21.8.08
20.8.08
Yukata
Two nice japanese with the traditional yukata (summer kimono) posing for the gaijin photographer.
It's really common in summer to see women wearing these beautiful dresses, especially during the weekends. Also men wear their yukatas in the weekends, but in a quite lower number.
It's really common in summer to see women wearing these beautiful dresses, especially during the weekends. Also men wear their yukatas in the weekends, but in a quite lower number.
19.8.08
Fukagawa Hachiman Matsuri
One of the most important festivals in Tokyo take place around 15th August. One of the main attractions is this parade were people carry these statues and the rest throw water to them. The pity of this year's festival was the weather. It rained the whole weekend, so throwing water when it's raining it's not that funny.
By the way, don't ask me what all this event is really about, because I have no idea... For me it was like the Semana Santa, but in summer and a bit more abstract...
Etiquetas: fotos, japon, tradiciones
18.8.08
17.8.08
Popular Market
When I went to the fireworks, I found out some kind of market where you could find many things to eat while looking at the fireworks. Here you have some of the things you could buy there:
...yakisoba...
...corn...
...squid...
...and the dessert, bananas covered with chocolate with different colours...
...yakisoba...
...corn...
...squid...
...and the dessert, bananas covered with chocolate with different colours...
16.8.08
Morning
I live this everyday and I still do not get used to the silence in the morning and everything in order: no race, no shout, no one speaking by phone, talking... not even praying... Nothing. Just calm, order and introspection: newspapers, books, nap, english course,... And, of course: one after the other.
Akihabara: 1st Edition
Where would you start a visit to Tokyo? Exactly, anywhere but in the electronic quarter... Where did I start? Yes, you are right... Akihabara, the area where you can find all kind of shops with all kind of electronic devices. You can find there:
...sirens... (quite a niche market)
...a pink stand with a pink laptop... (and probably they do sell it)
...and of course, a superhero...
...and friends...
...sirens... (quite a niche market)
...a pink stand with a pink laptop... (and probably they do sell it)
...and of course, a superhero...
...and friends...
12.8.08
6.8.08
Summer Festival
Or at least, that's what I think it was what I found last thursday when I arrived to my station. The "main square" full of people dancing like this:
After 10 minutes of looking and listening to this music, I came back home whistling this... I will try to get the MP3. ;)
Etiquetas: fotos, japon, tradiciones, videos
5.8.08
Fuji-san
Interesting experience. I had heard about it, as a must for long-term stays in Japan/Tokyo including summer: climb Mount Fuji and observe the sunrise from there... together with 10000 more people. What??? I thought we were climbing a mountain... 10000 people hiking up? Two ideas came to my mind at this point: either the figure is an exageration or it is not that hard... I was completely wrong. 10000 people is a good figure for that kilometric queue hiking towards the summit during the night... and it was not that easy.
We had to climb from 2305 m to 3776 m. So, around 1500 m, quite a lot. At the beginning, everything is ok, not many people, wide paths, and softer slopes... But, after a while, the paths are thinner, the people who were waiting in the different stations join the way up, the oxygen reduces (and you do notice the difference), and the sunrise is closer. Not everybody reaches the summit before the sunrise, but it is quite ok if you are already around 3500 m as we were.
The worst part was after the sunrise, when everybody who had stopped decided to go up at the same time. It took us a couple of hours to reach the summit, but we did it. And, after eating something up there (good business) and taking a look to the crater of the volcan, time to go down, which was even harder than ascending... At the end, 30 hours without sleeping, and the proud to have reached the ceiling of Japan... and this is just the beginning. I still have more than 5 months left here. :-)
Any way, I agree with the japanese. It's a once-in-a-life experience. There will be no second time, that's for sure. ;)
27.7.08
First day in Tokyo
First full-day in Tokyo, completely free for walking around and trying to realize where I am. :)
Before coming, I collected some useful information about Japan from some friends. I remember Inda told me that in Tokyo all life is focused around the train stations, and when you are far from them, they are normally peaceful residential areas... and he was completely right. :)
I live in that part of the neighbourhood, the peaceful residential area (apart from the big avenue behind my building)... and then when you start walking to the station, you start finding more and more people, as well as shops... until you get to the station. (see pictures as follows, all taken in the same street)
Close to the station, I found our friend Mc (my first visitors will love it :D), and Café Sands. Maybe they are my relatives and I had no clue about that. :)
But finally I decided to try some real stuff. :)
Today I liked what I saw quite more than yesterday. But I still think it's quite chaotic, without any order... But that mess looks nice... apart from the cables. I see cables all around the place. Is it just me?
