Impressions from Rossilon

Impressions from Rossilon.

Back to the roots

17 years later: back in Southern France.

sse Göörman pump

sse Gööman Gas station. I like the idea of having a road map next to the gas pump.

Berlin an sich

My third time visiting Berlin, my first time really seeing it. I'll be back.

If I'd choose a profession again

If I'd choose a new career I would go for air hostess. Or a bambatant (i.e. dining hall lady). Of course. Here guiding all my working collleagues down to Berlin.

Coming up

Yes.

Coming up soon:
www.manoir.se

Research retreat it is.

My pretty cousin

Månsson defined. My prettiest cousin lives in Oslo.

Being a bad tourist in Oslo

Things I didn't see when I was in Oslo:

1. Holmenkollen
2. Vigelandsparken
3. Akebrygga
4. The Norwegian king

Conclusion: I am a bad tourist. Especially in foreign and familiar Norway.

At least I had a chance to see Norwegian Sport Center, where Johanna works for Norwegian Orienteering. Their conference center is cool.

Daddy's day today

Daddy's day today, like every other day.

The photo was taken in Husavik, Iceland in 2004.

Zürich bleibt

Finishing in Zurich. Züri bliibt no.

The photos were taken by Anna Johansson.

The La Marina way

That's the way we do it in La Marina.

Word of the day

Word of the day: Powerfrau.

The photo was taken by Anna Johansson.

Quote of the day

He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. [Ps 147:4-7]

The photo was taken by Anna Johansson.

Photo session

We had lots of photo sessions.

Photo taken by Anna Johansson.

Quote of the day

Now do it! [2 Sam 3:18]

Photo was taken by Anna Johansson.

Sand castles

My ex-roomie Darren and I building sand castles.

Photo was taken by Anna Johansson.

Fall in Spain

Spanish Fall. We like.

Photo was taken by Anna Johansson.

Finally

Finally! Arriving in La Marina, south of Alicante.

Photo was taken by Anna Johansson.

Saturday morning in Spain

Welcome to Spain.

French Gas station by Night

French gas station by night.

We went by bus with a bunch of Swiss friends all the way down to Alicante.

Photo was taken by Anna Johansson.

Friday in Zurich

We spent a Friday in Zurich. Here at my favorite shop in Hardbrücke.

Photo was taken by Anna Johansson.

Off duty - On vacation

Anna and I went via Zürich to Spain. Here at ETH.

Photo was taken by Anna Johansson.

We like to move it (move it)

I barely can't believe it. For the first time since year 2000 I have managed to book a ordinary charter tour. Last time was with the chicks to Turkey and this time: Valencia, Spain with all the great peep in Zurich! One week with beach, good food and lazy times.

Well, ordinary might not be the right word: I will fly to Basel with Ryan, then by train to Zurich and then by bus to Spain... eh. But compared to driving on uncompleted roads in the Omani desert or going to Albanian birthday parties in Montenegro this is, in my world, quite ordinary.

We like to move it. Move it.

Proclaim the shoe bags

I was born and brought up in a shoe bag. Whenever a new pair of shoes were brought in to our household, my mum made sure to sew a bag, preferably in a glaring piece of fabric, like grass green with yellow stripes or covered with purple flowers on pink background. Regardless if we traveled to Idre Fjäll or to Provence; no pair of shoes came along bagless.

Eventually I have come to realize that these shoe bags have played a fatal role in my life. I have discovered the immorality of bringing a bunch of shoes to London without keeping them in shoe bags. I need shoe bags in my life again.

However: during my childhood I was constantly missing. No shoe bag can escape that fact. Walking in to a trade fair or a shopping mall was equal to getting lost. It was not, and is not, my fault. It is my company's fault. They loose me. The perfect solution of this dilemma: I have dropped the idea of keeping company with people in big warehouses. On Sunday I therefore went lost in Harrods on my own.

British Snow fling

British snow fling.

The perfect evidence that the British nation never has experienced real snow.

Queen Mary's rose garden in December

Every time I go to London I try to visit Queen Mary's rose garden in Regent Park. How stunning is it to see that some roses were still blooming even though it is December.

Let me introduce my friends XV

Karin

Queen of fair trade. And allergies.

When we were teenies Karin and I used to poison her mum with garlic; she did not even have to try the food, just smell our breaths for a short second and the collaps was a fact. Very effective. Despite this fact Karin is quite a good chef.

