Late Nights and Early Mornings

Winter on the 59 degree North latitude was long, dark and some might argue, downright depressing. At it's lowest, we were privy to a measly 6 hours and 11 minutes of daylight.  It was pretty common for Joe to go days without seeing the light of day, leaving for work hours before the sun rose and coming home hours after it set.  It can be difficult but in the summer, we're rewarded.

On the eve of Summer Solstice, those in Stavanger were gifted 18 hours and 30 minutes of daylight with twilight on either side.  There are nights where it never feels 'dark' and the mornings beckon us early.  Locals will draw their blackout shades to aid in slumber but the difference is palpable.  The long days bring a new energy to the city and it's residents.

Currently, the sun is rising at 4:36 and setting at 10:47 and it doesn't bother me in the slightest.  Late night walks and early morning coffee are the norm in our household and with my recent return from Canada and a disturbed sleeping schedule, I've witnessed the sunrise on a couple of occasions.  While normally I'd be annoyed at my body's insistence to rise at an ungodly hour, I'm instead choosing to soak it up.  After all, the opposite is only just around the corner.

Evening Strolls {10:00}

An early morning {4:45 am}