Colorful plants

Always interested in botanical gardens, we visited the Bergianska garden which is connected to Stockholm University.  We were puzzled by these unusual 'markers'! Then we got an explanation by Ms. Kaili Maide who is an expert in textile coloring with plant material.

The markers show the different hues which are produced using different parts of the same plant for dyeing. Very proud Ms. Maide told us that she was responsible for the planting and caring of these plants as well as developing the dyes.

There are other areas in the large garden. In the vegetable garden we found impressive specimens which use we are familiar with.   http://www.bergianska.se/english/about-us

Golf for everyone

Mini-golf ? We ask with a mocking smile.  Until we visited the newly opened golf course in our neighborhood.  No golf carts necessary, no club membership asked for but very popular and the hottest place to be right now.  http://www.golfbaren.se

Family friendly and good food provide a great mood with lots of laughter.  There are competitions but not taken too seriously.  We learned that there is in fact a Swedish Minigolf Federation which was founded in 1937 and is the oldest in the world of mini golf.  

A special feature are the course obstructions in form of books with the names of famous Swedish writers. The reason is that several streets in the neighborhood have the names of these writers. 

Viking Summer

 For children to visit a historic museum and looking at 'old pots' can be pure agony. To change that, the Historic museum in Stockholm gives the opportunity to children (and adults) to make pots for themselves.

In the court yard of the museum children (and adults) can try out different Viking crafts.  Suddenly the interest in looking closer at the showcases is stimulated. The jewelry in heavy gold which glitters is always captivating.

http://www.historiska.se/home/exhibitions/thegooldroom/

But even there, the experience of making a little bracelet heightens the appreciation for the goldsmiths working during the time of migrations ca 300-700 AD

http://youtu.be/q073B4LpmK0

The best of course is getting dressed up to feel like a fierce Viking!

'Luncheon on the grass'

 If you happen to come to the Modern Art Museum in Stockholm on a Monday it will be closed.
Not to worry - you will be able to enjoy art in taking a walk around the Museum's outdoor collection of fifteen works by prominent artists.  Hidden behind the Museum we noticed first this sign

and then we found the two couples we could recognize from the Edouard Manet's (1832-1883) painting which is in the Musee d'Orsay in Paris.  

Picasso (1881-1973) avoided the controversy Manet's painting created by showing them all in the nude!

During his lifetime Picasso made 27 paintings and 140 drawings all inspired by this paining by Manet.

For a sculptural interpretation he made small cardboard marquettes and was co-operating with Carl Nesjar who was able to translate these marquettes into large sculptures.  Gravel and Concrete are the materials and it is known that Picasso was satisfied with the result.  Carl Nesjar, then a young Norwegian painter, graphical artist and sculptor had met Picasso in Paris in the 1960s.

http://www.modernamuseet.se/en/Stockholm/

Summer in the City

There is no better place to spend sunny days then Stockholm.  Sometimes called the Venice of the North because water is always close.  The pride here is that this water is so clean that one can jump in whenever one feels like cooling down.

The Fredhaell neighborhood has a historic swimming spot where it is easy to step in and out of the water. It is our preferred place to have a morning swim.

In the evening the cliffs close by are used for picnics before a jump in the lake.  I do not know how they come out again….

http://www.visitstockholm.com/en/See--do/Guides/Spas-and-bathing/

The New Look of the 50th

The iconic 'Bar' suit from 1947 is one of the 100 dresses installed in the exhibition on the Fashion of the 50th shown until November 2 this year in the Palais Galliera Museum. http://www.palaisgalliera.paris.fr/en/exhibitions/50s 

After the wartime austerity, women were eager for an ultra feminine style. The ideas of the couturiers and the skillful execution of French seamstresses revived Paris as the centre of High Fashion.  Women who could not afford Haute Couture dresses could buy sewing patterns of the dress models and sow themselves 'low' couture….

At the end of the 50th 'teenagers' were inspired by actresses like Lesley Caron, Brigitte Bardot, Audrey Hepburn and a new look appeared: natural hair, soft sweaters,  ballerina shoes and circular felt skirts in strong colors.  Circular - is the word in the world of 'new looks'.

Tour de France 2014

The tour is not over yet, but we are back home to continue watching on TV the tour on the Champs Elysee.  To see the group 'live' we waited with other fans on the Pont Mirabeau where we knew they would pass.
We waited and waited ……. patiently ………for one hour.  And then the excitement rose, the sirens on Police cars passed and in some seconds the peloton swished by.

In about 20 minutes now the Tour de France 2014 will have its winners.

Three weeks of July excitement will be over.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france