Svalbard, Day two - Boat trip to Barentsburg

 Day two started with a visit by the special Svalbard Raindeer close to our hotel. Wild but urban.

 The long day on a ship registered in Faroe Island this morning, took us first to the north-western part of Svalbard. Here we really could understand why it is called Spitsbergen.
Spitsbergen was named by its discoverer, Willem Barentsz, in 1596. The name Spitsbergen, meaning “pointed mountains” (from the Dutch spits - pointed, bergen - mountains)

On the image above you understand why Kaare Tveter found many motives for his paintings here at Svalbard. This photo is caught by Tullen

 On the way to the north-west we were met by floes thicker and thicker and more and more. On one of them a seal took its lunch break and relaxed.

Then we reached the first goal of the day´s expedition: the Esmarbreen. Esmarkbreen is a glacier in Oscar II Land at Spitsbergen, Svalbard. It is named after geologist Jens Esmark. The glacier has a length of 15 kilometers, and debouches into the bay Ymerbukta at the northern side of Isfjorden
Due to the calving of the glacier we could not come too close

Our next stop after crossing Isfjorden  to the south was Barentsburg. This "Sovjet" settlement has been a coal-mining community since 1932 and the population is mostly Russians and Ukrainians,

 The Coal sculpture are in the tourist trail in front of an old building and close to the school

 The people at Barentsburg are very proud of the layout on their school giving education to children from kindergarten to high level. However we did not see more than around10 children during the visit. We did not see many people at all except our ovn friends from Veritas

The most Northern Brewery in the world is located at Barentsburg and for 10 nok you could test 3 different variations of the local beer. Of course we did.

Svalbard, Day one - Longyearbyen

I will in the coming four blogposts try to give you some of our experiences from our days at Svalbard this week by presenting interesting images taken with my iPhone 6.

 This shows a Warning sign with a special layout made for Svalbard; a white Polar Bear on black background. The only traffic sign made like this in the world.

We did not see any Polar Bear alive in the terrain (only Svalbard Raindeer, Seals and Birds) but both at the airport (as this) and in the Svalbard Museum this great predator is presented.

The city Longyearbyen was a negative experience this time of the year. Grey and dusty with dirty snow remains. However the landscape is fantastic and your cameras could find motives all around.

One of the places to be visited is the Gallery Svalbard where you may see many excellent paintings made by the Norwegian artist Kaare Tveter. Outside the gallery the typical Longyearbyen houses can be seen together with the old mining arrangements up in the hillside.

I come back to the Svalbard Museum (recommended to visit) with the last photo from day one. A coal miner´s room and my wife. Maybe she would like to stay over wintertime in one of these and hope for a living bear.

Another painting - Moljå

Another painting is finished. Due to the cold months this year with rain and wind, it has been difficult to finish my paintings this spring. My easel is placed on our balcony and when the climate cannot allow me working hours outside, the optimal use of days in this week is lovely. Called "MOLJÅ" acrylic on canvas 54 x 70 at a prize of € 285 you are free to get a new original ArneA painting.

Oslo Town Square

Today´s painting: Oslo Town Square. Acrylic on canvas, 54x70, €285

At last: RAV4 Hybrid AWD

In the beginning of 2016 the new SUV from Toyota, RAV4 Hybrid AWD, will be out for sale here in Norway. Looking forward to test the car and hopefully the prize will be acceptable for my family.

Remi Eriksen appointed new Group CEO at DNV GL

In this blogpost I copy and support the information from DNV GL:

The Board of Directors of DNV GL Group has appointed Remi Eriksen as the company’s new Group President & CEO. He is succeeding Henrik O. Madsen, who is retiring on 1 August.

Since October 2014, the Board of Directors has undertaken an extensive executive search and selection process to find and appoint the new DNV GL Group President & CEO, due to the planned retirement of the current Group President & CEO Henrik O. Madsen. Candidates from many countries, both inside and outside of the organization, and both men and women, have been reviewed. 

Leif-Arne Langøy, Chairman of the Board of DNV GL Group says; “On behalf of the Board, I am very pleased to announce that Remi Eriksen has accepted the position as DNV GL’s new Group President & CEO. Eriksen has a solid track-record in leading positions within the company for two decades. He has gained extensive international experience in the oil & gas, maritime, and renewable energy industries, and has led our operations in Asia, Europe and the Americas. His success in these positions led him to his current role as DNV GL Group Chief Operating Officer. In addition to his strong performance in managing the integration of DNV and GL, Eriksen has deep knowledge of our core markets and key industry technologies. Not least, he has displayed an acknowledged ability to foresee industry challenges and drive responsive solutions.” 

“I am also glad that after a thorough executive search and selection process, the best candidate was found among our own people. This will ensure the continuity of the company’s values, culture and strategic direction. I really look forward to working with Remi Eriksen in the next phase of DNV GL’s development,” says Langøy. 

