Maeght

Another two days have passed in Nice (and elsewhere of course :) Yesterday we took another car-free day. The plan was to go shopping, which we did but we didn't find anything. Nice doesn't really have any fun shops in my opinion, unless you can afford the Louis Vuitton streak or want to stock up on Provencian fabric (which I don't find that pretty) or herbs. But I don't mind just strolling the streets, looking at architecture or people. In the evening I took a bath with Isolde for the first time (we don't have a tub at home but in our new flat we will!), which we both enjoyed. After that the whole family chilled on the sofa where Isolde has occupied one corner.

Today we made a short journey to another pretty mountain village, St-Paul-de-Vence, where we also visited the modern art museum Fondation Maeght. It's considered one of the world's finest art museums but since I'm not too fond of modern art and it's a small museum, I thought it wasn't worth 14 euros. On the other hand it's a cool building and it's amazing that two art dealers collected so much to open a museum (or gallery). And it's famous artists of course; Chagall, Miró, Giacometti et al. It's a cool building as well. So it's nice to have seen it. To tick it on the check list.

For Isolde it was her first visit to an art museum. She found the milk bottle display of course (her parents did not stage the photo at all, no...).

Via Anna's iPhone

Terracotta

Last Saturday (a week ago) we went to see the exhibition of China's Terracotta Army (well, 8 or so soldiers get to represent the 8,000 men strong army) at the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities. In retrospect, even if we had pre-purchased tickets and didn't have to queue for very long to get in, we should not have picked a Saturday, as it took ages (an hour) to fight the crowds inside. The old military bunker (or shelter) underneath the regular museum where they've housed the exhibition is a great facility for such occasions (including disabled as well as pram access) but they could chosen a much better layout. All soldiers were facing to the right (I wonder if the Chinese have required that?) so even if there was space to walk on both sides of the glass boxes everyone (of course) wanted to walk on the right. There were information boards on both sides though, with different information, so there was a lot of zig-zagging and cutting "the queue"*. That said, I'm glad I went, especially since I doubt I will make it over to the real thing in China any time soon. Isolde happily slept through her first ever museum visit.













* I'm amazed how some people seem so oblivious to people around them. One example is when they walk up to an information poster and stand right in front of three other people, who out of courtesy to others have left some space in between them and the poster to allow more people to read at the same time.

Ice Art

NB! Not my bike, mine is safely stored in the building's bike room

Via Anna's iPhone

Meet Our New Prince Continued

The exhibition in Fältöversten that I wrote about last week didn't go unnoticed among the population in Östermalm. It generated several letters to the local paper Östermalmsnytt*

A few voices:

"Save us from the embarassment of Daniel Westling exhibitions!"

"Now we wish a similar photo exhibition with Princess Madeleine and Jonas Bergström. Think he's much more 'prince-like' and gives glamour to the royal family for us old royalists and readers."

"Not fun, tired of him. Let is have Jonas and Madeleine instead, they are more glamour!"

"No, no, no. Would prefer Jonas Bergström."

"About the exhibition: Embarassing and completely unnecessary for all except Svensk damtidning. How come?"

I feel bad for Daniel! Now I almost feel that the exhibition was a good thing! Good for him and well done for catching a Princess, and a genuinely nice and smart one too! What the royal family needs is not more glamour but a touch of normalcy and every-day Swedish life. And Daniel can provide, has provided, that more than Jonas would / has I think.**

But turns out the artsy spotlight on Daniel isn't over just yet. I read in the two main Swedish broadsheets (so reliable sources I guess) that Liljewalch Gallery is planning*** an "Avenue of Love" along Strandvägen in the honour of the newlyweds. Liljewalch's will ask famous Swedish authors to write love poems. These will then be recorded by actors and actresses and played through speakers placed along the avenue. Well...okay... And if there is funding the newlyweds will also be able to admire a bronze church in the water outside the Opera House.

What happened to the usual paraphernalia around royal weddings, you know, China with a photo of the bride and groom, stamps, etc.? Maybe the exhibition in Fältöversten was rather tasteful after all...

Image from Scanpix / Dagensnyheter.se

* Free paper that is distributed to everyone, i.e. no subscription needed.
** Jonas is a nice guy too I'm sure but you know what I mean.
*** May not actually happen; just an idea at this stage.

Show & Tell: Autumn

Time for Erica's fourth theme of the month, Autumn, or specifically: Autumn is here. What are "autumn feelings" for you? What is best/worst with autumn?

I really love autumn! Well, I love all seasons equally! :) I think there is something special with each season. Autumn is so beautiful, much more beautiful than spring and early summer, even if there's something special about those new, soo green leaves in the spring too.

I went to a relative's funeral the other day (one of those very sad ones because she was taken from this world much too early) and the priest said something memorable, beautiful and true at the same time: If death was the end, why would nature show itself in full splendor when it is dying?!

I don't mind the gradually descending darkness either. Sure, on some days, especially this week when it's been either grey and raining or just plain grey EVERY day, it's not that fun - and that is what is worst with this season - but I don't mind the cold or the shorter days. Instead I think about how I can make it cosy with candles (and a burning fire, if we had had a fireplace...) and start looking forward to winter and snow! I know, I'm weird! :)

Today the weather was at its autumn worst but at least it wasn't raining. So I went on a walk to shoot some pictures for this post.

Autumn walk on a October day

Erik Dahlbergsvägen which runs parallel to my street

Some flowers are still going strong

Some of the trees in the Tessin Park are still rather green

The Kaknäs Tower fits in well in the autumn splendor

Some trees don't seem to turn orange or red at all but a light yellow (this is the path past the Chinese Embassy down towards the Djurgård canal)

Along the canal

I like the difference between the grey stones and the orange leaves

View through the reed towards Skansen open-air museum and park

If I had brought some hot chocolate with me I could have taken a rest here!

This turned out blurry but I like it anyway! I wanted to show you one of the red trees I saw on my walk - otherwise most were yellow or orange.

Near the end of my walk - the eastern stretch of Strandvägen near the Djurgård bridge

Oscar Church on Narvavägen is a favourite of mine (though I have actually never been inside it - should go and visit it some day)

And back home from my walk; our newest piece of art, an autumn view from Madrid, acquired from the Salvation Army shop for 30 euros

The Fun Theory

US Road Trip 2009: Sneak Peak

Holiday photos coming soon! Promise!

In the meantime, see how forward-thinking Leonardo and his fellow sculptors were back in the day! They could imagine the existence of mobile phones and text messaging!



P.S. It's a cross she's holding, but doesn't it look like a mobile phone?!

Show & Tell: On the Buffet Table

Musikanta's second theme is tasty and easily prepared dishes for the buffet table. I thought I'd be a little creative with the theme and show some artistic food creations that I received in a forward from my mum.

Beautiful

Suicidal?


Thirsty?






So cute!






My favourite








Like this one too

Cool