Exploring Scandinavia

Last December the website WhereCoolThingsHappen published a picture story titled «27 Reasons Why You Must Visit Norway in 2015”.

“Wondering why you should visit Norway?” the editors asked. Norway is a once in a lifetime destination and probably one of the most stunning landscapes in the world,  truly spectacular nature with mountains plunging into the sea from hundreds of meters, fjords, tall mountain peaks, northern lights and midnight sun. So we’re putting Norway on our travel-list for 2015,” the publisher wrote. Today we want to share with you some images showing picturesque Norway.

Northern Light in Svolvaer (Source)
Crossing the Arctic Circle is only the first step on the long journey north. The North Cape, Europe’s northernmost point, remains a goal for many travelers to Arctic Norway.

Reine in Lofoten (Source)

Odda (Source)
Nature is powerful in Norway, perhaps nowhere more so than in the Lofoten Islands, 123 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

Reine in Lofoten (Source)
See map above

Roeros street (Source)
Leave it to the Scandinavians to know best how to brighten the darkest time of the year – after all, they’re pros! Roeros is a popular Christmas-destination.

Troll’s Tongue (Source)
British photographer brought a model to Trolltunga in Norway, a huge piece of rock that extends to a height of 0.8 kilometers off the ground.

Renndolssatra (Source)
The Innerdalen valley has been called the most beautiful mountain valley in Norway. No vehicular traffic, the sound of waterfalls and lakes surrounded by majestic mountains – here you can truly find peace.

Green Smoke (Source)
As summer ebbs away, the gloom is relieved by the bewitching greens, purples, pinks and reds of the aurora borealis, or Northern Lights

Fredvang Bridges, Lofoten (Source)
The Fredvang Bridges (Norwegian: Fredvangbruene) are two cantilever bridges that connect the fishing village of Fredvang onMoskenesøya island with the neighboring island of Flakstadøya.

Morning (Source)
Listen to “Morning” from Peer Gynt Suite by Edvard Grieg when watching this image and you’ll better understand the moods of Norway.

Geirangefjord (Source)
A great base for enjoying the Geirangerfjord area and neighboring Norangsfjord is the Union Hotel. It’s one of the old-time “fjord castles” so popular at the end of the 19^th century.

Trollstigen (Troll’s Path) (Source)
the Trollstigen (Troll’s Path), which crosses one of Norway’s most desolate regions.

Autumn in Lofoten (Source)
This 118-mile-long archipelago of small fishing communities set against a dramatic wall of towering snow-patched peaks – granite formations that date back several billion years – has drawn increasing numbers of mainlanders (and foreign artists) attracted to its seclusion, special light, bracing vair, and unpolluted waters.

Hoyvika Beach on Andoya, Vesteraalen (Source)
A great way to experience Vesteraalen is going by the Hurtigruten (The Express Line)

Lofoten Islands (Source)
The world’s most stunning archipelago is waiting for you.

Lyseveien (Source)
For a detailed description including maps and information etc buy the guidebook ‘Hiking in Sirdal’ which includes Kjerag and Sirdals Seven Summits.

Senja (Source)
Discover the striking scenery of the outer coast of the Island of Senja in Northern Norway, which reaches out into the mighty Norwegian Sea.

Senja Sky Bridge (Source)

Vaeroy (Source)
On the small island of Værøy is surprising many walks.

Borgund Stave Church (Source)
Borgund Stave Church – the best-preserved stave church in Norway, dating back to 1180 – is found in Lærdal, as is Norsk Villakssenter (the Norwegian Wild Salmon Centre).

Ramberg (Source)
Situated on the outskirts of Lofoten, in the village Ramberg, you find us by a beautiful kilometre long sandy beach, with a panorama view towards the Arctic Ocean.

The Pulpit (Source)
Norway’s famed high rocky plateau known as Preikestolen (The Pulpit Rock) has attracted a record number of visitors so far this year, up more than 20 percent over last year.

Senja Islands (Source)

Atlantic Road (Source)
Stone, islets, islands and eight bridges spread over an equal number of kilometers. It’s just one of the dramatic roads in norway.

Torghatten (Source)
Experience a special walk through the mountain.

Notice
We have been accused by Photographer Daniil Korzhonov’s lawyer of violating the copyright laws of his photos. We have rejected the claim since we obtained permission to use the images after best press practice. Of course, we are honored that the requirement is for a five-digit dollar amount, assessing the quality of our publication. However, we have chosen to replace all images of Daniil Korzhonov since we do not want to promote a photographer who under such circumstances is taking legal action against us.

All images have been replaced by in-house photos if not otherwise stated.

Daily Scandinavian thanks WhereCoolThingsHappen for its kind permission to use their images.

Jockey William Buick from Oslo has assignments for the Sheik of Dubai, the Queen of England, Arséne Wenger and the musical king Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, has swooped to recruit the jockeys William Buick for his Godolphin racing empire.

His new contract will not come into effect until the jockey has fulfilled his current riding arrangements, completing all contractual obligations to his present employers.

William Buick – the conqueror – has been fabulously successful in 2014 as retained rider for the John Gosden stable, where he has been first jockey since 2010. He was trainer champion in 2012 and the most winning jockey that year.  Gosden is the trainer for The Fugue, a horse belonging to Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and has seven victories in eleven runs.

Buick was appointed “Apprentice Jockey of the Year” by British Horseracing Awards in 2008 and 2009.

In 2012 he participated in 130 runs and was the third most winning and best earning top jockey.

“It’s like being a boxer,” says Buick. “You must be lightweight but strong at the same time.”

The jockey flew to Dubai from Heathrow to confirm his new deal. Eye-bulging sums of cash must have been on offer to secure his signature.

About the horse owners he says:

“Andrew Lloyd Webber is unbelievably pleasant and vey eccentric. Arsène Wenger is a shy person and quite boring. Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum looks very intense, but he is a fair guy. He knows horses better than most people. Queen Elizabeth of England is very earthy, and knows evidently a lot about horses.”

William Buick was born on the 22 July in Baerum outside Oslo. He has British and Danish citizenships and lives in Newmarket, England.

Photo credits: Flickr

Karl Ove Knausgaard adorned the front page of the New York Times Sunday Magazine’s 1^st March issue.

In addition to the front page image, first part of his essay “My Saga – On the trail of the first Europeans” was published on 13 pages in the magazine.

“The New York Times Magazine contacted Knausgaard in December to ask whether he would travel across the United States and write about his trip for them. The editor proposed that he traveled to Newfoundland to visit the place where the Vikings had settled, then rent a car and drive south, into the U.S. and westward to Minnesota, where a large majority of Norwegian-American immigrants had settled, and then write about it. He also suggested that he should see the disputed Kensington Runestone while he was in Minnesota. It was on display in a little town called Alexandria, near where a farmer had claimed to discover it in 1898, and it could be proof — if authentic — that the Vikings had not only settled Newfoundland but made it all the way to the center of the continent. It probably was a hoax, he said, but seeing it would be a nice way to round out the story.” (*

The essay is a commissioned work describing the Viking’s journey from Newfoundland through America.

Part two will be published Sunday 22.

Karl Ove Knausgaard is the author of the six-volume autobiographical novel “My Struggle.” The English translation of “My Struggle: Book Four” will be published in the United States in April. Translated by Ingvild Burkey from the Norwegian.

*) Excerpt from the introduction of the essay.

The images are not from the New York Times Magazine article.