We spent an amazing week in Lofoten, Norway, a string of islands north of the arctic circle. We hiked, went sea kayaking in the fjords, and roamed the beach under the midnight sun. It's absolutely, spectacularly beautiful here. The landscape is like nowhere I've ever been, and when standing on the top of any of the peaks, one can look down and see the ocean breaking on the beach on each side.

The archipelago's beaches are strewn with wooden racks, called flakes, drying Cod. The method has existed for over 1,000 years, as salt wasn't always economical. The construction of the racks is beautiful in its simplicity, with two vertical columns bridged by a timber beam, and buttressed by columns pushing in at an angle. Sun filters through the structure during the afternoon. It is surprising the many sea guls in the area don't have field day with the potent smelling cod, especially considering there is often only a single scarecrow poised underneath.

I suspect it is because they long ago tired of eating the same thing, and have moved on to other feasts (i.e. the spoils of visiting tourists).