Tomorrow it's time to start working again... I am even eager to that. O_o
Before coming, I collected some useful information about Japan from some friends. I remember Inda told me that in Tokyo all life is focused around the train stations, and when you are far from them, they are normally peaceful residential areas... and he was completely right. :)
I live in that part of the neighbourhood, the peaceful residential area (apart from the big avenue behind my building)... and then when you start walking to the station, you start finding more and more people, as well as shops... until you get to the station. (see pictures as follows, all taken in the same street)
Close to the station, I found our friend Mc (my first visitors will love it :D), and Café Sands. Maybe they are my relatives and I had no clue about that. :)
But finally I decided to try some real stuff. :)
Today I liked what I saw quite more than yesterday. But I still think it's quite chaotic, without any order... But that mess looks nice... apart from the cables. I see cables all around the place. Is it just me?
Tomorrow it's time to start working again... I am even eager to that. O_o
Daily Japanese
I promised you some daily life japanese... Ok, here it goes.
Imagine you arrive to your new apartment, and you start moving around checking everything. You go to the kitchen and you find this:
Then, you take a look to the washing machine...
... you find this in the door of the bathroom ...
... and this next to the bath.
And last, but not least, this is the controller of the WC!!!
I am on my way to study the different user guides I found under the TV. That is something I could ask to be removed. I have 12 channels, and all of them are in perfect Japanese. =) I hope the Olympics can be watched using the original infography. :)
Imagine you arrive to your new apartment, and you start moving around checking everything. You go to the kitchen and you find this:
Then, you take a look to the washing machine...
... you find this in the door of the bathroom ...
... and this next to the bath.
And last, but not least, this is the controller of the WC!!!
I am on my way to study the different user guides I found under the TV. That is something I could ask to be removed. I have 12 channels, and all of them are in perfect Japanese. =) I hope the Olympics can be watched using the original infography. :)
26.7.08
Konichi wa!
I am in Tokyo!! :) I only had time to arrive to my apartment, unpack everything, buying some stuff for the apartment and going to have dinner in my same street, and now back "home" to write a few lines and early to bed to profit tomorrow's day. :)
* The trip went pretty well. I flew through Frankfurt so I could practice some German in the first flight. The flight from Frankfurt to Tokyo has been really long. Fortunately, I could sleep a little bit, not as much as I would have desired, as I did not have the chance to take an aisle seat, so I was pressed between the window and my seat neighbour. But three films, the dinner and the breakfast entertained sufficiently.
* I flew in a 747 today (yes, today this kind of aircraft is on the news), and I am really surprised that someone even imagined to make that enormity could ever fly (and I am looking forward to be able to "try" the A380.
* I wrote in a company blog some time ago, that I think border control as we understand it today should have future. We need a visa (which you apply with a lot of papers, later on, in the plane, you need to fill in a couple of forms justifying why you are going to Japan, and so on, then you go and explain what you have written to an immigration officer, and later on to a customs officer. At the end, almost 30 minutes of queuing.
* In total, it took me about 4 hours since the aircraft landed until I got to my apartment. It's true it's quite far from the city, and that I took a bus instead of trains, but it is still a lot. Oh, sorry, it was not a bus, it was a limousine. :)
* What's your impression about Tokyo? Two things come to my mind: first, the humidity. It's really tough to be outside (or inside with open windows). The image I have seen from the bus, and after a short walk in my neighbourhood, it is a bit chaotic. Old and new, small and big, colourful and grey houses together, small streets that look like the entrance to a house, lots of cable everywhere, streets and railways cross at different heights, etc.
* I like globalization. I like being able to find olive oil in the closest supermarket to my place. I just did not like the price. (1000 yen = 6 euros)
* Language is a real problem. I still don't know how I managed to know the time the supermarket closes (23.00), because no one spoke English there. The same happened with the taxi driver, or in the restaurant. The worst thing is that I say some times to them "tack" or "hej"... Hehe.
* By the way... Tomorrow, I will show you some Japanese in the daily life...
* Ohhh! And Carlos Sastre just won Tour de France!! Perfect timing. :)
* The trip went pretty well. I flew through Frankfurt so I could practice some German in the first flight. The flight from Frankfurt to Tokyo has been really long. Fortunately, I could sleep a little bit, not as much as I would have desired, as I did not have the chance to take an aisle seat, so I was pressed between the window and my seat neighbour. But three films, the dinner and the breakfast entertained sufficiently.
* I flew in a 747 today (yes, today this kind of aircraft is on the news), and I am really surprised that someone even imagined to make that enormity could ever fly (and I am looking forward to be able to "try" the A380.