To celebrate our 10 year friendship we went to see Anna in London last weekend. Good fun, even though I missed the flight back to Switzerland and had to overnight at Luton Airport. Well, what can I say? Same procedure as last year. Same procedure as every year.

Ida and her hand luggage

Every time I fly back to Zurich I try to find someone with more hand luggage than me.

I never find anyone.

On my Tuesday trip I carried the following items in one of my hand luggages:

• 1 pair of goggles
  
• My parent's old hole punch
  
• 1 empty water bottle
• 1 German course syllabus
• Erlend Loe's Naiv.Souper in Norwegian
• 2 Ericsson cell phones
• 1 Ericsson cell phone charger
• 1 digital camera
• 2 CD's
  
• 1 cord for the camera
• Elephant candy for Darren
• 1 pair of sunglasses
  
• A bunch of necessary stuff, such as ticket, passport, wallet, lip gloss and Banyl
  
• 1 European map
  
• Meatballs for Cian
  

Regarding the goggles: I always keep my goggles in my hand luggage. If my checked-in luggage would get lost, I wouldn't really bother, as long as my goggles aren't there. Regarding the hole punch: we don't have the same file system in Switzerland as in Sweden and I refuse to convert. Regarding the European map: I found it in the Air Berlin magazine on the airplane and I felt that it would be such waste if I left it.

Note that I had another bag too, as well as my laptop bag filled with more than just my laptop. I really should stop this habit before the Kantonspolizei catches me.

Detested, beloved Copenhagen Airport

Detested, beloved Copenhagen Airport.

How many more times in my life do I have to be here? I'd rather not think about it. Things you don't have to miss while at Copenhagen Airport:

• To practise your Danish


• The Pilgrim store


• Your flight (haha)

Activity of the weekend

Activity of the weekend: hanging out with Canadian Clare in Alsace. Clare and I met on an exchange in awful little Lons-le-Saunier in les Jura 1998, where we made weird excursions to French countryside parties and recycling stations. Ever since then we have, coincidently, seen each other every third year; in 2001 we met up in San Francisco and in Montreal, in 2004 in Sweden and now we finally organized a reunion back in France (but we skipped the recycling stations this time).

I am never going to relocate to France. The whole point with France is the idea of returning. Colmar is on my list of favourite cities and luckily it is not more than 2 hours by train from Zurich. Interestingly people in Colmar refuse to speak French with my Dad - with me people refuse to speak German.

Conclusions of the weekend:

• something is wrong with Dad's French
• stick to your friendship commitments
• never underestimate the importance of staying in touch

What a blooper, part II

One of the other DVD's that I bought for Darren, Bob the builder, turned out to be in Bosnian (eventhough the seller meant it was in English).

But Darren didn't care.

Graveyard

In Sarajevo there are more graveyards than parks. This one, next to the Olympic village used to be a soccer field.

Tip of the day

Mum sometimes regrets that we left our royal fridge in our old house when we moved. Well, here is the solution.

Tänk att få vakna (SWE)

Tänk att få vakna tidigt en morgon
Utan att sakna natten som var
Jag älskar livet som du har skapat
Tack käre Far för allt som du gav

(Last verse in the Swedish version of Morning has broken)

The photo was taken in Vrelo Bosna.

Vrelo Bosna II

The water runs out of the mountain!

Vrelo Bosna

Saturday excursion: trip to Vrelo Bosna, which is the source of Bosna river. We went there by horse and cart.

Best of Bosnia

Things I want to take with back to Zurich:

• Hanna's balcony
• The dentist and hair dresser prices
• Civapi (i.e. special dish with meat balls and bread)

What a blooper

Tell me what you need and I will find it on the Bosnian piazza. I was lucky (I thought) to get a DVD film today for 5 KM/3€ that was not a copy (stolen goods?). When I came home I could only find the special features disc in the cover. Now I can watch all the bloopers and deleted scenes without actually have watched the film. How entertaining. Welcome to Bosnia, Hanna said.

Mum, if you ever go to Bosnia - bring all your 2 million extension cords and you will make a fortune. But I know, they are invaluable to you.

Traditional fishing

Ulcinj does not pretend to be something it isn't, Hassim told me. We don't put on make up on our city to make it more attractive. Ulcinj is just what it is.

Albanian birthday party

My Guest house owner invited me to an Albanian birthday party. If you ever happen to be in Ulcinj, ask for Hassim and his wife and say hello from me.

Caravan cemetery

Additional photo for Kristin's photo album of random vehicles: This is actually a caravan camping eventhough it looks more like a caravan cemetery.

