Winter Vacation with Nordic Blog Friends - Part 1

My dear blog friends, it’s a strange periode for me: First of April I’ll retire. I started my working career in Paris in 1967. Hope to return there and walk around the “old streets” and memorize.
Last week I had the pleasure to meet old blog friends from Sweden and Norway – in Mariestad, Sweden. Here are some photos from that great event.
 
I arrived on Tuesday afternoon, and heated up RennyBA’s leisure appartement waiting for Mrs and Mr LifeCruiser. The next Day we went shopping – you see;-)
 
Then, on Thursday, when the Sun light up the whole area, we went to the Cathedral of Mariestad.

Here from the interieur

Some details – click to enlarge – See the last one: The different stones they found to build the Cathedral.
Some views from Old Town Mariestad. Lifecruises takes Photos.
 
Here we are – a bad selfportrait. But it’s us on a Tuesday evening;-)

More to come….

A Sunday with a FB Friend from Holland – in Oslo

What to do when you have foreign friends via social medias when they are in your Home Town?
You will be Guide of Course.
It was on Saturday I met her for the second Saturday in a row– a very foggy Day in Oslo, besides I did forget the batteries for my Camera. What a disaster. And I had planned for her to see Oslo out of the normal tourist tracks. Shit happens.
But Sunday, I met Sylvien from Holland again, her last Day in Norway this time.  Our plan was to visit the National Gallery, so stay tuned to my report:
 
I went to my local Bus Station around 11 am.
 
After 4 minutes I’m at the local Train Station. It will reopen in a new standard on Monday, February 20 – 2012. 12 Minutes to Downtown Oslo.
Here are some Photos from the Train Ride to Down Town Oslo.

Sylvien in the National Gallery
 
Here she is again. Hmm, I think she took a photo of me??

This painting by Harald Sohlberg is amazing.
 
And this one by Jens Ferdinan Willumsen – after the Tempest
Above some more from the National Gallery. You might find other paintings and Sculpture more fascinating – it’s free enterence on Sundays.  Besides Norwegain Painters it’s a large collection of French, and Dutch and German Painters as well. Just know it’s a great Collection of Candian Painters called “Painting Canada”. Tom Thomson and his “School” is the main attraction. This special Excibition will we poen until May 13 – 2012.
The Gallery have artifacts from around year 2000 bc.

And a special room for Edvard Munch. Sylvian and me did visit the Munch Museum in Oslo on Saturday. So we reached two great galleries in two Days.
 
Well. after spending 2 1/2 hours with art from several countries and times it’s nice to have a hot chocolade.
 
Down to the Hotel Lobby
 
And here you see Sylvien with her luggage heading for the Train to Oslo Airport.
We had a great time togeghter.
And happy  I connected Maria and Sylvien as FB friends. They both love Norway and I love them as well. Can it better?

More to come…

Lemon Festival in Menton – Festival de Citron

This Festival will open on Februaty 17th this year and ends on March 7.
 
I was in Menton on Wednesday Fenruary 8. The preparation for the Festival was well “en route”. All the Lemon/Orange Sculptures were well hidden behind high Fences. But I’m a tall man;-) And did take some snap-shots ----

What are they preparing here?

Looks like a Pyramide or?
 
Do you have any idea what this will be?  I could not see, but took the Photo way high over my head and the Fence….
 
I could not see this Sculpture either. Only my Camera. Lemons and Oranges…
 
There is more permanent art to see in Menton.
 
Even an Art gallery named Anna;-)

Have a nice week.
More to come from here and there….

Winter at The French Riviera

I’m visiting an old Friend just 1/2 hour drive away from Nice  at the French Riviera or Côte d’Azur. So far the Climate is not what most people think about regarding this region.
 
Here it normally is wonderful to sit outside….
 
View up the Hills
 
The old Well
 
Cannes – Croisette. No glamour this time of year
 
Carlton Hotel in February
 
Duck for Lunch in Cannes. Chez Freddy

Cannes, Beach and Esterelles Mountains – bfore the Snow

More to come from my week at the French Riviera…..