Sunsets as days go by. Spydeberg, Norway

Up at my mountain place there was time for some skiing - but after 2 meters I was falling backwards on hard snow/ice and ended on my shoulder that had some severe damage....

As the days go by I am still sitting here waiting for my left arm to mend.... fun.....

...anyway from time to time there is some cool winter sunsets to have a look at - as here., right outside my apartment.

What to do a dark winter day in Arvika, Sweden / Sverige

NB! PRESENTLY HAVING A BROKEN SHOULDER - Pls. visit later ☺

Jack

Life is not exactly pulsating a winter day in the small township Arvika by a frozen lake in Warmland - Sweden

So why not pick up your skies and do some cross country skiing at the frozen lake (maybe cross lake skiing hehe).
...but be prepared to be alone out there...

Arvika, Sweden - a February visit to a small Swedish township in Warmland

Arriving at the Travel Center of Arvika

I visited the small place Arvika this winter day in February. A fine opportunity for having a walk around this small township with some 15,000 inhabitants. You can maybe as I have some feeling of the spirit of the place reading this from wiki:

"The town was a village until 1811 when it was given town privileges by royal charter under the name Oscarsstad in order to improve the economy of the area. This attempt was unsuccessful, and the town privileges were repealed in 1821 and the town was instead given the status of köping (township) and renamed Arvika. The town privileges were reinstated at the founding centennial in 1911, and the name Arvika remained. The city status is now obsolete, but Arvika is since 1971 the seat of the larger Arvika municipality."

The train station

An incredible big and impressive building - probably telling a story of former citizens ambitions for the township when they opened the station in 1871.

Inside the train station

A traditional waiting hall and some wall paintings that seems to have been here for some time. I wonder who the lady to the left of the wall is - surely some local character.

Even more wall paintings to see outside

Here on the wall in the back of a communal parking place this big wall painting is for sure telling a tale of the life generations away when knights fought their way through the young Sweden, crossing lakes and forests with the wolves right behind - what a life for those brave guys...

The town hall: Stadshuset with the high tower seems also to be inspired by the old times

They opened the town hall back in 1904. At the time it also housed the fire brigade and the police in the municipality. Maybe the lookalike castle-tower was a place for drying up the firebrigades fire hoses.

Can this be the oldest house in Arvika?

This old building must for sure have some history to tell - I guess it must have been originated someplace around 1800 - 1850. Situated in the central city also connected to a backyard with more buildings from the same period. Asking me it must have potential to be the city museum...

The central square

The grand station building is on the one side of the central town square. The other side can be seen here - with a street leading up to the church in Arvika - for me:Typical for so many similar small town places in Sweden

What to do in Arvika a winter day in February?

One can say much about Arvika - but you can not say that the city life was pulsating this winter day.

Out on the frozen lake I could spot some few skiers and hikers while I spent an hour sitting at the local Ohlsons restaurant having my lunch.

The old men's lunch Club at Ohlsons Restaurant

This was surely some good friends meeting for lunch this Friday in February. Lots of things to talk about and enjoying their company around the table in Ohlsons Restaurant.

Last train from Arvika

It was interesting to visit the township of Arvika this winterday, looking for interesting objects to make a photo of. Before lunch almost no people to see outside - hopefully they thrive the people who live here day in and day out through the years.

Arriving with the coastal express in the Capitol of Arctic: Tromsø / Tromso in Norway

What a sight from the coastal steamer this early afternoon - closing in to this big city up in the Arctic - looking at the bridge connecting the city to the mainland - having in front the city line with the Majestetic white dressed mountains in the back.

Already the light is fading at 14.15 PM in this time of the year (end of January).

Regard also to the left - the huge, rusty, Russian trawler - either in for some maintenance or maybe brought in under arrest for illegal fishing - who knows....

  Facts and figures of Tromsø Tromsø has a population of about 70,000 and covers an area of 2,516 square kilometres. Tromsø is home to the world's northernmost university, botanical garden and cathedral. History Human settlement in Tromsø dates back more than 10,000 years, whilst the local Sami culture is at least 2,000 years old.
Tromsø was founded in 1794. In the 1850s,
Tromsø became the centre for trapping in the Arctic region. In the early 1900s, it was the starting point for expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions, hence its nickname - "Gateway to the Arctic".

See the complete album from the TOUR to North Cape in Artic Norway here >>

Under another version from the quay for the Coastal Express:

3PM: Bodo, Norway Arctic - afternoon - sunset - blue hour or: All in one?

We are sailing out of Bodø this afternoon on our way up to Honningsvåg and the North Cape.
To the SouthWest the sun is setting and the sky is changing from daylight to the blue hour setting that will last less than an hour before the evening darkness will be in place.

