memoirs & rambles

I lived in Finland for six years, but never saw them there. After I moved away, there were times when the lights were seen in the very South of the country, even in Helsinki, so I guess things have changed, but back then I knew many Finns who had never seen them.

It was as if there was a complacency, a sense that at any time one could drive four hours North and tick that item off the bucket list, but they never did.

It’s often said that to see the Northern Lights the recommendation is to go somewhere away from cities, where there’s little light pollution, but in Iceland, even in Reykjavík, you could sit on the sofa inside your house with the lights on and watch the dancing lights from there.

I remember one night we were having dinner when I stepped out for some fresh air and saw them right above me. I peeked inside through the glass door of the house where I was and no one seemed to be noticing what was happening.

By that time, I had already seen the Aurora a few times, but never as intensely as that, so I went inside to call the Icelanders. In contrast to my excitement, they came outside in no rush, looked up calmly, and finally someone said, " You called us out for this?"

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