Linear view vs. Masonry View

Tag Archive for ‘Travel’

Landmark cranes

Landmark cranes

Götaverken/Cityvarvet cranes

Last dockside cranes standing as a landmark for the shipyard era in the city of Göteborg, Sweden. At its peak 1950 there was over 200 cranes in the harbour of Göteborg. Today the future of these landmarks of Sweden as a leading shipbuilding nation is uncertain.

The new landmarks looks different like the Karla Tower with the nickname “The Zipper”. It is a symbol for the transformation of the shipyards to offices and housing for the high tech companies and the universities.

The Karla Tower rising 246m over the old Götaverken drydock.

Change is inevitable, ha de Gött!
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Hot London and Shakespeare

Hot London and Shakespeare

Just got back from a few days’ vacation in a record-hot London. The main focus was to celebrate my 60:th birthday with my family, not to take photos. Still, I managed to capture a few, even if conditions was not optimal. Temperatures between 30 and 35°C and clear skies with razor-sharp light.

I took this after attending the Shakespeare play “Much Ado About Nothing” at Shakespeare Globe Theatre. It’s a challenge to read Shakespeare when English is not your native language and, even more so watching a play performed without any technical support like mics or speakers. The actors were brilliant, articulate and projected their voices beautifully, so after a few minutes I settled into that special Shakespeare flow.

Speak low if you speak love, ha de Gött!

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Be Swedes

Be Swedes

When I visit a museum, I spend more time looking at the building than the exhibitions. When you enter the Nordic Museum in Stockholm, you’ll see this statue of the king Gustav Vasa sitting in an impressive hall. The text on the pedestal reads in translation “Be Swedes“. To understand why this statement we need a short history lesson.

Gustav Vasa or Gustav I was king between 1523-1560. He became king after leading a rebellion against the Danish king Kristian II who was king over the Kalmar Union. The union was made up of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. While king Kristian II in Denmark is referred to as the hero king he is in Sweden called Kristian the tyrant. To strengthen the grip over the Swedes Kristian lured the leading members of the Swedish administration to a meeting in the central square of Stockholm and slayed over 100 opponents.

Gustav Vasa managed to flee and made his way to Mora to seek the support from the rich mine and forest nobility in the area. This is the historical background to one of the most famous long ski races, Vasa race (Vasaloppet). He got the support he needed and could be named king of Sweden 1523 and with that ended the Kalmar union that had lasted for almost 150 years.

Know the past to understand the present, ha de Gött!
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