So I finally went back to a place that I could call « home »…
Tromsø, « the town » of northern Norway.
I am often asked why I like this place so much. Just because there is everything here that I love : indecently beautiful mountains but also a sea coast (which keeps me close enough to my natal Bretagne).
Also, people live there !!!!!! So, it is the North. But it is also a town, which basically means possibility to meet other human beings, access to culture (Tromso is a true dynamic city with festivals and events all year round), to organisations and even to bars (!), and which confirms that the grown-up version of me turned out to be a city animal…
End of october : before the snow
December and january or « when the sun doesnt rise »
If the sun doesn’t rise, it does not mean that there is no light at all (I guess this is different closer to the northern pole, like in Svalbard). From 10:00 to 14:00, we get the lights of an early morning which quickly turns into the lights of a late evening. Also, the snow is gentle enough to transform every shy light into something really bright.
From the hostel where I live, I see people come and go. As often during this year, I have this weird feeling that, most of the time, I am saying goodbye to people before I even had the time to really meet them. But still, I feel lucky to be surrounded by people from many cultures, travelling. I am the witness of the small stories of the hostel and sometimes part of it. It can be ‘oh’ so quiet, and then, for a few days, great matches occurs and the hostel can get filled with a suprising atmosphere.
« Have you seen the northern lights ? »
is the usual question I get before « Hi, what is your name ? ». I like to see the sparkles in their eyes when they talk about it and when their dreams became true! It is the main reason for almost all of the guests to have reached up here.
As I spent so long time here, for me, they are more a part of the winter in the north. I like their peaceful presence in the cold nights and I smile at them when they come and say hello.
Here are a few pictures.
If you want to know more about them and you understand french, I recommand this video which contains an historical part and scientifical explanations on auroras.
And the sun rised
The 21th of january at 11:15, we could see the sun rise again for a couple of minutes. We walked on top of a mountain to witness it ! The sky also took this bright blue color!
And this morning, 29th of january:
Music of the moment :