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ullehaddock

Writer of sorts with a soft spot for Photo. Writes about life and what comes into my mind.
Light over the Alps

Light over the Alps

The Germans take their Weihnachtsmarkt, Christmas markets seriously. Me and my little wife been travelling a lot this year so we decided to crown the days before Christmas with a trip Munich. Situated in Bavaria in the south of Germany you could see the alps from the city hall tower. When the sky opens like this over the alps in the otherwise grey days. Well, hallelujah!

Even without snow the Christmas spirit was present among tourists and natives. With temperatures around freezing point the sellers of warm drinks, glühwein (mulled wine) and hot chocolate made good money. Walking around the smells of different things to eat and drink while rubbing shoulders with the world is great. Best is when you find that unique craftsmanship sold by the artist themselves. We came home with some beautiful hand painted Christmas ornaments.

Not all shopping and photo. We attended a fantastic organ concert in the Frauenkirche and string concert.

Marienplatz market
Marienplatz and Neues Rathaus

Frohes fest (happy holidays), ha de Gött!

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Medieval Alleys Stockholm

Medieval Alleys Stockholm

Narrow streets and tourist traps in a historical setting.

It’s a 6h drive from my home but this summer we took a trip, by train, to Stockholm. The capital of the Kingdom of Sweden. Spread out around water, both salt and fresh, with the Old Town in the middle.

With its well preserved medieval buildings and narrow alleys it’s an outdoor museum. Just like in the middle ages you can hear all kinds of languages in the crowded streets. The Viking heritage is a popular theme from all the peddlers in the small shops along the main street, Västerlångatan.

Here are some pictures I took in this beautiful city.

Yes, the royal castle is there on the same small island. None of the royal family lives there anymore. The King decided that he wanted to be a country boy when he became a father to the Crown Princess Victoria. I suppose nobody want hordes of tourists passing through the bedroom.

Vini, Vidi, Vici, ha de Gött!

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The Sowing machine. From pride to decay.

The Sowing machine. From pride to decay.

Once brand new and shining, a farmers pride

now abandoned, left in the forest to fade

for a while a marvel of engineering, to adore

to be put aside the field, a thing of before

Såmaskinen

En gång skinande ny, en bondes stolthet

övergiven, lämnad till skogens förgänglighet

för en stund ingenjörskonst, värt beundrande

satt till åkerns sida, sak från annat århundrande

I just felt this old farming equipment was worth a poem, ha de Gött!

I could not find anything on the web of the manufacturer. I’ve reached out to the local historical society in Gävle hoping they have some information. In that case there will be a new post. The spelling of the city Gävle was changed from Gefle in 1880 just as an indication of the age.

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Explore the Rock Carvings of Tanum: A UNESCO Heritage Site

Explore the Rock Carvings of Tanum: A UNESCO Heritage Site

I live close to one of the UNESCO listed World Heritage sites. Rock Carvings in Tanum and Vitlycke Museum. This area has the highest concentration of rock carvings in Europe. Rock carvings, also called petroglyphs, are knocked with small stones, knocking stones, into the rock during pre historic times. They can be found all over the world but the highest concentration are found in Africa, Scandinavia, Siberia, and Australia. New carvings are discovered daily by archaeologists and the public. As the with all art, interpretation is in the eyes of the beholder even if there is a scientific approach to what the carvings mean. Even so the images triggers the imagination to what made the people to make the effort. Faith or just a wish to be immortalised.

If you want to take a step back in time, to the bronze age when most of the carvings were made. The Vitlycke museum has a reconstructed bronze age village built up with two long houses, storage huts and work sheds. The village is next to the rock carvings in the Tanum World heritage area. You can visit all year around but in summer high season there are guides to explain and let you try craftmanship from that time. The Nordic Bronze age is considered to have lasted from 1700 to 500 BC.

Fun fact. The museum building was inaugurated on the same day my oldest son was born. In a blizzard on April 4 1998 and he also worked there for three summers. Do check out his YouTube channel Hemläxa where he made a series on the Swedish farmers history where episode one has section from Vitlycke. In Swedish but you can use the auto subtitle function in a language you prefer. https://youtu.be/6ff1wRQMwM8?si=MsxFVjlZJu0_Nbdm

Find out more from the museum website https://www.vitlyckemuseum.se/en/.

You have to look back to understand the future, ha de Gött!

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Cold November rain

Cold November rain

English version

when the November rain
chews the light
like a black hole

devours it all

bashes the windshield
like an angry bird
in a Hitchcock movie

remember soft summer wind
gentle over your warm skin
as bright memory

brightens all

down to your bone
like a happy ending
in a Lindgren story

Svensk version

När november regnet
äter upp ljuset
som ett svart hål

slukar allt

piskar mot vindrutan
som en ilsken fågel
i en Hitchcock film

minns sommarens ljumma vind
smekande din varma hud
som ett ljus minne

värmer allt

värmer din märg
som ett lyckligt slut
i en Lindgren saga

Find your inner lighthouse, ha de Gött!

Astrid Lindgren is a Swedish child book author known for books like Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Långstrump. She has been translated to over 107 languages, even Latin. Changes are that you will find her at your library, and it’s worth the effort.

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Dublin residential area

Dublin residential area

The sun does shine over Dublin, only not that often. I took these photos as we walked through a residential area and the sun found a hole in the clouds. I guess the tourist board wants to show off the new city that is emerging but to me this was more interesting. No doors was like the neighbours and the chimney gardens was also something that caught my eye. I guess with all the rain no-one needs to climb up and water them.

Dublin is truly a hidden gem for a city weekend trip. The people are very friendly. Lots to see and experience, like the Riverdance. If you like whiskey and your beer dark, this is the place to go. Food is good and affordable, specially at the many pubs. The city is dense so you can reach most by foot. You can also go by bus and tram. Taxi had surprisingly low fares.

Slainte, ha de Gött!

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After the storm

After the storm

slowly the wind dies down

from frantic roar to silent whisper

as the sea slowly settles

the last waves make a lazy splash

onto the battered shores

a forgive me caress

and the sun slowly fades

behind the dissolving clouds

Anger is okay, but don’t stay that way. Ha de Gött!

Svensk version

långsamt avtar vinden

från frenetiskt vrål till tyst viskning

när havet sakta lägger sig

de sista vågorna gör ett slött plask

mot misshandlade stränder

en förlåt mig smekning

och solen försvinner sakta

bakom upplösande moln

Ilska är okej, men fastna inte i den. Ha de Gött!

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