The short winter days in January is a big contrast to the Midnight Sun in June/July.
As I travel North with the coastal steamer for 3 days and nights in the middle of the winter I am blessed with a calm sea, no wind or heavy waves - just some splendid days with a superb sky in the short days - and some Northern Lights in the nights..

See the complete album from the TOUR to North Cape in Artic Norway here >>

Under: As we are sailing out of the harbor in the city Bodo / Bodø in Norway Arctic:

Spot the Car Ferry in the pink morning up in Arctic Norway

How is that for commuting - sailing a car ferry in a pink morning - one of the first days when the sun is returning to this Arctic region, North of the Arctic Circle.
It is as the nature celebrates the return of the sun after it have been unseen for app. 2 months up here in the dark winter nights and days.

 See the complete album from the TOUR to North Cape in Artic Norway here >>

Under: Another photo from this place in Arctic Norway

The Fox - a winter night visitor at the mountain cottage. Valdres, Norway

The outside movement sensor was activated at 1 AM this black winter night up at our mountain cottage in the mountains Northwest of Oslo, Norway.

The fox was coming right up to us when we open the door equipped with some cold ham (night bait hehe...) a torch and our 4/3 mirrorless Lumix gx7 camera with the new lightintensive 20mm pancake-lens.

And having such a closeup with a normal lens with light from a LED torch was interesting
- from the EXIF:

Shutter 1/13
F 1,7
ISO 1600

Photo moderate cropped.

For s short video of the nightly visit - take a look here:

Under: The same afternoon up at our mountain place in Tisleidalen, Valdres, Norway:

As the sun rise in January at 10.20 AM in Arctic Norway

Midnight sun in the summer.
No sun in the winter.
Hard facts North of the Arctic Circle.

This day in January the sun is back and almost exploding as it rise late in the morning, around 10.20 AM before sunset will occur around 3.30 pm.

Enjoy the spectacle.

  See the complete album from the TOUR to North Cape in Artic Norway here>>

Under: Another sunrise version

Hurry for the departure of the coastal Express MS Midnatsol - leaving Rorvik, Norway

Every day throughout the year both a North- and a Southbound coastal express have their daily stops in Rørvik at 9pm in the evening.

In this photo you can see the ship I was boarding (with my car) in Trondheim that will take me for a 3 nights sailing to Honningsvåg - close to the North Cape - my target on this tour.

 When we leave this little fisher village in a couple of minutes we will during the night cross the Arctic circle and be in the fantastic Arctic region of Norway.

  See the complete album from the TOUR to North Cape in Artic Norway here>> 

 Some more of this village from the net: Rørvik is a port village in the municipality of Vikna in Nord-Trøndelag county, Norway. The village also serves as the administrative center of the municipality. It is on the eastern side of the Vikna archipelago on the island of Inner-Vikna. The village has a population (2013) of 2,949. There are several museums in Rørvik and a hotel. Telenor Mobil is an important employer, as is public service, fishing, and commercial salmon fish farming.

Under: Rørvik - meetingplace for the South- and Northbound coastal express

The north bound coastal express MS Midnatsol - leaving the Trondheimsfjorden, Norway

Only 3.30pm and the sun is already setting as we go Northbound in the sea outside of Trondheim, Norway.

In a few hours we will cross the Artic Circle on our way to North Cape.

Our first stop along the coast is the small fisher village Rørvik where we will arrive at 9pm - and also meet another Southbound coastal express.

 See the complete album from the TOUR to North Cape in Artic Norway here >>

Under: Another photo from this afternoon out in the Trondheimsfjord

An old lighthouse with a keeper family and a children school: Kjeungskjaer, Norway

Kjeungskjær lighthouse from 1880 is located on an islet off Ørlandet not far from Trondheim in Norway.

Here lived a whole Keeper family with children. Not exactly the worlds playground for the little ones. Own teacher for the children were brought out by boat and she also stayed there intermittently.

The lighthouse is 20.6 meters high.
The lighthouse was automatized in 1987. Today it is also for rent by Kjeungen Kystlag.

Going out from Trondheim with the coast express you will pass this lighthouse after a couple of hours.
As I did this day in January on my way north to the North Cape.

See the complete album from the TOUR to North Cape in Artic Norway >>

Under: A closer look to this lighthouse:

Night by Nidelva, Trondheim, Norway

Only 4.45PM and winter darkness along the shores of the river Nidelva. On my way North to North Cape this was my first stop in Trondheim - the capitol of mid Norway.

See the complete album from the TOUR to North Cape in Artic Norway here >>

Under: Another winter afternoon photo from Trondheim:

Theater Concert: Gasolin, Aarhus, Denmark

Aarhus, an interesting town to visit with lots of culture activities and events going on.