Big goofy beach

If I would have named the beach I would have named it Big goofy beach, rather than just Big beach.

Finding big beach

Finally I ended up in Ulcinj, worthy candidate for End of the World Award. It is the closest seaside town to the Albanian border and mostly famous for its Velika Plaza, Sandy Beach, the longest (and sandiest?) beach in Montenegro. Long or not but it was difficult to find. Before finding it I ended up on the spookiest camping ever, which on top of everything had been invaded by sheep.

Bar

After Kotor I headed down to the forgotten city Bar, south of its famous neighbour Budva, which is being described in the guide book as a "miniature Dubrovnik", something I did not need.

Kotor

South of Dubrovnik, in Montenegro, I found the much more interesting Kotor. It is situated at southern Europe's deepest fjord.

Paradise on earth - or a bunch of rocks?

With risk to sound pompous I have realized, after several years of traveling, that the most touristy and popular spots of the world kind of look the same; the color of the water differs a bit, people speak differently - but other than that, it is pretty much the same. When I went to Dubrovnik I found the same kind of Che Guevara T-shirts being sold as in Moscow, I climbed a city wall equal to the one Visby, Sweden. And so on.

So what do we do? Give me some more goofy gas stations, give me more interesting life destinies; give me more taste of life.

Lord Byron called Dubrovnik "The pearl of the Adriatic". George Bernard Shaw "Paradise on earth". Let me make this clear: "The pearl of the Adriatic" is possibly Malta. "Paradise on earth" is at the river banks of Ringebäck. I call Dubrovnik a bunch of rocks.

Welcome to Gojan village

We found a village where everything seemed to be owned by someone named Gojan. Everything was called Gojan shop, Gojan spedition, Gojan hotel etc. Even the gas station belonged to this fellow.

Kravice Waterfalls (SWE/ENG)

Själv han är mig alla dagar nära,
för var särskild tid med särskild nåd.
Varje dags bekymmer vill han bära,
han som heter både Kraft och Råd.

Lina Sandell-Berg

The photo was taken at Kravice Waterfalls, south of Mostar, where we had coffee break.

Mostar

First stop was Mostar with its famous bridge in southern Hercegovina. The bridge was destroyed during the war, an event that resonated louder than the thousands of killed people and that became a symbol to the hopelessness of the war. Still today Croatians live on one side of the bridge and Bosnians on the other.

Five day trip

It has been May First and public holiday for three days here. I took the opportunity to explore Balkan. I got a lift with Nygren family from Säffle down to the coast.

Jalko

During the war Jalko fought for Serbia on Milosevic's side and eventually had to witness in Haag. As all the other witnesses in Haag Jalko was given the opportunity to immigrate to any country in the world. Despite his background, he chose to go to Bosnia since it was where he had become Christian. He currently serves as pastor in the Evangelical Church.

God will send you to places where you don't think you want to be.

Bosnian brain wash

Bosnian standard? The water from the washing machine runs into the sink. I tried to figure it out earlier today - and found out that izpiranje, one of the options on the machine means (at least according to the dicitionary I found) brain wash. Bosnian washing machines seem to have unforeseen possibilities.

Bosnian pyramids?

In 2005 some guy claimed that three hills in the village of Visoco, northwest of Sarajevo are ancient pyramids. The hills have a totally different shape than all other hills in the area and some man-made constructions have been found. I am very sceptical, eventhough every Bosnian that I have met so far is totally convinced. However the site was beautiful. You may read more hear.

Hajomastolle (SWE)

Hajomastolle.

Mine field

Yesterday I visited a mine field for the first time.

Some sightseeing

During the war a 800 meter long and 1,60 meter tall tunnel was built to enable food deliveries and safer transportation to and from the city.

Clothes collection

Early morning: Helped out sorting a Swedish clothes collection.

Life is a song

During the war there were times where we did not have eggs, potatoes or bread. But we played in a band. Somehow we managed to switch on electricy via a police station. And the band we called "Bed bugs". It was crazy days, crazy days.

Then I had to join the army.

I used to call myself an atheist. I did not believe in any God or any higher purpose - maybe I believed that some alien would come to earth one day and bring peace into my country. But one morning, it was one of these days when the sky is crystal blue with no cloud, as I laid at the front with the gun in my hand I started to read the Gospel of John in the New Testament that I had in my pocket. My brother had given it to me. He had heard about Jesus from a 15-year old girl. We all got infected by her and the love and the grace she was carrying in her heart.

