The New Swedish Yoga

Tor Kjølberg
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The New Swedish Yoga
One of the things the corona pandemic has taught us is that proximity to nature is important. When the world is raging around us, people are reaching out to the forest’s green leaves, soft moss and rattling tree tops – a place where we can find peace and complacent. Swimming in a Swedish lake this summer has become the new Swedish yoga.
Swimming in a Swedish lake is also fun, relaxing and a wonderful way to experience the Swedish nature. Venture into the nature’s safe embrace and find your magical lake in the woods. Global trend agency WGSN reported last year that walking in nature is the new yoga.

Related: Sweden – A Country of Immense Variety

Over 100,000 lakes
In Sweden there are over 100 000 lakes and woodland lakes that you can jump in and swim. You don’t have to go far to find water. The lakes can vary in size dramatically – some are small forest ponds and there are large lakes. Vänern, which is Sweden’s largest lake and the third largest in Europe. It covers an area of around 5600 square kilometers.

Increasingly, people discover the phenomenon named forest bathing which is about being in the forest and feel and smell the environments. And when you swim in the forest, blood pressure drops and walking through trees calms your nervous system.

Related: Gliding Through Sweden’s Heartland

The New Swedish Yoga
Venture into the nature’s safe embrace and find your magical lake in the woods. Photo: Visit Stockholm

Natural and artificial lakes
In the woods of the western part of Fulltofta there is a small swimming area by Lake Ringsjön. The smaller lakes often have more visitors, in the bigger lakes there are water sports and activities going on, as the water temperatures are slightly higher.

In Järavallen you can swim in an artificial lake which, after many years of digging is ready with a small sandy beach with barbecue areas, benches and tables. It is also accessible by wheelchair. The lakes are often cool in the beginning of the season, June, and are slowly heating up towards August.

The New Swedish Yoga
Lake in Western Sweden
The new Swedish yoga
Forest bathing originated in Japan and has now spread throughout the world. It is used as a remedy for stress – the only thing you need is a forest to “swim” in, it says. It is a true nature and outdoor experience, great for relaxing.

Related: Sound of Silence in Luxury Spa Outside Oslo, Norway

Sweden is one of the countries in Europe with the largest percentage of forests. As much as 69 percent of the country is forest. The Swedes have also been extremely good at preserving the diversity of the forest and protecting it, which makes them extra exciting to explore. In Norway, only 3 per cent of the forest is protected, compared to 5 per cent in Sweden.

The New Swedish Yoga
Clive camping. Photo: Visit Sweden
Temperatures
With a warm spell of at least 13-16 degree Celsius in the night, and 22-25 during the day the temperatures in the lakes might reach 20 degree Celsius and over. The temperatures in the bigger lakes seldom reaches 20 degrees. Therefore, it is suggested to swim in smaller warmer lakes.

You can either go out into the woods on your own to enjoy and discover the nature with all your senses, or you can join an organized “forest swim” tour with local companies. The forests in Sweden are accessible to all through public law.

More information on lakes and water quality
Most of the lakes are clean and safe to bathe in. For more information on lakes and water quality check the website of the Swedish Water and Ocean board.

The New Swedish Yoga, written by Tor Kjolberg

Millions of Plays for New Hit by Swedish Pop Star

Tor Kjølberg
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0
Millions of Plays for New Hit by Swedish Pop Star
Swedish pop star Alex Alexander’s new EP Helpless counts millions of plays less than a month after its release. The EP Homeless contains five songs reflecting the multiple talents, vivid creativity and undeniable charisma of Alexander. Daily Scandinavian has interviewed the pop artist about the major impact he is having on the international music scene. Read the exciting story “Millions of plays for new hit by Swedish pop star”.
Alex Alexander was born in the small Swedish village of Vinninga, and is internationally known for being the face behind different guitar brands. He started playing music professionally with bands in Asia, in the Middle East, and in Europe at the age of 19 years, singing and playing the guitar. Alex later turned his interest into songwriting and production, as well as focusing his energy on his solo career as a pop act, leading him to play live performances on Swedish Radio, Pride Main Stage in Calgary, Canada, and The NAMM Show in Anaheim California on the Yamaha Music Stage.
Millions of Plays for New Hit by Swedish Pop Star
Alex Alexander was born in the small Swedish village of Vinninga

Started playing guitar 12 years old
“I started playing guitar when I was 12 years old after getting obsessed with Metallica and Iron Maiden,” he says. “I used to practice technique 4-5 hours a day on my guitar and this later led me to go to a special music high school in Sweden. After graduation, I pretty much applied and searched for every gig on the internet, and this landed my first 2-year tour in Asia.”

