I had this idea for what I would like to do on my holiday this year. I would have liked to go on Interrail through Europe! It was one of those things that was really popular in the 80:s and I did it twice, the last time in 1990. It was really nice, but to be honest I think I would like it even more now.
Since I travel a lot nowadays, both professionally and privatly I spend a lot of time on planes and airports, something you easily can get tired of. And often I just stay one or two nights in the same place, spending the day in meetings and the night in some standard international hotel. Therefore I kind of like the idea of letting the travelling take time. Enjoying the feeling of being on the way somewhere and enjoing the travel. Preferably I would not have made much plans in advance but just go where the next train is going to and staying as long as I feel like. I would probably have connected it with a few visits by friends in different places in Europe, but would not let it lead to a social stress trip with a lot of "musts" and "have to". I would have tried to take as little luggage as possibel, but brought some good books. Being a little older and knowing a little more of the world (yes, to all know-it-all-teenagers, you do actually learn more with age, at least some...), having more self confidence and some more money too I think I would have enjoyed it more now than then. Now I would not have to choose everything as cheap as possible but could pick a decent hotel and good restaurants if I wanted to.
Well, since I am writing this you probably understand I am not going to do it. At least not this holiday. I don't really know why or how it happened, but all of a sudden my three weeks of holida were allready planned with other things. But I still like the idea. Maybe next year....
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Routine Travelling
Lately "travelling" has started to have a somewhat different touch. Since I travel somewhere more or less every week. Mostly of course to Brussels, but next week I will go to Barcelona and the week after that to Copenhagen and the first week of July to Italy (and of course a couple of times to Brussels in between). Yesterday, on the flight back from Strasbourg, I was asked to fill in a questionnaire by the airline about my travels and what I thought about this flight etc. One question was about how I feel about flying and one of the alternative answers "flying is nothing special, it is more or less like taking a bus". The I felt that is exactly what it is. Honestly I believe I fly more often than I take a bus, if one excepts airport busses.
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Driving around
Today we decided to rent a car. It seemed a little more complicated than expected. The first rentals we asked did not have any car available, but then we found one at a reasonable price. Though only available four hours later, but that was ok to us. We thought we could have lunch, visit the market or maybe even the District six museum first. But that was of course before we knew the administration around the rental would take almost two hours. So the time reduced to lunch and then we decided to revisit the travel agency that we consulted two days ago about safaris as it was nearby. So, now I have booked the three day safari in Krueger. Great!!
Eventually we got our car and started driving. That is I started driving. That was clear from the beginningas my friend Erik does not drive, but it was still quite interesting to see the interaction at the car rental. From the beginning the mainly addressed Erik, because of course renting a car is a men's thing, not?! But after a while they must have understood that it was not him but me that would do the driving. I don't really know what made them realise that because we did not tell them and I did not present them my drivers license before they asked for it, but they must have noticed anyway. It is quite funny to travel together with a man, who is not your boyfriend/husband. Some people simply assume we are married or at least togehter, but some seem to get the signals that we are not. Funny!
Since we now only had the afternoon we just drove a short turn around the city. We went to Kirstenbosch, to Constantia (but unfortunately the wineyards had already closed) then a sundowner on Sandy Beach, dinner in Camps Bay and watching the moon from Signal Hill. A lovely day, all in all! Tomorrow we will go down to the Cape. I was amazed again how easy I get used to drive on the "wrong" side of the street. I had the same experience in Harare too, but that was a while ago. It feels a little awkward, especially in situations like roundabouts etc, but it is quite ok.
Eventually we got our car and started driving. That is I started driving. That was clear from the beginningas my friend Erik does not drive, but it was still quite interesting to see the interaction at the car rental. From the beginning the mainly addressed Erik, because of course renting a car is a men's thing, not?! But after a while they must have understood that it was not him but me that would do the driving. I don't really know what made them realise that because we did not tell them and I did not present them my drivers license before they asked for it, but they must have noticed anyway. It is quite funny to travel together with a man, who is not your boyfriend/husband. Some people simply assume we are married or at least togehter, but some seem to get the signals that we are not. Funny!
Since we now only had the afternoon we just drove a short turn around the city. We went to Kirstenbosch, to Constantia (but unfortunately the wineyards had already closed) then a sundowner on Sandy Beach, dinner in Camps Bay and watching the moon from Signal Hill. A lovely day, all in all! Tomorrow we will go down to the Cape. I was amazed again how easy I get used to drive on the "wrong" side of the street. I had the same experience in Harare too, but that was a while ago. It feels a little awkward, especially in situations like roundabouts etc, but it is quite ok.
