee it to believe it. It continues into the night in Sjónleikarhúsið and is something you will never forget.<br />
<br />
Ehhh... late at night, this is what you might end up in (called "gladfylla" in Norwegian):<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaw9z40wFc6dAdWH3IUefvBMEiM4nB0vOlqDoBF6wtpxAoFyR45yzteJ3qAlq81UsDcPhY3VZ2L93gSr9VT66d-yugCCSf489n04GPrIF4xA1sTbdyEITD63Uj6vOEnEkMFtAMY39lOM/s1600/Kristrianna+party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaw9z40wFc6dAdWH3IUefvBMEiM4nB0vOlqDoBF6wtpxAoFyR45yzteJ3qAlq81UsDcPhY3VZ2L93gSr9VT66d-yugCCSf489n04GPrIF4xA1sTbdyEITD63Uj6vOEnEkMFtAMY39lOM/s1600/Kristrianna+party.jpg" height="200" width="270" /></a></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wp-Vhq2RjCY?rel=0" width="260"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
You did remember to click on the photos, right, to see them better?<br />
<br />
OK - Travel well!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-XTS19Mp635o%2FVNOOnBA7bDI%2FAAAAAAAANTk%2F6WZQ-WUDEhw%2Fs1600%2FEsben%252Band%252Bbrother%252Bin%252Bcostume.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-TyVClUWC0eo_xoYaIy3vEUm9nCWl01uwjyotFld4py8citXhAsHjXDxizikVGn7YS07pyzDTZwuPg6sbH_PRSIY5NxCLeUOcTIKmrCeH-olvrfpewdPY8Ec_8cumK1Wn9nRo22z23k/s1600/Esben+and+brother+in+costume.jpg" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Tórshavn, Faroe Islands62.007864 -6.790981600000009261.948257 -6.9523431000000091 62.067471 -6.6296201000000092tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-16732194203071374702015-02-04T20:59:00.000+01:002015-03-27T01:14:14.765+01:00Visiting Eivør Pálsdóttir<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JqQxBBaD75c?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Eivør Palsdottir, or rather Eivør Pálsdóttir as they write it in the Faroe Islands, was introduced to Kristian Blak (see the episode <a href="http://http//paulsplanetblog.blogspot.no/2015/01/kristian-blak-music-man.html" target="_blank">Kristian Blak</a>) as her parents suspected that her vocal potential was out of the ordinary. Kristian immediately recognised her unique talent, and this was the beginning to her career, touring Italy at the age of twelve, releasing the first CD at 16. She's got a fine website and an album being released this month, check out <a href="http://eivor.com/" target="_blank">Eivør.com</a>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMhAPvGgLscgFeIb63_huT1T3fBbetW81jswH5vE6BRn3Vozd_3NtQkZ7aUWIHgTZwqh2Oj-PeNWKg7qyHtWbq_ja7JyXb87qTyQwP139J3GWDJCSD0LQNVQIfOtW6KnX1-Iy-s2Wv0Y/s1600/new_album_out_now-620x380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYMhAPvGgLscgFeIb63_huT1T3fBbetW81jswH5vE6BRn3Vozd_3NtQkZ7aUWIHgTZwqh2Oj-PeNWKg7qyHtWbq_ja7JyXb87qTyQwP139J3GWDJCSD0LQNVQIfOtW6KnX1-Iy-s2Wv0Y/s1600/new_album_out_now-620x380.jpg" height="196" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eivørs brand new album " Bridges "</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
a mentality to help</h3>
I had never heard of the girl, but got a tip and was allowed to surprise her band as they were jamming. This is just one of the peculiar examples of how the Faroese never gave me a "no" when I asked for help in any form. They certainly need you to ask, if not you get no help at all, but as soon as you make your request clear, the solution is right there. Never seen anything like it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
So, as I uttered a wish to see where Eivør actually is from, she called her parents who arranged a surprise super-dinner for me. Her cosy dad (peace be upon him) served whale meat hunted by himself. Later, Eivør sat down with her drum to sing for me by the sea. Not once, as we were not really satisfied with the first attempt, but twice, in spite of her experiencing extremely busy times, recording the album "Larva" in between concerts in three continents.<br />
<br />
<h3>
on the big stage</h3>
After I returned from the Faroe Islands, she was doing a tour of Norway with our famous band Vamp and Kringkastingsorkesteret - an explosive combination. I was welcome to shoot them in Oslo Spectrum, where Eivør was exactly the same kind personality as I had gotten to know in her little village Göta, out there on the remote islands in the North Atlantic.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG2wNrKeSFKNOa9Qd_66RmNap57EPU6Ld8KXQpgyiOxXc_NihyphenhyphenlTVrIwXYNE80D3aSvKVjqvhyx_OTSGewfywy322jarW5AOEn6WVc_fHji1rkPrmcgKsBD-KssO5m4ZerqLluiya97M/s1600/IMG_4537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG2wNrKeSFKNOa9Qd_66RmNap57EPU6Ld8KXQpgyiOxXc_NihyphenhyphenlTVrIwXYNE80D3aSvKVjqvhyx_OTSGewfywy322jarW5AOEn6WVc_fHji1rkPrmcgKsBD-KssO5m4ZerqLluiya97M/s1600/IMG_4537.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eivør Pálsdóttir anno 2009 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
