The journey to Filip, at the Polar Circle, was long and difficult. But we made it. We played chess at the Polar Circle.
Ever since I accepted Filip’s invitation in March to visit him, I began to think meticulously, like a chess player, about the summer 2025 itinerary, day by day. How could I not take advantage of this opportunity to reach the Polar Circle and do something so unique?
Taking into account the route of over 4,000 km, plus an additional flight to Filip, I tried to connect on the map of Europe as many points as possible where my students live, both on the way there and on the way back to Romania. All while also considering the students’ summer vacations, which depend on the school calendar — different from one country to another.
It had been three weeks on the road since I left Cluj, the place of my last meeting with several students. I combined my hobby, traveling, with the joy of meeting other students along the way, rarely sleeping two nights in a row in the same place, but without missing a single class.
When the 20-seat plane, about the size of a minibus, landed, Filip greeted me with open arms at the tiny local airport.
For the next two days, Filip proved to be an excellent local guide.
First, he showed me the slopes where Norwegians jump with skis and train even in the summer—watering the synthetic grass slope to make it slide better.
I was lucky to catch weather with 18 degrees at noon, something rare in this corner of the world.
I invited Filip to join me for five chess classes. His little sister Aura, almost five years old, also had an introductory lesson—with pawns, as preparation for the course she will start in the fall.
At midnight, I also joined one of Mr. Adam’s classes. The students from North America saw what the summer night light looks like in northern Norway.
The next day, Filip and Aura took me to the main tourist attraction — the point of 66 degrees and 33 minutes north latitude, where the Polar Circle begins. I thought we were the northernmost Romanians on the planet… until, to our shock, in the parking lot we came across a bus from Vâlcea. In the souvenir shop, we met a large group of Romanian tourists. They were queuing for ice cream.
At last, the long-awaited moment arrived, both for Filip and for me: to play chess at the Polar Circle at midnight. I learned that, in Norway, children go to bed very late during the summer ‘nights.’
We went to the town center, where we played a game of Chess 960, in broad daylight.
In the short time spent there, I learned a lot about Norwegian culture and the countless peculiarities of life in that region. Examples include the typical houses with earth and grass on the roofs, or swimming in fjords with 8-degree water—which I tried myself.
Upon leaving, Filip gifted me a king and queen chess piece created with his 3D printer. They will always remind me of this memorable trip to Mo i Rana.”**
I can also help make the whole story flow as a polished, travel-story article in English if you want. Do you want me to do that?
