Knowing me knowing Stockholm

Knowing me knowing Stockholm; Ah Ha!

Knowing me, knowing Stockholm!

Or that’s what we thought – we know this place, returning here for our third time will be such a rewarding experience, especially as we will be here in the summer months with sunshine, a new experience – not the previous winter blasts of snow and ice.

BBBrrrr...... Stockholm 30th December 2009 Nikon D200 AF-S DX VR 18-200 f3.5, 18mm, f7.1.0, 1/180 sec, ISO 1600 — BBBrrrr……
Stockholm
30th December 2009
Nikon D200 AF-S DX VR 18-200 f3.5, 18mm, f7.1.0, 1/180 sec, ISO 1600

And we were right, this is an amazing place to visit, such a beautiful region and city, and the people are fantastic – but did we know it as well as we thought, probably because there was so much more to see and do; things that are just covered in snow and ice in the winter!

You need a big coat in Stockholm 30th December 2009 Nikon D200 AF-S DX VR 18-200 f3.5, 38mm, f11.0, 1/500 sec, ISO 1600 — You need a big coat in Stockholm – looking out to City Hall
30th December 2009
Nikon D200 AF-S DX VR 18-200 f3.5, 38mm, f11.0, 1/500 sec, ISO 1600

So let’s get our bearings and get to know a sunny Aughust Stockholm, who knows after a few days it may all comes back to us just like a classic ABBA song!

A good way to start is always a boat trip under the ridges and around the many islands that make up Stockholm – as it is a tricky place to navigate around, being spread over so many connecting masses.

After that, it’s time for a hot dog, some local beer and a glass of mini sausages in Gamla Stan, old town, just up from the underground station and looking out to the Hilton in Slussen where we have stayed before.

There is always time to fit in a hot dog

This whole area is to change with a major upgrading of the complicated road, rail and boat canal lock that intertwines with the connecting islands and bridges between Gamla Stan and Sodermalm.

Beers with a large dog are essential..... — Beers with a large dog are essential…..

A glass of sausages, overlooking Sodermalm withould the need of a huge coat…

Another feature of Sweden for the weary traveller, is how hard it can be to buy alcohol from a shop – I don’t want to sound like we have a drink problem, but it is very different to the UK in terms of purchasing.

The drink shop - not easy to find! — The drink shop – not easy to find!

The search for alcohol became an important part of the trip, with only two bottles of wine purchased in 7 days, certainly the state run hidden store strategy is working!

OK, time for one of my highlights for the week – a cycle sightseeing tour with bike Sweden

Then it’s the Photografika museum for me

And the Royal Palace and City Hall for Kay

Then meet up and over to Moderna Museet, one of our favourites!

This is a very special museum with a great collection – many pieces I had seen before, especially good to be reunted with Robert Rauschenberg’s sheep – last seen at the Louvre in Paris…

http://www.modernamuseet.se/

A special treat for Anniversary – the ABBA museum

I also got a very special pair of socks….

then a lovely lazy afternoon loving Stockholm, reflecting on this amazing place

You think you know somewhere?

Think again!

Knowing me knowing Stockholm has taught me that here especially. the climate makes Stockholm at least two cities….

I will need to add more comments/links and snaps, but just wanted to get it out there this morning before the next trip …

August 18, 2015August 18, 2015

Anything goes in Gothenburg

Time to move on…Gothenburg beckons, and I am reliably informed that anything goes in Gothenburg.

Anything goes in Gothenburg

let’s find out…

Seemingly my hypothesis is true – this ‘Little London’ cosmopolitan metropolis (compared to sleepy Malmo), would appear to be a veritable den of vibrant celebration, an explosion of cultures and differneces; a celebration of every shape, size and shade of humanity – or is that just the about vodka and bag of nuts that I have had……?

Anything goes in Gothenburg

No it was not just the nuts – this is a crazy place; at least it is so in August, a couple of days here and you will be ready for a rest….

Sweden’s second largest city is a busy bustling one, the harbour and the ocean from the backdrop for a multitude of nautical activity, and there is plenty going on on land as well!

Let’s start with a boat tour – all the guidebooks suggest this is the best way to find your sea-legs, however they don’t tell you go out in a tee-shirt, just as a major weather front is moving in; here is to the first soaking of the trip.

Posh houses along the central canal, from the boat trip

Everyone looks down on you as the low boat passes under the even lower bridges - health and safety look away. — Everyone looks down on you as the low boat passes under the even lower bridges – health and safety look away.

Our guide was very good - she alos had a big coat (unlike us) which came n handy once the rain started. — Our guide was very good – she also had a big coat (unlike us) which came n handy once the rain started.

The sensible people bought a poncho.... — The sensible people bought a poncho….

Hiding under some very low bridges to keep out of the rain... — Hiding under some very low bridges to keep out of the rain…

That rain certainly caught us out!