the Faroese</h3>
From all my experience with Eivør, I have to say she has my greatest respect as a person, with all the small flaws and challenges that includes. I am very grateful to her totally lovely family and wonderful manager Sigvør Laksá, who is actually her neighbour. Sigvør gave me a bed for the night and left it to me to wake up her unknowing teenage daughter early in the morning. Can you imagine having a bearded stranger leaning over you when you wake up after a late party night? The girl was totally cool about it, adding to my admiration of the Faroese mentality. They're something else.<br />
<br />
<h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT-wgHeibVkdaOSrZgKhkkQXejln7uflEhpAeG8phGgOP-t0esjmeOrKuLCCMQiIRu5_8gyYDriCHufQ4WKNEHbR2c0_xhGFAG1mb9aGeYB6XVvjVMGXNMwchivGSAF873T9uKM5JFB4/s1600/w150_40286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT-wgHeibVkdaOSrZgKhkkQXejln7uflEhpAeG8phGgOP-t0esjmeOrKuLCCMQiIRu5_8gyYDriCHufQ4WKNEHbR2c0_xhGFAG1mb9aGeYB6XVvjVMGXNMwchivGSAF873T9uKM5JFB4/s1600/w150_40286.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VAMP - "I full symfoni II"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A big thank to VAMP!</h3>
<a href="http://www.vamp.no/" target="_blank">Vamp</a> was worried that my sound recording from Spectrum would be below their standards, which it most certainly would be, so they let me use their own sound and I mixed some of their shots with mine. I owe you guys a big one for that, and hope the result pleases everybody! What a great bunch you are.<br />
<br />
<h3>
and...</h3>
... one more thing. During the editing, it occurred to me, that Eivør were actually flirting in my direction. This theory I aired for Sigvør, when talking on the phone.<br />
"-No she did not," she replied very promptly.<br />
"-Well how do you know? You have not seen the clip!" I wondered.<br />
The answer was simple: "-We don't flirt in the Faroes."<br />
I had to laugh, kind of relieved. "-So you mean, the fact that I had no luck with women during my three months on the island do not have to mean they they did not like me?"<br />
"-Not at all."<br />
<br />
It takes a while to understand the ways over there. Good luck with it. And enjoy the episode.<br />
<br />
Here's one of Eivør's music videos. Now tell me what you think of that voice?!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cVimRZ3jScU?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Northern Isles, Faroe Islands62.253860379357825 -6.5396118164062562.135671379357824 -6.86233531640625 62.372049379357826 -6.21688831640625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-73541190976839017042015-02-03T19:53:00.000+01:002015-02-03T20:27:16.294+01:00a letterDear Viviane<br />
<br />
I have already written the letter you are about to read and have to warn you that it is long and heavy and do not actually address the message you sent me, except in the sense that I’m having kind of a hard time too, these days.
<br />
<br />
Empty. I believed I was empty yesterday, but I was wrong, as something fell out of me today, so I could not have been yesterday, if you follow me? It is like throwing up the tenth time. You only expect acid, but to your surprise there are still some leftovers from a good meal. But now they are gone too. Your touching letter came just on top of it all. Where the fuck is this world heading and what is the point?
<br />
<br />
The above may well be the most moody and depressed start I ever had on a letter, but it clearly reflects my thoughts and feelings around life right now. For a long time, I have been moving in mood waves. My doubt in society has been a bit deeper each time I hit the bottom, and the “highs” have happened when I have given myself completely to a project of some kind, like last year, when I kayaked around my part of Norway and made a documentary series. Up and down. Down and up. Down when I raise my head and look at the world and where it is heading, the uselessness of it all, and up when I bend down to focus on single individuals that stands for something. Individuals with spirit, guts and personality. These are the only ones that interest me. Not the psychopharmaed crowd that staggers around believing in a material world that has no meaning at all. People who find shopping stimulating. It is as if they are already dead.
