Alta Mayor Monica Nielsen confirms that many people in the municipality are now taking advantage of the many days off in May to travel abroad, and that there will be slightly fewer residents on May 17 of this year.

– Many will travel to the sun and heat and take vacations early. There is also now a direct route from Alta to Crete, Nielsen told Dagbladet.

May 17 this year is followed by both a public holiday on May 18 and a school closing day on May 19.

The “leakage” of the cold meant that several schools had problems organizing events on the occasion of the national holiday and had to cancel them.

Debate has raged over both selfishness and the fact that children are deprived of an important community.

– If some kids celebrate May 17th in the South, I don’t think that matters much to how you feel around May 17th. It happens every year, says Nielsen.

Six degrees and rain

The mayor understands that people choose to leave even if it is the national holiday.

– We live in a part of the country with a lot of winter and are not as spoiled as those who have more sun and heat.

Death: Empty seat in the Russian bus

– This is a golden opportunity for freezing weather to get some sunshine. Six degrees and rain are reported here on May 17.

– Are you envious of those who now have fun on the deckchair?

– I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, it’s a beautiful day. As mayor, I have a number of duties and I look forward to being with my family.

Tuesday reported Altaposten that one of the schools is still holding activities, after several got together and worked hard to make sure the day went as planned.

– Several schools have thought about the possibility of having something this year, because there are several resource people who are on vacation. But then we see quite a few others stepping in, and that’s good, says Nielsen.

– Too bad for those left behind

Dagbladet has previously written about Tanja Elina Lund-Lyngemo, who, together with a larger group from Altaværings, chose to move this year’s May 17 celebration to Crete.

– People should be able to do what they want. The children were also involved throughout the process, and the most important thing for them is that access to ice cream remains the same as at home, she told Dagbladet with a laugh.

HOLIDAYS > MAY 17: May-Liss Thomassen finds it unfortunate that people’s holidays go beyond the national holiday. Photo: Private
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May-Liss Thomassen sits on Alta’s May 17 committee and is among those who have been highly skeptical of overseas travel on National Day.

– We can’t prevent anyone from leaving, but it’s a shame for those who stay, she said to Dagbladet the day before the big day.

She thinks it might be a good idea to do an evaluation of how things are done.

– I hate you

– Areas of responsibility may need to be distributed differently, so you’re not so vulnerable when key people can’t participate, says Thomassen.

– Do you understand that someone wants to leave?

– Both yes and no. I understand that people travel when there are so many public holidays, but I find it unfortunate that it falls on May 17th.