Election day - a day of peace and dignity

"I dag får du

ikke kjøpt

alkohol"

Hvorfor??? «Ro og verdighet» This was a reminder on "Aftenposten" the Norwegian newspaper.

Today Monday 14th September 2009 (and yesterday Sunday) was election day(s) here in Norway. And you can't buy alcohol....I'm sorry :-( The reason is to keep "ro og verdighet" (peace and dignity).....as opposed to other days? This has been law since 1920.....as you can see, only recently updated!!!! Surely, are Norwegians mad enough to go totally crazy on election day. It is one of those days that Norwegians should flag - but I think we were the only ones to do it - so I don't think people are that crazy.... How was it before 1920....did mad Norwegians storm the streets, drunk and without dignity celebrating or drowning their sorrows.

Notes from Levi

Really strange things people do. Go on the ski, instead of walking around. I must say though, it does in a way make life easier. Its easier to travel on around 80 cm of snow with skis on, rather than walking. They drag kids on toboggans that are tied to you by a rope while you are skiing. After a day out on the skis, they have a sauna. A room, often made from wood, is warmed up to around 70 C with coals. When its hot enough, you go in, throw some water on the coals in the stove called kiuas in Finnish`, which causes steam. I’ve tried a few times, its unbearable. The first time, it felt like my nose, and throat were being burnt – I could not breathe. Apparently, they say it is good for the body, since it makes you sweat and takes out all those bad things. You see, people have trouble sweating here in the North. No person in southern Europe would think that they need to sweat it out – just wait for summer.