<br />
<br />
I see dead articles in the newspapers. It is all about dead things. I used to believe that I was not afraid of death, but these kinds of walking deads - the zombies with Kalvin Klein, Gucci and Canada Goose copied and ingraved into what they believe is their personality - they scare me. How did it get this far? How come the alarms did not ring loud enough when there was still time to tell everybody that your path leads to eradication of yourself? You are willingly reducing your being to a product. You are mass produced by the all mighty powers of greed. Science Fiction books have formerly described what already reside in the past! It has gone that far.
<br />
<br />
Of course there were protests. And protesters exist, still today, but the most often heard protesters these days, protest on behalf of other protesters! We protest defending the right to speak. Important, but still hilarious. What does it tell you about the evolution of humanity, when we still fight for not being punished for what we orally express? The bravest of us save children from slavery, or … even braver … go to school under threat of being killed because they are girls. But for the time being we in the west are occupied by the right to speak, write and draw. In Norway, protecting animals was big last year. I agree, totally, but it is so damn easy to be against putting a fox in a cage. It is easy not to buy a mink coat, as it is so expensive anyway. Canada Goose is different. Those jackets are cheap. We don’t protest so much then, now do we, in spite of wolves and coyotes being trapped bleeding to death and the birds are never allowed to stretch their wings.
<br />
<br />
In our select countries, where girls go to school and children are slaves to violent video games and gossip blogs rather than unpaid work, voices of protests rise. Mainly about matters that directly concern ourself. That goes without saying. Like drilling for oil in what should rather be a marine reserve, risking polar life by redefining the acceptable search areas for oil in the arctic or, as in England, planning to start fracking to cover Britains future need of gas. Never mind that scientists we trust tells us that we must not use more than two thirds of the oil, half of the gas and a fifth of the coal that is already found so far, in order to avoid calamity. No, never mind that! This is our country, our money, our energy, right? Even a child would understand the fatal stupidity of this destruction. And the very same child will see the consequence, hopefully after our generation has passed away, so we do not need to face the blame.
<br />
<br />
The only true protestors today, except for a group I will mention later, are the scientists. They figure things out and give us their theories. Now, there you go. Theories. A scientist would not be a scientist if he said anything for sure, and that is where even his well reasoned and thoroughly worked out protest fails. “Probabilities”, how ever probable they might be, is an easy match for “certainties”, however false they might be. And the zombies thrive on certainties. They pay up for false ideals presented by false people from false companies and false PR-agencies, who promise them beauty, happiness and success because “they deserve it”. We live in a controlled and manipulated world, where we close our eyes to unpleasant facts, accept conditions and consequences that would be unheard of only ten or fifteen years back and abuse physical, mental and social sedatives in order to fend off reality and what actually goes on. It is all outdated science fiction. Sience fiction came true.
<br />
<br />
The peace price. Lets be positive. Focus on the peace price. I have already indirectly mentioned last years winners, Kailash and Malala, in my opinion maybe the biggest war heroes on Earth right now. Their fight is immense, but by far won. So what is the difference between the peace price and all other prices? It is, for one thing and some reason, taking place in Norway. That carries no importance. But the other difference, is that all winners I can think of (or find with google) of the other Nobel prizes, be it in litterature, physics, maths or medicine, all have accomplished something concrete, absolute and lasting. They had a theory, figured something out and created it. A vaccine. A process. A book. It is done and it is great. None of them was given a medal for working on a revolutionary idea, for being in the middle of a manuscript or for having a promising experiment going. That is the difference. My biggest heroes may win battles, but not the war. What is peace when it exist on terms of war? As the icing on the cake of absurdities, the single most impressive symbol of peaceful principles we have, Mahatma Gandhi … he never got to put the award on his mantlepiece. Not even post mortem on his grave stone.
<br />
<br />
I had a peculiar conversation on the bus home from town one night last week. A young man started it. The discussions was about a project done by a couch surfer (guest sleeping on my couch) of mine. He was fascinated. I asked him what he was doing, and as 99% of us would do, he began by talking about his job. If it had been a job he loved and lived for, I would have applauded the subject. But it was not. He was a salesperson. He did not know that, but generally speaking, I am not in favour of salespersons. It does, however, depend on what they sell. So I asked if he sells something good. Something people really need. He plainly admitted that not to be the case. But he is damned good at it, he told me. One of the best in his department, actually.<br />
“-So your life is just crap,” I told him. It was not a question.<br />
The young fellow, maybe around 30 of age, after looking a bit puzzled, agreed.<br />
“-You live in Norway, a country with all possibilities you could probably dream of, you are damn good at selling, and yet you have a crap life!?” I continued.<br />
He could not deny this quick analysis.<br />
“-If you had just one good idea about any project you could think of, being usefulness and constructive, you realise that your wonderful talent in sales would convince people to support it and you could make it happen?”<br />
His face sort of lit up, as the thought had never crossed his mind. “-You are right,” he said.<br />
I left the bus at the next stop.
