In Spring, we usually go to the southernmost part of Sweden, for the apple trees and for the charm of the old villages.
And, for the sea – we seldom see the sea and this is a brilliant opportunity to enjoy it. No tourists! This beach is totally closed since some 5 years now because climate change has made the sea sweep away the sand and the banks around the bay. Some houses fall down into the water.
This time we decided to visit an old village that was moved from its original place because of new building plans. The typical houses were placed along a new village road, but kept their charm – and some their thatched roofs as well.
The village is called Knäbäckshusen, and such a name is easily remembered…
We also drove into some neighbouring villages, there are plenty of old fishing villages along this coast. Here I totally fell in love with this pink house. maybe you did too?
We had a lovely outing, and finished it off with Glimmingehus, the best-preserved medieval stronghold in Scandinavia. Never rebuilt.
Built in 1499 by the Danish knight Jens Holgersen Ulfstand, it worked as a luxurious house as well as an advanced fortification. We went here with my class when I was a child, and I can still recall how cold it was inside those walls…so now we stayed outside.
Some facts: the walls are up to 2,5 m. thick, the building is 30 meters long and 26 meters high. It has details made by the well kown German sculptor Adam van Düren. For more: http://www.glimmingehus.se
On our way home – we loved seeing the typical flat landscape of Österlen, the colouful fields and the blue sky with cotton clouds. Mountains and hills are lovely, but this too is beautiful – in its own way.
I want to paint the rest of my days with the best colors.
― Debasish Mridha
Ritva asks us to select one color (excluding black and white), and share a maximum of 6 photos where our chosen color is the prominent hue, or alternatively, you may share one photo featuring each of the following captivating colors in their various shades: red, blue, green, purple, orange, and yellow.
I am cheating…I hope Ritva forgives me for choosing my favourite colours only – but in 6 photos!
Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.
– Pedro Calderón de la Barca
There is no doubt that green is my favourite colour. To me, spring brings life back to us, revitalising, we are bathing in Mother Nature’s lush greenery. I am surrounded by green in my garden, in my home, in my daily forest walks.
In fact, I am beginning to wonder how I will survive a move to a place without a garden…Hopefully in the far future.
”How lovely yellow is! It stands for the sun.”
– Vincent van Gogh
Yellow and orange are lively and uplifting colours. If I tweak it a bit, there is a hint of red here as well. This yellow foxtail lily shines intensely in the shadow of a tree.
A certain blue enters your soul
– Henri Matisse
We have blue all around us on this planet Earth…every season has its own shade or tint. Ice on my glass house windows shows spectacular patterns.
All the other colors are just colors, but purple seems to have a soul—when you look at it, it’s looking back at you.
— Uniek Swain
Purple – irresistible Wisteria! Our visit to Japan made me plant four new Wisterias in my garden.
A big thank you to Anne for the Texture challenge last week! The diversity in your posts provided us with both inspiration and awe – I felt like going out with my camera for even more textures… Next week, it will be Egídio’s turn to lead us, so be sure to visit his beautiful site for more creative ideas.
We had read much about Rovos Rail, and dreamt of making this trip as a once in a lifetime event. In February this year, 2026, we finally did. We are not getting younger – so, we are happy we made it.
Founded in 1989 by Rohan Vos, Rovos Rail began as a hobby-turned-business, transforming antique carriages into a premier luxury train experience, the ”Pride of Africa.” The company, based in Pretoria, restores historic coaches to operate opulent, vintage, and multi-day journeys across Southern Africa, serving destinations like Cape Town, Victoria Falls, and Dar es Salaam.
We were lucky to pull into his private station – and get a guided tour- from Mr. Rohan Vos himself! (He turned 80 this March )We learned that he is usually greeting his travellers with a handshake, every one of them, when they step off the train in Pretoria. And he did this time as well. It was an honour to meet this gentleman.
