Norge er stengt i Juli

Beklager, Norge er stengt i hele Juli - Norway is closed the whole of July - Norwegen ist den ganzen Juli geschlossen. That’s how it feels like. July is Norway's holiday month and everybody is expected (forced) to take holidays. Salary is not payed in July, public facilities and institutions are closed, the postal service is barely working, things that are ordered in July will arrive earliest in August, the university is closed, and even if you manage to get into the university building - you can’t use a toilet, as they are closed as well (of course, the cleaning staff has holidays…).

Toilets closed in July.

Moritz at Ula boulder

Määtze and Merle

Micha at Ula boulder

Since we were taking holidays in June and August (who had this stupid idea?) we tried really hard to get some work done in July. We managed - but it wasn’t easy :) In addition to these hampering working conditions also Norway, like the rest of Europe, experienced an exceptional nice and warm summer. Temperatures on our balcony reached 38˚C, along with the temperature in our not air-conditioned wet-labs. But I'm not complaining - it was really really nice to have such a perfect summer!!

Water reflections in a fountain.

Back in the lab!

Vigelandpark

Of course, such nice weather is rare in Norway - so we made use of it as much as we could and spent almost every weekend somewhere in the mountains for bouldering, climbing, and hiking. We also had a lot of visitors! Not only my parents, and Micha’s parents came for a visit (see earlier posts), but also quiet a bunch of friends! With Professor Määtze, Stephi, their new family member Merle, and Moritz, we drove to a pretty beautiful bouldering location at a beach between Sandefjord and Larvik (Ula beach). The boulders here are not many, but their color and grip is very attractive, also the location is lovely!

Moritz taking care of Merle.	Määtze at Ula boulder	Micha at Ulaboulder

One of the next weekends, Micha and me planned a serious climbing trip up Romsdalshornet, a 1500m high granite peak close to Āndalsnes at the west coast where we’ve been earlier this year. Unfortunately, without much experience in trad climbing, not a very good description of the route, and me as Sissy, we got lost half-way up and had to turn around. Another attempt the next day was not possible due to forecasted thunderstorms in that area. So, instead we went on an “easy” hiking trip on the other side of the fjord where the weather was supposed to be better. And it was awesome - until we lost again the way and scrambled up a steep gras slope to reach the chosen peak. Which we managed this time (yeah!). However, the view from the peak was alarming. Black clouds, rain and lightning coming fast towards us. We ran down the other (easier) side of the mountain, tried to be smaller then the sheep around us when the thunderstorm hovered above our heads, and could find shelter in an open mountain hut. Puh… what a relief. Whilst waiting for the storm to ease, we ate our lunch and took a short power nap :) I am not sure which of those two trips was actually more dangerous.. probably the “easy hike” :)

Beaver marks at Nordre Øyeren.	Store Venjetinden	Trollryggen.
View down to Āndalsnes.	Thunderstorm coming on Gravfjellet	Sāta and Māsvasstind.
Gravfjellet.	Lonely hut.	Super moon!

After such an exciting trip, my nerves required something easier for the next weekend. So we decided to hike the Besseggen ridge in Jotunheimen national park - one of those hikes that every Norwegian has to do at least once in their live. Accordingly, I expected something that is doable without near-death experiences :) And that's exactly what is was like. An easy but beautiful hike that we prolonged by going back via the mountain and glacier Besshøe (2258m).

Yeti-suite.	Approaching Besseggen.	Gjende lake.
The ridge!	Enjoying dinner and sunset!	Perfect spot for a tent!
Happy Birthday Roswitha!	Besshøe glacier remains.	Easy to slide down!
Lichen heart.	Almost back in the valley.	Germany is Weltmeister!

And then, of course I shouldn’t forget to mentioning that we also watched a lot of football world cup games this summer and that Germany won the world cup!! :)