No funciona

I was going to upload pictures but it just won't work! Unless I can fix it I'll have to show them to you after I got back home to Sweden. Stupid stupid internet.

New York times 2

There hasn't really been much time to relax here, why would there be. But today we had a day of forced calm, as we had to check out of the hostel to go check in to the next one. For a few hours we had to wait until check in time at 15:00 so we hung out in Central Park with our luggage. The city is hot and our feet are hurting from all the walking. But it is still a great feeling somehow, you can imagine.

Yesterday we had a day with Nate and Adam, the guys who invited us for breakfast (well, coffee), and we walked along Central Park west down to Columbus circle and Broadway. Randomly we ended up in a swedish café called AQ Kafé which stands for Aquavit Kafé :) They had Knäckebröd and Lingonberry soda which Anna and me just had to try. Of course we were invited for everything, the american way but also the way we're not used to, kinda feels akward. But hey, who's complaning. Later we continued down to Times square which is, for all you who haven't been there, just something else. There's no way to exactly describe it, it's massive. In the afternoon Anna and I got an offer in the street about cheap manicures and pedicures. Well obviously we had to do it. So we treated ourselves to both and left with beautiful feet and hands :)

For dinner we had Sushi, delicious, half price since the restaurant was newly opened. Greenwich Village showed us a good time later and today, well I just told you. I'll upload pictures later, now we're off to eat and then take the Staten Island ferry by night - Statue of Liberty here we come!

New York times

New York New York! Wow - what to say!? This city is more than just a city, it's a whole world of it's own and I'm already in love. Yesterday ws a loooong day, flying first Stockholm - London and then another 8 hours London - New York. But hey entertained us well, everybody had their own TV screen in the backrest of he seat infront of you, with a wide selection of movies and TV series of your choice. And the company was fun too, a whole jewish family going back home from a wedding in London. I think at least half of all passengers on the plane had two long curls hangning down on each side of their face and a small black hat on the top of their head.

When we finally arrived at JFK airport we had a 45 minute subway ride to get us to the hostel we had no real idea where to find. An adress in our papers, Upper west side, ad a walk down from Broadway. We found it and fell into bed right away. It was around 23:00local time but in Sweden 05:00! Even though, we woke up around 07:00 (local time) and took us straight up to Central park where we met our first Swedes. I gotta say, I thought NY would be a safe place to speak Swedish but no, they (we, I guess) are everywhere! The sun was already hot and we bought us some bagles and lattes and sat down in the park. Nice, you can imagine. Then we walked down te park, visited Strawberry Fields and saw John Lennon's "Imagine" memory mark and a guy being arrested for smoking weed ;) The guy had a whole plant with him hahaha We continued down Broadway, went up the Rockefeller building and had the most amazing view I have ever seen in my life. I'll show you. All of Manhattan was at our feet and we could pont out all the famous spots in NY.

We got hungry somewhere at midday and went to have Sushi, so good! Then a Mocha Frappuchino at Starbucks to put it all in place and we strolled down to the United Nations and had a look at some exhibitions. Now we are back at the hostel (from ....) and are resting (since our bodies are still living swedish time which means 03:00). The plan is to hit Downtown a bit later and check out NY by night. But, we have to get up early since we have a breakfast date :) Some guys we met at Satrbucks (caused by A's intense flirting ;) invited us to come with them to have breakfast tomorrow. Sounds like a good deal, they might even be nice.

NY has given us a load on our first day. We can't even imagine wha the rest of this week will be like! Pictures will come as soon as I can upload. See ya!

You know what?

I'm going to New York!! In less than 2 days I'm off on this long awaited adventure! I've exchanged some money, printed my e-ticket, borrowed an extra suitcase, packed halfway (too many shoes, but I gotta have them with me). We tried to plan this trip several times but always pretty much failed. I think we just have to go and live it! And we will, oh yes we will live NY to the maximum!

