Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts – Cafe Leyla

/ Leya / 19 kommentarer

All grey and drizzle today, just like the last 6 weeks here in Skåne.  My thoughts wander to the lovely Cafe Leyla in Tbilisi. Let’s peep inside!

This place will surprise you with a healthy dining experience: they serve only village – grown, non – GMO and seasonal products.

Try some of their honey and apple homemade vodkas – they taste just like the cafe looks!

Sweet people will take good care of you – and the food is delicious.

The interior design is Oriental, and just like I want it – no loud music. Only people silently talking and discussing. If you ever visit Tbilisi, be sure to go to Leyla´s when your bones need a rest and your eyes need a refreshed view and your stomach says ”feed me”. It’s lovely to sit outdoors as well.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #72 – Waiting

/ Leya / 65 kommentarer

This week Amy asks us to contemplate Waiting – something all of us have to learn early in life. How do You look upon it? Here is something from my way of thinking – quite literally, Waiting…and some quotes to go with it.

In the header, one of my favorite ladies – even if she is not a Real Lady-in-Waiting…

The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.

– Eden Phillpotts

And while we are waiting for that to happen…

Some things are waiting for their proper owners…

Some people are waiting for proper leaders to lead…

There is no great achievement that is not the result of patient working …

…and waiting.

– J. G. Holland

All things come to him who waits – provided he knows what he is waiting for.

– Woodrow T. Wilson

The worst part of life is waiting. The best part of life is to have someone worth waiting for. 

– Unknown

And sure enough even waiting will end…if you can just wait long enough.

– William Faulkner

Finally –

On climate change, we often don’t fully appreciate that it is a problem. We think it is a problem waiting to happen.

– Kofi Annan

Thank you All for last week’s Creepy creeps! ( – tough sleeping this whole week…) So very creative and diverse posts! We never imagined the world could be so full of creepiness!

If you wait for tomorrow, tomorrow comes. If you don’t wait for tomorrow, tomorrow comes.

Senegalese Proverb

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Coast

/ Leya / 31 kommentarer

For Frank this week – Coast.

In the header – Spain, north west coast.

Ostia Antica, Italy

Scotland

Off the coast of Ecuador, Galapagos

Sweden

Iceland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday Thoughts – Tbilisi, A Feast for the Eye

/ Leya / 38 kommentarer

Because of its location on the crossroads between Europe and Asia, and its proximity to the Silk Road, Tbilisi has kept its interest to various global powers. Tbilisi’s diverse history is reflected in its architecture, which is a mix of medieval, neoclassical, Beaux Arts, Art Nouveau, Stalinist and the Modern structures. Only one visit will not be enough to seek out all its secrets.

Historically, Tbilisi has been home to people of multiple cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. You will find Mosques, Churches and Cathedrals side by side, and the people live in peace together.

Walking in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, is a walk filled with wonders and harmony. At least if you love architecture, open minded and smiling people, and gentle cats and dogs.

The first thing to learn, is never to pass a gate or a narrow passage without having a look inside. Just quietly walk in, the laundry lady will just smile and give you a nod.

You will always be greatly rewarded. Colours and harmony rules.

And the doors…I know of many who would swoon at the very sight of only one street…

Old iron gates and wooden balconies are characteristic of Tbilisi. I think I have hundreds of balcony images – maybe I will post some more …I cannot get enough of them.

Our first day in the city, we wanted to climb to the medieval Narikala Fortress, to get the best view of the city and the Kura river.

The city’s 1.5 million inhabitants were seeking the shades this hot day, and it really took some effort to walk all those steps. But every minute was a joy, stopping now and then to admire the view and for talking to all the lovely people.

Everywhere being inspected by the friendly cats and dogs of course…

On reaching a bench in the shadow, we had a Swedish ”fika”, admiring the view of the newer part of Tbilisi, the Sioni Cathedral and the Holy Trinity Cathedral.

