Thursday Thoughts

15 september, 201615 september, 2016 / Leya / 48 kommentarer

Tonight I got a message on my phone. I had submitted these two photos to The Nordic Photo Club some weeks ago. It is The Princess of The Night (Selenicereus pteranthus) flowering for some short night hours, 27th of August – the magical scent filling the whole house. The flower itself is about 20 cm. This year I was better prepared and could set the light right.

Last year it developed one flower, and this year it gave two. My post from last year is here.

The message on my phone was, that one of these pictures had won Medal of Excellence and will be published in the book Photos of the Year for 2016. Am I happy? I Am!

Thursday Thoughts: Cool Indoors – Guggenheim, Bilbao

9 september, 20169 september, 2016 / Leya / 9 kommentarer

Unfortunately we were not allowed to take photos of the exhibitions – except the Andy Warhol one. The permanent collection ”A Matter of Time” by Richard Serra, I took photos there before realizing this – but I will have to keep them to myself on my computer…

This morning promised the same kind of heat as the day before, but we went early to catch some more photos from the surroundings as well.

A clash of new and old but very much of the new.

A walk up the steps and a

tour around the building once more

Almost 20 years ago this museum for modern and contemporary art was inaugurated, and I have wanted to visit ever since I read about it many years ago. Arkitect: Frank Gehry

The entrance hall is impressive. The exhibitions are just as many as you manage without getting exhausted. Not many great museums can boast that…Le Louvre or Prado or Reina Sofia for example, are not easy to visit properly in one single day.

When you walk out of the elevator and look down, you are even more impressed.

A totally unprecedented visit. If possible, just go there and enjoy!

Thursday Thoughts – (To me…) Unknown Artists

1 september, 20161 september, 2016 / Leya / 18 kommentarer

There are times…when you come across things you never had expected, things magical…like the artwork of Petras Repšys.

Repšys is a graphic artist and monumentalist, born in Šiauliai, Lithuania, in 1940. In 1960 – 1967 he studied graphics at the Lithuanian State Institute of Art, and since 1967 he has participated in various exhibitions at home as well as abroad. His works embrace engravings, book and applied graphics, book-plates, easel painting, frescos, sculptures, and medals.

The University of Vilnius displays his fresco ”The Seasons of the Year” (painted in 1976-1984) with motifs from Baltic mythology at the Centre of Lithuanian Studies. This is the absolute highlight of the University visit – and maybe of the whole trip to Vilnius.

Please notice all the little figures trapped in the ”frames”themselves – or in between. Climbing, holding things together, connecting …or just watching. Fascinating.

Thursday Thoughts – A Yellow Anatomy

25 augusti, 201626 augusti, 2016 / Leya / 10 kommentarer

Yes, why yellow walls? Driving through the north of Spain, I recognized this almost saffron colour on a great many walls in the cities and villages.

Personally, I love this colour. Its warmth and connection to Africa and to the desert.

In Pamplona I found this enormous Lion on such a yellow wall – Impressive painting, and so in harmony with all that yellow. On a closer look, I found the painting even more impressive.

I still do not know why those walls are painted saffron yellow, but at least I have figured out what the colour is hiding…

…the anatomy of what once was.

Thursday Thoughts – The Beach

18 augusti, 201622 augusti, 2016 / Leya / 36 kommentarer

Sometimes strange things happen…like a jigsawpuzzle everything just fits in, and you experience a picture you thought you would never see…

…or be able to walk into. This happened to us this July, on the north coast of Spain. We had booked a hotel for the night, and had checked our guide books as usual – nothing special here in Santiago de Reinante…

But, I got a hint from a leaflet I saw at the hotel…that maybe we should go down to the beach. A square of 2×2 cm pictured Catedrales, a very special beach it seemed…

We soon realised that a permission was needed to walk the beach – it is a UNESCO World Heritage! Nothing, absolutely Nothing in our books had us prepared for these magnificent views.

My heart sank, maybe we would have to stay on the cliffs and not come down…But, there were very effective assistants on the steps down, and they helped us getting the permit via Internet – so, we were two of the 4000 people allowed on this beach per day. My heart jumped and beat so hard I could feel it in my throat. This was so unreal…How could there be ebb as well? How could we be so lucky?

We walked for hours and hours…endless kilometres…trying to savour this moment as the precious gift it was. Unbelievable. This was not happening…

I never wanted the sun to go down, never wanted to leave this magnificent world…

But finally the sunset had to come, and the night closed in. I cannot say how grateful I am for this evening gift. Pictures cannot convey …my deepest feelings.

I wish you all such wonderful and unexpected gifts – and a good night!

More facts and photos on this beach at Albatz Travel Adventures.

Thursday Thoughts – Slowly

28 juli, 201628 juli, 2016 / Leya / 29 kommentarer

Back from Spain, but only slowly returning to blogging. Thank you for all your lovely wishes for a good rest and reload!

I have just started reading, and somewhere next week I hope to read more and to post something more substantial…Thought I would send you this memory – a most significant sight along the Spanish summer roads.

Thursday Thoughts – It’s Raining…

8 juli, 20168 juli, 2016 / Leya / 23 kommentarer

Well, let’s make the best of it…kids can do it, then why can’t we!

Thursday Thoughts – Magnificent Tullstorp

30 juni, 201630 juni, 2016 / Leya / 20 kommentarer

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.

Architect – Jan Brink

The World Cup Winner this year

Designed for the horses to be at the centre of interest

Jan Brink guiding us

The most valuable horses are kept in this building…

…and feeling excellent

Shower room – for the horses

Well polished after every day in use

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.

In the reception

Jan and his precious Briar in the conference room

For his employees!

Transporting in style

Room for horses as well as assistants, full service

The inside arena…

The dressage arena…in late evening light. Thank you, Jan, for a magnificent tour!

Thursday Thoughts – Callistemon Fascination

17 juni, 2016 / Leya / 18 kommentarer

Thursday Thoughts

9 juni, 20169 juni, 2016 / Leya / 27 kommentarer

We went to the summer house for some days. On the way, we caught our daughter at the airport – summer holidays are here. We also visited a very dear friend of ours and their 7 weeks old puppies. Totti was the proud grandfather – and his daughter Ella was the perfect mother. Busy days….