In Copenhagen, on a dreary day. The view would be fantastic if it were not for the fog. Not much else going on today.
(Copenhagen, Denmark; January 2018)
Tag Archives: Scandinavia
In Greece for a night
It could have been a Greek island. It certainly felt like it, and even the olives and the tzatziki had a tinge of sunlight in their flavors. I tried to forget it was Gröna Lund in Stockholm, Sweden. Because there was a Mamma Mia -inspired dinner show, followed by an ABBA-inspired disco, and so many happy people in summer dresses and light linen suits.
Indeed, it was Greece all the way until the wee hours of dawn, when we stepped out of the wonderland into a freezing cold, snowy January night.
(Stockholm, Sweden; January 2018)
A room of one’s own
In this charming, century-old country house there is not a room of one’s own for one person, but for three. The house belonged to my paternal grandfather, who might smile knowing that it now contains the desk and chair of my maternal grandfather. 
Three rooms, three colors, one wallpaper pattern. In the cold winter light the ambiance in each is different. Which one is your favorite?
(Loviisa, Finland; January 2018)
Winter light
December days are short up in the North. Helsinki, just before 3 pm, as good as it gets before the sun sets.
(Helsinki, Finland; December 2017)
Finland grows up
Look at that: little Finland is all grown up. For countries that happens when you can add three digits to your age. It all started in 1917 when the country tore itself off the flank of Russia and the shadow of Sweden and declared its independence. Borders were drawn and redrawn. To keep its sovereignty during WWII, Finland had to even play a dirty game, letting in the Germans to attack Russia from Finnish soil. As a loser in that game, we paid war reparations for nearly 10 years, delivering hundreds of ships, engines, and ready-to-install houses to Russia. Finland was the only country that managed to pay its WWII war reparation debts.
Since then one could write a sweeping anthology of free university education for the masses, the rise of the middle class, membership in the EU, adoption of the euro, female presidents and prime ministers, and the status of a neutral diplomat between East and West.
And I completely forgot dear Finland’s 100th birthday when I accepted the invite to go give a talk in Tartu, Estonia. While others dined, danced, and watched fireworks, I celebrated with a little piece of cake in the lounge at Helsinki Airport. How very inconsiderate of me.
(Helsinki, Finland; December 2017)
Alice in Wonderland
It is as if that tiny door is right there, at the end of the hallway. And when I walk through it everything will be upside down, the wrong size, and inside out. And I will end up attempting to play croquet with a flamingo. But first I need to find the bottle that says “drink me”. Perhaps just up those gorgeous stairs?
(The Grand hotel, Lund, Sweden; November 2017)
Indoor gardens
While it is gray and sad outdoors, summer continues indoors. If only our offices were like this I would never consider working from home. Indoor greenery is the most wonderful of current trends. I hope it is here to stay.
(Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Airport, Copenhagen, Denmark; November 2017)
Lux Aeterna
O lux beatissima,
Reple cordis intima
Tuorum fidelium.
Sine tuo numine
Nihil est in homnie,
Nihil est innoxium.
Nothing is more stately than a choral piece in Latin, sung by candlelight. And Lux Aeterna is all about light. The words themselves mean eternal light. Perhaps in a bout of late-night inspiration, composer Morten Lauridsen searched through sacred Christian texts to find those infused with light, and piled them all after each other to a lovely, nearly half-hour choral piece.
Perhaps for some it is a reminder of a chance for salvation. Perhaps for others it is a reminder of undying, unconditional love. For me it is perhaps the most beautiful blend of words and music ever created. Which ever the reason for each one of us, the church was full tonight.
(Helsinki, Finland; November 2017)
Good morning Stockholm
Good morning Stockholm. The afterglow of summer is still beautiful.
(Stockholm, Sweden; September 2017)
In Aarhus
Good morning from Aarhus, from all places. And it is one cold, dreary morning, indeed. One of the random places I have had the privilege of visiting 4 times in my life already, for various reasons. How odd.
(Aarhus, Denmark; September 2017)
This blue marble 