Day:264, Words:264

Well here we are again on the boat from Økshord to Hammerfest. Today it is a doctor appointment at the hospital that drags us out of bed at six to take the seven o'clock. On Thursday, the fast boat goes slow, an excruciating three and a half hours instead or the normal two hours. The reason is the stop ins at various tiny harbours I didnt even know existed. There is a rule in Norway that states that you may live whereever, the government has to provide you with all of the usual services that includes electricity, post and access to transport. Many of the places are occupied by a single family or even a single person. If Mr Hanson or Miss Johansson requires a carton of milk of a sack of potatoes, the boat is required to venture out to the almost deserted Island and make the delivery.

The boat arrives in Hammerfest and the scene that greets the passengers is a town desperately in need of a paint job, literally. The potential of Hammerfest is massive and it is surrounded by magnificent natural beauty, yet the ugliness of the dilapidated, concrete, paint peeled buildings that line the main street has a certain moonscape feel to it. Hammerfest was the first city in the world to install electric street lights. A few new coats of paint shouldn't be much to ask.

The hospital is a professionally run outfit and smart on the inside. The exterior however ressembles a dodgy communist nuclear power plant. Come on Hammerfest, lift your game and show your potential.

 

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