Profession: Teacher, trash sorter, speaker, and podcaster.
I am from Flesberg, a tiny place two hours west of Oslo. I highly recommend not going there if you are in Norway, as it pales in comparison to our more scenic and spectacular fjords and mountains to the west and north.
Ryan and I met about nine years ago, a year into my college life in the US. After abandoning my unathletic, short and successful collegiate basketball career at a small NY school, I ventured west and settled at U of Minnesota – a cold but hospitable metropolis.. Shortly after we exchanged secret words, sliced our hands with a ceremonial blade, joining our minds and blood in the holy union of fraternal brotherhood. And then we ate pizza.
Since abandoning my path towards world domination, prestigious employment and material items (peace and love, and all), I have mostly sought precipitous nature, wild landscapes and plenty of water. Cities are unique, but the hustle and bustle of them no longer attract me. Man can’t make nature, only produce a bleak and imperfect imitation.
I must swim. I must try new things (preferably in water),I must take pictures and I must eat good food. If you return with an empty memory card and belly, no trip has been had.
My last proper trip was to Iceland, with a few mutual friends of Ryan and I. We only had four days there, so making the most of it was paramount. We rented a small van with beds and a sink and hit the road. We traveled along the Golden Circle of Iceland, stopping every thirty minutes to take pictures of the spectacular scenery. Mountains, glaciers, volcanoes, waterfalls, and horses all around. At the black sand beach, we joined some curious seals for a cold swim in the ocean, sans clothing. The food was a mixture of Scandinavian and American, perhaps due to its geographical location. We ate standard camping food on the road but stopped for a nice treat at some local diners when we had time. Our eyes were hungrier than our mouths. One night we found this remote hot spring, nestled between mountain tops and rough pastures, far away from city lights and people. Here we sat, drinking whiskey under the night sky with steaming water keeping us warm for hours. I thought to myself “I must come back here one day”. And I shall. It is an absolute must for anyone visiting, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Rating: 9 out of 10 (but only because we did not see any northern lights).