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
The World of Nose Spray
As I have a tendancy, or maybe even tradition of catching a cold whenever I go on holiday, I have been thinking that I could almost write a guide book over decongesting nose sprays. It seems to be one of the first things I just HAVE to get, and still I always forget to bring it from home. If it wasn't for the fact that they have an expiry date (or that they finish) I could have had quite a decent collection of nose sprays from all over the world.
To be honest I guess the contents of them are probably pretty much the same, but the packing and the way they sell them differ. I can say the strange bottle that did not have a spraying function, that I bought in Rio, was not a hit. It made me feel like drowning. The one I bought here in Cape Town feels very much like the ones you get at home, but the lady selling it was very helpful. She insisted I should try it already in the pharmacy and helped me taking the outer packing off and almost offered to help me spray it too.
Here of course it was very easy to ask for what I wanted, but I have noted that even in countries where they don't speak much English this is a very easy thing to explain, sometimes you don't even have to say anything...
To be honest I guess the contents of them are probably pretty much the same, but the packing and the way they sell them differ. I can say the strange bottle that did not have a spraying function, that I bought in Rio, was not a hit. It made me feel like drowning. The one I bought here in Cape Town feels very much like the ones you get at home, but the lady selling it was very helpful. She insisted I should try it already in the pharmacy and helped me taking the outer packing off and almost offered to help me spray it too.
Here of course it was very easy to ask for what I wanted, but I have noted that even in countries where they don't speak much English this is a very easy thing to explain, sometimes you don't even have to say anything...
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Money, Credit Cards and Bureaucracy
From Sweden and also from Brazil I have gotten very used to paying everything I consume with credit card. Here in Argentina, you can pay a lot by card, but it seems they really prefer to have cash payment. The prefer it that much they will in most places give a 10% discount if you pay cash. However, by cash they are very flexible though, they will gladly except a number of currencies in one and the same payment. So, that's what happened when me and my friend were shopping for leather jackets. After having discussed the price for our three jackets some time (which of course was very long, since at least two of the involved were Brazilians) and agreed on what we thought was a good price we were informed this price would not at all be valid if we were to pay by credit card. As we did not have that amount of pesos required, a new negotiation starts, on what this would be in differnt available currencies. After still some more time we finally paid in a mix of Argentinian pesos, US-dollars, Euros and Brazilian reais. The last missing amount I had to go and get from an ATM. Afterwards I was quite sceptic to whether it was such a good affair in the end, as I feared that the discount we negotiated so hardly for, might have gotten lost in the different exchange rates and finally in the fee for an extra cash withdrawal from the ATM, but my friend was still very positive and optimistic about it.
Another thing that I find a little annoying are those landing cards that some countries in this part of the world insist that you should fill in before entering the country. It just seems so completely useless. You basically just fill in the same information that is already in the passport plus which flight you come with, how long you will stay and where you will stay. I am sure no one really reads what you write on this paper. And I feel absolutely sure that no ones bothers to connect the information on these little paper slips with the electronically read infromation from your passport and also sure that no one ever checks whether the information you give about where you will stay in the country is correct or not. Nowadays most countries have electronically readable passports which means more and more information is allready stored on the entry of the country and if it is really that important I am sure it would be faster and more efficient for everyone if the immigration officers would just ask and add the information directly in the computor on entry. Because I really find it hard to believe they will collect all the little paper slips and enter the information later, most likely those slips will just be stored somewhere for a while and then thrown away.
The strange thing is also that they wont tell you what this slip is for and what you are supposed to do with the part that you get to keep. I have been told that in Brazil it is important that you keep it and leave it on exiting the country, but when I arrived in March i didn't get one and no one asked for it when I re-entered in June. That time I got a slip that I have keept but now, on leaving again in September no one asked for it and even though I had it I did not hand it over as it was not asked for. In Peru however I had to present the slip on checking in at the hote and also at buying some tickets. Just a good fortune I kept it handy. Now, on entering Argentina you had to fill in three papers, one they kept, on I suppose I will have to leave on leaving tomorrow, but the third, that was for the customs, no one asked for, so that one I still have. I am kind of glad they did not ask for that one, because it was very difficult to fill in. One question was whether you carry items purchased outside of Argentina. I mean, as I had never been to Argentina before, it means everything I had was purchased outside of Argentina, but I am not sure they would want me to declare that anyway...
Another thing that I find a little annoying are those landing cards that some countries in this part of the world insist that you should fill in before entering the country. It just seems so completely useless. You basically just fill in the same information that is already in the passport plus which flight you come with, how long you will stay and where you will stay. I am sure no one really reads what you write on this paper. And I feel absolutely sure that no ones bothers to connect the information on these little paper slips with the electronically read infromation from your passport and also sure that no one ever checks whether the information you give about where you will stay in the country is correct or not. Nowadays most countries have electronically readable passports which means more and more information is allready stored on the entry of the country and if it is really that important I am sure it would be faster and more efficient for everyone if the immigration officers would just ask and add the information directly in the computor on entry. Because I really find it hard to believe they will collect all the little paper slips and enter the information later, most likely those slips will just be stored somewhere for a while and then thrown away.