Related: Talented Swedish Singer/Songwriter Releases New Pop Single

As an independent artist, Alex Alexander has released 25 singles and has accumulated over 70 million streams. Alex competed in the Semi Final of Albanian song contest ”Kënga Magjikë” on live TV in front of 1,5 million viewers and 2000+ plus in the audience in Palace Of Congresses in December 2019. 2020 will be a big year for Alex as he has been planning to move to Los Angeles, after being active on the LA market for over 3 years.

A long and ever changing journey
Alexander tells us it has been a long journey that constantly has been changing for him as an artist. “There isn’t a special moment that lead me into the electronic music genre, but it all kind of came together naturally. I always think as an artist you should dare to experiment and mix different styles,” he explains.

Millions of Plays for New Hit by Swedish Pop Star
The EP Helpless is an escape from reality
The EP Helpless is an escape from reality, a beautiful one that takes the listener on a trip through multiple destinations, emitting a light and a pure energy rare to find nowadays in most new pop releases. Soulful and catchy, The tracklist‘s ethereal sound is gracefully paired with unbelievably breathy vocals, giving it an out-of-this-world feel. It’s Latin American-inspired sonic and rhythmic textures give it an exotic vibe, set to spark mass appreciation among aficionados of positive, dynamic, and beautifully executed music.

Related: The Swedish YouTube Star

Scandinavian music has an amazing world-wide reputation
When we ask Alexander if his Scandinavian roots still play a role in the music he creates he answers, “Absolutely, we Scandinavian artists, songwriters, and producers have such an amazing reputation around the world. There is definitely a strong connection with quality and great melodies whenever anyone abroad talks about a Scandinavian in the music industry. We have given the world so much great music for being such small nations.”

The producer, performer, and creator behind Helpless is a fearless artist who flexes his creative process when needed, ensuring there’s never a dull moment in his music by flawlessly blending a myriad of sounds into upbeat, fun, and classy sounds. This release builds a solid base from which to propel Alexander into even higher dimensions in 2020, especially knowing he is moving to LA this year.

“For me, it’s so much about the vibe of the music. I want the listener to feel good and get hyped when they listen to my music! Some people listen more to the story and the lyrics of the song and others more the music. I want to convey both and let the listener decide what mood, it puts them in!” he explains.

Do you have any musical influencers?
“I have so many influencers and it constantly changes! But my favorite artist right now is The Weeknd!»

 What is the story behind your debut EP, “Helpless”?
«The story is written around different relationships and the hardship one can feel when trying to get it all together. On the song ”Lyin’ Eyes”’ for example, we wanted to write about the whole social media culture where it’s all about showing you’re famous, rich and always happy, but if you really look into someone’s eyes you can see that they are not always happy.”

Related: Scandinavian Pop Music to Enjoy

Millions of Plays for New Hit by Swedish Pop Star
As an independent artist, Alex Alexander has released 25 singles and has accumulated over 70 million streams
 Have you done all the music and lyrics on your own or have you collaborated with others?
«Me and the very talented Swedish producer Johan Randén produced and wrote the whole EP together.”
 What are your future plans? Can we expect a full-length album release after this EP?
«As an artist now in the streaming era it’s important to just keep your releases coming and feed the fans with constant new songs! I would love to take the next step and release a full-length album, I know many say the album is dead, but I still believe the impact an album gives the fans is so much bigger than just a single.»
 As a newcomer, do you have any music-industry related goals in the coming years?
«My next step is to get out on the road once things open up and just play for as many people as possible and in as many countries as possible. I think you can only fully connect with your fans once they see you live and interact with you in reality!»
 Last question: You’re moving to LA. Is Scandinavia too small for you?
«I have been in LA now on and off for 3 years and I finally got my Artist Visa approved this year! I love Sweden and Scandinavia, but I want to break into the US music industry and make my mark, become a household name!”