Here we are enjoying a great rocking theater-concert in the fine old Aarhus Theater a cold January evening.

For a live example cut of the performance see my Youtube Video right here (BTW: also filmed with my Lumix GX7):

Find under another photo from the fantastic theater concert in Aarhus:

Night in the Åboulevarden - the pedestrian street in Aarhus, Denmark

Aarhus, an interesting town to visit with lots of well conserved old buildings etc. in the core of the city.
Here we are taking an evening walk in the popular Åboulevard - a pedestrian street along the river/canal.

Below a morning vista to the town from the breakfast room at the 10th floor in Atlantic Hotel :

With the back to: Skagen - the end of Denmark III

The last photo in this series from Skagen. To day looking to a little creek more South - with the back to the sea...

Look to a map of Denmark and you will see that it's Northernmost ending looks like a finger pointing towards Sweden.

It all ends in a tiny small sandbank where the 2 seas the Skagerrak and Kattegat meet.

It is a fascinating experience to stand on the tip of Jutland and the European mainland and watch the waves from the two seas beat together and break the Skaw Reef.

Below - another version looking out to the Skaw Reef:

Skagen - the end of Denmark II

Today - beach details in the low light of a January afternoon.

Look to a map of Denmark and you will see that it's Northernmost ending looks like a finger pointing towards Sweden. It all ends in a tiny small sandbank where the 2 seas the Skagerrak and Kattegat meet. It is a fascinating experience to stand on the tip of Jutland and the European mainland and watch the waves from the two seas beat together and break the Skaw Reef.

Skagen - the end of Denmark

Look to a map of Denmark and you will see that it's Northernmost ending looks like a finger pointing towards Sweden.

It all ends in a tiny small sandbank where the 2 seas the Skagerrak and Kattegat meet.

It is a fascinating experience to stand on the tip of Jutland and the European mainland and watch the waves from the two seas beat together and break the Skaw Reef.

A fine place to visit also on a winterly January day.

Find below also a version with the madam out on this Danish finger tip....

Sailing by the New Älvsborg Fortress in Gothenburg, Sweden

 

After app. 3,5 hrs in the car from our home we have boarded the car ferry Stena Danica on tour from Gothenborg to Fredrikshavn in Denmark. Sailing out the ferry pass this fine old Fortress - protecting Gothenburg.

 

Under: A painting from old times:

 

From the net:

Nya Älvsborg Fortress is in the middle of the sea approach to Gothenbug. In 1644 a Danish naval force blocked the sea approach by occupying the small island of Kyrkogårdsholmen. After the Swedes, with the assistance of the Dutch, succeeded in driving the Danes off, it was decided to build a new fortress. At the same time the old Älvsborgs Fortress, which had fallen into disrepair, would be torn down. Construction of the new fortress began in 1653 according to fortification plans drawn up by quartermaster general Johan Wärnschiöld. Construction was completed in 1677.

In 1719 Nya Älvsborg fortress was attacked and bombarded by the Danish navy for several days, during which it suffered great damage. This was, however, repaired over the following years. The eighteenth century saw several reconstructions and extensions. In 1766 the upper part of the tower was dismantled, and the tower was given its current appearance.

From the end of the eighteenth century until 1866 the fortress acted as a prison. At most there were just over 100 prisoners. In 1868 Nya Älvsborg Fortress ceased to count as a defence facility. During the First World War the fortress was used for storage and accommodation in connection with mobilisation.

 

 

Farm in the January afternoon, Ski, Norway

Some days with snow - some days without. The winterlight as the sun is setting and the moon rising.

A farm outside the village Ski close to Oslo, Norway.

Under: In the forest. Root detail

With iphone 6 plus in the Winter land of Norway and a Million Thank's..

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL 

I was out the other day just as the morning mist lifted and had the chance for this photo of the cold morning out in the countryside outside my little village southeast of Oslo. 2 photos stitched in PP.

"A million thank's" refer to my Flickr account where I the last day of the year 2014 have had 1 million hits to my photos. A screendump from my stat. page below:

I have the understanding that some people think that fancy titles and or use of tags is a main factor for having lots of hits to your flickr photos. What do I know...

It is for sure a fact that the photo I have with most hits is really not outstanding in neither the title or in use of tags. Have a look your self:

Last summer for the summer mountain farm II - app. 27.000 hits

Tags used for this photo: 

• norway
• norge
• valdres
• seter
• seterdrift
• summer farms
• mountain farms
• canon g1x
• tisledalen
• fløten

Probably not the most exciting tags you may have seen....
BTW The remains from this old summer farm is to be found in the low mountains in the South of Norway.

GPS:N 60.845005, E 9.094809