Caroline af Ugglas - Conquers All With Unbridled Energy

Click here for an other Live performance video, which is great. Unfortunately though, enclosed with some kind of game, well worth whatching anyway.

Caroline af Ugglas is a brilliant and spontaneous artist with an unbridled energy. When you listen to Caroline you will be struck by the characteristic voice of hers and how amazingly well she interpret her favourite songs of Janis Joplin. She brilliantly manages of translating the texts in a way that feels personal and real, while retaining the original message of Joplin.

Following the success of the gold-selling album "Joplin in Swedish" (over 25,000 copies) Caroline released her latest album in March 2009 "How do I do it again". The lyrics are in Swedish, and Caroline's own originals, with the exception of the duet with Tommy Nilsson, "You were my heart,". There is also a Swedish version of Martha Wainwright "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole".

Since her "break-through" at the Swedish Melody Festival in spring 2009, with her song "Snälla, snälla" Caroline has become a very beloved and appreciated artist among all.

Also note that Caroline is the creator of the famous TV-show "Körslaget", which has been picked up by NBC in the United States (Clash of the Choirs) and by the Seven Network in Australia (Battle of the Choirs).

Swedish Traditions - Advent

On the first Sunday in Advent, many Swedes get together to drink glögg — a hot, spicy mulled wine with blanched almonds and raisins and ginger snaps to accompany it.

Advent is the beginning of the ecclesiastical year, and it also marks the start of Christmas festivities in Sweden. More people visit Swedish churches on the first Sunday of Advent than any other time of year; they come to sing the well-known Christmas hymns. This first Sunday is also the day communities decorate their streets and squares with wreaths, garlands, lights and Christmas trees. At home, Swedes light one candle on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, in special four-pronged candelabra. Another way of counting the days until Christmas is the Advent calendar, a card with "windows" that you open, one by one, for each passing day until Christmas Eve. These calendars, which were introduced as late as the 1930s, have become increasingly popular. Swedish radio and television broadcast daily Advent programs for children based on a specially published calendar.

During Advent many people hang luminous stars in their windows. Introduced from Germany around 1910, these stars have become a central feature of Swedish Advent celebrations. Candelabra are another common window decoration at this time of year.

Carola - Sweden's Most Prominent Female Singer

Carola Häggkvist, better known as simply Carola, is a Swedish singer and occasional songwriter. She has been among Sweden's most popular performers since the early 1980s, and has released albums ranging from pop and disco to hymns and folk music. Her debut album, Främling, sold around one million copies and remains the biggest-selling album in Swedish music history. She has also worked as a songwriter. During her 25-year long career, she has recorded many top-selling albums and singles and is referred to as Sweden's most prominent female singer. Find out more at the Carola Website.

Stockholm and Gothenburg - The Best Cities in the World...according to our humble self's :=)

10 Reasons Why U Should Go To Stockholm

The Pearl of Hotels in Scandinavia - Hotel Tycoon Petter Anker Stordalen Presents wonderful Copperhill Mountain Lodge in Åre Östersund

Petter Anker Stordalen
is a Norwegian investor and hotel "tycoon". CEO and owner of Home Invest Group and Choice Hotels Scandinavia, with more than 160 hotels, 9200 employees and 20 new hotels under construction. Home Invest is one of the leading private investment companies in the Nordic region. The core business is service performance, particularly in the fields of hotel operation, property and capital management. Stordalen’s estimated personal wealth is NOK 9 Bn (according to Kapital, no 1 Norwegian financial magazine). Growing up in a merchant family in a small town, Petter Stordalen has become one the most successful and well-known entrepreneurs in Scandinavia. In Norway he has fulfilled the American Dream by combining his unique business talents, visionary leadership and extended social and environmental engagements. Stordalen has revitalized the hotel industry within the Nordic countries.

He has created an award winning and much admired company culture anchored in the core values Energy, Courage and Enthusiasm. He has turned his compassion for the environment into business opportunities, promoting organic foods, renewable energy and corporate social responsibility through his investments and public voice. Following a successful start in business as the owner of the Steen & Strøm shopping center chain, Stordalen is the new big name in the Scandinavian hotel world. In 2004, as CEO of Choice Hotels Scandinavia - in which he owns 100 percent - Stordalen revitalized hotel accommodation for travelers, reinstating basic core values such as design, consideration and individualism.

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The Copperhill Mountain Lodge

Located 730 meters above sea level in sits the beautifully chic Copperhill Mountain Lodge. A supreme member of The Design Hotels chain, Copperhill was designed by renowned American architect Peter Bohlin. This hotel really is one of a kind, the service is great, the hotel is immaculate and the staff are extremely helpful.

Peter Bohlin, an American with roots in Sweden, one of the worlds most skilled architects has renewed this beautiful hotel. Copperhill Mountain Lodge Åre is a Ski Resort Hotel. It is indeed a magical ski-in/ ski-out recourse!

Facts about the hotel: 590 beds( incl. 112 suits) conference facilities up to 450 people, 500 square meter of relax and SPA, several bars and restaurants, ski in ski out, open yearly, Helicopter spot outside the Lodge, open fire with a total area of 800 square meter. What more could you need?
Source-Wikipedia
Intressant.