In the header is the view of Old Tiflis (Old Tbilisi) and the new Peace Bridge reaching over the river Kura.

From the fortress and the slopes of the Botanical Gardens, we finished our first views of this charming and enigmatic city. Hopefully you will want to walk with me again – this is a city filled with art, gentle inhabitants and gorgeous food and wine. A Pearl of cities.

Another Masterpiece – Chernobyl

/ Leya / 21 kommentarer

“We are dealing with something that has never occurred on this planet”

My husband and son just returned from Chernobyl last week – very taken with the 2 day tour and all the haunting sights. We all watched this series together this week. If you have not seen it yet – please do.

Among my friends, I have one of the first men who detected and reported the heightened radiation level in Sweden. He still remembers the chills along his spine in that moment. And I remember well when we all got the information from media. (The reindeer up north were forbidden food for many years after…) In February the same year, Olof Palme was murdered…Was this the beginning of the end of the world?

On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, Soviet Union suffered a massive explosion that released radioactive material across Belarus, Russia and Ukraine and as far as Scandinavia and western Europe. Chernobyl dramatizes the story of the 1986 accident, one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history, and the sacrifices made to save Europe from the unimaginable disaster.

The number of lives lost are estimated to somewhere between 4000 and 93000. The official number from Russia is 31.

 

It recieved  a total of 10 Emmy Awards. Brilliant acting and as we all know – reality is more chilling than fiction. You cannot stop watching…despite the horrible scenes.

Craig Mazin and Johan Renck have created a masterpiece, in large part on the recollections of Pripyat locals, as told by Belarusian Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich in her book Voices from Chernobyl. Material also from the scientist Valery Legasov (superbly played by Jared Harris), the deputy director of the Kuchatov Institute brought in to aid cleanup efforts.

Watch it.

Contemplate the future, and the cost of lies.

 

 

A Masterpiece – Good Omens

/ Leya / 28 kommentarer

Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett wrote Good Omens, released 1990, when my daughter was born. So I missed out on it then. This summer my daughter and son made me read it, and we have watched the 6 piece adventure streamed from Amazon.

I simply LOVE it! The way I loved Narnia and JRR Tolkiens masterpiece about the Ring. But this one is hilariously funny as well. My student’s were more or less forced to read Gaiman’s books, but I was less into Pratchett.  But now – I have to read him as well. This series is a tribute to Pratchett from Gaiman.

I totally fell in love with the series – with a master cast (Cumberbatch, Jacobi, Richardson, etc.) …and Queen’s music. Michael Sheen and David Tennant – they could not have chosen a more suitable pair for the leading parts of Aziraphale the angel and Crowley the demon.

For 6000 years they have known each other, and have come to love us humans…with all our faults and errors…so when Armageddon is nigh, they have an agreement to save the world together.  No matter what their ”bosses” say.  And important roles for the outcome are played by young children – at the age of 11. (When I grew up, they said 11 was a crucial age. You will see how…). A timely novel and movie indeed!

Now, just enjoy this, my favourite fan youtube clip – with Belinda Carlisle’s hit from my younger days: Heaven is A Place on Earth!

Thursday Thoughts – Water, Harbour and Water Games

/ Leya / 17 kommentarer

I thought I would post something of the lovely waters from Stettin/Szczecin, Poland.

We went there for a week with Viveka of My Guilty Pleasures – so she has got some splendid views from our visit!

No guide beats Viveka – and when it comes to restaurants and food…

Nothing compares to U – Wivi!

The harbour tour we had to do on our own, because Viveka was not feeling well this day.

And when walking back to our apartment, we watched some of the water games. Skilled guys, and the high diving was spectacular. Look at the bridge shot and you will find a girl diving – just below the bridge, head first. Wonder how high it was – I could not find any facts on it.

We enjoyed our stay immensely – wonderful people, city, fireworks, games, food. And company! Festivities for two days. Not expensive either – to be recommended! Poland never disappoints – and neither does Viveka. Thank you for taking us!