* I wrote in a company blog some time ago, that I think border control as we understand it today should have future. We need a visa (which you apply with a lot of papers, later on, in the plane, you need to fill in a couple of forms justifying why you are going to Japan, and so on, then you go and explain what you have written to an immigration officer, and later on to a customs officer. At the end, almost 30 minutes of queuing.
* In total, it took me about 4 hours since the aircraft landed until I got to my apartment. It's true it's quite far from the city, and that I took a bus instead of trains, but it is still a lot. Oh, sorry, it was not a bus, it was a limousine. :)
* What's your impression about Tokyo? Two things come to my mind: first, the humidity. It's really tough to be outside (or inside with open windows). The image I have seen from the bus, and after a short walk in my neighbourhood, it is a bit chaotic. Old and new, small and big, colourful and grey houses together, small streets that look like the entrance to a house, lots of cable everywhere, streets and railways cross at different heights, etc.
* I like globalization. I like being able to find olive oil in the closest supermarket to my place. I just did not like the price. (1000 yen = 6 euros)
* Language is a real problem. I still don't know how I managed to know the time the supermarket closes (23.00), because no one spoke English there. The same happened with the taxi driver, or in the restaurant. The worst thing is that I say some times to them "tack" or "hej"... Hehe.
* By the way... Tomorrow, I will show you some Japanese in the daily life...
* Ohhh! And Carlos Sastre just won Tour de France!! Perfect timing. :)
15.7.08
22.6.08
Midsommar
Today, I'll write in Spanish. Sorry for my non-spanish-speaking friends.
Ya estamos en verano. Una diferencia increíble: nublado, lloviendo y fresco. Pero parece que esto no es novedad. Siempre hace malo el día de Midsommar... Que es precisamente de lo que quiero hacer un par de comentarios, porque me parece bastante curioso.
Como en muchísimos otros países, el solsticio de verano es un día de fiesta en Suecia. De hecho, hasta hace un par de años, cualquier sueco te hubiera dicho que es el día de la fiesta nacional, y todavía hoy sigue teniendo más importancia incluso que la Navidad.
La fiesta en la actualidad consiste en irse a alguna casa de verano, generalmente en mitad de la naturaleza y, si puede ser, cerca del agua (me bañé!!). Como en todas las fiestas grandes, hay comidas típicas (arenques en distintas recetas, ensalada de patatas y pastel de fresas) y bebidas típicas (creo que ya he hablado alguna vez de los licores de estas tierras). Y, por supuesto, hay tradiciones. Y aquí llega lo curioso.
Una de las tradiciones dice que las jóvenes mujeres solteras deben recoger de áreas cercanas 7 tipos de flores diferentes la noche de antes. Estas flores tienen que ponerlas debajo de la almohada y, según reza la tradición, esa noche soñarán con su futuro marido. Al día siguiente, con las mismas flores, se supone que se tienen que hacer una corona que llevarán durante todo el día.
Ya durante el día grande, entre todos hay que hacer un Midsommarstång, que es básicamente una cruz de madera, cubierta de flores y con dos anillos colgados. Según parece, el origen de esto es bastante incierto, pero todo apunta a que en un principio, la cruz no era tal, sino un simple palo, y que la Iglesia en un intento de cristianizar la fiesta, lo convirtió en cruz.
Pero no se queda ahí la historia. Una vez se construye la cruz, se planta, y es el centro de las celebraciones. Y lo de centro es literal, porque las celebraciones consisten en unas cuantas canciones-juegos, en los que, cual Corro de la Patata, todos los participantes del evento dan vueltas alrededor adoptando cómicas posiciones.
Además de simular el lanzamiento de un cohete espacial dando palmas y saltando (no comment), lo más típico es una canción llamada Små Grodorna, y que dice así:
Que viene a ser:
La parte final no es más que el sonido de la rana, y viene acompañado de saltitos de rana alrededor del Midsommarstång. Y esto lo hace todo el mundo... Asombroso. Un par de vídeos de Youtube. El primero en un Midsommar multitudinaria, y el segundo, alguien lo grabó con mi cámara hace un par de días... pero afortunadamente está muy oscuro. :)
Creo que va a haber que incorporar algunas de estas cosas a nuestras hogueras de la noche de San Juan, que al fin y al cabo tienen el mismo origen. Aunque seguro que no pasa como ayer...
Sabiendo que estábamos en Suecia, además de la mesa al aire libre, preparamos un plan B, consistente en una pseudotienda, por si empezaba a llover. Y como era de esperar, empezó a llover. Rápidamente metimos todo debajo de la tienda, y justo entonces empezó a soplar viento fuerte. Estábamos haciendo cábalas sobre como hacer la tienda un poco más resistente, cuando se desquebrajó el techo. Así que hubo que improvisar un plan C: dentro de casa... Pero para cuando habíamos metido todo dentro de casa, ya hacía sol otra vez y volvimos a salir. Eso es lo que pasa cuando haces cosas al aire libre, en sitios con tiempo inestable.
