Bonum Cursum

I went to Preikestolen after a night shift – it was definitely challenging! It was hard to get tickets because I had to spend a small fortune on a bus ticket to avoid getting run over on that narrow road winding up to the parking lot. But hey, what can you do when you want to see that famous place? Fortunately, it was all worth every penny (or a few small fortunes). 😉

Even though it was early in the morning, there were quite a few people at Preikestolen, but not enough to make me want to turn back. Along the way, I remembered why it’s worth not rushing into things – those steep inclines really take a toll. But just a little while later, I got the first glimpse of the parking lot, which gave me a burst of energy and made the whole hike feel meaningful.

I passed by more people, though I did get lost once on the trail, but quickly corrected that mistake. Once at the top, after crossing another chain barrier, I was greeted with a view – emptiness. No people, just silence, peace, and pure magic. Everything that had come before – the fatigue, the mistakes, the crowds – suddenly vanished, leaving only what really mattered.

On top of that, I hit the best weather of the year – perfect timing! Everything was just right. I took some pictures, sat down for a while, had a snack, and rested. Then, more photos, and I had the chance to chat with some exotic people – probably from Japan. The whole trip was something incredible, with people full of energy, no complaining. Everyone kept a positive vibe, which made the whole atmosphere truly special.

I ran down the trail, trying not to bump into anyone, just to avoid accidentally knocking someone over. Once at the bottom, I found out the bus back would leave… but in three hours. The whole trip, including food, took me less than two hours, so I decided to head back up again. This time much slower, as my legs were starting to protest, and the views from every angle started to look different in the peaceful atmosphere.

After another descent to the base, I grabbed a coffee and a quick snack – I had to gather myself because toilet time and other things took up most of my attention. From bad to worse – literally, as the weather completely changed. Instead of sunny skies, there was a downpour, which was the complete opposite of what I had before. There was no time for pondering; I had to pull myself together to avoid getting drenched too much and head back toward the bus.

It’s nice sometimes to return to the same places, as it offers a unique opportunity to observe the changes – both in the surroundings and in ourselves. Every trip, every moment spent in a given place is not just about the views, but about the emotions that change depending on the stage of life we’re at. When we return, we notice things that might have slipped by before – not just in the landscape, but in our own feelings. We see how our perspectives change, how we perceive the same place differently after some time. It’s like meeting an old friend – sometimes a little different, but still the same. And though the changes may be subtle, it’s those very changes that make returning to the same places such a valuable experience. Preikestolen, like other places, showed me how the world around me changes, but also how I change – gaining new insights, noticing things I hadn’t before. And that’s the beauty of it, because every journey is a new opportunity to rediscover ourselves and the world.