Norway - Hunting the Light

As we descend into Bergen we slice through thick layers of cloud. Rain falls like an icy monsoon and we’re herded onto the ship determined to wave goodbye to a disinterested coastline. Through the porthole, fog suffocates the horizon and mountains gasp for breath. Hundreds of waterfalls cascade into the fjords and I smile as they remind me of thread veins on a thigh. Distracted, I bravely stagger onto deck enticed by fresh air and the stark view. A chirpy announcement warns that a storm named Hilda is on its way, and I scuttle back in for shelter as debris jovially slides across my path. During the night we cross the Arctic Circle, and the ship sails calmly on to Tromso as we feast on fish patties and hot chocolate. Still no sign of the Northern Lights, we arrive disappointed only to be cheered by the yapping and howling of three hundred huskies. The mood is buoyant as our journey ends, and excited cheers punctuate the air as our Captain manages a dramatic three‐point turn in the narrowest of harbours. Whilst I long for dry land and a view that isn’t water, I disembark content to have tried something new.

The view at sea

Beautiful fjords

Budapest - An Artist's Perspective

Budapest is a city full of contradictions,where innovation is born from an elegant yet faded beauty. Time stands still here in the suspicious faces of a generation still marked by Communist rule. Bullet holes ridicule the facades of storybook architecture, and yet the majestic Danube still dominates this city and with its flow comes the current of change. Budapest is far from static, and anyone with a curious and pioneering spirit need only ask, “which way to the rabbit hole?” In the heart of the city is a sub culture nurturing the bravest artists and inspiring critical change. It’s a safe house for new thinkers to ask questions and challenge mediocrity. It’s International, it’s political, it’s experimental, it’s eccentric, and it’s dramatic and fun. What this city offers that is unique particularly to artists, is freedom and support side by side. A place to play without being judged, an ever-changing environment inspired by what has existed for years. With this in mind I believe Budapest is quietly becoming a cultural epicentre. A pit stop for ‘Creatives’ and their fans. Everyone loves an underdog and this town is definitely one to watch.

Chain Bridge

The Hungarian National Gallery

Castle District

Faded Beauty