No ballet

I had a look at yet another appartment today, it's turning out to be a fast game this. But today was a great day, the place was just perfect for me. Now I'm trying not to put too much hope on this as I don't have an answer yet. But it seems positive. But I'm not going to hope. But... *sigh*

Tonight our plan was to go see the Royal Ballet perform in Vitabergsparken but it was more than full when we got there and we couldn't see anything. So we left. We had Tiramisu in a vegan place at Katarina Bangata instead. Some last hangout with B, who is moving to Germany on Monday, I'll miss her.

Are we? Not convinced, but she sure makes you think.

Summer concert tonight

After work I'm off to Vitabergsparken for an outdoor concert with Sofia Karlsson. I was worried that it would rain, like it did all day yesterday, but the sun is shining brighter than in days. It's perfect and it's gonna be awesome! Yay for summer!

True, 'cause I said so

Today Swedish television starts showing the TV series True Blood and the hype is complete. OLD NEWS. One year ago I saw the whole first season and when I was all excited about it, telling my friends how great it is, nobody knew it, nobody really cared. *Sigh* Here it is: Didn't I say so! Season two is possibly even better and a couple of nights a week my life spins around Sookie Stackhouse and her vampires. And by the way, if you are vampire or just enjoy drinking artificial blood, here's the website where you get Tru Blood.

No more vacation

My vacation, it was great. Relaxing for one but altogether so much better than I had hoped for (not being sure what I had hoped for). It wasn't planned all through so there was room for surprise. Sweden is great y'all!

Now back in the city and my search for an appartment is more aggressive than ever. I went to see 2 this week and I'm afraid I won't be moving into either of them. No, its not because I was I wasn't chosen (why wouldn't I be), I actually got them both. So why am I not moving? First, I got it, next day I was without it again as the brother was staying there after all. Second, I got it and turned it down, too expensive for such low standard. It still feels like the right decision.

Earworm

Ok, the video obvously isn't the original but this was the only one I could find for the song that I wanted - Marit Bergman "You can't help me now"!

First look

I went to see an appartment today. Yep, first one. Was really OK, not the place of my dreams but it's an OK appartment and it is specially just that, an appartment. Possibly for me. The very nice girl who's renting it (great resemblance to Barbie) will let me know tomorrow, when she's had more people over to look, if I get it. I guess I'm hoping to get it. Yes, yes I DO hope. I need to get over my stupid demands. This place could be real cool when I've given it my touch. Yay, I might have my own place soon :) (but still not hoping too much. Just that.).

Yeah, how was your day then!

First day of work and I'm still going strong ;) I wasn't so sure, but high season is coming to an end and it's not as crazy anymore. Finally. Maybe now my stomach can have a break. Though that problem is probably mostly caused by my heavy intake of coffee.

Part of my family is on Crete, Greece. Not something I think about alot, or even little, not a bit, doesn't cross my mind... Well, maybe it has. My finger is swollen and my toenails need new nailpolish (dark purple, white or more bright pink?), I have more things to think about than is legally healthy and right now I'm watching an old supposedly romantic (OK, it works) comedy.

I'm going back to reality

Vacation's almost over. I've had a very relaxing time and that's just what I needed. Still I've been a bit stressed. No reason to get into that. Tomorrow I'm going back to Stockholm and reality. I'm planning on enjoyin the rest of the hopefully still warm summer and I hope my friends will do it with me. If not I'll force them, summer is not over yet! So, see you back in da city!

'Cause I'm leaving...

Cleaning and packing. Like so many times before. Tomorrow I do my last day of work before I go on vacation. A looong awaited vacation. I can't believe it's here, I'm actually a bit stressed that it'll be gone just as fast. I leave right after work to Gothenburg to meet up with my parents who are going to the U2 concert. Note that THEY are going and not me. Funny. Anyway I can't wait to get out of here, I've spent the whole summer in this city and I am so ready to go away. But just for a week, then I have to come back, to look at an appartment :) I'm crossing my fingers that I'm the one who gets it. Second week of vacation - currently unplanned, all depends on that appartment visit.