And that morning, at the front, in the middle of the war, my mind became as clear as the sky. That morning I gave my life to Jesus. And I did not know better than go tell all my collegues. You can just imagine, I was in an army full with muslims, and all of them with guns. But I guess that is what it is all about, being a fool for Christ.

When the war was over Chef was eventually water baptized in a bath tub, got the diagnose schizophrenia, and continued making every day a glory to God and a blessing to others. Today he wears a t-shirt that says: Life is a song.

Chef is the perfect example that Jesus changes lives. My heart is beating for more people to experience Jesus Christ in that way that a break down and life shaping change will be necessary. Cause eventhough Chef was judged to live a life as some mentally retard carrying a big bag of awful, awful memories he has been able to, through Jesus, live the rest of his days with purpose and meaning, give joy and love to others; and to make life as a song.

All ways lead to Goto

Today I have watched photos from my high school and old neighbour area in Sweden. Boro used to coach Kinna Basket ladies team and used to have lunch at Goto´s place Träffpunkten every day. Bosnia is just a bigger version of Kinna. This world is getting unhealthy tiny.

Classical view

This is the apartment building next to ours. It is a characteristic building at the former war front; the last four floors are still completely burned out and not in use. A lot of documents were lost in the war and people still try to figure out to whom which apartment belong.

Daily work flow

Life basically looks like this:

08.00 Breakfast
09.00 Prayer meeting at church
10.00 Never-ending coffee break (and these breaks really never ends! Bosnians really get insulted when you say you have to leave because of work)
13.00 Studying and preparing for Thursday meeting at the Norwegian embassy
18.00 Evening actitvity: Today we went to the beer brewery

Holiday-Inn

Many photos from the war were taken in this area. Most journalists stayed on Holiday-Inn which also was situated in one of the most critical zones.

Welcome to Sarajevo

Sarajevo so far: Nowadays a live in a lovely apartment that probably has survied three wars, may be compared with a (very big) Swedish caravan. Fun facts about Bosnia:

• 10 %, i.e. 400.000 of the Bosnian population speak Swedish


• A proper lunch for 2 costs 3CHF/15 SEK/2 €


• Sarajevo is such great city for a brainless person like me; there is only one big main road and as soon it starts going uphill - you are on the wrong way

Vienna vs Zurich

Wien bleibt Wien. Einfach so.

Things that make Vienna a nicer place than Zurich:

• Birgit and Peter


• The coffee


• The German


• The Milchspeisen (desserts)

Things that make Zurich a nicer placer than Vienna:

• Everything else

Photo above: Karlskirche

Sunday in Vienna

Sunday in Vienna: Sometimes it takes 6 years before you meet people again - but only 6 minutes to reconnect with them. I proudly know Birgit since 1991 and I had the fortune to meet her and her husband Peter in Vienna last Sunday. The principle of penpals really works.

Gulasch soup

Gulasch soup is on the menu every year. It is served in a former "laundry pot".

11th year Lindgrub party

I am spoilt with two families. Every year my Austrian family organizes an "August party" on their farm out on the countryside in southern Low Austria. Together with 100 fellow Austrians I celebrated the 11th year Lindgrub party last weekend.

Swedish strawberries are not the best.

This is what we will miss from France: the food. There is no such place in Europe, where you can find all those amazing delicacies for no money.

Eiffel view

View from the Eiffel tower.

Paris update - day 2

I am not a woman of principals - but when it comes to visiting the Eiffel tower I have to wear pink shoes. I did it in 1991 and that time there was a flower on each shoe, of which I lost one in the Eiffel elevator. That is why we on day 2 closed the day on the Eiffel Tower, wearing pink shoes without flowers.

Except for the Eiffel tower Emma and I explored the areas around the Louvre. And no; we did not see Mona Lisa. Due to my Parent's very very hard bringing up education, that is actually my second Parisian principal; not to see her. Why? There is so much more interesting stuff to do in Paris than crowding arround one billions tourists.

Update Paris - day 1

So what about Paris? Well, spring 2006 will be remembered as the spring of revision; I have been travelling a lot - but mostly to places I've already seen: Chamonix, Zurich, Vienna and now Paris.

Emma and I managed to see almost everything we wanted to. On day 1 we started with shopping on Champs Elysée, a look at the L'arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, a walk along the Seine where we ended up on this (see photo) cozy café (Paris made me realize what Zurich don't have: nice cafés!) Sacre Couer and Montmartre.