Ya estamos en verano. Una diferencia increíble: nublado, lloviendo y fresco. Pero parece que esto no es novedad. Siempre hace malo el día de Midsommar... Que es precisamente de lo que quiero hacer un par de comentarios, porque me parece bastante curioso.
Como en muchísimos otros países, el solsticio de verano es un día de fiesta en Suecia. De hecho, hasta hace un par de años, cualquier sueco te hubiera dicho que es el día de la fiesta nacional, y todavía hoy sigue teniendo más importancia incluso que la Navidad.
La fiesta en la actualidad consiste en irse a alguna casa de verano, generalmente en mitad de la naturaleza y, si puede ser, cerca del agua (me bañé!!). Como en todas las fiestas grandes, hay comidas típicas (arenques en distintas recetas, ensalada de patatas y pastel de fresas) y bebidas típicas (creo que ya he hablado alguna vez de los licores de estas tierras). Y, por supuesto, hay tradiciones. Y aquí llega lo curioso.
Una de las tradiciones dice que las jóvenes mujeres solteras deben recoger de áreas cercanas 7 tipos de flores diferentes la noche de antes. Estas flores tienen que ponerlas debajo de la almohada y, según reza la tradición, esa noche soñarán con su futuro marido. Al día siguiente, con las mismas flores, se supone que se tienen que hacer una corona que llevarán durante todo el día.
Ya durante el día grande, entre todos hay que hacer un Midsommarstång, que es básicamente una cruz de madera, cubierta de flores y con dos anillos colgados. Según parece, el origen de esto es bastante incierto, pero todo apunta a que en un principio, la cruz no era tal, sino un simple palo, y que la Iglesia en un intento de cristianizar la fiesta, lo convirtió en cruz.
Pero no se queda ahí la historia. Una vez se construye la cruz, se planta, y es el centro de las celebraciones. Y lo de centro es literal, porque las celebraciones consisten en unas cuantas canciones-juegos, en los que, cual Corro de la Patata, todos los participantes del evento dan vueltas alrededor adoptando cómicas posiciones.
Además de simular el lanzamiento de un cohete espacial dando palmas y saltando (no comment), lo más típico es una canción llamada Små Grodorna, y que dice así:
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
Que viene a ser:
Las pequeñas ranas, las pequeñas ranas, son divertidas de ver.
Las pequeñas ranas, las pequeñas ranas, son divertidas de ver.
Ninguna oreja, ninguna oreja, ninguna cola tienen ellas.
Ninguna oreja, ninguna oreja, ninguna cola tienen ellas.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
La parte final no es más que el sonido de la rana, y viene acompañado de saltitos de rana alrededor del Midsommarstång. Y esto lo hace todo el mundo... Asombroso. Un par de vídeos de Youtube. El primero en un Midsommar multitudinaria, y el segundo, alguien lo grabó con mi cámara hace un par de días... pero afortunadamente está muy oscuro. :)
Creo que va a haber que incorporar algunas de estas cosas a nuestras hogueras de la noche de San Juan, que al fin y al cabo tienen el mismo origen. Aunque seguro que no pasa como ayer...
Sabiendo que estábamos en Suecia, además de la mesa al aire libre, preparamos un plan B, consistente en una pseudotienda, por si empezaba a llover. Y como era de esperar, empezó a llover. Rápidamente metimos todo debajo de la tienda, y justo entonces empezó a soplar viento fuerte. Estábamos haciendo cábalas sobre como hacer la tienda un poco más resistente, cuando se desquebrajó el techo. Así que hubo que improvisar un plan C: dentro de casa... Pero para cuando habíamos metido todo dentro de casa, ya hacía sol otra vez y volvimos a salir. Eso es lo que pasa cuando haces cosas al aire libre, en sitios con tiempo inestable.
20.6.08
7.6.08
Blue and yellow
Yesterday was the Swedish National Day, which is a brand new festivity in Sweden. It's the second year that they celebrate it, and therefore there is no tradition in it. Before, being the national day, it was the national flag day, and therefore everything is blue and yellow. It's quite funny to have such colours in the flag for these kind of events.
29.5.08
Scandinavian Flags
Does anything specially attract your attention in this picture? Probably, the similarity of the different flags, belonging to Finland, Denmark, Estonia (this is different), Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Europe (also different) and Åland. I have been asking myself the reason of this, and even asked some locals whitout any success. At the beginning I thought all of them would be based in the Swedish Flag, as all Scandinavia was ruled once under Sweden, but I was wrong.