 

FOLLOW ALEX ALEXANDER:

Facebook: facebook.com/AlexAlexanderLive/
Twitter: twitter.com/uralexalexander
Instagram: instagram.com/alexalexanderlive/
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/alexalexanderlive

Millions of Plays for New Hit by Swedish Pop Star, Alex Alexander interviewed by Tor Kjolberg

Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway

Tor Kjølberg
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Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway

Nestled in a sheltered bay around 60-minute drive from the Norwegian capital of Oslo sits Støtvig Hotel and Spa with a magnificent view over the Oslo fjord. A stay in the modernized hotel gives you a feeling of being in a relaxed Hamptons or New England atmosphere.

Shortly after check-in we received a tour of the property, spa and all three restaurants by general manager Nina Nilsen before being shown to our room. There are 12 suites and 90 rooms, some facing each other with small windows which make them somewhat dark during the daytime. The rooms are, however, spotless and furnished in a Scandinavian maritime chic look. The air condition gives the room a comfortable temperature. The bathrooms are small but convenient, and complementarily supplied with Molton Brown amenities.

Related: Sound of Silence in Luxury Spa Hotel Outside Oslo, Norway

Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
General manager Nina Nilsen and editor-in-chief Tor Kjolberg. Photo: Helgard Mahrdt
Serving Hotel has welcomed discerning hotel guest for over 100 years
Originally, Støtvig Hotel welcomed their first guests as early as in 1990, and was for more than 100 years one of the Oslo fjord’s most special and recognized boutique hotels. In 2011, the old hotel got demolished and today’s owner, Stig Fische, rebuilt it with high quality materials and decor showcasing his admiration for American hospitality. This is particularly evident in the American Diner restaurant and the cinema, unmistakably, a true replica of the cinema in the White House in Washington D. C. The shark decorating one of the walls in the spa is one of the original sharks featured in the movie Jaws!
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
Rest area with piano
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
The library
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
Reception area. Photo: Støtvig Hotel
Related: Four Season at Juvet Landscaper Hotel

Inviting fascilities
We spent a lot of time in the spa area, especially in its indoor and outdoor spa bath. The spa also has many different saunas and steam baths. But be warned, once you step into the spa you won’t want to leave!

Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
The Cinema is a true replica of the cinema in the White House in Washington D. C.
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
Four bowling fields
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
Støtvig Hotel has received several prizes

Other facilities include highly equipped conference rooms with capacity for up to 460 people, a library, four bowling courts, dinner capacity for up to 180 people, wine tasting, a cooking theatre and fitness center.

The area surrounding the hotel offers a wide range of activities and experiences, both on land and at sea. If you come by boat you may find a spot at the hotel’s private marina.

Related: The Oldest Hotel in Norway

Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
From the outdoor spa area
Food
Come lunch or dinner, there is a host of dining options to delight. The Restaurant 801 Oslofjord offers a sophisticated choice of dining, showcasing local ingredients with flair. Among our dishes were chicken and Arctic char. The taste was outstanding.
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
Chicken
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
Arctic char
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
The Wine cellar
The breakfast and brunch are served in the same restaurant and they are both impressive. Breakfast is part of the room package. The breakfast menu is large, and you may enjoy homemade specialties such as liver meatballs as well as classic items such as eggs, bacon and smoked or oven baked salmon and pies.  Don’t miss the quality apple juice from a local provider! Expanding towards the back behind a glass ceiling forming a part of the restaurant, there’s a casual bar and rest area offering a warm and enjoyable atmosphere with fire places.

Sustainable hospitality
Støtvig hotel has implemented a strategy-based program that cares for the environment. The program includes reducing the laundering of bed linen and towels, regularly controls of water and energy consumption as well as measures to reduce carbon footprint coupled with recycling programs.

Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
Welcome to Støtvig Hotel – statue
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
American Diner
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
Bowl ‘n- Dine
Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway – in a nutshell
We left Støtvig Hotel feeling thoroughly relaxed from the state-of-the-art spa, impeccable personalized service and outstanding food.

Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg.

All images by Tor Kjolberg if not otherwise stated

Feature image (on top): © Støtvig Hotel

A Norwegian Art Collector

Tor Kjølberg
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A Norwegian Art Collector

The Norwegian art collector Erling Neby’s art collection is a monument for a timeless elegant art and a collector who has followed his own path. His collection offers a personal presentation of mainly Scandinavian art, as seen through his own eyes. You can now enjoy several of the Norwegian art collector’s gems in the book “The Erling Neby Collection”.

A practice that was developed before and after World War II, and devised to avoid ambiguity in the word ‘abstract,’ concrete art is characterized by combinations of simple geometric elements to create autonomous visual realities.