We stayed at hostel Aloha, which I strongly recommend you to A V O I D. We were not allowed to be in our room between 11am and 5pm (!), we had to be back before 2am at night and we were not aloud to drink alcohol in our room (we broke each one of the rools). We were surrounded with American backpackers (one of the rools of the hostels was: "please do not call the reception staff 'mam'") who where impossible to connect with.

I would not be surprised if French security police in the coming days will knock on my door, asking me questions regarding our very long and confusing visits in the French metro system. Why? Emma and I probably spent most of our time Paris figuring the system out - and we still do not have a clue. First of all: There is no united sign for "Metro" - each station has its own sign - creative but inconvenient. Secondly; Once you have get there, you never know your way out. And finally; it is impossible to know if you are actually on the right train.

Photo for mummy-mum

The weekend trip to Paris resulted with a thinner pocket and a few more clothes in my wardrobe. One of the best deals was this pink scarf that I found on Lafayette. And don't ask about the price...

Emma and Ida go to Paris...

and the question is: who will loose whom?

To be continued.

Dinhobl revisited

I really enjoy discovering new places - but revisiting old places is one of the biggest joy in life. Eventhough I haven't been to Vienna for the last five years I immediately knew what U-bahn and Strassenbahn would take me "home" to the Dinhobl family.

It was really wonderful to see them again - and the kids had turn out to be really good ones, despite the fact that they had to deal with me for a year. On Easter Sunday they had a big party for a big bunch of friends - just like they used to have every once in a while when I lived there. The same people, the same food and the same atmosphere. Could not be better.

Back to where it all started

Yes. After five years, I am finally going back to where it all started - cause I am off for Vienna! I will be leaving early tomorrow morning and spend three days with Dinhobl family, where I used to work as an aupair. It feels like I am going to revisit my old life as a teenager. These are times where I allow myself to become philosophical:

I sometimes, in my mind, visit that 19-year old Ida, whispering to her: "Hey, look what you became! Look, what you managed to succeed!" But sometimes an 11-year old Ida is whispering back: "Hey, do you remember me?"

We carry the stories of our lives with us all the time. Take care of them, keep them alive.

Tour de France

As a kid I loved it. As a teenager I hated it. As a grownup I have realized that France and I have an ever-lasting relationsship. I spent the weekend in Nancy, France, with Helena. Luckily the spring has finally entered the European continent and we spent the whole weekend slacking on outdoor cafés writing lists and eating unhealthy bread from the bakery. We listed things like cities we are planning to visit this spring and excuses for not giving guys our phone numbers:

1. Well, I have to talk to my manager first.
2. ... or my dad/boyfriend
3. Why? If you wanna say something, you may say it now.
4. Why? I believe in the concept of penpals.
5. You should write down yours, I will hold a lottery later on tonight
6. I live in cave and the connection is terrible

... and the best one:
7. My name is Ida Serneberg; if you really want to contact me, you'll find me.

We actually managed to do a day trip to Luxembourg, a country that I visited as a kid but didn't have any memories from; now I know why: there is nothing to remember. Luxembourg is just too ordinary to be interesting.

2006

Happy 2006! Anna, Linda and I spent X-mas and New Years Eve in Chamonix, which was a total blast. Tom Sawyer (by Mark Twain) says that "I have found out there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them" and I sure love Anna and Linda. Anna and I have so far done six trips abroad togtether, and I am surprised she still endures me.

On the Chamonix trip I lost:
1. My poles (and found them again)
2. My Jacket (and found it again)
2. My Visa Card (it is somewhere on a dance floor)

What can I say? Anna's dad says that I am "a threatening cloud" ("Hon är ett orosmoln")

My New Year's promises for 2006 are:
1. To never loose anything again
2. To visit Berlin

How to loose a key in Brussels (and find it in Sweden)

Spent last weekend in Flanders, Belgium. The city of Ghent (photo above) is wicked - and underestimated. Great shopping, beautiful scenery and a lot more honest than the touristy neighbour Brugge.

Monday night I spent in Brussels, a city that I would love to see more of (with better shoes). On Tuesday, I had to stay up at 5 in the morning due to my early flight. When checking out, I couldn't find my key (a slip card) to my room so I just assumed that I had lost it in the room. The door was locked and I didn't want to wake the others, I had to rush and I just hoped that the hostel staff would find it. Today, when I left work I found it; in one of my shoes. Hm, not too strange I had a chafed foot!