Remi Eriksen says, “I am very humbled and thankful for the opportunity to lead this company where I have worked for the past 22 years.”

“We now see challenging market developments in both the maritime and oil & gas industries. DNV GL will not remain unaffected, but I have strong confidence in our ability to constantly improve and develop our services. Even in tough markets, there will be a need for expert advice and services that can help improve efficiency, qualify new cost-effective technologies, and that can help drive standardization of specifications and work processes – just to mention a few examples. In the energy sector and the business assurance market, I expect positive development in the next few years,” says Eriksen. 

“I believe the future will be characterized by a very complex and fast-changing world and a period of slower global growth. However, the world economy is still on track to more than double in size over the next 40 years. I see a future where trusted independent parties are increasingly needed to enable safe and responsible business performance and sustainable value chains. In this context, DNV GL’s innovation capabilities, as well as our role as a standard setter and driver of joint industry collaborations, will be an increasingly relevant strength. It will be important for me that we continue our investments in people, R&D and innovation to develop new thinking, insights and solutions to the benefit of our customers and society,” Eriksen explains. 

“As Henrik O. Madsen is retiring after more than 30 years of service with us, the last 9 years as Group President & CEO, I want to sincerely thank him for his commitment and extraordinary achievements in heading the company towards the world-leading positions we are in today,” says Chairman Langøy.

Norway ruled by women

These four women are in charge of Norway in these days.
The Prime Minister: Erna Solberg, Conservative, the Minister of Finance: Siv Jensen, Progress party, are together with the Leader of the Liberal party, Trine Skei Grande to the left and the deputy Leader of the Christian Democratic party to the right.
On the other side the parties covering the red-green opposition are all ruled by men. Coincidence?

The 17th of May Procession in Fuengirola 2015

Sunset in May

Our short stay in Fuengirola is soon over this spring. A fantastic long week and Hasta Luego.

May 17th - El dia National de Noruega

 This year we decided to celebrate the 17th of May, The Constitution Day of Norway, here at Fuengirola, Malaga, Costa del Sol, and the national colours are of course covering the doors.
An almost normal breakfast with scrambled eggs, ham and tomato juice, but also a small Cava.

 Down at the beach Tullen is waiting for the 17th May-parade going from Los Boliches at 11.30 am.

 The parade was full of Norwegian flags and children from grade 1 to 10 grades in addition to  lots of  other Norwegians at Costa del Sol. A surprising and nice experience for us. The Spanish flag was also participating. We all ended up in the harbour of Fuengirola where the national anthem and more Norwegian national songs were performed.

 As usual "pølser" or hotdog was part of the food on 17th May, but our dinner took place at the restaurant Charolais. One of our favourites

 As a starter the white asparagus was perfect.

 However the ox filet as the main course can only be recommended and should be mentioned in Michelin Guide

Well back at the hotel a Cava in the AquaBar made the day a great "syttende Mai".

Relaxing at Myramar Fuengirola - Castle Beach

Since my TX-friend Audun Bell is not at Costa del Sol this time of the year, I have to give you an image of two other good friends when relaxing in the AquaBar at the Myramar Fuengirola.
It is always a pleasure to "come home" to Director Carlos Cana and his crew anytime of the year. Here we are sitting in two of his Julio Iglesias Chairs

Short stay in Fuengirola Malaga in May

 The spring in Norway, Oslo has still a way to go before we feel it comfortable this year. A short stay in Andalusia is therefore preferable and director Carlos Cana is welcoming us "home" as usual

After settling down at the hotel and made some food shopping we made our first walk down to the beaches and one of our favourite Chiringuitos: Gali Gali for a cava.

Dinner this Monday was tapas at the square close to the post office and then walking home.
We recognise that adapting to the life down here is very easy. The temperature is lovely although around 40 C tomorrow in Sevilla is a little too strong for most of us too.

Sunday stroll - Tjuvholmen Oslo

 Visiting SS Christian Radich for the first time in my life. Nice to be onboard this beautiful Full-rigged Ship from 1937.

The crew member Tullen was safe from heavy waves and did not need to put sea legs

Ready for departure. Will return with new blogposts in the coming weeks.

Motive for next painting

Finding motives for painting may sometime  be difficult. However when I started to look at my birthplace, the spectacular Jugend city Ålesund, there are motives around every corner. I am not living there anymore so I have to steal from other people´s photos. This one is now in process:

Hopefully my version is on canvas during the coming weeks.

Ten years in the blogger´s community - blogpost no 1960

Yesterday I received my daughter´s Thesis from her PhD studies. I must admit that I am proud of her. With all her family work during the last years, her stamina and challenges are nothing less than impressive. Well done Trine.