<br />
<br />
When a man in his best age in the most free and rich country on the planet is not able to realise the simplest truth, it is because it has been hidden to him. If his values are fucked up, it is because he never were given an alternative. Society would simply not benefit from this guy stopping selling. It would be what Usanians (people from the USA) would be told is “unpatriotic”. After 9/11 they sat at home, loving each other, but they were literally told to go out and eat and shop, for the country not to collapse. “Prove your patriotism,” president Bush said. “Shop.” No one has said it better.
<br />
<br />
What Bush actually said, is that the consumer is in control. If we stop buying something and start buying something else, we change the world. Every time we buy, we give our vote. Every time we click on a link … there goes our vote. Every thing we do, that has a commercial interest to any … is our vote here on Earth. Vote for sexy articles in the newspapers, and you are granted less foreign politics. Vote for cheaply produced crap from child labor, pesticides or oppressive states, and what do you get less of? The opposite, of course, all the things you do not vote for. Looking at the situation of the world, we actually have nothing to fear. Not at all. We are in complete control. All we have to do, is to not buy into low quality, inhumane crap. Then it will stop by itself. It even works with war. Just stop doing it, and you have peace. It is so simple, yet seems impossible to push through. People keep clicking the tempting buttons that are put there for pure profit. They still buy the sweet chocolate that deprives a child education in the other end. They skip checking which orange juice that is fairly traded and they change their car, jacket, purse and kitchen long before it reaches uselessness. Those are some immensely strong votes right there. So this wonderful system provides for you exactly what you vote for - and what you deserve. This planet as we know it is not dying - it is killed.
<br />
<br />
I will write to you again, Viviane, as I did not give you any comfort what so ever as to your situation and told you nothing about my plans and the direct cause of why I am especially sad these days. I must say, though, that it is a good feeling that you share your emotions with me and I am honestly surprised, as so many years went by since we met. I tried to keep in touch, but after a while i figured I was only a pain in the ass, and gave up. I never get used to loosing contact with people I care for, but it happens over and over again. I am probably just a nutcase not giving up the friendships in time, or not understanding that people do have a lot of other things in their lives and on their minds. But I am very happy to see that it still works between us, after all.
<br />
<br />
But do you know what? I’ve had it, about conformity. The sense of being overly fed up actually made me Skype my mother in the middle of this letter, and I cried. I am not afraid of tears, but I usually protect my parents from them, but I need them to understand the choices I make. You can google the quote “I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it any more!”. Maybe you saw the movie already. That is how I feel about things.
<br />
<br />
More about this later. I hope this letter was not too much.
<br />
<br />
love,
Paul
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Selvbyggerveien 108, 0591 Oslo, Norway59.944767799999987 10.82517840000002737.46233629999999 -30.483415599999972 82.427199299999984 52.133772400000026tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-36466566869684199422015-01-28T21:26:00.000+01:002015-03-27T01:14:38.213+01:00Kristian Blak - a Music Man<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZVgg9XdQq5w?list=PL0UpDQnveZRxJx-nu-2GShNz_2dYxuQvS" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4cT13ePNwoQBF7veWIBRxaP_nDWfa39H0spezJl9a8PDNhNcOUYk0EA-qx_fOkqqfFOn_oatYbNFrEe9wPq1S07B0VLKh9j0Wo8Dx-E96fi_R6lNJjXJ9mAvgViRgQWzbizgt01e6YY/s1600/Kristian+Blak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4cT13ePNwoQBF7veWIBRxaP_nDWfa39H0spezJl9a8PDNhNcOUYk0EA-qx_fOkqqfFOn_oatYbNFrEe9wPq1S07B0VLKh9j0Wo8Dx-E96fi_R6lNJjXJ9mAvgViRgQWzbizgt01e6YY/s1600/Kristian+Blak.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristian Blak - Tutl itself!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Faroe Islands have an extremely rich musical culture. The local shop in Thorshavn is a good place to start. Here I met Kristian Blak, who runs the record company with the same name as the shop, Tutl. It means the trickling sound of water in Faroe Language. Like the most tender sound of nature.<br />
These natural sounds are the sources of inspiration for Kristian when he compose. This guy is much like the hub in the musical life on the islands, a world traveller, singer, band organiser. Yggdrasil and Spelemennene are two of his groups. He simply lives for music - and he is a wonderful person to get to know. I will cut it short, and leave it to this weeks episode to show what a peculiar fellow I was fortunate to befriend.<br />
<br />
As if Kristian was not nice enough in himself, the event Sommartonleikar brought me in touch with more musicians, that went on a tour to the most insane places for concerts, hardly inhabited. The musicians outnumbered the audience, even with a stunning 80% of the locals attending. There were local contributors as well as foreign, and I especially fell in love with the mainly Danish choir "<a href="http://www.google.no/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vokalselskabetglas.dk%2F&ei=nx3JVOqDAYb0PMeHgKAC&usg=AFQjCNGKKmjI8S7RSfVUWn-lYO0cWZUbsg&sig2=roPPGSIEXWyvFrOvN8wV4A&bvm=bv.84607526,d.ZWU" target="_blank">Vokalselskabet GLAS</a>".