It seems that all flags are inspired in the Dannebrog, the danish flag, which is considered the oldest flag in the world, with records back to the 14th Century.
Interesting, isn't it? =)
27.5.08
21.5.08
Montréal
I expected to have written a few days earlier, but the last days have been quite work-intensive together with domestic tasks, but now I found couple of minutes to write a short post about my visit to Montreal last week.
It was my first trip outside Europe, and the second time in my life where I needed to show the passport, and I am in love with Schengen... I don't like filling in forms, answering questions to policemen about why I am visiting their country when they are reading exactly that information in the paper I gave them, and you have to pass two security controls, ...
And the country, although it's not US, it is quite similar. Everything is big, specially when talking about cars and trucks.
And about the city, let's say that it is strange, when you look at it. The architecture in the city varies a lot depending on the area you are. The financial centre has lots of skyscrapers and everything is new, while in the other neighbourhoods really old buildings (some of them about to collapse) and new ones share the quarters, divided by a bit scary alleys like in the american movies.
And, of course, the water of the river San Lorenzo (this can also be included in the "Big" chapter) and the famous Mont Royal, the small mountain which gives the name to the city, and which allows walks in the nature without leaving the city. In our walk, we "met" some squirrels and a funny woodpecker, which after working for more than half an hour, finally got its prize: two big worms. We also saw some moles in a small island in the river.
And, last but not least, the restaurants. You can find restaurants from all over the world in this multicultural city, but many of them have something in common: Apportez votre vin, which is a quite interesting concept. Instead of selling alcohol, they just serve water and soft drinks, and people bring the wine or the bier from home. With this, they allow people have dinner with wine at a reasonable price (you all know it is always ridiculous expensive), and they don't need to pay the special tax associated to the right of selling alcohol.
And this weekend, again to Helsinki. This was planned many weeks ago, so I will repeat visit to the city, this time with couple of locals and a bunch of foreigners. It'll be fun. :)
It was my first trip outside Europe, and the second time in my life where I needed to show the passport, and I am in love with Schengen... I don't like filling in forms, answering questions to policemen about why I am visiting their country when they are reading exactly that information in the paper I gave them, and you have to pass two security controls, ...
And the country, although it's not US, it is quite similar. Everything is big, specially when talking about cars and trucks.
And about the city, let's say that it is strange, when you look at it. The architecture in the city varies a lot depending on the area you are. The financial centre has lots of skyscrapers and everything is new, while in the other neighbourhoods really old buildings (some of them about to collapse) and new ones share the quarters, divided by a bit scary alleys like in the american movies.
And, of course, the water of the river San Lorenzo (this can also be included in the "Big" chapter) and the famous Mont Royal, the small mountain which gives the name to the city, and which allows walks in the nature without leaving the city. In our walk, we "met" some squirrels and a funny woodpecker, which after working for more than half an hour, finally got its prize: two big worms. We also saw some moles in a small island in the river.
And, last but not least, the restaurants. You can find restaurants from all over the world in this multicultural city, but many of them have something in common: Apportez votre vin, which is a quite interesting concept. Instead of selling alcohol, they just serve water and soft drinks, and people bring the wine or the bier from home. With this, they allow people have dinner with wine at a reasonable price (you all know it is always ridiculous expensive), and they don't need to pay the special tax associated to the right of selling alcohol.
And this weekend, again to Helsinki. This was planned many weeks ago, so I will repeat visit to the city, this time with couple of locals and a bunch of foreigners. It'll be fun. :)
17.5.08
15.5.08
14.5.08
Tallin
Last weekend I was in Tallin. I liked it, quite a small medieval city, so we enjoyed the good weather relaxing a little bit. Only negative point was the quality of service in the restaurants (3 out of 3). Here you can find some photos of this trip.
We went by boat, so I took lots of photos from it.
Now, couple of typical postcard photos.
One thing which surprised me a lot was the huge quantity of good cars they had. There were plenty of BMW, Mercedes, etc. As far as I know, Estonia is still developing helped by the UE, so I don't see where those big and expensive cars come from.
One particularity of the ferries which joing Stockholm with Helsinki or Tallin, is that they stop in Åland, allowing selling in the boat taxes free products. And, as alcohol has very high taxes in Sweden, you can see this kind of images:
Sorry for this short and late post, but lately my life is a bit crazy... For example, now I'm writing from Montreal... Soon, I'll talk about this in the blog.
We went by boat, so I took lots of photos from it.
Now, couple of typical postcard photos.
