Lofty...

This is how it's like living on the roof of Europe. Pretty awsome view from here.

Quote of the day

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage."

Lao Tsu

Magnoooooooooon...

فوقع في شركته أدماء عواهج، فأسرع نحوها و أنا منه أدنو و أسمع، فحلها من وثاقها، وجعلت أنظرإليها يمسحها من التراب الذي أصابها و يرشفها، ثم أطلقها و أعاد الحبالة، ثم أتاني، فقلت ما هذا؟ هل بلغك أن أحدا صنع صنيعك؟ إنا جميعا نشكو الغرث، حتى إذا آتانا الله الفرج و الميرة، أرملتنا من زادنا، فقال و يحك، إني نظرت إليها و إلى عنقها و جيدها، فشبهتها بمن أهوى، فاطلقتها لمن أهوى، فهل رأيت من يأكل شبه حبيبه؟ قال و مضت الظبية، فأنشد

أيا شبه ليلى لا تراعي فإنني لك اليوم من وحشية لصديق
أقول و قد أطلقتها من وثاقها أليست لليلى إن شكرت طليق؟

A beautiful day in Bergen

The first day of summer is always special up north. After months of hiding inside, the Bergenser has finally turned of the heater and entered the streets and outdoor cafes. Some brave people are even taking of some of the layers of clothes. Ahhh... its beautiful. My friend G is annoyed by all the 'show offs' as she call the girls tanning in the park. She is also annoyed with the fat people today, especially the fat people showing off their fat bellies, and ordering people around, because they're too lazy to get off their chairs. G and I have been people spotting today, and we almost got thrown out of a shop selling traditional costumes, because we made fun of the dresses and wanted to take pictures of the ugliness... A great day in every way. Nowhere is better than here - on a beautiful day.

The hang out (Cafes in Bergen part 3)

This place is really on top of my list over hotspots in Bergen. This is THE place, I practically feel like I've grown up in this place and on this food. They serve some of the best blings (huge slices of bread topped with your choice of bread spread) there is. The place also has a cozy atmosphere, with relaxed customers, who spend their time playing backgammon and chatting. One of the best things about this place is actually the customers. You find everything here: city originals, students, poets, wannabe-poets, breastfeeding mothers and my favorite; the old crazy priest who lost his job in the 60s after being (rightly) accused for exorcism. He is now spending his days writing letters to various literature magazines, complaining over the state of the Norwegian language today. The place was originally a charming little deli, and when the old couple who owned it had to close, a young Indian stepped in, saved it from oblivion and recreated the original atmosphere. It is a great place. A place that makes you feel like you belong in society... no matter who you are (and for some people: what you did...) Anyone who goes to Bergen should make this place his first stop. It is definitely an intensive introduction to my city.

Viva Las Vegis! (Cafes in Bergen part 2)

- Can I have a Spock burger, please?
You just have to love a place where you can combine following elements: Spock (and if you don't know who that is, you aint no friend of mine... as Elvis would have put it... which leads us over to the next one), tacky Elvis worship, burgers and on top of that HEALTHY burgers... not the average tasteless but oh-so-craved-for junk. I actually like this place. I guarantee you it wont be my hang-out, but its a nice and, as you can see, colorful getaway.

A lesson in solving relationship problems?

A trial in Fredrikstad, Norway had a rather unusual turn today. A woman was sued by her boyfriend for stabbing him twice while sleeping. During his witness statement, the man took everyone by surprise, when he turned to his girlfriend, the defendant, and proposed to her. The only one who didn't seem surprised were the defendant, who answered with a loud and clear 'yes!', whereupon the trial continued as normal. The woman was sentenced to 6 months in jail, and the judge congratulated the couple with their upcoming wedding.

Am I the only one who sees the clear errors here?