"Iiiiihh!", I heard myself say as the small wave broke between my feet. Clara had told us we had to try the water, saying it was not as cold as the river in Norrbotten where we swam on Midsummer. Johannes didn't seem very convinced. She insisted we should taste it too, to see how salty it is. I declined politely. We were standing ankle deep in the Mediterranean water. My face felt like an orange, absorbing the strong sunlight after a long time in the shade.
It has been a lovely day here in Valencia, where I've arrived to spend a few days together with Johannes and Clara. We are staying with Clara's mother, who has given us a very warm welcome. Today, we visited La Ciudad de la Ciencia y de las Artes, a futuristic complex of museums, concert halls and recreational areas. One of the attractions is the Oceanogràfic, a centre for marine wildlife. It contains the world's third largest aquarium, with some fierce-looking sharks swimming around.
As I pedal to work the sun still dwells beneath the sky. Soon it´s pale fingers will reach over the trees, touch what is frozen, and make the crystals sweat. And they in turn will break the light into a wonderful palette. Right before me, the reflection on my handle bar stimulates the eye. Just as the crystals flashing briefly as I pass them by. Although faint, these rays clear my doubt. |
| Vinter |
As the season´s darkness engulfs the city, couples embrace in a tango inside the concert hall. The Argentinian tunes spill out through the glass facade and mix with the silence of a desolate street. The audience of tonight´s musical event is prolonging the sensation, savoring every moment cheek-to-cheek. Outside, silence awaits patiently.
This weekend, Rome was the setting of family festivities as my cousin Francesca tied the knot with her Francesco. An event that brought family members and friends together from different parts of the world. From Sweden, the delegation consisted of my father, Isabel, Martin and I.
Before suiting up for the ceremony, my brother and I went to check out a premiering exhibition about Stanley Kubrick and his film-making. We were delighted to enter the computer HAL 9000, and also have a closer look at several original props from such classics as The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey, etc.
We also had the opportunity to take a picture of us cousins. From left to right:
A great number of loved ones gathered this Saturday in Nora, Lina´s hometown, to witness the christening of Karl Aron. While the priest laid out the message of the ceremony, Aron seemed very interested in the light that played through the church windows. Soon, the priest held him over the baptismal font so he could touch the holy water before it was rubbed on his head. |
| Arons dop |
Two weeks ago, my friends Joakim and Gunilla joined in holy matrimony. The ceremony was held in a small church just outside Uppsala. Afterwards, the couple took a carriage to the bride´s fathers house, where the festivities continued. It is located on a small peninsula, and I, serving happily as event photographer, was able to take some pictures there with the lake in the background. |
| J & G Bröllop |
After about a hundred years of debate, the city of Uppsala finally has its own concert hall. It´s been a long road, and many people have been opposed to the project, but now it´s there. An impressive structure, perhaps not beautiful, but striking. The large auditorium, with more than 1100 seats, is surrounded by a lobby with an incredible view of the city.
This weekend some of the largest sailing ships of the world moored in central Stockholm. They had come from all over the globe, from Malaysia to Mexico. It was a sight to behold, with the crews on deck, flags waving and a great number of curious bystanders along the quay. On Monday, these ships gather at the start line for the 2007 Tall Ships´ Races, just outside the capital´s archipelago, to compete in crossing the Baltic Sea between a series of ports.
One of the most notable guests was Sedov, the world´s largest sailing ship measuring 118 m from prow to stern. It carries more than a hundred naval students and has a quite interesting background. Built by Germany in 1921, she functioned as a cargo vessel between Australia and Europe until Russia seized it at the end of WW II. Much later, when she was visiting a French harbour in 2000, she was prevented to leave by the government since a Swiss firm claimed it as a token for a Russian debt. Russia, however, insisted the debt belonged to the Soviet Union, and furthermore that the ship isn´t property of the Russian state. A court ruled in favour of Russia. The story
Together with Ali, Johannes, Clara and Rahwa, we spent the evening sampling the atmosphere around these great ships and their crews.
Give your computer screen a background that breathes summer. It´s tileable!
 A mi me impresionalo mucho que hiciste con las gotas de la vida. Tu sabias aprovechar lo que otros no saben; las gotas de la vida. Un helecho lejos de las lluvias, lejos del sol, cerca de un tronco. En cuanto las tenias nunca lo dudaste, pasarlas a nosotros; las gotas de la vida. |
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| Norrlandsr |
Have you ever taken a photo of a sunset and found the resulting image not looking the same? Or noticed how shadows in daylight become much darker on photos than to the eye?
This Saturday I went to Ashford to visit my friends Gunilla and Joakim for a few days. When I got there, they were in the middle of their daughter Maj's first birthday party. The baby and her toddler friends were engaged in different kinds of play, either sucking on paper tags or banging cuddle bears into the grass. They also had a ball bath to thrive in.
This morning, as I set out to do an errand downtown, it ocurred to me to bring the camera along. You never know when a good motive will show up, so it´s best to be prepared at all times.
I was strolling through University Park when a terrible thunder roared over my head. I looked up the hill, and there were two 7.5 cm caliber field cannons from 1903 firing in my general direction. Fortunately it was not an act of war, but salutation rounds that formed part of an academic ceremony. The Artillery Society of Jämtland who were carrying out the operation appeared in historic uniforms and chatted freely with curious spectators.
At spring time, a lot of young birds come to the University Park. They may have been persuaded by their parents or realized themselves the importance of higher studies. We´re talking about worm picking, nest building, aerodynamics and perhaps Swahili. A lot of these youngsters are focused on going abroad, so an exotic language might be of interest.
My workplace is one of Uppsala´s fastest growing companies, and some people higher up on the ladder are starting to notice us. So the other day, our former Minister for Industry and Trade (näringsminister) Thomas Östros stopped by for a cup of coffee and a look-see at the office. He was given the VIP tour and was quite amused by our showreel which to him covered a wide range of products; from liquors to astma medication. "It´s all the same to us", our CEO declared with a voice that meant business.
Joakim and his daughter Maj.