When you’re living in the great north, country boundaries aren’t that big of a deal as in more populated areas. No matter if you live in the northern Norway, Finland, Sweden or Russia – you live behind the wall (you get it, if you’ve seen GOT). People up north share a lot of traditions and struggles, and there is a lot of border crossing going on. Which is why I didn’t think of going to Finnish Saariselkä yesterday as a big deal.

I didn’t take a single photo.

Whyyy, Ksenia?

._.

Saariselkä with it’s 350 inhabitants was pretty much as expected: Quiet, empty and moody. The rain was poring down most of the day with no sight of the midnight sun. The Acho-shop was closed.

Midsummer’s Day is a Holiday in Finland. So after a delicious dinner at the hotel, we found the only open bar “downtown”. Germany beat Sweden 2-1 in the World Cup, as we were drinking fresh blueberry shots with cream while kind of watching the game.

I really wish I had some proper photos to share from this trip (not counting the selfies or snaps on my iphone).

Recommendation: If you go to Finland you MUST drink Minttu Cacao with cream! It’s delicious.

Other things you probably should do in Finland – not in the midnight sun season, though ^^

Oslo+summer=BBQ

there’s a hulk in the backyard o_x

Oslo, Nationalteateret

Milli love // the summer of Milli

hytta på fjellet – mountain cottage

Milli finds new friend

Milli & fashion pants // summer of Milli

doggy bliss // Milli-summer

pink highlight, in the middle of a field

Oslo Pride – pink highlight 2

horsie

BEWARE!

Oslo, by Aker river

summer night walk: wanna feed the ducks?

❤

sunshine, roses, vacation – what more do you need?

work, work

summer blur

I feel the need to write something too

My Facebook feed is bouncing from drowning me with all the sad stories of the world to bathing me with sunlight. The summer in Norway has been incredibly sunny and warm this year, a phenomena most Norwegians have managed to share on FB, in one way or another. Dream summer – drømmesommer. And it lasts, while my feed otherwise grows darker.

What will I remember of this period? The flowering parks and afternoon barbecues, or the distant wars and fleeting moments of melancholy?

Two things are certain: I had a higher opinion of people in general when we couldn’t comment and share news stories, and I felt the world was a better place before I started following the news.

The more you know…