Thursday Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts – Thankfulness

/ Leya / 33 kommentarer

Camera and binoculars packed – an Easter walk one of these beautiful mornings. The stillness in the air promised some lovely hours in my favorite place.

The old sallow stands waiting for its summer guests again – a different spring for us this year, but not so for the birds. Nature is still out there for us whenever we return.

The giant beech with sweet wood anemones at its feet. A joy that they managed to survive the freezing cold nights we have had for weeks. Down to 8 degrees below zero.

Glorious blackthorn in the sun! They grow everywhere here in the meadows, and I always walk up to the top fields to see them basking in the open air. They Are Sunshine.

Today the farmer was out too – his growling tractor the only sound disturbing the merry flute tones of thrushes, chaffinches and robins.

In April I always walk to the wetlands looking for the first marsh-marigolds. In 2018 many of them were lost because of the heavy drought. This year another blow came from the numerous wild boars. But I found a couple of them. When I was a child I tried to pick some for my grandmother, but alas, I soon learned they drop their petals immediately put in a vase. Grandma’ just smiled, saying they only love the outdoors.

I am so deeply grateful to be allowed to walk in the forest this spring too. I know that this year not all of us have this possibility – but there Will be more opportunities for us to go. We just have to be patient. Mother Nature will open her arms when we arrive.

Stay safe, stay well and stay in contact with each other.

 

 

Thursday Thoughts – Dogs I Met in Tbilisi

/ Leya / 30 kommentarer

Dogs are a big part of my life – and cats too, when I grew up in Sweden. In Tbilisi there were so many cats and dogs – of which I have already featured some here. (Click the links) However, I have many more photos from lovely meetings with friendly dogs and cats. These galleries might give you a hint…of just how many dog citizens there are in Tbilisi.

This big guy was the first one I met, and he was relaxing just on the edge of some steps down to a tunnel under the road. I immediately noticed how well muscled he was and how impressive the thickness of his coat.

I had already learned that they are all vaccinated and friendly. The yellow ear button confirmed this fact.

And yes, the dogs were everywhere…sleeping in the middle of the road or path as well. This one was lying here.

Sleeping styles of different difficulty…

…and everywhere and anywhere. Preferences differed. For the heat, for the cooling down, for the view…I never asked – just guessed.

Some liked to play and some raised a bunch of puppies. Some were just thirsty !

I just loved the Georgian people and their concern for the animals. All dogs were not just vaccinated, but they also had their own lunch bar in Rike Park. At the end of Peace Bridge, you could leave your bottle in this bar and dog food would drizzle down.

A Happy Land for stray dogs – at least during the warmer seasons. We should all be that kind and caring. Clearly the citizens loved their animal friends. Harmony ruled.

And by the way…the dog in the header was the only one on a leash.

Thursday Thoughts – The Need for Light and Colour

/ Leya / 43 kommentarer

I don’t think I am

alone – if I say

I am in great need of

that wonderful Light

and Colour

of Spring

Let us hope it will soon arrive. It is in the air. I feel it coming.

 

Thursday Thoughts – Capital Doubles

/ Leya / 25 kommentarer

While in Stockholm for a couple of hours between trains, I had to make the most of it…merging some of the famous buildings together in one image .

Fotografiska is a great place to be – this time exhibiting my favorite Erik Johansson again! As you are not allowed to take any photos, or at least not sending them via internet…

I decided to have some fun outside while walking. How about two amusements parks instead of one? I guess Gröna Lund fans wouldn’t mind!

In ”Chaos” I used one of my best attempts from Stockholm railway station – here is another one. A multitasking transport system?

Anyway I had great fun…but I can assure you I went by a single, ordinary train home to Skåne again.

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday Thoughts – Pieces of Stockholm

/ Leya / 25 kommentarer

On my way home from Umeå, I had a few hours of waiting in Stockholm. I seldom visit our beautiful capital, so I took a brisk walk through Old Town and visited Fotografiska – the museum of Photography. A treat of course.

I posted some photos from Old Town and Vasa Bridge for Wordless Wednesday. And the dog in the window of course… At Slussen, The Lock, they were waiting for the new bridge to arrive from China – ”Guldbron”, the Golden Bridge”.  I heard it arrived yesterday.

Standing outside Fotografiska, this is the view of ”Gröna Lund” , the big amusement park.

And in the other direction – The City Hall and the two biggest churches, Riddarholmskyrkan and Storkyrkan.

I feel I really should visit more often…

 

Thursday Thoughts – Umeå Again!

/ Leya / 39 kommentarer

Last weekend I went to Umeå with my son – to visit the daughter/sister. We all love this city, and its famous white birches. We hoped to have some fun in each other’s company, and to finally get some winter. As you can understand we got more winter than down in Skåne – but not much snow. Usually they have 75 – 100 cm. Too much jumping temperatures this winter, rain and snow taking turns. We did some tough walking!

