When the fog lies down over the fjords, Norway seems even more mystic than usual. You can imagine the Viking ships maneuvering through the mist and some trolls hiding behind the trees watching them. Indeed a land of magic and beauty.
With all the advantages of modernity, living in the far north is still full of challenges. The deep fjords and steep surrounding hills make it difficult to reach the hinterland; that’s why Norway is investing a lot of money in tunnels and bridges to connect the most remote villages to the country’s urban centers. While the days are long in summer, in winter, the nights are never-ending as well. But the fjords also have their advantages; that’s why people settled here many thousand years ago and why the Vikings flourished in the Middle Ages. First and foremost, the fjord land is very fertile; even fruits and vegetables can grow here. We speak about a country as far in the north as Canada. The favorable climate is due to the Gulf Stream, which makes northern Europe unusually warm. Also, the fjords were perfectly secured against intruders and allowed for remote but connected villages. At the same time, the location of these settlements made it necessary to develop and improve ships. It is no coincidence that the Vikings were the first European people to set foot in America.
The islands of Bornholm and Christiansö are situated in the Baltic Sea close to Sweden, yet politically, they are part of Denmark. These are quiet islands, the people living here work primarily in agriculture and tourism, offering some escapism to visitors from more busy parts of Europe.
Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) was a renowned Norwegian sculptor. Many of his works are displayed in Frogner Park, which is also called Viggeland Park in Oslo, Norway.
Continuing the last photography series about Albania, in this one the focus lies on the beautiful nature and geography of the country. While being a relatively small country, it offers a mix of different landscapes, from Mediterranean sights to mountainous regions. On the coast, more and more centers of tourism come into being, while the center part of the country is still original and raw. Hence, the aim of this particular series is to highlight Albania’s diversity.
Albania is situated in Southeastern Europe, just north of Greece. Due to its long periods of isolation and its status as the poorest country in Europe, it is not well known, and until recently, just a few travelers came to visit. This is changing in the last few years. More and more backpackers come and discover the beauty of this hidden pearl in the Balkans. At the coastline, more and more hotels are being built, and the infrastructure is growing. There are even talks of reactivating the railway, which was put out of use in the last decades. Albania is a multireligious country, you will find beautiful old mosques in the Ottoman style (picture 1), as well as orthodox churches and catholic monasteries (pictures 4, 8). The people of different faiths live together in peace, and no matter which cultural building you enter, you will receive the Albanian way – warmly and with a smile.
Michael Hoffman Photography 