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYE46gMlplfF8YBuP5HJfcettqZGtbWZxPKDJsTLAiRntgLQ3YagWQJuMd409JwM7qXIL5FOXwVGwx3JoQTwOasp8crogMctsYjhQzoXGXDZBXy1T6d8xUXtitS2xM0Ps5EXEw6-Gil0/s1600/Glas+and+Paulo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYE46gMlplfF8YBuP5HJfcettqZGtbWZxPKDJsTLAiRntgLQ3YagWQJuMd409JwM7qXIL5FOXwVGwx3JoQTwOasp8crogMctsYjhQzoXGXDZBXy1T6d8xUXtitS2xM0Ps5EXEw6-Gil0/s1600/Glas+and+Paulo.jpg" height="400" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vokalselskabet Glas på Mykines ... and me ;)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Vokalselskabet GLAS</h3>
This choir is totally awesome, and Birgir Enni, captain of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Nordlysid?pnref=lhc" target="_blank">Norðlýsið</a> took us to the caves and bird mountains of Hestur, where we made this rough, but I think beautiful video:
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbyYykIX555NTrepqbccZHbnoZQthheanXBY0QYNf6xjpEFVkBvKnEbUuR4HcohOG6qQvigAM6e199weo4kQoQdSZe_f6Y8okvNHl4wG7vK210SOLOjd9avj0QOZDUV5rUpkHKYZVBbY/s1600/Glas+cave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbyYykIX555NTrepqbccZHbnoZQthheanXBY0QYNf6xjpEFVkBvKnEbUuR4HcohOG6qQvigAM6e199weo4kQoQdSZe_f6Y8okvNHl4wG7vK210SOLOjd9avj0QOZDUV5rUpkHKYZVBbY/s1600/Glas+cave.jpg" height="180" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vokalselskabet GLAS in cave in Hestur</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-77_LcWrBm0?rel=0" width="267"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Aren't they just something? And then one sunny day, a big black Irish boat, the Galway Hooker" Mac Duach" came into port, with four beardy Irishmen that were in sorrow. A good friend of theirs had drowned back in Ireland the very same day. We decided to cheer them up, and got a night I will never forget. The ships hull was loaded with music and joy, in respect for their pal and of life. It went on and on and on ... bulgarian folk songs, the Beatles, Irish fiddle ... anything you could mention, Kristian, the girls or the Irish just performed. I have to admit I love this Bulgarian wedding song, you you decide the place you prefer, at sea under thousands of birds or in the old Irish boat. I must excuse the raw look, it is simply filmed with my pocket camera.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeFUYeBrs-bGV5-nVtFAG0lMN42Qnd8agajZ_CWxRxWhwb2J3B_I1_TIDBNoTAz-DrJ0UhSlCSaKQm5bQrnTZVizoF1pvr2_HcOAn2WXzftyWyK14382z86yCoYVBi0uVC7weAU0TXoE/s1600/fiddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkeFUYeBrs-bGV5-nVtFAG0lMN42Qnd8agajZ_CWxRxWhwb2J3B_I1_TIDBNoTAz-DrJ0UhSlCSaKQm5bQrnTZVizoF1pvr2_HcOAn2WXzftyWyK14382z86yCoYVBi0uVC7weAU0TXoE/s320/fiddle.jpg" height="250" width="200" /></a></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="250" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yb_2UAACBRs?rel=0" width="333"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Like some kind of universal jukebox. What a night! Thank you all!