The strange thing is also that they wont tell you what this slip is for and what you are supposed to do with the part that you get to keep. I have been told that in Brazil it is important that you keep it and leave it on exiting the country, but when I arrived in March i didn't get one and no one asked for it when I re-entered in June. That time I got a slip that I have keept but now, on leaving again in September no one asked for it and even though I had it I did not hand it over as it was not asked for. In Peru however I had to present the slip on checking in at the hote and also at buying some tickets. Just a good fortune I kept it handy. Now, on entering Argentina you had to fill in three papers, one they kept, on I suppose I will have to leave on leaving tomorrow, but the third, that was for the customs, no one asked for, so that one I still have. I am kind of glad they did not ask for that one, because it was very difficult to fill in. One question was whether you carry items purchased outside of Argentina. I mean, as I had never been to Argentina before, it means everything I had was purchased outside of Argentina, but I am not sure they would want me to declare that anyway...
International Table Manners
Travelling is learning. Not only big things, but also the small little details.
Never having really been to South America before of course I had a lot to learn, and still have, but exactly because of this I treasure the small details I have learnt during this time. Like knowing how to tell a Brazilian couple apart from other couples in a restaurant. Well, I have to admit this is not something I have discovered by myself, but it was actually pointed out to me by a Brazilian with international outlook.
He pointed out to me that whereas it for me and for most people I know it is natural that you sit opposite your partner if you go to a restaurant, to be able to see each other's faces, Brazilian couples prefer to sit next to each other (to be able to touch and snog?). At first I thought he was joking, but having paid attention to it I have to say it seems to be a fact. Here in Buenos Aires I have noted it is a safe way to spot Brazilian tourists.
Never having really been to South America before of course I had a lot to learn, and still have, but exactly because of this I treasure the small details I have learnt during this time. Like knowing how to tell a Brazilian couple apart from other couples in a restaurant. Well, I have to admit this is not something I have discovered by myself, but it was actually pointed out to me by a Brazilian with international outlook.
He pointed out to me that whereas it for me and for most people I know it is natural that you sit opposite your partner if you go to a restaurant, to be able to see each other's faces, Brazilian couples prefer to sit next to each other (to be able to touch and snog?). At first I thought he was joking, but having paid attention to it I have to say it seems to be a fact. Here in Buenos Aires I have noted it is a safe way to spot Brazilian tourists.
Friday, October 07, 2011
A rough night
 |
| The view from my hotel room |
Visit to Machu Picchu
Somehow I
was a little worried that my visit to Machu
Picchu Cusco to Aguas
Callientes was great however. A very beautiful ride in a comfortable train with
excellent service and on top of that very nice company. In my group of four
seats I sat next to a Peruvian tourist guide who gave free private guiding to
me and the two cute German guys sitting opposite us. The only little misshapen
was that our train had to lend its engine to a meeting train that had ha engine
problem, which delayed us about one hour. But so far still so good. When we
arrived there was somewhat of a chaos at the station with all meeting porters
from the hotels, no one from my hotel though. But as I knew it would be very
close to the station and that the town is tiny I thought it could not be so
difficult to find. At the beginning I just followed all the others that went in
the same direction, but after a while I asked a lady how pointed me in the
other direction. On the way she pointed a small local man came up and asked me
what I was looking for and offered to go with me there and carry my bag. When
someone does that you tend to believe that they know where you want to go. It
turned out he had no idea and had to ask several times and led me in wrong
directions several times. By this time it had started to rain so when I finally
arrived to the hotel I was soaked and not happy. Not happier to learn that I
could not access my room yet. For a while I hesitated whether I really should
go up to Machu Picchu
I felt a
bit stressed and all wet both from rain and sweat and felt I was not in the
mood I would have liked to have going there, but I decided to start with my
lunch and gather some more energy and then enter. While eating I kind of had
the feeling things would get better and I even felt sure the rain would stop
and the sky clear. Funnily that is exactly what happened, when I had finished
my meal and left the restaurant the sun shone!
I felt a
bit stressed and all wet both from rain and sweat and felt I was not in the
mood I would have liked to have going there, but I decided to start with my
lunch and gather some more energy and then enter. While eating I kind of had
the feeling things would get better and I even felt sure the rain would stop
and the sky clear. Funnily that is exactly what happened, when I had finished
my meal and left the restaurant the sun shone!