One thing which surprised me a lot was the huge quantity of good cars they had. There were plenty of BMW, Mercedes, etc. As far as I know, Estonia is still developing helped by the UE, so I don't see where those big and expensive cars come from.
One particularity of the ferries which joing Stockholm with Helsinki or Tallin, is that they stop in Åland, allowing selling in the boat taxes free products. And, as alcohol has very high taxes in Sweden, you can see this kind of images:
Sorry for this short and late post, but lately my life is a bit crazy... For example, now I'm writing from Montreal... Soon, I'll talk about this in the blog.
4.5.08
Como en casa
Esto no sé cómo tomármelo... Mirad qué cantidad de revistas "Hola!" hay en el Pressbyrån de al lado de mi casa.
No termino de creerme que haya tanto hispanohablante en el barrio interesado en leer prensa rosa. ¿Será que a la gente sólo le interesan las fotos? Pero, ¿conocen a "nuestros" famosos?
Estoy hecho un mar de dudas. ¿Alguna idea?
No termino de creerme que haya tanto hispanohablante en el barrio interesado en leer prensa rosa. ¿Será que a la gente sólo le interesan las fotos? Pero, ¿conocen a "nuestros" famosos?
Estoy hecho un mar de dudas. ¿Alguna idea?
Long weekend in Stockholm
30th April's night is Walpurgis in Northern Europe. Sweden is not an exception and many bonfires can be found everywhere.
But the weekend had some more news. 4 friends came to visit me (and Stockholm, by the way), so we did some tourism, and for first time I went quite far away in the Archipielago, were you can find small islands, together with huge cruises. O_o
And, to finish with this short post, two photos taken in the same position... Yes, the amount of boats is so high around Stockholm that you can find two petrol stations competing with each other.
But the weekend had some more news. 4 friends came to visit me (and Stockholm, by the way), so we did some tourism, and for first time I went quite far away in the Archipielago, were you can find small islands, together with huge cruises. O_o
And, to finish with this short post, two photos taken in the same position... Yes, the amount of boats is so high around Stockholm that you can find two petrol stations competing with each other.
1.5.08
Helsinki
This week, I had couple of hours free in Helsinki, and they were more than enough. As far as I could see, it is really beautiful the surroundings of the city: lots of islands and forests, but the city was not that beautiful.
I didn't know that some of the big cruises in the world are built in Helsinki.
I knew that Finland was part of Sweden until beginning of last century, and that many people there speak Swedish, but I didn't expect to see the street names in both languages.
I didn't know that some of the big cruises in the world are built in Helsinki.
I knew that Finland was part of Sweden until beginning of last century, and that many people there speak Swedish, but I didn't expect to see the street names in both languages.
Copenhague
Last weekend I went with a friend to Copenhague. It's just 1-hour flight far from Stockholm, and we were interested in knowing other scandinavian capital. It happened to be an beautiful city and with a very interesting mix of Scandinavia and continental Europe...
Much more life, more flexible schedules (for eating, for example)...
... and with a real open live sea, apart from many channels...
... with an overvalued Little Mermaid ...
... with some funny situations, like these guys with a living room on a boat (please, pay attention to the details) ...
... and where you can always find your place for relaxing.
Much more life, more flexible schedules (for eating, for example)...
... and with a real open live sea, apart from many channels...
... with an overvalued Little Mermaid ...
... with some funny situations, like these guys with a living room on a boat (please, pay attention to the details) ...
... and where you can always find your place for relaxing.
23.4.08
Saint George
Today is Saint George's day, and it is celebrated in many places in the world. For me, it is special, as he is the patron of my town, Alcoy, and the local festivities are in his honour.
But Saint George is present in many other places, as can be seen in the Wikipedia. And guess where it is also quite important. Yes, in Stockholm. Here, as in most places (but Alcoy), Saint George is fighting with a dragon, which represents a neighbour country in the south which was battled by the Swedes some centuries ago.
But Saint George is present in many other places, as can be seen in the Wikipedia. And guess where it is also quite important. Yes, in Stockholm. Here, as in most places (but Alcoy), Saint George is fighting with a dragon, which represents a neighbour country in the south which was battled by the Swedes some centuries ago.
Spring Weekend
Another weekend with a visitor, which means, the whole weekend out doing stuff: sightseeing, walking, party, etc. And it was a great weekend, with a really nice weather. Spring seems to be here...
... flowers start to show us their colours ...
... and crazy Swedes (and not Swedes) start sunbathing with the warm temperature of 10 degrees ...
... and of course, the ducks. :)
Furthermore, this time the visit included some typical Stockholm's musts. First of all, the Ice Bar, a bar where everything is made of ice: tables, walls, bar, glasses. Quite interesting for a Spaniard, so to say.
