Ten years ago (time flies!) I was very fortunate to be able to study abroad in Stockholm, Sweden. To celebrate my time there I thought I'd share some photos I took.
Sweden is a remarkable country that is noted for its rich heritage, outstanding Scandinavian art and design, and has a great societal consideration for its people and future prosperity. I was able to visit many museums, several palaces, and learn about Swedish history and culture. Below are photos from around the city, the Vasa Museum, Skansen (Europe's first open-air museum), Drottningholm Palace, ancient Nordic burial mounds, and my delightful Finnish roommate Kristiina.
Back in February, I was able to go to The Field Museum to see a special exhibition about tattoos. Tattoos have been used for many centuries and for various cultural reasons. Some indigenous cultures used certain patterns and motifs of tattoos that reflected their religious beliefs. Other forms of tattooing related to gang symbols, prison art, and military and naval iconography that held different meanings for various groups. The hardened notion of tattoos as being counter culture and prohibited only fueled the fascination and rebellious nature in breaking rules and as a way to react to older and stricter generations. Tattoos are more and more common and less stigmatized by society, the exhibit even included a working tattoo parlor where visitors could schedule their turn to getting a real tattoo. As for me, I still sometimes consider getting some ink, but choosing the right one and where to put it always seems to be the big road block.
Next week, my very good friend Angela and I will be heading to London and Paris for the long Thanksgiving weekend. This past July, we decided to take advantage of Brexit and booked airplane tickets in well in advance. (We got good deals!)
This will be my third time visiting London and my fourth to Paris. In a different life, I would be living in Paris. I've spent over two and half years learning French via Rosetta Stone and while I'm not fluent, I am, however, appreciative to be able to pronounce and read more French then I thought I'd be able to. Beyond the language, I am continually inspired artistically and culturally by France and its remarkable people.
London, on the other hand, is also very stunning for its unique history, architecture, and culture. Angela and I have a shared affinity for Harrods. And I'm sure we'll stop at least once to my favorite namesake bakery franchise--PAUL Bakery, which is also in select cities in the U.S. and in France.
I'm very thankful for my friendship with Angela and really value the time I get to spend traveling with her. This quick trip we're embarking on is a special treat that I'm sure we'll remember fondly for a very long time.
Stay tuned for more future blog posts about my trip in December.
After Angela and I had a wonderful time savoring tea at The Ritz, we hopped into a taxi in the early evening and headed towards the London Eye. Peaking over the London rooftops we saw its iconic shape scrapping the underside of the clouds. A signature attraction for the city, we had arranged to ride on the huge Ferris wheel with a glass of champagne to cap off our night and our quick trip. Because of the time of year we were lucky to only have two other people in our 'capsule' as we did a one half-hour revolution on the Eye.
As expected, my photos with an iPhone, on a continuously revolving object, did not turn out as well as I would've liked. But you can get a sense of the perspective from the ride. It was a very good idea to conclude our trip together on the Eye. I feel so extremely lucky to have been able to have gone to London, see so many beautiful things, and to have spent time with Angela.
Traveling to new places (or revisiting) and seeing new things is an integral part of myself. I'm proud of my curiosity. I'm also lucky to have a very supportive husband who understands my appetite to travel and explore such an amazing and beautiful world.
London was a whirlwind, as it was the first time I visited in 2007. I could spend weeks, if not years, there to explore the rich and interesting history of British culture. Perhaps someday I'll be able to explore more of the country houses and estates that are so intriguing, but until then, I'm fortunate to have had the experience I had this past February.