Entering
the area and starting climbing up to where you can look down at Machu Picchu
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Morning in Cusco
Early morning and sitting at my hotel in Cusco looking out over Plaza de Armas and wondering what to do today. Shall I take a guided city tour, take a longer tour to the Sacres Valley, or just walk around the city at will? Still feel a little tired, have a soar throat and headache and might have a light fever so energy is not as high as could have been.
But nevertheless I really like Cusco and realise it would have been nice to stay here for a longer time and go trekking, rafting and hiking etc. But well, I will have to come back.
But nevertheless I really like Cusco and realise it would have been nice to stay here for a longer time and go trekking, rafting and hiking etc. But well, I will have to come back.
Flying Thoughts
Once again I am amazed how slow the check-in at Brazilian airports can be. Not because there are so long lines, but the handling at the desk is just so slow. They all seem to have their first day at work and every passanger seems their first ever, as if they necer did this before. Some of the passengers also act as if they never travelled before, eventhough I don't think that is the case. And then the Brazilian's love for talkin!!!! How is it possible that the question whether you want a aisl or window seat can take minimum of three minutes to answer??
Another thing that I have been thinking about while flying lately is all the signs and texts ON the plane telling you to "No Step!" or "No step beond this line". The lines on the wings I suppose are to direct people in case of evacuation after an emergency landing, but if you have crashed/done an emergency landing does it really matter where on the wings you step?! But then there are those signs in various places on the body of the planes, there I find it harder to figure out why you would want to step there.
Another thing that I have been thinking about while flying lately is all the signs and texts ON the plane telling you to "No Step!" or "No step beond this line". The lines on the wings I suppose are to direct people in case of evacuation after an emergency landing, but if you have crashed/done an emergency landing does it really matter where on the wings you step?! But then there are those signs in various places on the body of the planes, there I find it harder to figure out why you would want to step there.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Brazil-Peru-Argentina-Brazil
Tomorrow it is time to go travelling again!
I have now finished my work in Brasília, but am not heading back to Sweden just yet. Although I am not going for the huge long trip that this might sound like, I will only be away for two weeks. But I will go out of Brazil.
Tomorrow I am flying to Cuzco from where I will go to Machu Pichu and stay there for a couple of days. Then I will fly to Buenos Aires, a city I have always wanted to see and have great expectations on. There I will stay five days before finishing off with a couple of days in Rio, where I hope I will get some sun and beach. The weather forecast did not look too promising though, rain and 12 degrees might be what I kind of expected for Machu Pichu, but the last couple of days made me have higer hopes for BA. But somehow it seems that according to the forecast the rain will be following me, nice in the places when I am not there but then rain when I arrive. However, I often have better luck with weather than the forecast says (except for Morro de São Paulo though). We will see.
I feel a little badly prepared for the trip though. I haven't had time to read anything aboug Machu Pichu and Cuzco. For Buenos Aires I at least have a book, but haven't had time to read very much, in BA I still haven't booked a hotel and will arrive on a Saturday, which doesn't seem like the best idea., so I am up for surprises :-) but hope it will be fine.
Since the banks in Brazil are on strike I haven't been able to get USD;s which might have been a good idea, now I will have to hope for working ATM:s.
I have now finished my work in Brasília, but am not heading back to Sweden just yet. Although I am not going for the huge long trip that this might sound like, I will only be away for two weeks. But I will go out of Brazil.
Tomorrow I am flying to Cuzco from where I will go to Machu Pichu and stay there for a couple of days. Then I will fly to Buenos Aires, a city I have always wanted to see and have great expectations on. There I will stay five days before finishing off with a couple of days in Rio, where I hope I will get some sun and beach. The weather forecast did not look too promising though, rain and 12 degrees might be what I kind of expected for Machu Pichu, but the last couple of days made me have higer hopes for BA. But somehow it seems that according to the forecast the rain will be following me, nice in the places when I am not there but then rain when I arrive. However, I often have better luck with weather than the forecast says (except for Morro de São Paulo though). We will see.
I feel a little badly prepared for the trip though. I haven't had time to read anything aboug Machu Pichu and Cuzco. For Buenos Aires I at least have a book, but haven't had time to read very much, in BA I still haven't booked a hotel and will arrive on a Saturday, which doesn't seem like the best idea., so I am up for surprises :-) but hope it will be fine.
Since the banks in Brazil are on strike I haven't been able to get USD;s which might have been a good idea, now I will have to hope for working ATM:s.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Coming and leaving
My time in Brazil is quickly coming to an end now. On Friday I am doing my last day at work here and then I will have a weekend in Brasília before I go travelling on Tuesday for a couple of weeks and then go back to Sweden.
It has been a great time here. Although Brasília is strange place and it for sure took some time to get into it and I still think it is probably one of the worst places in the world to come to as a single expatriate over the age of 35, I still kind of like it.