Erling Neby is owner of one of the most important and precious private collections of this art form in Europe, and even worldwide. Over 30 years’ collecting can now be enjoyed between two covers in a book entitled just “The Erling Neby Collection”.

A Norwegian Art Collector
. Over 30 years’ collecting can now be enjoyed between two covers in a book entitled just “The Erling Neby Collection”

Related: New Fine Arts Gallery Brings a Subtle “Northern Light” to Oslo

Concrete and Geometric art
Some art collectors concentrate on the works of some small group of artists. Others buy only Norwegian artists, or only paintings or works on paper. Others choose to follow an artistic school or tradition. Erling Neby belongs to the last group.

The Erling Neby Collection offers a personal presentation of Concrete and Geometric Art, as seen through the eyes of a Scandinavian collector. The collection focuses mainly on Scandinavian, geometric Constructivist Art, whose bright colors set new standards that are second to none regarding purity and succinctness.

A Norwegian Art Collector
Erling Neby collection at the Henie Onstad Art Museum, Oslo

Related: Contemporary Art Museum in Oslo Celebrating 25 Years

An unequalled collection
The Nordic artists in Neby’s collection became interested in creating artworks that were both social and universal, using pure form and color based on mathematical principles. Neby has been building up his collection in Oslo, a collection which is today unequalled in the Nordic countries and is world-renowned. Among the artists are: Josef Albers, Olle Baertling, Jean Dewasne, Emilio Gilioli, Jan Groth, Arne Malmedal, Aurelie Nemours, Lars G. Nordström, Paul Osipow, Jesus Rafael Soto, Victor Vasarely, and Thornton Willis.
A Norwegian art collector
As with the artists, the Galerie Denise René was also the starting point for The Erling Neby Collection. His first painting was purchased there – a painting by Jean Dewasne – in the early 70s, and soon afterwards, paintings by Victor Vasarely.  Erling Neby has purchased paintings, graphics, reliefs and sculptures. He has traded art from Finland and the United States, from Venezuela and Romania. In common, however, everything he has purchased has had a non-figurative expression with an emphasis on geometry and colors. The art has hardly any reference to external reality.
A Norwegian Art Collector
Painting by Bjørn Ransve
Related: 50 Years of Living Art in Oslo
About the Authors
Since 2004, John Peter Nilsson is curator at Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden. He was editor-in-chief between 1999 – 2002 for Nu: The Nordic Art Review, and between 1996 – 1999 for Siksi, The Nordic Art Review. In addition to being a freelance art critic for the Swedish daily Aftonbladet between 1986 – 2004, Mr. Nilsson also organized several exhibitions as an independent curator, among others he was curator for The Nordic Pavilion at The Venice Biennale 1999.

At Moderna Museet he is in charge of the programs and he has also been curating, among others, the Swedish quadrennial “The Moderna Exhibition 2006” (2006); “Olle Baertling – A Modern Classic” (2007); “Dalí Dalí featuring Francesco Vezzoli” (2009).

Karin Hellandsjø, has her Master in art history from the University of Oslo. She worked as curator at the Henie Onstad Art Centre for almost two decades, during the 1970’s and 80’s, before joining the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Oslo as their chief curator from 1988 till 2005. In March 2005 she came back to the Henie Onstad Art Centre as director. Hellandsjø has since the start of her career been involved in national and international museum work and collaboration, and has curated many major national and international exhibitions throughout the years. She is also a notable scholar on modern art, a lecturer and an active writer.

A Norwegian Art Collector, written by Tor Kjolberg

Scandinavian Top-Notch Jazz Album With a Feeling

Tor Kjølberg
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Scandinavian Top-Notch Jazz Album With a Feeling
The newly released album Feeling by Norwegian star quintet Hegge conveys a mix of modern jazz, soul, and classical jazz. You get associations to Keith Jarrett as well as Cannonball Adderly, This is indeed a Scandinavian top-notch jazz album with a feeling.

Norwegian bassist Bjørn Marius Hegge started his quintet in 2016 consisting of five of the finest jazz musicians in Scandinavia; Jonas Kullhammar (tenor saxophone), Martin Myhre Olsen (alto and soprano saxophone), Vigleik Storaas (piano) and Håkon Mjåset Johansen (drums). Hegge plays double bass.