When reading the history of the company, I wasn’t surprised that it was a combination of influences and events that led to the purchase of the first coach, the start of what would become Rovos Rail. A Wilbur Smith heroine with her own private railway coach, a man called Phil Acutt with a passion for trains and the presence of the Witbank Steam Railway in the coal-mining town where Rohan Vos ran his successful auto spares business, all played a part.
According to his wife, Anthea Vos, Rohan had always been obsessed with things mechanical. “In fact, he started his first business with the capital derived from the sale of a 1940 Packard and a 1928 Austin that he had rebuilt. Rohan was involved in so many ventures, but I didn’t see this one coming.”
The train is a dream from days gone by, an era well restored – no phones, wifi, radio or TV. Meticulously handmade details for every coach. Rohan pointed out that of all the things he had done, he was most proud of the workers who made every piece in his Pretoria factory. He had picked them out himself ”from the street” and taught them how to restore and build the trains.
We were served delicious food every meal, every day – I hadn’t thought of the problem of not getting any walks or excercise…but we struggled along the narrow corridors through 17 coaches twice a day. Getting bruised arms against the handrails as the train was moving.
The observation car and its outdoor ”deck”.
The farewell gifts in our suite.
To understand this kind of man, we should listen to his wife! (As always,,,) In 1985, Rohan and Anthea took up a last-minute invitation on a Magaliesberg train trip for business suppliers. “I became a train widow on that day,” said Anthea. “I sat all dressed up by myself; Rohan spent most of the time in the engine with the driver. The irony was that we should have seen then how difficult it would be – the train broke down and we were bussed back to town.”
Despite all the obstacles and difficulties: “Consisting of a locomotive and seven carriages, the train was launched on 29 April 1989, and with four paying passengers, friends and press we set off for the Eastern Transvaal. So, with a four-night Lowveld experience and in 1991 the Pretoria to Cape Town run, the business began to find direction.
1985–1986 (The Idea): Rohan Vos, a car spares businessman, conceived of restoring a private train carriage for family holidays with his wife, Anthea.
1987–1989 (Development): The hobby grew into a business, acquiring old SAR coaches and steam locomotives, notably naming them after their children: Brenda, Bianca, Tiffany, and Shaun.
1989 (Launch): On April 29, 1989, the first train, with seven carriages and four paying passengers, was launched to the Eastern Transvaal.
1990s (Growth): Despite early financial struggles, the company expanded. The iconic Pretoria-to-Cape Town trip was established in 1991.
2000s–Present: The company added Rovos Air (2001) for fly-safaris, acquired the Shongololo Express (2016), and continues to operate as a premier, family-owned luxury train company.
Key Facts & Operations:
The Fleet: Rovos Rail owns steam locos dating back to 1893, alongside diesel/electric engines for longer trips, maintaining a strict, pre-war, and colonial-era aesthetic.
The Experience: Trains carry a maximum of 72 passengers in fully restored wood-paneled suites and feature a signature observation car at the rear.
Base: The company runs its own workshops and station at Capital Park in Pretoria, which serves as the hub of operations.
Anne leads us this week, with an interesting challenge: Texture. She says texture gives us the visual quality of a surface — how rough, smooth, gritty, or soft it appears in a two-dimensional image. Please go to her beautiful site for brilliant guidance!
I decided to use photos from our trip to Africa this February – a continent of many textures, both in animals, plants and landscape.
In this gallery I hope to have gathered a variey of African textures, mainly in animals. I hope you can ”feel” them! (Even if you may not really want to…)
Show us your images where texture plays an integral part. I think you will find they are more frequent than you thought! When you share your post, please remember to link it to Anne’s original post and use the Lens-Artists tag.
Last week I had great fun seeing your pairings with pictures and quotes! Many I had never seen before and many recognized but with new surprising combos. Thanks you to all who participated! Next week Ritva will be presenting the challenge. A visit to her site is always rewarding – In the meantime, stay safe and be kind!
Leya 
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