Norway has always been a destination of fantasy for me. Growing up in a rather proud Norweigian family, we were surrounded by our heritage and the familiar flag and iconic imagery has always been tucked neatly next to Canadian ones in my heart. My great-grandparents immigrated to Canada from Norway in the 1900’s and I found it rather fitting that I visited one of my homelands while I was living in a new country myself.
I was fortunate to join three other amazing photographers, David Talley, Ine Andrea Aaberg, and Victora Nevland on a wonderful long weekend just outside Ål between Oslo and Bergen. I set off to Oslo from London just a few short hours after returning from Canada and the jet lag was diminished by excitement to add a new country to my list (making it 86 visited!)
After a lovely night in Oslo we set off on the train to our destination and upon arriving we quickly set up our little nest inside the cabin and enjoyed the freedom of being internet free. Over the course of the next few days we filled our hours with attempts at skiing, making wonderful breakfasts and eating slower than I have in a long time, and laughing at stories and inside jokes.
The wind howled at night and the snow piled against the doors and walls but inside with our fire ever tended to, was a warm home filled with positive energy and creative passion. We joked that we spent the days waiting, waiting for lunch…for the sun to go lower…for the wind to stop…but really those hours spent in peaceful reflection or quiet friendship were a nice change of pace from the rapid fire world of facebook and regular life. Quickly I forgot where my phone was, didn’t notice if it was even charged or not and the grips of “where’s the wifi” were gone.
It was refreshing to be in a space removed from the rest of the world. It was like being caught in a bit of a pause in life, our own little story happening all by itself.
I couldn’t have asked for a better visit for my first time to Norway and I’m already counting down the days until I get to visit it again.