Best Jazz Album of 2017
Hegge received a Spellemann ( The Norwegian Grammy Awards) for best jazz album of 2017 “Vi er ledsna men du får inte längre vara barn” (We’re sorry, but you can no longer be a child).

Scandinavian Top-Notch Jazz Album With a Feeling
Feelings is an album that is well organized as well as playful
Related: Soft and Ambient Moods From Dutch-Norwegian Jazz Group

The opening track on Feelings, “New Romance” demonstrates how five talented musicians conveys soloistic elements in a way that almost can convince yourself to be a religious person. Other tracks invite the audience into the melodic vibe that existed in the 1960s and the quintet collectively drives its music into different directions where every member is allowed to freely express themselves.

The musicians
Swedish saxophonist Jonas Kullhammar is founder of the Moserobie record label. He has been recording for 18 years and has appeared on over 150 records, both as leader and sideman.

Related: The Norwegian Wizard of Recorded Jazz

Pianist Vigleik Storaas has appeared on and contributed to countless projects, has won accolades including Norwegian Grammies (for two of his solo records) and has been named Jazz Musician of the Year by the Association of Norwegian Jazz Musicians. He has worked with artists such as Karin Krog, Terje Rypdal, Jon Surman, Norma Winstone, Chet Baker, Jack DeJohnette and many more.

Scandinavian Top-Notch Jazz Album With a Feeling
Every member of the quintet is allowed to freely express themselves

Saxophonist Martin Myhre Olsen has worked with Chick Corea, and has won numerous accolades including a Norweian Grammy and the prestigious title NTNU-Ambassador at Jazzfest 2018.

Håkon Mjåset Johansen, already recognized as one of Norway’s best drummers, has been a member of various key Norwegian jazz groups including Come Shine, Motif, the Håvard Stubø Quartet, IPO and many more. He has also worked with Bugge Wesseltoft’s New Conception of Jazz, the Ola Kvernberg Trio, and Jan Garbarek.
Scandinavian Top-Notch Jazz Album With a Feeling
Bjørn Marius Hegge receiving the Spellemannspris
Related: The Power of Norway’s Best-Selling Jazz Artist

Scandinavian Top-Notch Jazz Album With a Feeling
Feeling is an album that is well organized as well as playful with roots back to the 60’s and at the same time genuine contemporary jazz. Feeling by Hegge is a jazz album for people who really appreciate good jazz.

Scandinavian Top-Notch Jazz  Album With a Feeling, written by Tor Kjolberg

Why You Should Avoid Third-Party Travel Booking Sites

Tor Kjølberg
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0
Why You Should Avoid Third-Party Travel Booking Sites
The spread of the coronavirus has taught us something: Avoid third-party booking sites. Their cancellation policies simply seem nonexistent. Online travel agencies like booking.com, expedia.com, hotels.com and others pretend they have no responsibility regarding cancellations. Read why you should avoid third-party travel booking sites.
Even if you’re looking for an email address to customer service, it’s nonexistent – or at least very well hidden. When Maria from Norway purchased a week-long hotel stay in Greece using the booking site hotels.com to participate in a conference there, global pandemic was the last thing on her mind.
Why You Should Avoid Third-Party Travel Booking Sites
Even if you’re looking for an email address to customer service, it’s no existent – or at least very well hidden. Photo: Taylor Simpson/Unsplash
Related: After the Coronavirus: Norway for Norwegians

Wild West conditions
Due to the corona outbreak the conference was cancelled and Maria contacted the hotel directly and asked for a refund. The hotel replied that she had to make the claim to booking.com. So, she did, and the answer was, she had to contact the hotel.

Despite the challenges faced by Maria during her trip, the allure of the island of Rhodes remained undiminished, offering her unforgettable experiences and memories that transcended the uncertainties of the global pandemic.

This policy reminds us of the old Wild West times of hotel distribution and the early years of unruly online travel agencies, before rate parity and best rate guarantees. Online travel booking agents have exploded in popularity in recent years and there’s been a tendency to extorting money out of local hotels. We have spoken to a dozen independent hotel owners from across Scandinavia who believe these online services are damaging their businesses, ripping off consumers and effectively forcing them into unfair agreements.

Why You Should Avoid Third-Party Travel Booking Sites
Their policy reminds us of the old Wild West times of hotel distribution and the early years of unruly online travel agencies. Photo: Nolan Krattinger/Unsplash

An unprecedented number of cancellation requests
Now, booking sites are scrambling to handle an unprecedented number of cancellation requests, and many customers say they are falling short.

