On higher ground

HUGO JIMENEZ WELDEBORN, 32

Model, musician, inspirer. A multi creator always making things happen.

@teamhugo

@hugojimeneztv

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WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND YOUR DAY IN LINNÉ? I grew up there so it’s very special to me. I know every alleyway, which café makes the best coffee and where to go if you want to hear some great live music. Every time I revisit Linné I feel like I’m coming home to a place where I can be myself; Hugo with no filters.

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT
Alvar & Ivar’s cozy bakery, the cultural institution that is Hagabion and the unmatched festivities of Way out West in Slottskogen during the summer.

DO YOU OFTEN GO OUT FOR SOME URBAN HIKING? I never buy bus tickets. I always walk places, you know? So definitely yes to that. One of my favorite things is taking a long walk in the middle of the night. When the city is quiet and untouched I feel like I can recharge and take a little break from the screens.

DO YOU OFTEN GO OUT FOR SOME URBAN HIKING? I never buy bus tickets. I always walk places, you know? So definitely yes to that. One of my favorite things is taking a long walk in the middle of the night. When the city is quiet and untouched I feel like I can recharge and take a little break from the screens.

YOU VISITED THE LOOKOUT ON KUNGSHÖJD. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT? There’s something special about being on high ground. Looking out over the city you feel all these things, it’s really beautiful and gives you a lot of perspective. I can stand here dreaming about things like the future and what to come. It’s almost like a spiritual experience.

WHAT’S A MUST FOR ANYONE VISITING THE AREA? My best tip is really just to put on some cool, comfy shoes and go exploring! Be curious and take in the views, architecture and find a nice spot for a coffee. Merrell’s shoes are perfect for that. I can style them however I want and still feel like me.

People watching

SELEN AHISHALI, 29

Hosts BFF podi – a popular podcast in Finland, runs her own digital marketing company and works in social media.

@selenahishali

@selenahishali

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WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND YOUR DAY IN ESPLANADI? Esplanadi is not only the city center of Helsinki, but in a way, it’s also a center for me. I cross its streets when I go to work, its park when I go for a run and it’s where I go to meet up with my friends for a Sunday funday, as we call it.

WHAT CAN’T YOU MISS IF YOU’RE SPENDING A DAY IN HELSINKI? Esplanadi! It’s such a nice place, and it really captures the essence of Helsinki. It also connects to many of the important sights and attractions you don’t want to miss.

DO YOU OFTEN GO OUT FOR SOME URBAN HIKING? Well, I try to get out every day and do some running or walking. For me, exploring a city is all about letting the streets take you and absorb the history and culture. It’s a really fun thing to do in your own hometown, too!

WHAT CAN’T YOU MISS IF YOU’RE SPENDING A DAY IN HELSINKI? Esplanadi! It’s such a nice place, and it really captures the essence of Helsinki. It also connects to many of the important sights and attractions you don’t want to miss.

DO YOU OFTEN GO OUT FOR SOME URBAN HIKING? Well, I try to get out every day and do some running or walking. For me, exploring a city is all about letting the streets take you and absorb the history and culture. It’s a really fun thing to do in your own hometown, too!

SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE OUR SOCIETY MOVES IN ULTRA SPEED. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU NEED A BREAK? It’s really easy to get stuck on the phone, so I think the key is to set boundaries for yourself. It feels important to have a moment away from my phone every day, even if it’s just five minutes in the woods. If you don’t visit the woods – go people-watching, grab a coffee, look at the beautiful buildings, or watch the seasons change.

Hidden in plain sight

MAYA NILSEN, 27

Social Media Consultant, Creator and Freelance Stylist. And everything that feels creative.

@maya_nilsen

@maya.nilsen

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HI MAYA! TELL US EVERYTHING ABOUT STRANDVÄGEN. It's a boulevard that's easy to forget about when you live here because it's always just there. But really, it's like a treasure hidden in plain sight. It offers a long walk with all these different views of the water, greenery, and elegant buildings, so you can choose whichever vibe you're into.

THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA:
Grab a Swedish fika at Stora Bageriet, catch a play at Dramaten and enjoy the beautiful sceneries of Nybroviken and Nobelparken

COULD YOU SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON URBAN HIKING? Yes! I feel like I live it. I try to start every day with a walk, listening to music and daydreaming. Right now, I'm daydreaming about having a house in the countryside. Other times, the music becomes a soundtrack to the city scenery. It's like I watch a live film without having to look at my phone.

COULD YOU SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON URBAN HIKING? Yes! I feel like I live it. I try to start every day with a walk, listening to music and daydreaming. Right now, I'm daydreaming about having a house in the countryside. Other times, the music becomes a soundtrack to the city scenery. It's like I watch a live film without having to look at my phone.

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT WEARING MERRELL? It's crazy. I walked around 25,000 steps today, and when I got home it struck me that my feet weren't hurting. Now that spring's here, I try to remind everyone to walk as much as possible. You can walk just one extra metro station to get some sunlight and then get on at the next one. I think a lot of people would benefit from that.

GIVE US YOUR BEST TIPS FOR SOMEONE WHO'S CURIOUS ABOUT STRANDVÄGEN? Just go there and hike, stroll, and chill the entire day. Strandvägen gives you kind of a perfect view of Stockholm, how its built on all these small islands.

Following the river

WILLIAM SIMENSEN ELJARBØ, 26

Social Media content creator, does photography and creative directing.

@sry.will

@srywill

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AS AN OSLO RESIDENT, YOU KNOW THE CITY LIKE THE BACK OF YOUR HAND –WHAT CAN YOU SHARE ABOUT YOUR HOMETOWN? It’s a city with loads of nature everywhere, so you can always feel its presence even though it’s a capital city. I could really recommend going for a small adventure, following the river Akerselva from the top all the way down to Oslofjorden.

WE ARE ALL ABOUT URBAN HIKING. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT? Not everyone has a forest at their front door, where you can go deep into the woods just thinking or talking. So why not hike wherever you are? I love the woods, but I also love going thrift shopping, and I think urban hiking is the perfect way to combine the best of both worlds.

DO YOU ENJOY HIKING ALONE OR WITH PEOPLE? Both, actually. I like hiking the woods with my dad and my dogs, chatting about this or that. Or going on walks with friends, just hanging out. But when I need to be alone and reconnect with myself I always leave my phone at home and go out into the woods.

WE ARE ALL ABOUT URBAN HIKING. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT? Not everyone has a forest at their front door, where you can go deep into the woods just thinking or talking. So why not hike wherever you are? I love the woods, but I also love going thrift shopping, and I think urban hiking is the perfect way to combine the best of both worlds.

DO YOU ENJOY HIKING ALONE OR WITH PEOPLE? Both, actually. I like hiking the woods with my dad and my dogs, chatting about this or that. Or going on walks with friends, just hanging out. But when I need to be alone and reconnect with myself I always leave my phone at home and go out into the woods.

WHAT’S GOOD TO KNOW FOR SOMEONE WHO’S NEVER BEEN TO OSLO? You have to visit Grünerløkka, for sure. It has cool street art, vintage stores, and a relaxed vibe. From there it’s a bit of a hike to Frognerparken, Oslo’s own little Central Park. I really recommend going there for some cultural experiences–it has museums, statues and a lot of greenery.