Can't wait to be off!

New York just keep getting closer and with it I'm getting more and more excited! I was talking to the girl in the reception at work today and she got excited too when she heard I was going there. NY makes you excited! She even offered to make me a list of must-sees, though she's only been there once. Well, that's one time more than me I guess.

So tonight me and A had a Skype date and booked s few first nights in a hostel. Manhattan, right next to Central park, we'll be right there, niiiice. Morning, sun (of course we're gonna have sun), bagel and coffe, Central park... I can totally see it. I don't think I'll have problems finding reasons to love that city.

I'm a famous morning face

This morning as I was waiting for my train at T-centralen, a girl came up to me and presented hersrlf as being from SR, Swedish radio. She asked if she could take my picture for something she called "Morning faces", I said "sure I have a morning face so why not!". Here's the result - take a look FAMILY and friends!

Magically weak

And so, I didn't make it. I had the best opportunity and I just had to take it. I went to the hairdresser and got my highlights remade and after that, well there was a showing just after that, right next door... I went all alone, that's great by the way, movie on your own. And I saw it together with a full theatre. A crown with an average age of around 20 I'd say and not 10 as expected. I feel better but still anxious. The next movie isn't here until 2010. Although, the books are all already out...

Got room?

Saturday it is. I watched two more Harry Potter movies last night, alone though, cause B is off on vacation now and we won't see eachother for about 3 weeks. I think I might have to go see the latest one alone, unless I can wait... The sun is shining outside but they say it's gonna rain. Don't know what to think. My whole family is on the coast. And I'm stuck here. Feeling extremely jealous.

Me and my firend J went for an afterwork yesterday and had a delicious new form of Sushi at Ljunggrens roof terrace, very good "Hot Sushi" meaning spicy deepfried Sushi. Harry Potter had me up til 3 in the morning so today I had a good long sleep. Did I ever say I love to sleep? Soon hopefully in a better and nicer bedroom. The hunt for an appartment keeps me occupied.

Big in Japan

Work is slow today and I have some moments left over. Last night me and B started yet another marathon - Harry Potter. We watched the first one and ate take out, Sushi for me and Indian for her. We rented the two first parts and tomorrow we're watching the second one at my place. I should clean up. The thought is to watch all 5 before we see the latest one in the movies. Maybe I'll give the books a try to, though I usually don't read the book after having seen the movie, takes the excitement away, but I'm a bit curious about how the books are written.

And last, this very funny clip of a Japanese girl who won a contest in Japan and gets to go to England and the set for the latest Harry Potter movie and interview the cast. She's so extremely excited to see her favourite Rupert Grint (Ron)! hahaha

Bookems

I'm filling my book stock to the limit (no, there's no limit really) and I have trouble finding time to read them all. Ah well, I have all my life I know, but I want to read them all, NOW. Not wait. I'm so ecited about all of them. This weekend I got not less than 3 new ones with me back home.

The opposite of love/Julie Bauxbaum

Anybody out there?/Marian Keyes - a real find, 5 SEK secondhand

Girls of Riyadh/Raja Alsanea - borrowed from B

Countrygirl

What a weekend. Spent in the very picturesque place of Flen ;). I came with B to her family home to spend the weekend and we had a great time. Except for sleeping long we had a very good outdoor breakfast with freh berries of all kinds, berries that we before our return back to Stockholm picked litres and litres of. Blueberries for breakfast everyday now, yumm! On Sunday we found a great little secondhand shop out in nowhere and found some nice pieces, like a necklace for me and jeans for B. Then we went on to Lager 157 and did more than a little shopping. It's a darn trap that place, just like IKEA - "but it's so cheap..."!

They said it would be raining all week but I haven't seen any so far. I am very thankful. Last night I took a refreshing walk in the sun of about an hour, listened to Natalie Cole and watched the sheep stroll along the fields. I am lucky to live so central but yet in the countryside. Stockholm is good that way, you can have both worlds here.