Vasa Museum was also part of the visit. It is still impressing me this huge boat more than 300 years old, so well preserved. Nobody should visit Stockholm without spending couple of hours in this museum.
... flowers start to show us their colours ...
... and crazy Swedes (and not Swedes) start sunbathing with the warm temperature of 10 degrees ...
... and of course, the ducks. :)
Furthermore, this time the visit included some typical Stockholm's musts. First of all, the Ice Bar, a bar where everything is made of ice: tables, walls, bar, glasses. Quite interesting for a Spaniard, so to say.
Vasa Museum was also part of the visit. It is still impressing me this huge boat more than 300 years old, so well preserved. Nobody should visit Stockholm without spending couple of hours in this museum.
4.4.08
30.3.08
25.3.08
24.3.08
Are we skiing?
Yesterday afternoon I went for a walk to the island in front of my apartment. It was really cold, but the sun was hiding, and I could take a lot of photos. Some as example.
But then, this morning, the lake was half iced, and it was snowing... What can I do with such awful weather? A friend called me: "Let's go skiing. There is a place near Stockholm, and we can spend there couple of hours." Great!
First problem: the car only had summer tyres, and it was snowing and sometimes icy. So we had to walk 2 km to the "resort". Second problem: the resort was closed. Only some parents with their children were using the slopes. So did we, we played with the snow, we went up hill and down hill, and back to the car (2 more km).
Finally my friends had a plan-B: a brunch with some Swedes, and I joined them. Nice afternoon, with changes of plan included.
Just one question: Where are these two ladies with the dog and the BABY going?
But then, this morning, the lake was half iced, and it was snowing... What can I do with such awful weather? A friend called me: "Let's go skiing. There is a place near Stockholm, and we can spend there couple of hours." Great!
First problem: the car only had summer tyres, and it was snowing and sometimes icy. So we had to walk 2 km to the "resort". Second problem: the resort was closed. Only some parents with their children were using the slopes. So did we, we played with the snow, we went up hill and down hill, and back to the car (2 more km).
Finally my friends had a plan-B: a brunch with some Swedes, and I joined them. Nice afternoon, with changes of plan included.
Just one question: Where are these two ladies with the dog and the BABY going?
Updating
* This post will be in english, in response to some comments to the previous posts.
* On thursday, it was the islamic New Year, which coincides with the spring. We went with some friends to celebrate it. Very funny party, including belly dancing, and persian dances. And also a great opportunity to know a little bit more about their traditions. Now, I know what a Haft sin table is and its meaning.
* We went back from that party by taxi. I think I already wrote about some taxi driver in this city, but it is really interesting to talk with them during the ride and listen to the stories of how they have arrived to Sweden, because all of them are foreigners. The irakian guy who has been living in Sweden for 15 years, and whose goal is to save an enormous amount of money to go the sunny and hot Dubai, where his brother lives. Or the other night's driver, originally from Somalia, but with an incredible cuban accent and almost perfect spanish. He lived for 10 years in Cuba, and then he moved to the Scandinavia, first Norway, and now Sweden.
* Snow and cold (real on) outside. Warm inside. Lots of walking. Today I started running (next week I have a 10 km race). Hopefully, the weather will be ok then.
* The first guests brought some Leche Condensada, now I can drink Café Bombón at home. That's one of the things that make me feel like at home wherever I am. :)
* Those who want to call me. Just click here, and put your fix number in the box. I like this idea. :)
* It is really amazing how Swedes follow Spanish football league. There are many more matches in the public television than in Spain! On the other hand, when I try to access to some football videos in El Mundo, I get this error:
* On thursday, it was the islamic New Year, which coincides with the spring. We went with some friends to celebrate it. Very funny party, including belly dancing, and persian dances. And also a great opportunity to know a little bit more about their traditions. Now, I know what a Haft sin table is and its meaning.
* We went back from that party by taxi. I think I already wrote about some taxi driver in this city, but it is really interesting to talk with them during the ride and listen to the stories of how they have arrived to Sweden, because all of them are foreigners. The irakian guy who has been living in Sweden for 15 years, and whose goal is to save an enormous amount of money to go the sunny and hot Dubai, where his brother lives. Or the other night's driver, originally from Somalia, but with an incredible cuban accent and almost perfect spanish. He lived for 10 years in Cuba, and then he moved to the Scandinavia, first Norway, and now Sweden.
* Snow and cold (real on) outside. Warm inside. Lots of walking. Today I started running (next week I have a 10 km race). Hopefully, the weather will be ok then.