I have worked a lot but still I have invested a lot of energy in getting to know people and creating some kind of social base. After six months it is starting to pay off, but then it is time to leave. And for sure you notice that people are not as keen on investing time in you, as they know you are soon leaving. I can understand that, it is completely rational behaviour, but it makes me a little sad. I have met so many lovely people here and I would have loved to stay here longer, but it is time to leave.
Somehow one comfort is, that I seem to meet lovely people whereever I go. Which means there are a lot of lovely people out there and there will be many more lovely people to meet whereever I go. At the same time I am really bad at saying goodbye and leaving. And it is for sure not getting any easier with time.
Therefore it is a strange combination I have. I am restless and love to go to new places and I get very easily settled anywhere and can build myself a social base anywhere, but still I hate to say farewell and leave. It is a bad combination. At least in the sense that I am making it very hard for myself.
I must admit, I am a bit sad now. At the same time it feels good to be back. At least for a start. There are a lot of things that I have missed, but at the same time I know it wont take long before I am bored to death with life back home in Stockholm... but I will try not to think about that now. You never know what life has waiting for you!
It has been a great time here. Although Brasília is strange place and it for sure took some time to get into it and I still think it is probably one of the worst places in the world to come to as a single expatriate over the age of 35, I still kind of like it.
I have worked a lot but still I have invested a lot of energy in getting to know people and creating some kind of social base. After six months it is starting to pay off, but then it is time to leave. And for sure you notice that people are not as keen on investing time in you, as they know you are soon leaving. I can understand that, it is completely rational behaviour, but it makes me a little sad. I have met so many lovely people here and I would have loved to stay here longer, but it is time to leave.
Somehow one comfort is, that I seem to meet lovely people whereever I go. Which means there are a lot of lovely people out there and there will be many more lovely people to meet whereever I go. At the same time I am really bad at saying goodbye and leaving. And it is for sure not getting any easier with time.
Therefore it is a strange combination I have. I am restless and love to go to new places and I get very easily settled anywhere and can build myself a social base anywhere, but still I hate to say farewell and leave. It is a bad combination. At least in the sense that I am making it very hard for myself.
I must admit, I am a bit sad now. At the same time it feels good to be back. At least for a start. There are a lot of things that I have missed, but at the same time I know it wont take long before I am bored to death with life back home in Stockholm... but I will try not to think about that now. You never know what life has waiting for you!
Monday, May 02, 2011
End of the First Honeymoon?
Whenever you move and/or change jobs I believe you go through pretty much the same phases getting adjusted, especially if you move abroad. I know there is research done on this, giving different names to the phases and approximate estimates on how long they last and what comes after the other etc. However I don’t remember them all now, but it does not really matter. I have moved, changed jobs and countries often enough to know them well and especially how I react myself in situations like this.
This weekend I might have experienced some kind of end to the first honey-moon. All of a sudden I felt sad and frustrated. I missed my friends badly and I felt very frustrated with things, especially not being able to communicate with my surrounding. I even started crying without any particular reason (one part of the explanation might also be that I was rather tired) a couple of times. I also felt very frustrated with the fact that I haven’t found likeminded friends that I feel I can spend my weekends with. So when the weekend came and I finally had time to do something fun, and now also have a car so I can move about, I did not know what to do and where to go because I didn’t like to go on my own.
Somehow my lovely friends and family must have sensed this frustration. On Saturday morning I found a long lovely e-mail from a good friend and then I had a long talk on Skype with another friend and later with family. Then it all felt better. On Sunday morning a colleague asked me if I would like to go with her to the stable and go horseback riding. That was such a hit! Eventually I found myself in an environment that was familiarly to me and I felt that I could do something that I know how to do. I was also very positively surprised that the man responsible for the horses and giving the lessons spoke really good English. I was so happy afterwards and now everything feels much better again!
A good thing, and maybe one of the reasons that I can go on living this way, is that these mood swings are very quick and short and I am so easy to please and make happy again!!
This weekend I might have experienced some kind of end to the first honey-moon. All of a sudden I felt sad and frustrated. I missed my friends badly and I felt very frustrated with things, especially not being able to communicate with my surrounding. I even started crying without any particular reason (one part of the explanation might also be that I was rather tired) a couple of times. I also felt very frustrated with the fact that I haven’t found likeminded friends that I feel I can spend my weekends with. So when the weekend came and I finally had time to do something fun, and now also have a car so I can move about, I did not know what to do and where to go because I didn’t like to go on my own.
Somehow my lovely friends and family must have sensed this frustration. On Saturday morning I found a long lovely e-mail from a good friend and then I had a long talk on Skype with another friend and later with family. Then it all felt better. On Sunday morning a colleague asked me if I would like to go with her to the stable and go horseback riding. That was such a hit! Eventually I found myself in an environment that was familiarly to me and I felt that I could do something that I know how to do. I was also very positively surprised that the man responsible for the horses and giving the lessons spoke really good English. I was so happy afterwards and now everything feels much better again!