Friday blues

A very calm Friday night for me. I've watched one of my all time favourite movies "Before sunset" (obviously "Before sunrise" is also on my favourites list). Both movies are genious, I love how you just follow two people walking through a city talking about everything and nothing. So real, so natural. Absolutely genius. I wish there were more movies like them.

I have Ray Charles playing in the background as I start to read. My present project, "The gravedigger's daughter" is slowly coming along. It's very good but quite heavy. I'm reading it in original language (which isn't my first language), in very small print and about 580 pages. Peanuts for some people, potatoes for me.

Long time no update

I've been busy, that's what I say. M was here Saturday-Wednesday which was great. Like it wasn't that long ago that we saw eachother. That is called friendship. The same night she left A came to stay the night. She had an appointment at the American embassy the next day and needed a place to sleep, and wanted to see me I'd like to think ;) We got ahead on our planning for New York and man that got me started, I'm so excited now!

Today I am happy to have weekend in a few hours, yay! Tomorrow me and B go to her hometown Flen to spend a relaxing and hopefully warm weekend, it'll be fun. Maybe we'll make a stop on the way and visit Gripsholms slott. I would love that, being the museumlover I am.

Weekend, how I have missed you!

The proposal

Just got back from the movies. I saw The proposal with my cousins C and U, we all had a real good laugh. The movie was fabulous and great fun, I laughed alot and must have prolonged my life by at least a year. I recommend it to anyone that likes a good romcom now and then and who dares to laugh out loud in the movietheatre!

The pace is picking up:

- last night dinner at Vapiano in Gamla stan, then Ben&Jerry's icecream in the same cityarea.

- tonight a movie with my cousins.

- tomorrow cooking with M who's back in town after Thailand and Italy.

- Saturday brunch at B's place, midday M arrives, evening attending birthday party.

- Sunday sleeping then possibly brunch in the city.

- ...

And so they are mine

Size large with fat darker colour frames, just they way I wanted them.

Summer crime

Not much beats british crimeseries in summer. The very best one being "Midsomer murders". My coworker H is crazy about it, but she's half British. It is snuggling-up-in-a-cozy-chair-with-a-book kind of good and makes you want a hot cup of tea even in the summer heat. A rough day at the office leaves you cravin any type of entertainment really but when it can be of this quality I am the first one so surrender to the couch :)

M is arriving from Berlin on Saturday and I am so excited to see her again. She's promised to bring me a copy of the book "Das Parfum" (The perfume) by Patrick Süsskind. I read it many years ago, when I was living in Germany but still learning the more advanced forms of German. I loved it and now I would like to read it again, when I can appreciate it more. And except for Berliner Pilsner she's promised to squeeze a fine German guy into her luggage for me ;)

Tomorrow I'm having dinner with E and some other friends after work. E is visiting after she moved away this winter to go work in another city and it'll be great to see her again and I'll also be able to return those books I borrowed long ago. I'm hpoing to see L on Thursday or Friday and Saturdays M is here and we're off to a birthday party in the evening. I hope the weather is on our side since it's planned to be set outside on Långholmen. On Sunday I'm thinking...brunch :).

Sunday selection

After having slept long and sound (my eyemask is fab!) I went to check out the summer sales downtown. There is alot to buy and for once also alot that s worth buying. Alot of the time on sales you only find stuff that nobody wanted to buy in the first place. So this way I found a last pair in store of beige suede sandals! Now I can throw out those old ones I bought 3 years ago, that I have worn to their death.

The afternoon was spent cleaning and I got myslef an appointment to do laundry tomorrow. Now I am watching "Perfume" and eating ICA Selection Fruit icecram, mango flavoured, mmm...

For starters

How's your weekend people?! Mine is great, thanks. I started it off on Thursday already, when me and B had dinner out in the warm afternoon. Italian spiced with flies (not on purpose, they just seemed to circle our table and our food that night). After a walk down to St Eriksplan I took the metro and she her bike, back to her place where we made banana icecream and watched a british miniseries set in the 19th century that we had rented.

