Strange things this week…It all started out so well…but these are my memories …
…in my ordinary Blekinge again. Don’t we all have crazy dreams sometimes…?
We were so fortunate to get a guided tour at Tullstorp, the world famous dressage stable run by Jan Brink. Situated only fifteen kilometres from where we live, this was a fantastic opportunity for a look into another world.
As a young boy Jan Brink played hockey in his home village, but as all the young girls were hanging at the stable, he gave the horses a chance…In some months he was hooked, and this was to be his future career. He studied at Flyinge and in Germany for some years, and then went for an international career.
Jan Brink is one of the best riders in the world and a seven-time Swedish dressage champion – five times on the number one dressage horse Björsell’s Briar.
Brink has won five medals in international championships, and in 2005 he was the first Swede to win the dressage championship in Aachen.
Jan Brink is a self-made man, and unbelievably hard working. Going for shampionships, educating new horses and riders – and top class horse breeding serving customers all over the world. According to him, having talent is far from enough – you must be prepared to work hard and go for your dreams.
The magnificent Tullstorp was built by a humble man, and a perfectionist – Jan Brink. Every detail in harmony.
The dressage arena…in late evening light. Thank you, Jan, for a magnificent tour!
Walks for Cee – Indoor favourites are churches or monastery aisles, and outdoor walks should, if possible, include flowers…
Spain in the header and from the Acores – one of my favourite walks. For more favourites, click here.
Vandring med hortensia och montbresia som sällskap
A nice lunch at the restaurant and then a stroll in the beautiful surroundings was perfect for my mother’s 81st birthday.
We were lucky with the weather…
…and with roses and poppies as well.
The conservatory has been restored over the years, and is now a building used for exhibitions as well as wedding ceremonies.
Inside is a cool, white dream.
My mother was happy today – and so were we.
Close encounters…with animals. First, my kite, who unfortunately did not make it in the end. Then, a dog I met in the Retiro Park, Madrid.
Lastly, look at Totti’s face when he had a close encounter with one of his first puppies – priceless.
Inget galler! Hu, vad är det här?
Neutral colours in a neutral Moroccan landscape…go look for details at Ailsa’s!
When I go abroad, I try to visit at least one school – if possible. I guess we all like to see how our own profession works in other parts of the world. In Morocco my visit was to an abandoned school – but still it was very interesting.
The Ben Youssef Madrasa was an Islamic college in Marrakesh, Morocco, named after the sultan Ali ibn Yusuf (reigned 1106–1142), who expanded the city and its influence considerably. It is the largest Medrasa in Morocco, and lies totally embedded in the city. There was nothing to reveal its true looks from the outside.
The college was founded in the 14th century, and its 130 student dormitory cells cluster around the courtyard, richly carved in cedar, marble and Moroccan style stucco.
The pool is the wash basin – elaborately decorated in marble tiles. I wonder how several hundred students were organized to perform this ceremony? Every day?
As required by Islam, the carvings contain no representation of humans or animals, and consist entirely of inscriptions and geometric patterns.
This madrasa was one of the largest theological colleges in North Africa and may have housed as many as 900 students. Hard to understand from what we could see of the size.
The students’ cells were all on the first floor, and richly decorated corridors led to each dorm.
These beautiful doors opened up to the courtyard, and the student living here could see across the yard to the student on the other side. The cells were very small, maybe 9 square metres, and most of them had no windows at all.
The college was still alive and working when I was born, but closed down in 1960. The madrasa was refurbished and reopened to the public as an historical site in 1982.
Those who lived and worked here were surrounded by beauty…but I wonder where all those students went when it closed down…? And, would I have loved to study here – inside this spectacular work of art? Would you?
If I were to chose one picture, only, to represent my visit to Marrakesh and the Medina, it would be the one in the header. Colourful, hot and filled with scents. Then, there is of course the multitude of people…here we go!
I loved our little street. Behind the typical pink walls, we had to walk endless tiny streets and alleys to get to our Riad (Moroccan mansion) . But there was no stress, a calm and friendly atmosphere – and no ”special guides” trying to make money out of us.
Just the everyday life going on…young and old, working or relaxing in the shadow.
On our way to the Souks, the principal shopping attraction in the city, I felt a bit worried about how I would cope with it. I do not like haggling, so I had already decided not to buy anything. My husband has visited Marrakesh at least three times before, and had also warned me that we soon would be ”kidnapped” by ”local guides”. (And so we were…)
Marrakesh has the largest traditional Berber market in Morocco, and the souk area has been compared to a micro-medina in itself, where it is absolutely essential to get lost…
But once you’re inside though, the feeling of One Thousand and One Nights ( Arabian Nights), or Aladdin, immediately comes to mind…and if you take a closer look at my gallery photos – I’m rather sure I was caught in the middle of …a treasure chest transport!
Historically the souks of Marrakesh were divided into retail areas for particular goods such as leather, carpets, metalwork and pottery. We could roughly see these divisions still, but rather overlaped. Many of the souks sell items like carpets and rugs, clothes, leather bags, and lanterns. Argan oil is popular everywhere.
After a hectic day it is a blessing to come back to our quiet Riad for a delicious Tagine (A specialty of the city and the symbol of its cuisine. We had a local tajine prepared with beef meat, spices and ”smen” and slow-cooked in a traditional oven in hot ashes. )
Then finishing the evening with a slow walk on the roof top. In silence…
…before going to sleep.
Is it because of…
…or because of
or maybe because of…
my longing for a Knight in Shining Armour…
or at least a handsome knight… in any armour!
It might also be for the fair ladies and a love of horses…
…or for the spectacular jousting – and its Swedish Champions!
I do believe my love for this consists of all these things…and then, nothing beats the Hovdala Castle …
and its surroundings.
Its name comes from a Berber phrase meaning ”without noise” or ”without confusion”. Ouarzazate is also nicknamed The door of the desert, and the city is capital of Ouarzazate Province of south-central Morocko. To the south of the town is only desert.
The area is well known for its many prominent kasbahs, and nowadays a noted film-making location, with Morocco’s biggest film studios.
Many famous movies have at least some scenes shot here, such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Gladiator (2000) and Kingdom of Heaven (2005), as was part of the TV series Game of Thrones.
The arena in the movie Gladiator was right here in this open space, behind the people and their banner.
Ait Benhaddou was originally an old karavan station between Marrakesh and the Sahara Desert. Astonishingly beautiful, traditionally built of clay, straw and dirt.
Today, we can admire the old kasbah in the movies – only four families still live here permanently. The rest of the great kasbah is left to fall apart – but a first class tourist attraction.
Leya 
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