A good thing, and maybe one of the reasons that I can go on living this way, is that these mood swings are very quick and short and I am so easy to please and make happy again!!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Swedes abroad
It is amazing how easy it is to tell a Swede among other nationalities abroad! I have been sitting at the same place in the airport in Lisbon now for almost two hours and noticed several times how easy I can tell who is Swedish- I can tell from afar. This far I haven't mistaken once. However I can not exactly tell what it is, but I see it from a long distance. I wonder if people just as easily can tell that I am Swedish!? And if other nationalities spot their countrymen just as easy. Please let me know!
On the Move again
So I am on the move again. Sitting at the airport in Lisbon on the way to Brasília. I have quite some time to spend here and airports are great for writing/blogging. If I were an author I think I would spend a lot of time writing at airports.
When I wanted to log on to the wlan at the airport I realised that all the information was in Portuguese. I don't know Portuguese, but I did not find it very hard to guess my way through the system. At least I somehow managed to get the system working. I was smiling to myself while doing it and thinking about when I landed in Rio in January. In the plane, before landing, they handed out embarkation cards to be filled in. They were also only in Portuguese. Too proud and stubborn to ask for help, and also because I love doing things on my own, I guessed my way through that form as well. And then I knew even less Portuguese! I kind of realised that it would be a bad thing to accidentally give the wrong answers at a moment like that. "Do you bring weapons, ammunition, drugs etc etc? Yes!" But at least they let me in and I didn't get any problem then. Let's see if they will let me in this time. Maybe it is good that I travel on different passport this time. :-)
Lisbon looked absolutely lovely from the air. I will have to come back and stay. I noticed that I had been looking out the window for quite some time before noticing the fact that it was green, warm and summery outside. It just looked normal. Swedish winter is an absolute abnormality. A freak of nature.
But there is (at least) one thing that I think Sweden should make a serious effort to export. That is the construction of washrooms and lavatories at airports! I just don't understand what the architects/constructors are thinking while creating these small cabins at airports. At airports you are constantly reminded not to leave your luggage unattanded. So what is your option when travelling alone and if you need to go to the bathroom?! You will have to bring your luggage. Then it is absolutely nervewrecking trying to squeese into those small cabins where the doors, of course, also open inwards!! Why the hell do the doors have to open inwards!?!? I must say I don't particularly like Arlanda, but the toilets are great in comparison.
Ok, still three hours to go. Hmm see what I will do now. Shopping is not an option as I already have a huge amount of luggage. Drinking another beer might be an option..
When I wanted to log on to the wlan at the airport I realised that all the information was in Portuguese. I don't know Portuguese, but I did not find it very hard to guess my way through the system. At least I somehow managed to get the system working. I was smiling to myself while doing it and thinking about when I landed in Rio in January. In the plane, before landing, they handed out embarkation cards to be filled in. They were also only in Portuguese. Too proud and stubborn to ask for help, and also because I love doing things on my own, I guessed my way through that form as well. And then I knew even less Portuguese! I kind of realised that it would be a bad thing to accidentally give the wrong answers at a moment like that. "Do you bring weapons, ammunition, drugs etc etc? Yes!" But at least they let me in and I didn't get any problem then. Let's see if they will let me in this time. Maybe it is good that I travel on different passport this time. :-)
Lisbon looked absolutely lovely from the air. I will have to come back and stay. I noticed that I had been looking out the window for quite some time before noticing the fact that it was green, warm and summery outside. It just looked normal. Swedish winter is an absolute abnormality. A freak of nature.
But there is (at least) one thing that I think Sweden should make a serious effort to export. That is the construction of washrooms and lavatories at airports! I just don't understand what the architects/constructors are thinking while creating these small cabins at airports. At airports you are constantly reminded not to leave your luggage unattanded. So what is your option when travelling alone and if you need to go to the bathroom?! You will have to bring your luggage. Then it is absolutely nervewrecking trying to squeese into those small cabins where the doors, of course, also open inwards!! Why the hell do the doors have to open inwards!?!? I must say I don't particularly like Arlanda, but the toilets are great in comparison.
Ok, still three hours to go. Hmm see what I will do now. Shopping is not an option as I already have a huge amount of luggage. Drinking another beer might be an option..
Friday, January 28, 2011
Connected travelling
It is amazing the way people travel now. Everyone is constantly connected. In the back-packer-style guesthouse where I am staying, in the evening when people gather in the bar/pool area a majority of them have their laptops with them sitting chatting, surfing, emailing, skyping etc. If they don’t have a laptop they have an I-phone. I should not say too much about it as I am one of them myself sitting with my laptop, but this is actually the first time I brought it for a holiday and mostly to stay in touch with my friend here without spending a lot on the mobile phone bill roaming via Sweden twice. It definitely has other advantages as well, but I think I have never seen so many connected travellers in one place. What happened to take a break from the normal world and getting absorbed with the environment?