The movie theme followed the next night, last night, Friday, when we were some people that had dinner and then started off a Lord of the rings marathon, watching the first two films until the middle of the night. The last part we had to save for another time since we all had come directly from work and only had energy enough for two 3 hour movies in a row. We had alot of fun discussing symbolism in the movies, 'cause there is alot of it.

Today me and B took our bikes and headed east towards Lidingö. We had our mind set on a picturesque outdoor café but as we finally got there, it was closed for summer (how clever is it to close that kind of café in summer??). So we rolled on and finally got ourselves some good tasting burgers in the center (disappointing yes, but still ironically hilarious and very good). We took the road back into central Stockholm and got some icecream by Odenplan. As we said goodbye and headed in our separate directions I felt a drop or two of rain. Not much to do so decided to go as fas as I could to avoid anything heavier. Oh well, that didn't go too well. Halfway the skies opened and by the time I was home I was as wet as had I jumped into the lake. I was not dripping, it was pouring from me, I had to get into the shower right away to undress and squeeze my clothes from rainwater. I was wet in to my underwear!

And the weekend isn't over yet. L paid me a visit tonight, on her way home, and we took a refreshing walk and talked talked talked. Here at home I'm now thinking about what I could do tomorrow :)

Covering up

Today I got myself an eyemask for sleeping from Muji. The last week or so the heat has been unbearable at night and I've had to sleep with an open window. Problem is, the sun never really sets in Sweden in summer. So it's too bright! I wake up all the time! Problem solved with my new eyemask :) The plan is to also use it when travelling to and from New York.

Spending summer

These warm days just keep on passing. On Sunday night me and B went to enjoy Parkteatern (free theater in the park during summer). We caught the play "Figaros bröllop" (Figaro's wedding) on a blanket eating fresh strawberries among another 2000 people. Such a great ending of the week!

The day was spent with H and R on a cliff down at Brunnsviken. The sun so heavy we were mostly in the water, enjoying it like we were 5 again. Inbetween, each with a book, sleeping in the shade or having a snack of Prosciutto ham and melon...

And one for the fans

Spontaneous

After work B helped me to finally choose glasses and I think I'm happy with the choice ;) It's hard picking something you will have to like every day. They kind of look like these ones, but it's not the exact ones. Anyway, after that we did the city sales and found this and that. I found this dress from French connection, on sale but still a tiny bit expensive. I still got it. Daring I am.

Now there are days that you never want to end

Sailing

Little did I know that I was going sailing! S has a boat, that's all I knew, but a sailingboat!? Nope, didn't cross my mind. But that's what we were going to do and me and H had never saild before so we were up for an adventure. But man it was fun! An not as hard as you might think, S gave us clear instructions where to pull and where to duck, when to push and when to release. And we did it, we made it to an island in the archipelago and stayed for a while, eating, sunbathing and me and H had the first swim of the summer.

As the sun never sets in summer here it was still warm and sunny at 20:00 when we arrived back at port and we decided to have dinner together. So we went to S's new and awesome apartment on Södermalm (right in the neighbourhood where I wanna live!) and he cooked us an authentic italian dinner with appertivo, pasta and fresh fruit dessert. Rounding up we took off into the warm night and went to Debaser's outdoor hang out, one of the best ones in summer.

Oh sunny day!

Last night was picnic in a park with friends, kind of like an afterwork picnic I guess. It was great to hang out in the late sun and eat and talk, Sweden is the best in summer. It was all rounded up in J's new appartment where we all sunk down tired and satisfied in all corners of the livingroom.

Today is even better. I was laying on the grass enjoying the sun, relaxing, and now I'm off to go out on a boatride! A distant friend has a boat not far from here and we'll be some people going out "to sea" (true actually, just sounds a bit funny). Ah, how could I better spend a sunny day like this!

I hope that you all have a great and warm summer out there!