What is it about the magical allure of the Nordic countries that draws us north again and again like a lifelong virus? One thing is certain for us: it's not the Nordic cuisine that makes us regularly travel the long distances to Scandinavia - we have to let other countries take the lead. Rather, it is the vast dimensions of the Norwegian landscape, the endless, almost hypnotic-looking mountain ridges, rivers and forests, the midnight sun and, last but not least, the noticeably low density of human civilization that captivate us so much.
While in everyday life we are inundated with a flood of information - and those who claim to be - while everything seems to be available in abundance at all times (at least in our Central European societies) and the social credo is “more is better”, Norway, with its calming landscape, is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Here, less really does mean more, and our attention is drawn back to the essentials. The sound of the sea, the whistling of the wind, the gentle rippling of a river or simply the silence is enough for us.
In June 2024, an evening hike with camera equipment took us up to the heights above Bodø, this uniquely situated Norwegian coastal town opposite the Lofoten Islands. Despite the proximity to the city, you feel like you're in another world here. The view sweeps across to the distant Lofoten Islands, while the midnight sun shines like a light star over a nearby island. It is just before midnight and we are simply happy to be up here and to be able to enjoy this unique Nordic landscape almost all to ourselves.