We were lucky with the weather though – sun and temperatures between – 14C and – 3C.

Naturally we had to go to the big game shop with every game you can think of – we bought some new ones with us home. The evenings were filled with laughter and fun while playing – or trying to understand the new rules…

And, we went to the movies to see Parasite. All of us agreed it was worthy of every Oscar it got. I do recommend watching it – clever and entertaining, thrilling and fun. Really Something Else! Be prepared – the ending is a Tarantino one.

As always we visited the famous book cafe’ from where our most prestigious TV program on cultural events is sent. As we all love this place – I could not resist getting the most out of the visit by merging two of the rooms into one…

…and the bicycle, standing in another window in another room!

I hope you had some fun too, reading about our adventures. Just being together is a great joy, and playing board games is a wonderful way of using your spare time!

 

Thursday Thoughts – The Cats of Kotor

/ Leya / 19 kommentarer

Kotor has got one of the best preserved medieval Old Towns in the Adriatic and is a double Unesco World Heritage Site. No sun when we visited, but still beautiful –

Kroatien Bosnien Herzegovina 590-2

When you visit this old town, you will immediately notice how many cats there are… Lonely Planet even goes so far as featuring Kotor in their Top 10 destinations for cat lovers! So, the Venetian Lion, symbol of the city, has more or less been replaced by a smaller variety – a stray cat.

Today they have dedicated an open square to the cats, and made small houses for them to stay in the park. Even with free WiFi…

The attitude towards cats is said to have developed from folklore, with the Montenegrin people holding the belief that cats saved the town of Kotor. It is reported that in 1918, during the revolt from the Austro-Hungarian navy, the Slav sailors would bring their ships into The Bay of Kotor, and with them, also their cats.

Kotor in those days was plagued by lots of mice, rats and snakes, and the various diseases those animals brought. Thus it became a blessing to have the cats there, to protect the town. And that is why cats have become a symbol of good luck for Montenegro.

Walking through the narrow lanes, I did try to find a dog or two…but the only sign (!) of one was – MILO. My own dog – it’s just that this Milo was a restaurant…

Thursday Thoughts – Off – season

/ Leya / 32 kommentarer

There are many advantages to go on vacation off – season, and we often do. If you do a bit of research on the regional climate before you go, you might have a quiet, beautiful and less stressful visit than during the tourist season. If you are like me – one who doesn’t need to lie on the beach, but prefer quiet walks in beautiful and interesting surroundings – this is a good way to go. And of course, the price-tag is more favourable. Naturally, it is also easier if you are retired, and don’t have to rely on special vacation weeks.

Three weeks before Christmas, we went to the Balkans – and had a great week in one of the otherwise most tourist swarmed places in Europe. We were lucky with the weather, and enjoyed our trip immensely. Good food and many historic places – and peacefulness.

Taking a boat trip is almost always a good thing, to get special views of the city or country you are visiting. In the off – season there are always free seats…

kroatien-bosnien-herzegovina-538-2.jpg

No elbows on deck and no lost photos  – or cameras…You feel like you are the only person there. And the boat was even made just for you…to relax and enjoy your stay.

This little islet, Sveti Stefan, is a world famous place – a place for movie stars and celebrities, all nationalities. Many famous people stay at this 5-star hotel resort for a while, to enjoy the company of other stars and the exclusiveness of living away from Hollywood or wherever you belong. It is situated on the Adriatic coast of Montenegro.

Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Ingemar Stenmark, and Kirk Douglas are some of the well known people who have visited the islet. As you can see, the windows are closed, and there is nobody there this time of the year.

So, if you love solitude more than elbowing, don’t need hot beaches and want a neat price tag, you might give it a try!

Off – season is the way to go – at least for me.

 

 

Thursday Thoughts – Glimpses of Modern Tbilisi

/ Leya / 22 kommentarer

More of Tbilisi, Georgia – there is, of course, a modern part of it as well…even if that was not the main reason for my visit!

Strolling the busy streets, I looked through the windows of different restaurants and shops – and saw this fantastic wallpaper, with lamps in an oval shape.

The overall photo sits last in this gallery – there you will find the first three of these architectural wonders – more facts in the pictures.

A would be Concert hall – empty interior, all the money spent on the exterior. See the header!
Peace Bridge – or ”Always ultra”, beacause of its likeness to a sanitary towel…see the overall, last photo in this gallery.

This passage was filled with murals and graffiti – too narrow to get a good shot though…

Out in the street again

I just had to go back for a closer look at the wallpaper – fascinating history become art? Anyway – I just loved it. It covered the whole interior, quite a large room. I would love to have a piece of it framed on my wall. So many different faces – Please click to enlarge – and you get the feeling!