<br />
<br />
Safe roads and seas! :)<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Tórshavn, Faroe Islands62.007864 -6.790981600000009261.948257 -6.9523431000000091 62.067471 -6.6296201000000092tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-87701528014799150372015-01-22T09:58:00.001+01:002015-03-27T01:14:59.153+01:00Tough Currents and Women<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Zm6uEU1zSTM?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
(Please do click on these - and all other - photos in my blog, to see them bigger!!!)<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5k4k3LB-L0xE9hZbxTVSQmkHWlHAtyKkP4u5Zg-UKo7ab7f1NRAqPh_2ynDYYMXupkvnnQ9u-CEn_5Y8Mg2uATCnjwoa_O6dD68HBnAQFuxu61B2-zDW9s2ARgj7KzXeR3AcLp1rEL8/s1600/IMG_4786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5k4k3LB-L0xE9hZbxTVSQmkHWlHAtyKkP4u5Zg-UKo7ab7f1NRAqPh_2ynDYYMXupkvnnQ9u-CEn_5Y8Mg2uATCnjwoa_O6dD68HBnAQFuxu61B2-zDW9s2ARgj7KzXeR3AcLp1rEL8/s1600/IMG_4786.jpg" height="180" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good guy...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqaB55EWQtKAS2uELWOhgqjKo175ADZiAsyWwZZtWvLxZvXw2orFfwDC5xZ_ExLMm0NIEk1pPnYIimh-hEobbtSFF9w-TpZnVFsr9lyMX6QaM1Lvj7Lv7MyRGk5O9m25MsoashvboC10/s1600/Mykines+Harbour+stormy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqaB55EWQtKAS2uELWOhgqjKo175ADZiAsyWwZZtWvLxZvXw2orFfwDC5xZ_ExLMm0NIEk1pPnYIimh-hEobbtSFF9w-TpZnVFsr9lyMX6QaM1Lvj7Lv7MyRGk5O9m25MsoashvboC10/s1600/Mykines+Harbour+stormy.jpg" height="180" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the "harbour"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 0em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMMuJRsY7L-60mcPFJWYyxfoPnOyUStSdQpU103yIv6lj992Lo6ovK5dlzA-aABtU-VxG6jnnJoepptEP6g-Lbk38RUm7XaFbML-9ekkWDQ5l5cdaw57_iViFUEKzppubwED8B9mUXPA/s1600/Mykines+cliffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 0em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDMMuJRsY7L-60mcPFJWYyxfoPnOyUStSdQpU103yIv6lj992Lo6ovK5dlzA-aABtU-VxG6jnnJoepptEP6g-Lbk38RUm7XaFbML-9ekkWDQ5l5cdaw57_iViFUEKzppubwED8B9mUXPA/s1600/Mykines+cliffs.jpg" height="180" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mykines north face</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
IMPOSSIBLE TO LEAVE?</h3>
"Today nobody gets away from Mykines," one of the elders said, overlooking the heavy swells that sent cascades of foam shooting up in the air. The small boat landing had the Atlantic delivering series of waves, making the bay white, breaking over shallows and cliffs.<br />
He did not know what a kayak can do.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxcHEigVIbDHVUCl_zctHkFyqHRIoFxzjKfYTyt95sC4KwkP0ghCklNZScK-2-S9sRlSSVZI5pQ8Gx4vhgwk59iW8fvXQ3Rfhk2CLiQ1PDkLn56fuekJTORE7xqBP6qs183_0Hpo2uMM/s1600/currents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxcHEigVIbDHVUCl_zctHkFyqHRIoFxzjKfYTyt95sC4KwkP0ghCklNZScK-2-S9sRlSSVZI5pQ8Gx4vhgwk59iW8fvXQ3Rfhk2CLiQ1PDkLn56fuekJTORE7xqBP6qs183_0Hpo2uMM/s1600/currents.jpg" height="200" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tidal map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"I will get out," I said, and pointed to an opening in the pattern of waves.<br />
"You might get out, but you will never get back," another old-timer commented in a factual voice.<br />
"You're right about that," I answered.<br />
<br />
This is how people are on the Faroes. They know the sea. They do not express unnecessary worries. They trust your decisions. But as many islanders I have met in other parts, they care for you and help you, when help is needed. I assume this is an islanders specialty, and that it has always been like that out here, where you never know who will be in dire straits next.<br />