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Rio calling
So, I have arrived in a foreign country again. Foreign in the sense that it is the first time I am here. I have never been to Rio or Brazil before. However foreign is not the first impression I had. In many ways it feels very “normal” but then again, I still haven’t seen anything, just the drive in from the airport a few blocks of Ipanema and Ipanema beach. But from what I have seen so far; I like it!
As always I felt it immediately stepping out of the plane, the soft, humid, tropical heat that I so love. All of the sudden my winter jacket that I had been wearing when I left Stockholm and was now tucking away in a plastic bag, felt like the most absurd piece of clothing. How can that be that we wear those things? It can not be meant to be!
The drive in from the airport showed me a very varied cityscape; high-rises, slums, industry, parks, hills, water and beaches in a complete mix. I look forward to explore it more!
My room is very small, I think the smallest I have ever stayed in and unfortunately it also has a smell of urine, but outside the window there are rotten mangoes with there specific smell. But the area where it is very nice and as far as I have understood hotels are both expensive and hard to get so it is ok. AND the writer if The Girl from Ipanema has lived In this very houds. How cool isn’t that!?
Well, now I am tired and will try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day and I didn’t get much sleep last night. Was asking my self a couple of times during the flight tonight why we do these things to us, I dislike flying more and more, but then again this morning it felt good again!
As always I felt it immediately stepping out of the plane, the soft, humid, tropical heat that I so love. All of the sudden my winter jacket that I had been wearing when I left Stockholm and was now tucking away in a plastic bag, felt like the most absurd piece of clothing. How can that be that we wear those things? It can not be meant to be!
The drive in from the airport showed me a very varied cityscape; high-rises, slums, industry, parks, hills, water and beaches in a complete mix. I look forward to explore it more!
My room is very small, I think the smallest I have ever stayed in and unfortunately it also has a smell of urine, but outside the window there are rotten mangoes with there specific smell. But the area where it is very nice and as far as I have understood hotels are both expensive and hard to get so it is ok. AND the writer if The Girl from Ipanema has lived In this very houds. How cool isn’t that!?
Well, now I am tired and will try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day and I didn’t get much sleep last night. Was asking my self a couple of times during the flight tonight why we do these things to us, I dislike flying more and more, but then again this morning it felt good again!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Bahir Dar
After Lalibela we went to Bahir Dar by Lake Tana. To be honest I had never heard of Bahir Dar until my friend recommended it and I didn't know about Lake Tana before I saw the movie Teza a while ago. However, Bahir Dar is regarded as the "Riviera of Ethiopa" and hence a rather popular tourist destination. Therefore the atmosphere is very different, almost mondane.
Ok, I have never been to the riviera and don't really think it is very similar, but there is a board walk along the lakeside and there are cafés and bars along the waterfront and jettys where boats leave for tours on the lake.
Of course the climate is very differnt too, much more humid and for the first time in Ethiopia we were under 2000 meters above sea level. Unfortunately some of the back side of tourism are also there, for examlpe more people wanting to make money on tourists.
Bahir Dar is also the starting point for the Blue Nile. We went for a tour to see the Nile Falls about one hour outside Bahir Dar. It was a nice trip for getting to see some more of a different countryside and some nice nature and beautiful birds, but I must say the falls were a bit of a disappointment.
There is a hydro electric power plant just up-streams of the falls, diverting a lot of the water and as it was low-water levels as we were there, there was hardly any water in the falls at all. Not very impressing compared to the Victoria Falls.
Lake Tana and Bahir Dar are also known for the monastries along the shore and on islands on the lake. We went on a boatride to visit a couple of the monastries.
The boat trip on the lake was very nice, but the monastries were a little of a disappointment. Or maybe it is just me who don't know how to appreciate them... But after a while it got very annoying to constantly be expected to pay money for eveything and you might get fed up of seeing one more ancient goatskin bible and a proccessional cross.
I liked the colourful paintings though. Especially the crash-diving angels..
Ok, I have never been to the riviera and don't really think it is very similar, but there is a board walk along the lakeside and there are cafés and bars along the waterfront and jettys where boats leave for tours on the lake.
Of course the climate is very differnt too, much more humid and for the first time in Ethiopia we were under 2000 meters above sea level. Unfortunately some of the back side of tourism are also there, for examlpe more people wanting to make money on tourists.
