国境の橋で雨の日も吹雪の日も…コロナで隔てられた７３歳双子の１年

【ＡＦＰ＝時事】５月１６日 ＡＦＰ】７３歳の双子の兄弟オラさんとポントゥスさんは、新型コロナウイルスの流行により互いの家を訪れることができなくなってしまった。２人が毎週土曜日に、ノルウェーとスウェーデンの国境を隔てる橋の上で顔を合わせるようになって、もう１年以上になる。（写真は国境の橋で会う双子の兄弟オラさん〈右〉とポントゥスさん）
　スウェーデン人のオラさんとポントゥスさんは、折り畳み椅子と魔法瓶、サンドイッチをそれぞれ持参して、雨にも吹雪にも猛暑にも負けず、週１回の再会を祝い続けている。２人の背後では、橋に掲げられた両国の旗がひらひら揺れている。
　「国境を越えることは許されていない。どちらも（国境から）１メートル離れていなくてはならない」と、オラさんは説明した。「つまり、２メートルの間隔を空けなくちゃいけないってことだ」と言うなり、ガタガタと椅子を動かした。少し接近しすぎていたことに気づいたためだ。
　４月２０日生まれの２人は昨年、フィヨルドの上に架かるスビネスンド橋の上で７２歳の誕生日を迎え、今年も共に７３歳の誕生日を祝った。
　元看護助手で今は劇場の舞台装置制作に携わるオラさんと、芸術家でアマチュア鳥類学者のポントゥスさんは、ちょっとした地元の有名人だ。２人の写真を撮るためだけに、車で５時間かけてやって来る人もいる。
　そんな２人は、たまに善意の「密輸」に手を染めることもある。中でも、スウェーデンで生まれた子犬をノルウェーの新しい家族の元に届けたことは、一番の思い出だそうだ。
　この１年余りで、２人が会えなかった週末は３回だけだ。頑固な警察官が、橋の上に通してくれなかったためだった。
　離婚して独り暮らしのポントゥスさんは、オラさんとの週１回の待ち合わせを「とても大事だ。これがなかったら、うつになっていただろう」と語る。ハグを交わしたいかと問われると、笑いながら「もちろん」と答え、こう続けた。
　「だから時々、自分をぎゅっと抱き締めるんだ。私たちは一卵性双生児だからね」【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/05/17-16:02）

They haven't been allowed to have each other over to their homes for a year now because of Covid. So come rain or shine, two 73-year-old Swedish twins have met every Saturday, each on their side of the border, on a bridge that links Norway and Sweden.
Every week, Ola and Pontus Berglund each keeps well behind a thin, yet impassable line on the ground, toting camping chairs, thermoses, sandwiches -- and plenty of good cheer.
We're not allowed to cross the border. I have to stay one metre (yard) away on my side and he has to stay back one metre on his side, Ola explains, the little Norwegian and Swedish flags they've attached to the bridge fluttering in the wind.
So basically there has to be two metres between us, he says, pushing his chair back, suddenly aware that he is too close.
At his feet, painted on the road, is a simple white line, the words Norge and Sverige on either side.
The pandemic has put a halt to the identical twins' weekly visits to each other's homes.
Ola lives in Halden, in southeastern Norway, where he moved almost 40 years ago for love, while Pontus lives a half-hour drive away in the southwestern Swedish town of Stromstad.
Instead, they come together here, at a more or less respectful distance, on the old Svinesund bridge that straddles a fjord between the two countries.
They've celebrated their 72nd and 73rd birthdays this way on April 20.
It's very strange but it's become a need, a pressing need, because we used to see each other every week and we wanted to continue that, says Pontus from the Swedish side.
The pandemic hasn't stopped us from seeing each other and for us, that's a victory.
While the local restrictions have changed over the months as the virus situation has evolved, the border has remained closed.
The closure has angered Norwegians -- many of whom own summer homes in Sweden, where life is cheaper -- to such an extent that they sued the Norwegian state to get it to lift the mandatory quarantine required when they return home.
- 'A little party' -
The few motorists who use the bridge usually smile or wave at the two grey-bearded gents sitting in their chairs.
Ola, a former nursing assistant who now spends his time making scenery for a theatre, and Pontus, an artist and amateur ornithologist, have become local celebrities, with some people driving up to five hours just to take their photograph.
That's not very important to us. The important thing to us is to be able to get together and talk about whatever we want, says Ola, sporting a red bow tie because it's May 1st.
From their privileged perch, the two have, on occasion, found themselves in the role of benevolent smugglers -- like the day when they delivered a puppy born in Sweden to its new family in Norway.
That's their fondest memory, they say.
In more than a year, they've only missed their weekly rendezvous three times -- because of stubborn police who wouldn't let them onto the bridge.
Otherwise, they've kept to their schedule through blizzards or heatwaves, simply dressing for the weather.
Before the vaccination rollout, many elderly reported feeling a sense of isolation during the pandemic, as a result of having to shield themselves from the virus.
Each meeting has been a little party, says Pontus, who is divorced. For me who lives alone, it's really important to see Ola. Without that I'd be depressed.
Does he miss hugging his brother?
Yes, he says with a contagious laugh.
So sometimes I hug myself -- since we're identical.