Related: How is Scandinavia Solving the Economic Corona-Crisis?

The Consumer Council in Norway sent the following questions to all the major online booking sites: «What consumer rights do you give customers who book a hotel through you in cases where the mediated hotel does not provide accommodation at an agreed price and / or standard? Do you want to compensate the customer in such cases? ”.

None of the respondents took this responsibility, as they are only web-based intermediaries between hotels and customers, and the same seems to apply for refunds even if the hotels typically provide online booking services with discounted rates between 20% and 40% with the caveat that these rates cannot be offered to customers who are booking directly.

Why You Should Avoid Third-Party Travel Booking Sites
Now, booking sites are scrambling to handle an unprecedented number of cancellation requests. Photo: Frank V/Unsplash
Related: Coronavirus in Sweden: Business as Usual
Why you shouuld avoid third-party travel booking sites
Online travel agencies are dependent on the decisions of their hotel, so they can’t preemptively issue a refund to someone without someone at the hotel signing off on that refund. But taken into account all the time and trouble involved in getting a refund, maybe you should consider to book directly next time you’re making a reservation. You cannot lose. If something happens, it might be easier – and cheaper.

Why you should Avoid third-party travel booking sites, written by Tor Kjolberg

Feature image (on top): Frank Eiffert/Unsplash

Coronavirus: Denmark and Norway Reluctant to Include Sweden in Tourism

Tor Kjølberg
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0
Coronavirus: Denmark and Norway Reluctant to Include Sweden in Tourism

Norway and Denmark will reopen the borders between the two countries from 15 June. Restrictions for Swedes will however be maintained. Several opposition parties in Denmark have also called for the border to be reopened to Germany. Due to the coronavirus situation in Scandinavia, Denmark and Norway are reluctant to include Sweden in tourism.

Unlike its Scandinavian neighbors, Sweden did not impose a lockdown and the country’s Covid-19 death toll is by far the highest in the region (4.542 per June 4). Sweden’s state epidemiologist Anders Tegnell claims that Sweden is further along in the infection curve and that could actually make citizens a safer bet. “When we get to summer, it might be the case that we have so many people in Sweden who are immune that it could be safer for Swedes to go abroad than others,” he told TT.

Coronavirus: Denmark and Norway Reluctant to include Sweden in Tourism
Illustration: Danske bank
Related: After the Coronavirus: Norway for Norwegians
This year Scandinavians plan for domestic summer holidays
The statement is based on the assumption that exposure to the coronavirus grants immunity against re-infection, something the World Health Organization has warned is not a certainty. In addition to a higher level of infection in Sweden, the country also have a lower level of testing and tracing than its Scandinavian neighbors.

Danes and Norwegians are not yet advised to travel to Southern Europe for their holidays since a 10-day quarantine apply to all people returning from abroad and no-entry to most non-Scandinavians who do not have right to live and work in Denmark and Norway.

Coronavirus: Denmark and Norway Reluctant to include Sweden in Tourism
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said that excluding Sweden from moves to open borders across the Nordic region would be a political decision and not justifiable on health grounds. Photo: Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash
Related: How is Scandinavia Solving the Corona-Crises?
Cannot reopen borders too suddenly
At a joint video news conference, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said, ““We do not wish to maintain the restrictions longer than we have to, and at the same time we want to give people as well as the travel industry in this country as much predictability as we can. However, we can’t open too suddenly, that would jeopardize everything we’ve accomplished”.

While the governments are encouraging domestic tourism this summer, the exclusion of foreign tourists without offering substantial financial support to travel firms will most likely trigger a string of bankruptcies, warns the enterprise federations.

Coronavirus: Denmark and Norway Reluctant to include Sweden in Tourism
Excluding Sweden from moves to open borders across the Nordic region would be a political decision and not justifiable on health grounds. Photo: Engin Akuyrt/Unsplash
Related: Sweden’s Corona Immunity Strategy Seems to be Successful
Coronavirus: Denmark and Norway Reluctant to include Sweden in Tourism
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde said that excluding Sweden from moves to open borders across the Nordic region would be a political decision and not justifiable on health grounds.

In comments reported by Swedish TV, she said Sweden had hoped for a common Nordic solution but it was impossible.

Read more about the Corona pandemic in the Nordic region.

