#53 Dyster – Gloomy (318/365)

6 november, 2015 / Leya / Lämna en kommentar

The Colours of China

5 november, 20157 november, 2015 / Leya / 14 kommentarer

I am very grateful that this was my fourth time in Beijing – the weather made the Great Wall almost invisible. The autumn colours – that’s what I had been waiting for, and they were there…somewhere in the fog and drizzle.

My last visit was an early morning some years ago, and the Great Wall emerged in all its splendour in the morning haze.

…this time

the most colourful things were all the umbrellas. It takes some imagination to see the colourful surroundings here, but on our way down, the fog decided to reveal some of its secrets.

A small glimpse of jewellery …

…before settling again.

This drizzle followed us and haunted us for many days – but I found other things than landscapes to shoot…and the one day on the Yangtse River with the most spectacular views…the sun came through. And not a wind.

#100 Förvånad – Surprised (311/365)

17 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 6 kommentarer

WPC: Extraordinary

16 oktober, 201516 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 34 kommentarer

When in Riga, we dined at a unique, medieval restaurant named Rozengrals. Being the oldest in Riga it dates back to the 13th century. The food is genuinely medieval and cooked according to the original recipes. Everyone working there is accordingly dressed and the five big halls are all in candle light from the vaults.

So, from the outside, and the steps down into this cellar, it looked very ordinary – we thought there might be an exhibition or something down there…but it turned out to be something even more special! A restaurant.

Excellent food – the best in Riga – a truly extra(ordinary) place. To be recommended! (Click the link for more history and information, and the first part of the menu.)

Rozengrals heter den unika restaurangen. Det nämndes i skrift redan 1293 som festlokal för Rigas stadsstyre. Miljön är den äldsta i Riga, där rester av den första stadsmuren ingår. Det största rummet var ursprungligen en brunn. Det finns plats för hela 150 gäster samtidigt i fem salar. Allt känns väldigt äkta och genuint.

Rätterna är dokumenterat medeltida och tillagade enligt grundrecept. Jag tog rökt havsöringsfilé med fläder. Rätten serverades redan på 1000-talet vid det franska hovet. Det var absolut en av våra bästa och mest originella måltider.

For more of extraordinary – click here.

CFFC: Graffiti & Murals

16 oktober, 201516 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 21 kommentarer

If you are a skilled artist – you are really good. In Malmoe yesterday I found these.

For more graffiti, click here.

These two, the blue and the red one, are painted on the same house in Malmoe – One long side in red tones, the other one in blue. These two details caught my eye. The frog – look at his eye! The bird I adore as well.

Thursday Thoughts

16 oktober, 201516 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 19 kommentarer

Thinking. Coming back again from Riga, Latvia, and a trip back in time. To my childhood and my cats.

How I loved them…and most of all Måns. Måns was my favourite… and only Mine. He was shocking black, and he lived a short summer at my grandmother’s.

This is not my grandmother’s house…but it could have been…

This is not my grandmother, sitting outside her house, waiting for me…but in my dreams, she still is.

Her cat, Rose (Rosa in Swedish), was rather wild – but I didn’t realise that. I always felt sorry for her…having to stay outside and never coming indoors for some warmth and cuddling. So, one day I let her in.

I should never have done that…I should have listened to my grandmother’s words. Rose went totally wild and scared when let inside. Of course I had closed the door – didn’t want her to disappear out again. But she was in shock and fiercely climbing the curtains, scratching and screaming…

My grandmother came inside and let her out. She never said a word about it…because she knew my heart. This chaos was punishment enough…and I was so ashamed…

Strange, how faded memories come back to you, when triggered by something you somehow recognize or remember. A house, an atmosphere, a tune, a voice, a word, a place…a cat.

And suddenly those old memories seem crystal clear again. They are just lingering there, in the shadowy, hidden corners of your mind…waiting.

And isn’t that just wonderful.

Måns? He disappeared the same day my school started again after that summer vacation. Grandmother told me. He had followed my steps, down the road and away to school. Never to be seen again.

He was charcoal black.

#270 Snickarglädje – Joiner’s Joy (? Carved wood work on a house) (308/365)

15 oktober, 201515 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 18 kommentarer

#10 Bakgård – Backyard (304/365)

13 oktober, 201513 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 13 kommentarer

Riga – a Gallery of Colour and Artistic Form

11 oktober, 201512 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 7 kommentarer

Riga is situated on the river Daugava. 2010 the inhabitants were 706 413, a third of Latvia’s population, and the city is the biggest in the Baltic area.

The header shows a picture of the House of Blackheads. The story about this building starts in the 14th century, when there were three city guilds established: one for craft, one for trade and the third guild of the foreign traders – the Blackheads.

Riga has so much to offer a visitor – in this post I will share some of my favourite impressions from streets and corners – daytime and night time. Later posts will include architecture of old Latvia and of Jurmala – the old seaside resort, now being slowly restored to its former glory after being neglected during the Soviet time.

First out – the puppet theatre, where we were fortunate enough to sneak in and talk to one of the puppeteers. He let us take some photos but wasn’t very English speaking. Very sweet though. We understand that this art form is much more revered in the Baltic countries – they have performances every day.