Do you really believe it's dark?

Anyone who's not from here or even from Norway assumes that I now live in a place where it's dark 'half the year or something'. Well, I don't blame you, because you don't know better. I do. And now I'm sharing it with you :)

The picture above was taken around 2pm in the afternoon today. The sun is technically above the horizon every day, however, since Bodø lies on the mainland and there are mountains to the south of the city, we do not really see the sun in the city any more. For about a week the sun in the daytime has been hidden behind the Børvasstindan mountain range, which you can see in one of the recent posts (from Straumøya island). Looking at it from here you can clearly see where the sun is and where it moves, however, you only get to see the light it projects and not the source itself.

Around 8am you can start distinguishing the brighness that creeps in on the sky from its southeastern corner. It takes a while and the change in light goes very slowly, but around 11 a.m. it is bright daylight. On a cloudy day you will still need to use lamps in the house; on clear days you don't. It does not take long after noon before you notice the change in the light. It is as if there is less of it, but you can't point your finger to exactly why. And then, if you're lucky, the sky is clear except for a few thin clouds. At about 1.30-2pm the last of the sun rays hit the clouds and colour the whole world golden. It is as if the western sky is burning, and the contrast to the green-blue darkening surrounding sky makes the colours appear even more clear. And then all of a sudden it is over; the light is visibly fading and colours turn pale and get a hint of grey in them and... And then it's dark.

This time of the year it's generally dark from 3pm to 8.30-9 a.m, give or take. Sounds awful but it isn't as long as you make sure you actually SEE the light in the daytime, instead of just staying inside, in an office or something. I rather think of the days as colourful in many ways, especially if there are polar lights in the sky after dark.

Oh well. Just thought I'd share that.

Sorry about the poor photo quality! My camera is once again being repaired and I have to rely solely on my mobile camera for now.

Update soon - From weekend winter wonderland

Saturday's fireplace...

I spent the weekend in the middle of the mountains in a log cabin, together with a young, blonde guy. We went on hikes while it was still bright and saw glimpses of the sun, though soon we'll not see it for a couple of weeks. We also had an outdoor bonfire, crossed a nearly frozen river on a wooden hanging bridge, spent an evening hour sitting on an outdoor staircase watching the snow covered landscape in the moonlight around us, had to get water from another frozen river (crack a hole in the ice to get through to running water) and ... oh yes, our train back home was delayed because there were so many reindeer on the tracks.

My camera (apparently a new and neverending story!) wasn't too friendly, but my buddy had an iPhone and I used my mobile camera, so I'll be able to show you some of this shortly. It's just that since our train got back to town (1hr 20mins late!) I've been to a concert and then headed for work - I'm now working a night shift. Will update more properly and with piccies as soon as I get some sleep and my pics are available on the laptop at home!

Oh, and did I mention it? When I came back the city was white - snow has arrived again! Yay!

The view from my window

I realise it can be a bit boring with lots of sunset images. But this is what it looks like just outside my window right now, one view towards the harbour and the other one above the block below mine. Not photoshopped or anything. Boy, I love autumn!


I promise I will not start blogging every beautiful sunset I see. It was just this one, right now, I thought I'd show you. I work a lot of nights this week so I don't see to many sunrises, but fortunately I'm up a long time before the sun sets. (I swap between two jobs at the moment and they keep me well busy, which is good, as I'm planning a visit to the UK in January or so.)

Regular Afternoon - Extraordinary Light

3:30pm/15.30 - It has been a day with no rain, but clouds have covered the sky and as a result it appears to be darker than it really has to be. Around the time of sunset, however, I can notice a bright stripe or two on the western sky. There's a crack in the clouds, and in between the dark clouds there's a hint of light. And I wonder what's next.

I'm typing on my computer and doing various work while the light slowly changes outside. Nearly an hour later I look out again. The crack between the clouds has changed place, the sun has set and the colours have turned more intense. The pink reflects light from a sun that is already below the horizon, and it's gloriously beautiful. Clouds get a pink-golden lining and it is as if a visual silence creeps up on my city, a benign presence of coloured light before the day is over.

This picture, as the other two above, was taken from my veranda. I have a veranda on the side of my flat that faces west, so I get to see sunsets nearly every time there is one. There isn't always - at the end of this month the sun will not rise above the horizon and we will subsequently not see it until the early days of January. Anyway. The picture above shows the rooftop of the block of flats that lies next to/below mine, and one of the clouds that was coloured by the setting sun. It was amazing; even the seagulls went quiet during this beautiful transition.

I'm so glad I'm living here.

Everyday afternoon life

Last Wednesday I left work around 4.30pm. It had been a day of grey weather, but I happened to see that there was a clear spot below the clouds to the west. I realised that there might be a lovely sunset coming up, so I decided to wait it out. I headed down to the seafront in the city centre with my camera, found a seat and just waited.

While waiting for the sun to come far enough down and below the clouds I looked to the south. And there I could enjoy the view of this; the Børvasstindan mountain range. I walked these mountains the summer of 2002 and will do so again next summer - this year I arrived here too late, and the snow came way too early for that. The peaks reach more than 1,000 m.a.s.l. There is a marked trail in the valley between the two ranges, and there are beautiful little lakes, and rare herbs growing too.

Looking back at the sea, and facing west, I notice a traditional fishing boat coming in from the field. This one was not followed by a flock of seagulls, which means that either they did not have fish on board or they had prepared and put away it all before getting this far. To the right of the fishing boat you can also see the sail of a sailing boat that left the harbour around the time when I arrived. I can understand why someone would want to set sail towards the sunset in weather like this...

The local marina and some of the buildings in the city centre. The sun painted everything golden, and it was just like someone had turned on an orange light underneath a cover of grey and filled the entire space between the clouds and the earth with golden air. I wish I could show you how it really was.

The sun has set below the horizon and light reflects upwards and colours the clouds and the sky alike. The islets you can spot on the horizon line are a group of islands called Bliksvær, and people live there year round. They used to be popular landing spots for fishing boats coming in from the fish-rich fields out at sea, and I think some fishermen still live there. However, there is little industry.

The sun has set, the darkness is conquering more space and soon I left my spot by the sea and walked home. A beautiful end to a day that was less ordinary than expected!