Coronavirus: Denmark and Norway Reluctant to include Sweden in Tourism, written by Tor Kjolberg

Feature image (on top): Daniel Norin/Unsplash

Table For One in Sweden

Tor Kjølberg
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Table For One in Sweden

A pop-up restaurant in Ransäter, Värmland, Sweden, roughly 217 miles (350 kilometers) from Stockholm serves solo diners only. In the age of physical distancing social distancing is exceedingly easy. Read more about the restaurant Table for One in Sweden.

Though Sweden doesn’t have physical-distancing restrictions, a Swedish couple, Rasmus Persson and Linda Karlsson (both 36), decided to open a small restaurant in the middle of a field: Table for One (Bord för en). There are recommendations that the couple has been following, and the guests are guaranteed no interaction with others.

Social-distancing protocols
According to their official website, only one person, adhering to social-distancing protocols, can dine at the table next to the couple’s home in the remote village. The Bord för en restaurant will be open through August 1 and one person a day, which means the couple can give its full focus to one guest at a time, so this unusual setup is an ode to sole dining.

Table For One in Sweden
Each meal will consist of three courses made by Persson, along with drinks crafted by world-renowned mixologist Joel Söderbäck

Related: Copenhagen Street Eats

During the corona-crisis, the former professional chef, Persson, has been cooking dishes for his wife’s parents and serving them through the window. This birthed the idea of the “table for one” concept, which is not realized to make money.

“If you want to go out and eat at a restaurant by yourself, it’s kind of frowned upon, right? People look at you like you’re a loser of some sort — like you’re on a date and have been stood up,” Persson said. “We all are facing difficult times and there are people who have lost their jobs, a loved one or even their mind,” he adds, so the couple wanted to avoid the feeling of guests being watched while they eat their food.

Table For One in Sweden
Rasmus Persson and Linda Karlsson (both 36), decided to open a small restaurant in the middle of a field

Related: Sweden’s Culinary Island Gotland

Pay what you wish
“For us, the sole act of eating is … an amazing experience,” Persson says. The solo diner, sitting in the field, will receive their food from the kitchen in their home about 150 feet away by a basket attached to a rope. One guest per night will have the pleasure of dining with themselves.
Each meal will consist of three courses made by Persson, along with drinks crafted by world-renowned mixologist Joel Söderbäck. “We welcome all, no matter what financial situation you are in. The price of the menu is up to the guest,” says Karlsson.  The couple has opted for a pay-what-you-wish system in order to accommodate people who may be struggling financially during the coronavirus outbreak.
Table For One in Sweden
Each course of the three-course meal is curated with a poem, chosen by friends of the couple
Related: Mouse-Sized Restaurant in Sweden 
Table For One in Sweden
Persson hopes dining at Table For One is a peaceful, introspective experience for visitors. He says each course of the three-course meal is curated with a poem, chosen by friends of the couple.

“We want to do our best to make sure every guest we have this summer has a respite … a break from all the stress and drama in life that everyone is facing right now,” Persson says and adds that the couple might expand the Table For One concept when this is all over.

Table For One in Sweden, written by Tor Kjolberg

Japanese-Inspired Summer House in Oslo

Tor Kjølberg
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Japanese-Inspired Summer House in Oslo

Cabins in Norway are traditionally built to gather the family. In this Japanese-inspired cabin designed by the Norwegian artist and architect Irene Sævik in Drøbak outside Oslo, Norway, the purpose has been to gain inner peace. Read more about the Japanese-inspired summer house in Oslo.

The zen-like summer house by Irene Sævik is situated just a stone’s throw away from the shores of the Oslo fjord amidst a plethoria of summer houses and cottages, only forty minutes outside the busy capital of Oslo.

Japanese-Inspired Summer House in Oslo
“I can concentrate and let thoughts fly. here,” says Irene Sævik
Originally built in the 1960s
The summer house was originally built in the 1960s by the Norwegian modernist painter Salo Jæger and the 430-square-foot cabin sat unoccupied and in partial despair for years before Sævik purchased it and decided to expand. She has managed to do so in true Scandinavian form, following principles of simplicity and respect for nature.
Related: The Buttonhole Cabin in Norway
Japanese-Inspired Summer House in Oslo
Inspired by Japanese architecture, the yard is surrounded by a slender gallery

“The cabin had an appealing expression that inspired me to develop it further – to transform the site and make a stronger connection between house and landscape,” Sævik says. Growing up in the northwest coast of Norway, surrounded by fjords and high mountains, it wasn’t destined that architecture and art were to become crucial parts of Irene Sævik’s life.

