点评:Kirkenes is a remote, fascinating, and even somewhat magical town above the Arctic Circle in northernmost Norway. Like many, we came here prior to a ferry trip down the coast. We rented a car, which turned out to be a great decision in terms of really getting a feel for the area. Another way to discover the heart and soul of a region is to visit its museums.
This one is small but well-curated, and full of artifacts, exhibits, and installations from local history and Sami culture. Many serve to visually illustrate Kirkenes’ importance in World War II, as well as the international relationships resulting from its proximity to the Russian border. The exhibits are accompanied by large binders with explanations in several languages.
Highlights included the restored WWII plane recovered from a fjord, an exhibition of Sami artist John Savio’s works, and the amazing photographs of Norwegian writer, politician, and photographer Ellisif Wessel. Her depictions of Sami life and contemporary culture include strong yet sensitive imagery. It was refreshing to see a female photographer from that era; but Norway has always been ahead of much of the world socially.
We stopped at the gift shop and bought some beautiful Sami-related postcards. I would have spent more but sadly we chose to pack light on this trip and had very limited luggage space.
Kirkenes was a revelation: a modern small town somehow a bit trapped in time. I would love to return for a longer stay!
翻译:希尔克内斯是挪威最北部北极圈内一个偏远、迷人甚至有些神奇的小镇。和许多人一样,我们在乘渡轮沿海岸航行之前来到这里。我们租了一辆车,事实证明这是一个非常好的决定,因为我们可以真正感受一下这个地区。另一种发现一个地区灵魂的方法是参观它的博物馆。
这个博物馆很小,但管理得很好,里面充满了当地历史和萨米文化的文物、展品和装置。许多都直观地说明了希尔克内斯在二战中的重要性,以及由于靠近俄罗斯边境而产生的国际关系。展品附有大型活页夹,上面有多种语言的说明。
亮点包括从峡湾打捞出的二战飞机、萨米艺术家约翰·萨维奥的作品展,以及挪威作家、政治家和摄影师埃利斯夫·韦塞尔的精彩照片。她对萨米人生活和当代文化的描绘包括强烈而敏感的意象。看到那个时代的女摄影师令人耳目一新;但挪威在社交方面一直领先于世界上的大多数国家。
我们在礼品店停下来买了一些漂亮的萨米明信片。我本来会花更多钱,但遗憾的是我们选择在这次旅行中轻装上阵,行李空间非常有限。
希尔克内斯是一个启示:一个有点被时间困住的现代小镇。我很想再回来住更长时间!