I'm back in the North, just for a few days.
Today they served sun buns in the cantina at work, to celebrate the return of the sun. The sun buns have some yellow egg cream in the center. Except from that, they're like regular buns.
The sun has been hiding behind the horizon since early December. Now we can see sunshine on the mountain tops at least. It's the end of the polar darkness already. The sun is gone for only 7-8 weeks. That's not bad, and I like the darkness. It has it's own mysterious charm.
Tonight I've been out eating, alone. That's not very fun, so I made it quick. I had a cheese burger and a Mack beer, brewed by the northernmost brewery in the world, according to the commercials.
(The brewery is located in the Paris of the North, a 4-hour drive from here, across a mountain pass, and around a couple of fjords, or less than 3 hours by the fast catamaran boat that runs on a regular schedule along the coast.)
On the way back to my hotel, I passed by the bookstore, and couldn't resist. I have become a fan of Cormack McCarthy, since I read The Road and Child of God recently. So I bought No Country for Old Men. Looking forward to read it.
But the first thing I'll do is to write a couple of scenes for my so-called novel >:)
(I wrote this piece of text with my own hands (and brain). I also took the picture myself, early in February three years ago. Then we lived walking-distance from that little hill I'm shooting from. My hotel is right outside the left edge of the picture. Today, I can state, with the best conscience, that I haven't stolen anything ... In Satan we trust >:D)
You have such lovely scenery. Great pic! The sun bun has like a yellow custard cream that's sweet or is it just like a creamy kind of butter that is salty. I have never heard of these, so please don't think my question strange. :D
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the writing!
Damn, your so good!
ReplyDeleteI loved No Country for Old Men. The writing is not quite as beautiful as in The Road, but it's still quite good and the plot is very interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom (a discerning reader) raved about the novel No Country for Old Men, so you're in for another treat (after the sun buns, which sound delicious, but not delicious enough for me to live where there's no sun!!)
ReplyDeleteHope you got your scene writing done!
Judy (South Africa)
That picture has such hope in it! I can't imagine living in the dark for 8 weeks--I think I'd go crazy. But there is certainly a romance to the light coming back after so long. Hope you got your writing done! And enjoy your book!
ReplyDeleteChary: We had a house with a fantastic view of the sea and the mountains when we lived up north. The cream on the sun buns is the sweet type
ReplyDeleteRottenMom: Thanks >:)
Matthew: The Road was great prose. No Country is from an earlier phase of McCarty's production, isn't it? I'm really looking forward to read the book ... but first I'm gonna finish the book I'm currently reading: The Son of the Thunder God by Arto Paasilinna.
Shit, gotta run, going to the airport ... I'll be back >:)
While the sun does not disappear as far south as this; it has been a while since I saw it on a work day (dark when arriving at work, dark when leaving). This morning I was oohing while on the bus just before 8am over the fact that it was getting light for the first time. Several co-workers commented that they had noticed too.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back sunshine! Enjoy the new books. Let us know how it is. I love the name of the "sun buns." But I am with Judy I also could not live anywhere where the sun is gone for weeks. I guess that is why I live in sunny CA. Btw, their seems to be no winter here. Weather has been fabulous! Did I miss a chat with you? Hope to catch you sometime.:)
ReplyDeleteA mysterious charm all its own ... that's a great way to describe prolonged darkness. Guess one should make friends with darkness since it is around for so long.
ReplyDeleteHart: It's amazing when the sun comes back, first on the mountain tops, later creeping down in the valleys. I bet you would stay fairly sane in the nordic winter, with you Scandinavian genes. Try it out >:)
ReplyDeleteSilme: When it's dark when you go to work and dark when you go home, it doesn't matter if it's one or four hours of light in the middle of the day. SO you just have to learn how to enjoy the darkness.
Mer: I bet you have some nice buns in sunny California. I wouldn't mind tasting them >;)
Stephen: Yes, that's the way to do it. You have to make friends with the darkness. Sometimes northern lights flashes on the sky, and skiing with a head light is cool. Actually, white snow a bright sky with moon and stars helps a lot >:)
I think I'd like to experience the winter darkness up north - at least once - but for now I am just thrilled to be away from the semi-winter/semi-spring Norway (or at least the southern parts of Norway) is about to enter. The temperatures and weather here are more in the March-April category according to Norwegian standards, and I don't feel that it's a big loss to miss out on January an February, to be honest ;)
ReplyDelete(I'm sure I'll miss the light come June, though.)
Cruella: For the time being, just enjoy your stay in Japan, and get as much as you can out of it. You'll get plenty of chances to go north. Maybe you end up as Ambassador to the North Pole some day >:D
ReplyDeleteYou live is such a starkly beautiful place. I'm so glad you share it with us through your pictures and your words. It's hard to imagine such a place.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous there! A bit too cold for my liking (and dark) but so pretty. The sun buns sound great. :)
ReplyDeleteHelen: Thanks. There will be more words and pictures to come >:)
ReplyDeleteElizabeth: Some people struggle with the dark winter, but I also know people who loves it and thinks the darkness lasts too short. I must admit I like it >:)
I found an old comment you left on Parallel Universes that was in my Spam folder. Just posted it. A belated thanks!
ReplyDelete