Japanese-inspired summer house in Oslo
Norwegian summer cabins are real houses. They are unique and situated where the view is at its best. In return, they must withstand wind, rain and snow. In the middle of the Norwegian summer cottage paradise – at the very end of a green hill between the Oslo fjord and Hallangspollen out towards the Drøbak sound – you find a different kind of cottage.

Japanese-Inspired Summer House in Oslo
The living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, sauna, restroom, study and two bedrooms all follow one another

Inspired by Japanese architecture, the yard is surrounded by a slender gallery enabling one to freely circulate – and enter – between the adjacent rooms. The living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, sauna, restroom, study and two bedrooms all follow one another. The total area is just under 970 square feet. “I tried to make a place where one could stay alone, as well as a good place to be with friends,” she says. “This is not a house, it’s a place,” she adds.

Related: Remake of a Norwegian Summer Cabin

A contemplative hideout
Due to the rooms being separate the retreat can harbor a larger number of people and yet allow for quiet activities such as writing, reading, painting, as well as listening to music, preparing foods in the spacious kitchen, and conversing.

When Sævik bought the site in 2003, she decided to expand. The house could not be extended naturally due to a rock crunch. She also did not want to add an extension on the rock crunch to capture the view – as many cabin owners would have done in pure reflex – as it would have spoiled the character of the existing house.

Japanese-Inspired Summer House in Oslo
The total area is just under 970 square feet

Today, a large terrace is ideal for soaking in the sun and the view encompassing both treetops and the fjord arms surrounding the narrow peninsula.  The house is divided into three sections connected by a series of outdoor galleries. “When I walk from one room to another, I have to go outdoors and feel the weather and nature – rain, cold, and sun,” says Irene Sævik.

Related: Cabin Norderhov From Atelier Oslo

She compares her house to a contemplative hideout. “It’s very quiet,” she says. “You can concentrate and let thoughts fly.”

Japanese-Inspired Summer House in Oslo, written by Tor Kjolberg

All photos: Ivan Brodey

The Danish Fortress in the Sea

Tor Kjølberg
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The Danish Fortress in the Sea
An hour’s sail from Danish Gudhjem (God’s home) harbor to the group of islands known as Ertholmene (Pea islands), we arrive at the largest ones which are Christiansø and Fresdriksø. A naval base was constructed here in about 1684, but today only fishermen and their families live in this “Danish fortress in the sea”.

It makes an interesting place to visit. The islands are quite rocky, with castle towers, batteries and cannon, all serving as reminders of the past. Their isolated setting and car-free environment make them attractive to birdlife, particularly cider-ducks, which breed all over the island.
The Danish Fortress in the Sea
In the late 17th century, Denmark needed a naval base in the central Baltic Sea. Photo: Visit Bornholm
Outpost for the Danish navy
This is Denmark’s easternmost point with a population of 84. The archipelago have a total of 39 hectares. Fishermen from Bornholm have used Ertholmene for temporary shelter since the Middle Ages. The first permanent settlement was the result of the Danish-Swedish conflicts in the late 17th century. As Denmark needed a naval base in the central Baltic Sea, a fort was built on Christiansø and Frederiksø in 1684 which served as an outpost for the Danish Navy until 1855. Christiansø Church originally served the garrison. The population peaked at the census in 1810 which showed 829 inhabitants. They were soldiers and were there because of the Gunboat War (Wikipedia).

Related: Denmark’s Sunshine Island

Since 1725, the islands were used as a place of banishment for life time prisoners as for example Doctor Dampe, who was a prisoner here from 1826 to 1841 accused of “high treason and lese-majesty”. Ertholmene are owned by the Danish Ministry of Defence and the houses, which can only be hired, are domicile for the residents. Every year, about 40,000 guests visit the islands!

Related: Sun Over Danish Gudhjem

The Danish Fortress in the Sea
Ertholmene. Photo: YouTube

Danish fortress in the sea
Christiansø is a unique place. You cannot find such a special group of islands anywhere else in Denmark. The old fortress of King Christian V has not changed and the islands have their own circadian rhythm and the rugged nature of the unique landscape offers an unrivalled experience. Here you’re given a sense of the special atmosphere and peace.

The Danish Fortress in the Sea, written by Tor Kjolberg

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