Today it is my turn, and I have to do my counting right.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimnzxsPMeYl8iOgGn4sdCsAOuCOZRDw2LYBtzoBgAA0kYC4F6iHXSP8FJ7_b_gKmr-PihyNulD6XbYf7Wj9lJIvsh_zGHvsz_pNtd8Cq1keZhYBS68XiosmaHFdIWaZbOJc3BDJfFazM/s1600/Paulo+on+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimnzxsPMeYl8iOgGn4sdCsAOuCOZRDw2LYBtzoBgAA0kYC4F6iHXSP8FJ7_b_gKmr-PihyNulD6XbYf7Wj9lJIvsh_zGHvsz_pNtd8Cq1keZhYBS68XiosmaHFdIWaZbOJc3BDJfFazM/s1600/Paulo+on+bridge.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the gorge with the rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
TODAYS CHALLENGE</h3>
Firstly, I need to get into the water without being washed in by the breakers. Secondly I must get out into open sea. Thirdly I need to analyse the rhythm of the bigger waves, in order to pass through a narrow gorge that split Mykines from Holmur (where the tunnel in the former episode runs parallel to this canyon). Last but not least, I need to do this in time to get along the north side of the island and back east, crossing the open stretch back to the rest of the Faroes during the change of tide. If I am too late, I simply do not know where I will end up.<br />
<br />
I have rarely kayaked as hard as I did that day. Something went wrong with my calculations of the countercurrents on the north side of Mykines. Nevertheless I reached the town Vestmanna, where I got to know a wonderful bunch of Women, most notably Mia.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
NORTH COAST</h3>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1kvyn1rfTqT4E2DKRNDpQifgx4fuEL8FbiECIYngx2dKV4Wwre1ZjIZGjXXGOdbqLDpOLpZ1pq3bv5crtutw1IwCXj7uGtk6F6CSHioyYvhpxevPBW6M27b5AtjQR9AYD-Iha4QWJIY/s1600/north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1kvyn1rfTqT4E2DKRNDpQifgx4fuEL8FbiECIYngx2dKV4Wwre1ZjIZGjXXGOdbqLDpOLpZ1pq3bv5crtutw1IwCXj7uGtk6F6CSHioyYvhpxevPBW6M27b5AtjQR9AYD-Iha4QWJIY/s1600/north.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you sense the complete awesomeness?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Further north, I skirt the most hostile coast you can imaging, but under perfect conditions. Caves, cliffs, free standing monoliths and finally the small fisherman's village of Gjógv, from where their men has set out to sea in their small boats. Many would never return.<br />
<br />
The route followed in this program more than any other, taught me that the best way - by far the best way - to experience the grandeur of the Faroes, is by kayak. See it yourself, and feel free to share or comment if you find it worthy.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2rbgSjHtRrmY7Uhsr4olcEotFvRAJViWmLr_PyzLOpPgZN0erc_raziYqtVoIl_sOAM92MgnqrEOF-VJ_bLNapR_godAm6XoYucCtJDDtS3rHRP6KrPhb9iUCMdzHFTwKnZuoEXhezc/s1600/Vagoy+Paulo+4pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2rbgSjHtRrmY7Uhsr4olcEotFvRAJViWmLr_PyzLOpPgZN0erc_raziYqtVoIl_sOAM92MgnqrEOF-VJ_bLNapR_godAm6XoYucCtJDDtS3rHRP6KrPhb9iUCMdzHFTwKnZuoEXhezc/s1600/Vagoy+Paulo+4pan.jpg" height="210" width="560" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It felt unreal to experience such perfect conditions.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3>
Henk again</h3>
This weeks extra video is simply the lovely Henk again. He found this harmonica in a shop, in France I believe, and had to buy it. For weeks the instrument was at display in his cabin, before he got the courage to start and play. We had such a good time together in his boat. This is the kind of friendships you get, when you travel alone.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn-7pxezWImbHhAw7aMsRODnkCYsp2sTOsfJYdn-_gSFb3GUPr_kMGA4Xz6oAI3V1pEpyobxwXnqsQGvujnz2Nglk-rRbHnHBAgl1aRuDmcItnwH1Dl34ocDlrshS47TLZYGJTtS4H80/s1600/IMG_4359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWn-7pxezWImbHhAw7aMsRODnkCYsp2sTOsfJYdn-_gSFb3GUPr_kMGA4Xz6oAI3V1pEpyobxwXnqsQGvujnz2Nglk-rRbHnHBAgl1aRuDmcItnwH1Dl34ocDlrshS47TLZYGJTtS4H80/s1600/IMG_4359.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="200" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CXAH6DPRhRA?rel=0" width="356"></iframe>
<br />
Safe travels!