Bahir Dar is also the starting point for the Blue Nile. We went for a tour to see the Nile Falls about one hour outside Bahir Dar. It was a nice trip for getting to see some more of a different countryside and some nice nature and beautiful birds, but I must say the falls were a bit of a disappointment.
There is a hydro electric power plant just up-streams of the falls, diverting a lot of the water and as it was low-water levels as we were there, there was hardly any water in the falls at all. Not very impressing compared to the Victoria Falls.
Lake Tana and Bahir Dar are also known for the monastries along the shore and on islands on the lake. We went on a boatride to visit a couple of the monastries.
The boat trip on the lake was very nice, but the monastries were a little of a disappointment. Or maybe it is just me who don't know how to appreciate them... But after a while it got very annoying to constantly be expected to pay money for eveything and you might get fed up of seeing one more ancient goatskin bible and a proccessional cross.
I liked the colourful paintings though. Especially the crash-diving angels..
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Ethiopia: Lalibela
After a couple of days we took a flight to Lalibela, UNESCO World heritage site, known for its eleven rock hewn churches.
Although it is only about an hour's flight from Addis it was easy to tell the difference from Addis already on arrival. Of course it is much smaller and hence quiter and the air is cleaner, but it is also much more arid. It was also much less developed and much poorer than I expected as Lalibela is one of the most well known tourist sites and reasons tourists come to Ethiopia. The area and organisation around the churches is fairly well developed but the infrastructure of the town is practically non-existant.
The hotel where we stayed was however very new, modern and nice. The most striking thing was of course the view. Absolutely fantastic!!
The curches was of course very interesting and unique. Even if I am not at all religious I can imagine and appreciate the spirituality of the place. At least I might have if it wasn't because my friend had explained to us how all the carpets on the floors of the churces were full of fleas; and hadn't it been for all the big groups of Israeli, French and American tourists; and if the priests hadn't looked so bored.... But ignoring these facts and focusing on the believers coming to pray or just to sit in the shadow and read you could sense the spirituality.
Although it is only about an hour's flight from Addis it was easy to tell the difference from Addis already on arrival. Of course it is much smaller and hence quiter and the air is cleaner, but it is also much more arid. It was also much less developed and much poorer than I expected as Lalibela is one of the most well known tourist sites and reasons tourists come to Ethiopia. The area and organisation around the churches is fairly well developed but the infrastructure of the town is practically non-existant.
The hotel where we stayed was however very new, modern and nice. The most striking thing was of course the view. Absolutely fantastic!!
The curches was of course very interesting and unique. Even if I am not at all religious I can imagine and appreciate the spirituality of the place. At least I might have if it wasn't because my friend had explained to us how all the carpets on the floors of the churces were full of fleas; and hadn't it been for all the big groups of Israeli, French and American tourists; and if the priests hadn't looked so bored.... But ignoring these facts and focusing on the believers coming to pray or just to sit in the shadow and read you could sense the spirituality.
Monday, January 04, 2010
A Different Journey
While I spent Christmas at my parents place I mentioned my planned trip to Ethiopia and Zanzibar to my parents. My mother got quite excited and curious which made me just throw out the question if she would have liked to join me. Honestly I had not thougth that much about it but didn't really ever think she would. Of course I should have known better. My crazy sponatnity doesn't come from no-where!
Yesterday she called me and said she was seriously considering if she could come with me. I have to admit I have a little mixed emotions about it. It will for sure be a very different trip. I will have to move at a slower pace and will have to take some responsibility for her as well and I know there might be moments when I get irritated and frustrated with her. But at the same time I think it is very cool that my mother, at the age of 77, very spontaneously, wants to go on an adventurous trip to Africa and I think she will enjoy it and that it will be feasible. I also think about what both my mother and her mother have said. "when I was young and had the energy and power to travel, I did not have the time and money. Now when I have time and money I don't have the power and energy anymore". I don't want to say that when I get old. (So therefore I most certainly wont have any money left when I get old) And if I can be of any help to make it possible for my mother to travel I want to do that. And I think it will be nice for me too. Although it will be a very different journey.
Yesterday she called me and said she was seriously considering if she could come with me. I have to admit I have a little mixed emotions about it. It will for sure be a very different trip. I will have to move at a slower pace and will have to take some responsibility for her as well and I know there might be moments when I get irritated and frustrated with her. But at the same time I think it is very cool that my mother, at the age of 77, very spontaneously, wants to go on an adventurous trip to Africa and I think she will enjoy it and that it will be feasible. I also think about what both my mother and her mother have said. "when I was young and had the energy and power to travel, I did not have the time and money. Now when I have time and money I don't have the power and energy anymore". I don't want to say that when I get old. (So therefore I most certainly wont have any money left when I get old) And if I can be of any help to make it possible for my mother to travel I want to do that. And I think it will be nice for me too. Although it will be a very different journey.
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