* The first guests brought some Leche Condensada, now I can drink Café Bombón at home. That's one of the things that make me feel like at home wherever I am. :)
* Those who want to call me. Just click here, and put your fix number in the box. I like this idea. :)
* It is really amazing how Swedes follow Spanish football league. There are many more matches in the public television than in Spain! On the other hand, when I try to access to some football videos in El Mundo, I get this error:
18.3.08
16.3.08
13.3.08
12 dias
Ése es el tiempo que llevo en Estocolmo y sin actualizar el blog... Y no por falta de ganas, es que no paro. Entre el curro (hacer por primera vez algo que nunca se ha hecho no permite mucho relax), la mudanza, los eventos sociales varios (con los del trabajo, con los españoles, un cumpleaños, ...), el viajecito a esquiar a Vemdalen (6 horas de autobús, pero merecieron la pena) y quehaceres varios, no he parado ni un momento... Y me encanta. :-)
Sobre el viaje a la nieve, unos cuantos comentarios:
* Como se intuye, en Suecia montan una estación de esquí en cualquier montañita.
* Lo que no le dicen a los españolitos es que la montañita más cercana está a 6 horas en bus de la capital.
* Nieve polvo, recién caída y en gran cantidad.
* Llamar montañita a la colina donde estaba la estación es mucho. Las pistas rojas son las azules en España, y las negras, rojas...
* Y para que veáis que no exagero con lo de colina. Ésta es la vista que había. ¿Habéis visto un valle así de grande alguna vez con unos esquís puestos?
Seguiremos informando.
Sobre el viaje a la nieve, unos cuantos comentarios:
* Como se intuye, en Suecia montan una estación de esquí en cualquier montañita.
* Lo que no le dicen a los españolitos es que la montañita más cercana está a 6 horas en bus de la capital.
* Nieve polvo, recién caída y en gran cantidad.
* Llamar montañita a la colina donde estaba la estación es mucho. Las pistas rojas son las azules en España, y las negras, rojas...
* Y para que veáis que no exagero con lo de colina. Ésta es la vista que había. ¿Habéis visto un valle así de grande alguna vez con unos esquís puestos?
Seguiremos informando.
10.2.08
Excursioncita
Hoy hemos estado en El Escorial y en el Valle de los Caídos. Ésta es una de las visitas obligadas alrededor de Madrid, y después de casi 9 meses, por fin nos hemos decidido.
El Monasterio de El Escorial es impresionante y el pueblo muy agradable, y si hace un día como el de hoy, sin una sola nube, da mucho de sí con unas vistas impresionantes, y el gustito que da pasear bajo el sol y con una brisilla fresca.
Después de hacer una parada técnica, hemos subido al Valle de los Caídos y nos hemos quedado alucinados. Es una obra de una magnitud enorme, con una basílica construída en la montaña y una cruz enorme sobre la misma... Sobrecogedor.
Como sobrecogedor es algo a lo que nos estamos acostumbrando cada vez que salimos de Madrid. Ya sea desde la A-3, la A-6, Navacerrada o el Valle de los Caídos, miras a Madrid y ves esto:
Sí, es una nube de polución sobre la ciudad de Madrid... ¿Qué? ¿Es o no es recomendable salir de Madrid y tratar de respirar aire puro de vez en cuando?
El Monasterio de El Escorial es impresionante y el pueblo muy agradable, y si hace un día como el de hoy, sin una sola nube, da mucho de sí con unas vistas impresionantes, y el gustito que da pasear bajo el sol y con una brisilla fresca.
Después de hacer una parada técnica, hemos subido al Valle de los Caídos y nos hemos quedado alucinados. Es una obra de una magnitud enorme, con una basílica construída en la montaña y una cruz enorme sobre la misma... Sobrecogedor.
Como sobrecogedor es algo a lo que nos estamos acostumbrando cada vez que salimos de Madrid. Ya sea desde la A-3, la A-6, Navacerrada o el Valle de los Caídos, miras a Madrid y ves esto:
Sí, es una nube de polución sobre la ciudad de Madrid... ¿Qué? ¿Es o no es recomendable salir de Madrid y tratar de respirar aire puro de vez en cuando?
6.2.08
Una foto en El Mundo
Vale... Técnicamente hablando no es en el diario El Mundo, sino en su blog Ciudadano M. Pero ahí está, con su subtítulo como está en su página de Flickr y muy pequeñito...
Sólo se les ha olvidado poner mi nombre, mi nick o un link al sitio de donde lo han sacado, que puede ser éste o este otro... ¿o habrá sido éste? Ya eso es pedir demasiado... o no.
Actualización: Pues parece que no... :-)