Time to move on – August is the month of a major cultural festival seemingly all over Sweden

It's quite easy to buy that little something for the party season! — It’s quite easy to buy that little something for the party season!

So it’s time to dress up as a giant crayfish again Gothenburg is not going to miss out!

In August every year there are over 1,200 activities with free admission for all tastes and ages. Streets and squares turning into party places where you can indulge in a rich variety of culture – opera, art, music, carnival, street theater, crafts, theater, literature and film.

The Culture Festival intermingled various cuisines along with international artists and local bands – we got caught up in two events that will stay in the mind for a while….

THE MISSION

Gothenburg Culture Festival will sacrifice an annual party That Contribute to a warmer, more human and fun community. The event’s force attention and strengthens the rich cultural offerings and Helps to Gothenburg and the Västra Götaland region Becomes even more attractive to live and work in and to business. It is the City of Gothenburg and the Västra Götaland behind Gothenburg Culture Festival, along with a range of partners in the municipal, business and other organizations. Project Göteborg & Co.

Firstly we stopped by at the Gothenburg Concert Hall, or to give it the correct title; the Konsthall.

Johan Zetterquist, was in residence – cue some crazy modern art.

born 13 April 1968 in Arvika , ^[ 1 ] Zetterquist is a Swedish artist . He works in Gothenburg and studied at Hovedskou Art School 1988-1989 and at Valand at the University of Gothenburg 1989-1994 ^[ 2 ] .

This is Sweden's first bank-robber, a hero seemingly? — This is Sweden’s first bank-robber, a hero seemingly?

Zetterquist creates among other projects to public works, often in the form of gigantic monuments. The visions are both utopian and dystopian but also irony and humor. Proposals portrayed with great concreteness and precision in a variety of techniques, not least as sculptures and installations. He appears in the joint between the design and installation. ^[ 3 ]

This was an interesting exhibition – Kill the Poor Eat the Rich cerainly hits a cord with me!

poor man’s wall – looks like our back garden

He likes his crosses the other way up... — He likes his crosses the other way up…

He debuted in 1994 at Galleri Rotor in Gothenburg. Since then Zetterqvist had exhibitions both in Sweden and internationally, including at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco , the Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin , Witte de With in Rotterdam , Galerie Rudiger Schöttle in Munich , Julia Friedman Gallery in Chicago , Suite 106 in New York . Along with Staffan Boije of Gennäs curatade he Nordic Darkness on Kristinehamn Art Museum in 2011 ^[ 4 ]

Great work from Göteborgs Konsthall this solo exhibition from Zetterquist is certainly worth a trip!

Next it’s Carnival time!

Some amazing dancing, music and parading through the streets next as the Sunday afternoon carnival gets underway.

OK I got a bit trigger happy with the Kiriaka Drum band – but they were amazing!

What a fantastic place – music, happy people, international food fairs, and a couple of great meals out – Heaven 23 and the French Bistro around the corner – as below

The whole cast from the Poseidon adventure are here….

View from Heaven 23 restraunt – easy to jump when the bill comes

All in all, a lovely town, you can walk safely everywhere, lots of nice bars and things to do.

Haga is also a lovely district to have some lunch and when it’s all too much, just sit back and soak up the multicultural vibe….

Goodbye Gothenburg.

I will be coming back -if they allow me after reading this drivel.

December 7, 2014December 8, 2014

Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como is somewhere in Italy that everyone should visit.

I am going to show this beautiful place to you with some images from a trip I took in the summer of 2013

We spent a week here as part of a rail trip across Europe , that was booked with Great Rail Journeys, all of these photos were taken on my Leica X2, which has now been replaced with something i can’t focus as well!

This was a special trip.

The notes below are from the very good goitaly@aboutguide.com written by Martha Bakerjian

Lake Como, Lago di Como in Italian, is Italy’s most popular lake and also its deepest. Lake Como is shaped like an inverted Y giving it a long perimeter. The lake is surrounded by mountains and hills and dotted with beautiful villas and resort villages. There are good hiking paths, boat trips and water activities. Popular since Roman times, Lake Como is a top romantic travel destination and a great spot for photography.

Lake Como is in the region of Lombardy and is part of the northern Italian Lakes District. It lies between Milan and the border of Switzerland with its southern tip about 40km north of Milan. See location on this Lombardy Map.

Lake Como is a popular weekend destination for people from Milan so the weekdays may be less crowded. July and August are the most crowded months. Spring and Fall are the best times to visit as it is less crowded and the weather is usually pleasant.

anyhow, back to the trip – Lake Como is on the Milan to Switzerland line, and that’s how we arrived, the train stops in the town of Como itself and you can easily drag your cases down onto the lake-front, where there is a tourist office and plenty of hotels; we stayed at the metropole

What a great few days; Lake Como is beautiful, you need to get on a boat and visit the many towns and villages by hopping on and off, taking a picnic and your camera….

I hope you enjoy my snaps!