If you want to see Trines first videoblogging post go here HERE

When reading the thesis I just remembered that I had forgot that I started to blog over ten years ago. In March 2005 I wrote my first blogpost in Norwegian and have continued with 1960 blogposts (in English since January 2008) and have had visitors from 190 different countries. May be I can call myself one of the "early adopters" of the blogging community.

In my blog I have tried to make a personal view of my life and doings, and I know that many of my readers have enjoyed taking part in our daily situations home and on our visits abroad.

Late April 2005 (10 years ago) my wife and I went to Vienna to experience spring in this beautiful capitol of Austria. This was covered in a blogpost and linked to the photo gallery at Flickr.

The Mozart monument had of course to be visited, and many other images from our tours around the city was published.

One of the areas we visited was the colourful Hundertwasser´s house

An der schönen blauen Donau or at least on a bridge over the river was also an image to share. That I have gained som kilos since then is not worth any comment.

The last photo covers a must when staying in Vienna Die originale Sachertorte at Hotel Sacher.

Pasport renewal and images around the Police Head Quarter

 Yesterday I went to the Police House at Grønland, Oslo, to renew my passport. With a validity of less than 6 months till next trip abroad I thought it was a good idea to do so in time. The numbers of people at the passport office were huge, and I had to wait half an hour although I had booked an appointment some days before.

 It is not often that I visit this part of Oslo. We tried to be tourists in own town last Sunday, but the one hour queue around the City Hall made us change our minds. Maybe this building was one of the recommended visiting spots. Oslo Prison or Botsfengselet

or maybe the church next to the Police Head Quarter, Grønland Church, from 1868. The building is in brick, Romanesque style and has 800 seats.

Dog on red grass - Haakon Bleken

Back in Oslo and the opportunity to see the Norwegian painter Haakon Bleken´s new presentation of paintings at Galleri Brandstrup. This painting has a prize of 250.000 nok. I think it is the exhibition´s best image, but take a look in the gallery´s presentation of his images. Great.

Farewell dinner at Myramar

Another Long Stay period is over at Costa del Sol. Today SAS will bring us home to the more chilly spring than here in Fuengirola. Well, we will once more this year experience the coming of warmer times and the beauty of northern lights and fauna.

Six weeks have come to an end and last night we had our farewell dinner here at Myramar with Lillian and Knut who have stayed two more weeks down here. Thanks for the time together and it will be nice to seeing you in October.

Thanks also to Managing Director Carlos and all his staff at Myramar Castle Beach. You always do the best to make this place our second home.

Another windy day

We do not complain. We know that the wind can be strong at the Coast in Andalusia. Today is therefore just an example of what we are used to during springtime down here. However the wind today was very strong when we passed the  bridge over Rio de Fuengirola this morning.

The river has turned it´s direction.  It is not longer coming from the inland and out to the Mediterranean, it is coming from the ocean and going upwards. The people at the beach are trying to cross the river, but are they brave enough.

The waves toward the beach looks great and spectacular, but going for a swim in this water is out of the question. Take a look at the video below and take part in the scenery we can see at the Fuengirola Beach.

Safety and Security

At Myramar Hotel, Fuengirola we have two very important creatures. The cat Amina and the night security Jose Maria.
The cat is always at our windows in the morning ready to sleep in our sun beds or in some shade areas to act if something extraordinary is happening, and J.M. is watching over us during the nights.

Jose Maria is feeding the cat every evenings (this day in front of our patio) ant this photo shows both of them  in a very happy moment.

An evening out in Fuengirola

 This Maundy Thursday we had visitors from Norway in Fuengirola. They are presently staying in Puerto Banus, but an evening in Fuengirola for dinner with us became really pleasant.
Morten, Maya, Fred-Jørgen, Hanne and Bente joined Tullen and me for drinks at Plaza de los Chinorros before moving to our favorite La mejor Taperia a Fuengirola: La Cepa

I am proud to say that our friends really appreciated the food made by senior Jesus Gomez at La Cepa

An evening in Fuengirola during Semana Santa also give an opportunity to see the Pasos (Thrones) and processions through the street.

A Paso (Spanish: "Episode of the Passion of Christ") is an elaborate float made for religious processions. They are carried by porters on staves, like a litter or sedan chair, and are usually followed or escorted by a band. Some have long skirts that cover the bearers entirely, giving the impression that the statue is floating on its own power. The porters are called costaleros, cargadores or portadores and their leader is called a capataz ("Foreman" or "Head Man"). The capataz sets the chicotá, the period of time between a paso being lifted and set down again; the costaleros cannot pick up or set down the paso except by his leave. This is signalled by the llamador ("crier"), a knocker on the front of the float. During Semana Santa ("Holy Week", the week preceding Easter Sunday) the custom is to make pasos adorned with large wooden statues of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints and biblical personalities from the Passion.