As I have mentioned before, the nations of the North have top scores in health, patience and emotional control. Observing their daily habits , makes me realise that lots of it has to do with their hobbies, some of which are quite extravagant.

Compared to the regular gym and yoga sessions, the activities described below, seem quite extraordinary, but northerns will walk the extra mile because mens sana in corpore sano (sound mind in a sound body) means everything for them.

So let’s check out what makes the North a place of its own when it comes to fun, transportation and health.

‍

Canal paddle boarding in the Netherlands  

‍I was recently visiting my best friend in Amsterdam for a nice whole week. Soaking in the local culture, I discovered that Dutch people, as much as Scandinavians, enjoy being involved in some unique sports. 

Early spring sunbeams touch our skin, while we’re enjoying our afternoon walk , still wearing quite fluffy winter jackets. My eyes are observing the surroundings and everything seems all normal until I spot something moving in the canal nearby.  And it is a … guy paddle boarding. Whaaat?!

My point here is that paddle boarding is well known all around the world , but the fact that people do it while it is only about 5 degrees outside and the temperature of the water is probably below zero , is quite fascinating. 

Until now, I have only seen paddle boarding enthusiasts in mid summer  on sandy beaches where it is 40 degrees and the sea is nothing less than a warm cup of tea. 

So, hands down, the Dutch are masters of extreme paddle boarding. Who needs to go to the Carribean while we can all just float around the Van Gogh museum? 

‍

Ice water dips and floating saunas

   Since the main ingredient here is ice, you have no choice but to be situated in Scandinavia or Iceland, preferably during winter time. The urge to feel refreshed and keep oneself youthful, leads many Scandinavians to the ultimate blood circulation booster. Swimming in ice water and jumping in a sauna right after that is a heavenly experience, or at least these are the rumours. 

The uniqueness in this case is that a small sauna is built on a platform, standing directly in the sea. You can find those both in remote holiday resorts and ice fields, as well as in the heart of the most populated cities, like Oslo for example. 

I wouldn’t blame anyone for excluding Norway from the ‘top bikini friendly destinations’ list , but it is in fact a place where cooling down has a whole new meaning. 

‍

‍

Creative bicycling

Since the Netherlands is home to 17 million bikes, it is no surprise that locals are way ahead of just going to the park for a short cycle tour. 

Here the bike is a multifunctional tool used for everything your imagination can picture. If you , for example , need to move out , just call 5 to 10 of your bicycling friends and rest assured that everything , from your coffee machine to the fridge , will be transported to the desirable destination. 

Seriously, you can barely see people holding on their bikes with both hands. They either have an ironing board in one hand , are busy chatting / swiping trough dating apps, or have both hands in their pockets. Also, I never knew that a bike can be faster than a Ferrari - those people are flying! 

Nothing is impossible for a Dutch with a bike. The level of their combinative skills is unattainable and the way they are navigating trough the picturesque streets is more tense than a John Wick movie.

‍

‍Ice fishing 

Imagine it is mid January in Norway and you suddenly feel the urge to eat some freshly caught fish. What would you do? Go to the  store? Go to a sushi bar? Well, that will be a double no. 

If you are a self respecting person, you will bravely walk across the ice on the nearby fjord and find the best spot for drilling a hole. What can beat the taste of a freshly caught  trout? You know what they say - the colder the water, the bigger the fish…

In contrast to the activities listed above, this one is, of course,  not so common . However, I witnessed it couple of times just little outside Trondheim, which means that you don’t need to enter the polar circle to participate. 

Ice fishing is a total flex, which deserves global recognition. So, when in need of high adrenaline levels, just ask for some fish in Norway.

‍

‍

After observing, reflecting and now writing about this mixture of motivation, devotion and adventure those people have, makes me wonder if the term ‘comfort zone’ even exist in their vocabulary.