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Faroe Islands62.191139671309038 -7.32788085937561.715981671309038 -8.618774359375 62.666297671309039 -6.036987359375tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2522930061137081971.post-79947428344159734432015-01-15T03:53:00.000+01:002015-03-27T01:15:18.781+01:00Life on Mykines<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yhqtSyZbnLQ?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Ten people live here. Only one tiny pier protect the boat landing from the open Atlantic, all other sides of the island are steep bird cliffs. It is simply an extremely extreme place, but ever so beautiful. Eight months of the year, plus stormy days in summer, they rely on helicopter to reach the bigger islands to the east. To the west, there's only the sea.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCUdAMqM1vZ8yO-JzO4EOy-b-N2ThMCuutHWPAlPT-OirL4KVPk_EFCXq6-_xrfkegt7oA_El-PZUB6hjroBIoeoHfNKPzVUcUB9NN1xzvvnN2P4NlIFuxcvOe2kttrC6zlEcpl7TxE0/s1600/Mykines+4pan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 0em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCUdAMqM1vZ8yO-JzO4EOy-b-N2ThMCuutHWPAlPT-OirL4KVPk_EFCXq6-_xrfkegt7oA_El-PZUB6hjroBIoeoHfNKPzVUcUB9NN1xzvvnN2P4NlIFuxcvOe2kttrC6zlEcpl7TxE0/s1600/Mykines+4pan.jpg" height="150" width="556" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The houses in the village are mainly abandoned in wintertime. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfHi2IUb0MD0vEnVEu_bqdvGCBd8Mwwn1x1bz3sua8jxgibSLD2tb2PUaYx5Khoh7oq9vHDz09UwpwXkxjC4zJO_AwoolnPL7NlS4gNEjaVM62C616F5guQUTYH-jmv29OpkqnhH7FC8/s1600/Katrina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfHi2IUb0MD0vEnVEu_bqdvGCBd8Mwwn1x1bz3sua8jxgibSLD2tb2PUaYx5Khoh7oq9vHDz09UwpwXkxjC4zJO_AwoolnPL7NlS4gNEjaVM62C616F5guQUTYH-jmv29OpkqnhH7FC8/s1600/Katrina.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katrina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Tourists coming here are mainly those who can afford to be "grounded" a day or two in bad weather. It is of course a dream come true for ornithologists or the average adventurer, but even most faroese people have not made the effort to see this awesome place, where you can get a bed and some grub in <a href="http://heima.olivant.fo/~mykines/krhusgb.htm" target="_blank">Kristianshus</a>. They only have 35 beds, so booking is a good idea in high season. Katrina will take well care of you.<br />
<br />
The making of an art gallery and a studio, along with a small hotel are in the process, but I do not know how far the work has come. Anyone know, please add info in the comments, and I will fill in fresh facts here.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqx64FmF5BDPUh9YNC59d1x5YoB22MpmOZCxgcnWNlP_CK4tJRqyzlJZNShge7OTdTzgzcRfBlFg21EsmA1AcnNluI6KembiNSYAXF8uMJRQrYWn1Jvt1r41v_9aLZfU1kZ7zGMdr0CIk/s1600/Esben.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqx64FmF5BDPUh9YNC59d1x5YoB22MpmOZCxgcnWNlP_CK4tJRqyzlJZNShge7OTdTzgzcRfBlFg21EsmA1AcnNluI6KembiNSYAXF8uMJRQrYWn1Jvt1r41v_9aLZfU1kZ7zGMdr0CIk/s1600/Esben.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esbern</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I visited the island at three occasions back in 2009, for the puffin hunting (<a href="http://paulsplanetblog.blogspot.no/2015/01/catching-puffins.html" target="_blank">see episode 1</a>), Kristians Blaks concert (episode 4) and as part of the circumnavigation. Kayaking out here was unreal, as conditions were very favourable. Even so, I had two of the most dramatic experiences I ever had in a kayak out here, you will see one of them in this episode, and the other in the next. I never intended to be a "first timer", but as you will see in the program, I went were no man has been before. Kind of by accident. I really did not intend to do it, believe me - but I was sucked into it, literally ...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsggjl2q3jtPkwBQ_tnvloEdYY-Jro3h9ceduSiMss4AZzUp0suD58CQ2tup2VQC21Zv1vT1gPOh-LquFrt-hDq1bH0OJt9ZqjNxpqHpSWigf2u_8QTpjCMf4WFRzyZlmqyNz2yYiLLtw/s1600/sheep+shearing+shed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsggjl2q3jtPkwBQ_tnvloEdYY-Jro3h9ceduSiMss4AZzUp0suD58CQ2tup2VQC21Zv1vT1gPOh-LquFrt-hDq1bH0OJt9ZqjNxpqHpSWigf2u_8QTpjCMf4WFRzyZlmqyNz2yYiLLtw/s1600/sheep+shearing+shed.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old breed of sheep thrive on the green hills.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
This weeks scrap-video:</h3>
True to new habit, I'll give you a bonus video. This one comes with no subtitles, but it is hardly needed, as the hoisting of fuel barrels and peculiar stairway-elevator speaks for themselves.<br />
<br />
As you can see, Esbern and Katrina are totally dedicated to life on their island - as long as the kids also like it - but they sure have a bucketful of challenges in their daily life. How they cope through long hard winters, with a new storm thundering in with each low pressure, is more than I understand. But they have personalities built to endure.<br />
<br />
Thanks so much for your hospitality and help and good luck with building a Mykines for the future!<br />
<br />
<br />
... and here's the short bonus feature:
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sUVjBIKMq9o?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16250927493524608394noreply@blogger.com0Vága Municipality, Faroe Islands62.103227932389693 -7.656526013671850762.043795932389692 -7.8178875136718506 62.162659932389694 -7.4951645136718508