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Tag: russia
1 Year? Year?!
Something magnificent
I realized this morning that I would have to publish a spectacular post today because this notification ticked into my phone:
Ett år har gått siden denne bloggen ble opprettet. Litt mimring hører med!
Can you believe it? A year! Can one picture say it all? I don’ believe it can, this has been such an incredible year. I have decided that some reminiscing is in order.

This blog was born in Amsterdam where I was studying International Journalism. Oh, Amsterdam, I miss you so – crazy, beautiful city. One day I will return!
Then there was Christmas in Lille…
And before I knew it, I was back in Oslo.
But not for long, since I had to go abroad to write a feature story for my exam. I ended up in the most amazing and extraordinary place: Haiti.
(Stopping in Cuba on the way home…)
* TIME FOR FINAL EXAM *
*dread*
*more dread*
😀 😀 😀 😀 A 😀 😀 😀 😀
And USA >>>>>>
Also, somewhere between writing my exam paper and planning my journey to USA, I managed to move to Drammen, the most cozy town. It rests by a river in a mountain valley and I have a view from my balcony, need I say more? My furry BFF likes her new place of residence very much too!
I’m still settling in, really, Drammen needs exploring! And I will be taking my camera and you with me. But that’s in the future, while this post is all about the year that has gone. And there one last important journey that needs to be mentioned – The Annual Russian Trip.
And thus a WordPress Year has passed. I’ve been a little depressed lately because I’m unemployed, bored and broke, but looking back at the amazing times I’ve had quite recently has helped me remember what a fortunate person I am. I will just sit tight, enjoy my freedom and wait to shine again. Thank you for staying with me!
Entering Year 2!
tea time
The longest journey
Russian railroads are quite famous, especially the one that goes across Sibir. I didn’t travel quite that far; it takes 23 hours to travel St. Petersburg-Lipetsk, not really the longest journey at all. Although it does feel like it when all the lights go off at 22.30, making reading impossible. Apart from that, train is my favourite way of travelling. It’s like a large moving sleeping hall. The ridiculously overpriced candy wagon drives by sometimes, and there are some few opportunities to go off the train for ice cream and beer at longer stops, but otherwise it’s a quiet and monotonous ride. With no internet. Precious time to read, think and write while the landscape flows by outside the window.
Noen bilder fra toget mellom St. Petersburg og Lipetsk.
city of dead

It’s customary to bring something to the table when you visit someone in Russia, also when you visit your dead. Notice how many graves in the photo are furnished with tables and benches? Mom and I brought some pirogs (Russian pie – пирог) with cabbage and potatoes with us when we visited grandfather. And we planted lilies – a beautiful and quiet day.
Når du går på besøk til noen i Russland er det høflig å bringe noe til bordet. Så da vi gikk for å besøke bestefar var posene fylt med både mat og blomster. Myndighetene har for øvrig bedt folk å ikke etterlate mat på gravplasser siden det tiltrekker skadedyr, så mor og jeg spiste alle kål- og potetbollene selv mens vi sendte varme tanker til morfar.
Du er fortsatt elsket og savnet.

Who’s hungry?
From Melon-Land
Graffiti in Lenin’s Street
Remember Russia?
Currently, I only remember the annoying things – the endless lines, the rude shop assistants and the crammed metro. I will soon experience all that. How come I never remember any nice things about Russia before going there? I know there are many nice things to look forward to. I know it will be three splendid weeks. Most certainly! Let’s take a look at old photos!
Av en eller annen grunn sitter ’takk’ langt inne når folk ønsker meg god ferie. Å, vent – jeg vet hvorfor: Den årlige reisen Russland klarer alltid å sjokkere meg køene som møter meg allerede på flyplassen. Man må også vente i butikkene hvor ansatte ofte snakker i telefonen mens de blar i magasiner, før de spydig forteller (de måtte tross alt legge fra seg alle sine andre gjøremål!) at dersom du vil vite om pølsa er god – da får du kjøpe den! Og alle tar i mot rådet med stoisk ro, alle er tross alt overlevende etter rush-trafikken. Det skal mer til for å vippe oss over kanten, som kø-snikere for eksempel. Neida, det blir en fantastisk tur! Det blir alltid det, om ikke annet – periodevis. En titt i fotomappa: