2021 is another year living in la Vida Loca with COVID. I’m grateful for another year of spending time in Norway and exploring more new and undiscovered corners of the country, including local farms, pop-up restaurants, and some famous sites. I have also reached some significant milestones in life. The first one was buying my apartment in the city center of Oslo. Then turning 30 years old was the second milestone which included leaving my 20s behind. I’m more than grateful for my beautiful years as 20 something. I was being courageous and vibrant, exploring the world’s wonders. A significant chapter in my life. Truly blessed and grateful for all the beautiful experiences and challenging lessons I dealt with in my 20s.
Achievements During My 20s
In my 20’s, I lived in Buenos Aires – Argentina, Cartagena de Indias – Colombia and Madrid – Spain. I was learning and practicing Spanish. I studied for a Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship and business, Sustainability Management, and a Master’s degree in Project Management. Also, I certified myself as a Rescue diver with PADI and have been to Galapagos, Machu Picchu, Fitz Roy in Patagonia, Argentina. And I dived in the Blue Hole in Belize and discovered Providencia in Colombia. I have truly lived life in my 20s, and I plan to continue doing that in my 30s. Life is now 🙂
Leaving Menswear After a Decade
The last milestone of 2021 is leaving Menswear which has been home since 2012. It has been a great privilege to work with a Norwegian Retail Company that combines excellent quality and ultimate customer service to the elite of Norway. I have found a new place to thrive and grow.
A New Job in 2022
I’m thrilled to announce it’s in the industry I love, which is traveling. I will be working at the Norwegian travel company – Up Norway as a Professional Travel Curator. I’m beyond excited to enter this new chapter of my professional career. Up Norway is certified by Travelife and awarded the Sustainability Certification from B Corp. How exciting to be part of a company that is leading the way for sustainability in the traveling industry. Most of all, creating magical moments for travelers visiting Norway.
Buying an apartment, turning 30, and getting a new job were the significant life events of 2021.
Let’s talk about the travel highlights of 2021! Which was also rich.
January
The New Year was maybe not starting at peak with a broken arm after a skiing accident. And the fact that we were selling the apartment at Frogner after more than ten years of lavish living. Before finding my new apartment, the Frogner apartment got sold, and I had to find a temporary home. I mostly spent the days with beautiful walks in the winter daylight of Norway. That was one positive outcome of breaking my hand.
February
My casted hand was finally free. I celebrated by swimming in the ocean at – 15 degrees celsius, which was a trill to manage to breathe and keep mind over matter. In February, most of my time went to showings for buying a new apartment. If you didn’t know, the real estate market in Oslo was ridiculous.
March
The spring is arriving, and the sun is shining. I mainly used my time at work and had a small weekend getaway to our cabin at Musdalsæter, close to Lillehammer. Thanks to a very kind friend, I moved to my new temporary apartment. Staying for the next four months, I had to create a home for myself. So I traveled to IKEA and then assembled IKEA furniture. We all know that is more than enough fun for a month.
I celebrated the beginning of Easter at West Coast, Norway, with my family. We had stormy weather and rain. I must tell you we were blessed with an incredible sea eagle safari at home – Åheim. Around 20-40 eagles were coming in to eat all the fish swimming by the surface of the sea — an incredible event in nature.
Åheim
April
1st of April, we went to the cabin for the rest of the Easter Vacation. We watched the squirrel steal the food of the birds. We didn’t mind since he was doing it most elegantly.
Musdalsæter
April was also a stunning month for nurturing friendship. I had quality time with many close friends. We mainly were outdoors due to COVID, which was great—connecting with nature & friends at the same time, the best place for elevated conversations.
Ervik at Stadlandet
A short weened trip home to West Coast. Sister and I visited Ervik at Stad.
May
11th of May 2021, I bought my first apartment. A significant milestone and a reward for all my hard work. My best Brazilian friend celebrated the achievement with pizza and rosavin.
13th of May, mum decided to pop over for a visit to Oslo. I love when my mum visit. I love hosting family and friends. We celebrated the 17th of May with my Godmother.
I also had a great dinner with lovely friends in May, and then I even traveled a short trip to Fredrikstad to say Hello to my dear friends that I had not almost seen in two years due to COVID. Kids grow so fast when you don’t see them often.
June
We are getting closer to summer and feeling those lovely warm degrees and the sun kissing the skin. I integrated a charming yoga routine before work by the sea. I’m so grateful that I did.
13th of June celebrating mum and her many decadent years on this earth.
I also started to go to Yoga in Spanish at the park of Vigeland on Sundays, which was a serene experience between singing birds and green trees—trying to catch up on the Argentinean accent – Castellano.
Oslo
I had donuts for breakfast and was also a mermaid whenever I could swim in the lovely ocean. I did have ice cream at 11 in the evening.
July
I traveled to Cuba at Sørenga. In 2019, I traveled to Cuba, meeting the lovely couple Marianne and Norge in Trinidad. When Norge, Marianne’s husband, had a concert in Oslo with Cuban Salsa music, of course, I went! The closes thing to traveling to Latin America in 2021, thanks to COVID.
Then I packed my temporary home in boxes, preparing to move into my apartment after summer vacation in Norway.
Åheim
I went home to West Coast, Norway, to my home village Åheim. Mum showed me a unique place. We also went to some other beaches close to Hoddevik. We had a day trip to Bremanger and Kalvåg.
Årvik at Stadlandet
Bremanger
Ålesund
Sister and I went to Ålesund. We explored some local mountains before going to Reindalsæter. A famous site for starting hiking adventures in the alps of Sunnmøre. On the way home, we went through Geiranger, but it was too crowded this summer. We went back to Åheim for some calmness by the sea.
Reindalsæter in the Alps of Sunnmøre
Summmer Vacation in Lofoten
Then we had amazing days in Lofoten in Northern Norway. We had so many spectacular days with Arne, the famous Volkswagen. We visited Svolvær, Skrova, Å, Reine, Polarhagen, Unstad, Henningsvær, Kabelvåg, Skårungen and many other charming sites.
August
5th of August, I opened the door of my new apartment and home. An exciting day and my sister was there to smooth in the transition. Now I live right by the Royal Castel, and the Royal Garden is more like my backyard.
First International Guest During COVID
Then the best Bea from Germany arrived! After more than one and half years of no international visitors. If you didn’t know, Bea and I studied for our Master’s degree in Project Management together in Madrid. Now it was my time to show the glory of Oslo and, most of all, the big ocean and the art nouveau town Ålesund.
Ålesund
I wrote a Norwegian blog post about this trip: 36 timer i Ålesund at Paulinesreiser, my Norwegian travel blog.
Oslo
September
Back to work and trying to cope with summer is ending, enjoying the cities delight, and eating at new places in Oslo.
October
Fall has arrived in Norway. All the trees are sparkling in yellow, orange, and red. The air is crisp, and we feel that winter is coming—a weekend getaway to the cabin at Musdalsæter and enjoying the stormy weather outside the windows. The sound of a crackling fireplace.
November
I met up with fellow travel bloggers, the famous Mette Fjellheim, and her lovely travel blog: Reiselykke. She has many years in the industry and excellent travel writing. I’m honored that she could share some time with me.
30 Years Old in 2021
Then it was the 19th of November, and I turned 30 years old. What a blessing. I celebrated with great friends. I was even gifted some travel money for a trip to Amsterdam. Because I have never been to the Netherlands, two of my close friends have lived there. I should have this experience sometime soon.
Gran Canaria
My other big birthday present was a week in Gran Canaria with Mum and Ottar. We spent time at the beach even though the sun decided to be semi-gone for most of the week. In November, the temperature in Norway is 0, so having 22 degrees is excellent.
December
9th of December, I went to Malaga, the exquisite weekend getaway from winter Norway, Because Vueling canceled my flight from Gran Canaria to Malaga. I had to change the tickets into a long weekend instead of 24 hours layover. And 72 hours in Malaga is much better for enjoying the city and even a day trip to Nerja, Frigiliana, and El Acebuchal, the lost city of Andalucia.
Malaga
Then I managed to spend Christmas eve at home. Before going back on the 26th to Oslo for work at Menswear to New Year, celebrating the New Year in Oslo for the second time in history.
2021 Thank you! I’m ready for 2022!
2021 was not so many international travels, but that’s more than fine while in a pandemic. I think in the future we will be traveling less, but more meaningful when we first travel. We will stay longer at the destination. And have more time to enjoy the locations we are visiting. There will be time to connect with the people and the culture better because we allow more time for indulging in the experience of traveling and not hustling around as many places as possible to visit in a week. Choice management is the new time management for traveling and maybe even life?
I wish everyone a great New Year filled with abundance, joy, bliss, successes and all the happiness in the world. 2022 will be magic. I can feel it. Let’s vibrate high and enjoy this new time.
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