World Famous Swedish Actresses

Here are some of our world famous actresses:

Maud Adams

Maud Adams (born 1945) is a Swedish actress known for her roles as two different Bond girls in two James Bond films, The Man with the Golden Gun and as the title character in Octopussy.

Adams was born in Luleå, Sweden, the daughter of Thyra and Gustav Wikström. She was discovered as a model in 1963. Adams moved to Paris and later to New York City to work for Eileen Ford, at this time she was one of the highest paid and most exposed models in the world.

Her acting career started when she was asked to appear in the 1970 movie The Boys In The Band, in which she played a photo-shoot model in the opening credits. In the 1970s, she guest starred in such American TV series as Hawaii Five-O and Kojak. Source: Wikipedia

Anita Ekberg

Ekberg (born 1931), worked as a fashion model in her teens. In 1950, Anita entered the Miss Malmö competition wich was the ticket to the Miss Sweden contest, which she also won. She went to the United States to compete for the Miss Universe title, despite not speaking English.

Although she did not win Miss Universe, she did earn a starlet's contract with Universal Studios. In America, Ekberg met Howard Hughes, who at the time was producing films and wanted her to change her nose, teeth and name (Hughes said "Ekberg" was too difficult to pronounce). She refused to change her name, saying that if she became famous, people would learn to pronounce it, and if she didn't become famous, it would not matter.

As a starlet at Universal, Ekberg received lessons in drama, elocution, dancing, horse-riding and fencing. Ekberg skipped many of the lessons, restricting herself to horse riding in the Hollywood Hills. Ekberg later admitted that she was spoiled by the studio system and played instead of pursuing bigger film roles.

By the mid-50s, other studios offered Ekberg work. Paramount Pictures and Frank Tashlin cast her in Hollywood or Bust (1956) and Artists and Models (1955) both starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Ekberg also played an Amazonian extraterrestrial in 1953's Abbott and Costello Go to Mars. Bob Hope joked that her parents had received the Nobel Prize for architecture as she was touring with him and William Holden to entertain U.S. troops in 1954. In 1956, Ekberg went to Rome to make War and Peace, directed by distinguished Hollywood veteran King Vidor and co-starring Audrey Hepburn.

Federico Fellini gave Ekberg her greatest role in La Dolce Vita (1960), in which she played the unattainable "dream woman" opposite Marcello Mastroianni; then Boccaccio '70 in 1960, a movie that also featured Sophia Loren. Fellini would call her back for two other films: I clowns (1972), and Intervista (1987), where she played herself in a reunion scene with Mastroianni. La Dolce Vita was a sensational success, and Anita Ekberg's uninhibited cavorting in Rome's Trevi Fountain remains one of the most celebrated images in film history.

Britt Ekland

Britt Ekland (born 1942) is best known for her roles as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and in the British cult horror film The Wicker Man, as well as her marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her high-profile social life.

Britt Ekland became famous overnight as a result of her 1964 whirlwind romance and marriage to British actor and comedian, Peter Sellers, who proposed after seeing her photograph in the paper. She stood by him after he suffered a series of massive heart attacks shortly after their marriage. Ekland was stepmother to Sellers' children Sarah and Michael (who died of heart attack at about the same age as his father). In January 1965 they had a daughter, Victoria. The couple made two films together, After the Fox in 1966 and The Bobo in 1967, before divorcing the following year (1968). Source: Wikipedia

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo (18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish actress during Hollywood's silent film period and part of its Golden Age. Regarded as one of the greatest and most inscrutable movie stars ever produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the Hollywood studio system, Garbo received a 1954 Honorary Academy Award "for her unforgettable screen performances" and in 1999 was ranked as the fifth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute. Welcome to read more at The Garbo Society.

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman (29 August 1915 – 29 August 1982) was a Swedish actress noted for her starring roles in American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute. She is best remembered for her role as Ilsa Lund in Casablanca (1942), a World War II spy drama co-starring Humphrey Bogart. Read more at Wikipedia.

Pernilla August

Pernilla August (born 13 February 1958) is a Swedish actress. She started acting during her childhood in theater and at school. Her professional acting career started in 1975 when she began studying acting. She attracted the attention of Ingmar Bergman, who cast her as the nanny Maj in his film Fanny och Alexander.

Pernilla has acted in several notable plays, including William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, and Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. Many in the English-speaking world know her best as Shmi Skywalker (the mother of Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader ) from the Star Wars prequel movies. She also appeared in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. She played the Virgin Mary in Mary, Mother of Jesus, 1999 (TV). Source: Wikipedia

Ann-Margret

Born in Stockholm in 1941. She moved with her parents to the United States in November 1946, and they settled outside of Chicago in Wilmette, Illinois. She took her first dance lessons at the Marjorie Young School of Dance, and showed natural ability from the start, easily mimicking all the steps. Her first RCA recording (1961)was "Lost Love" from her debut album And Here She Is: Ann-Margret, produced in Nashville. She had a sexy throaty singing voice and RCA attempted to capitalize on the 'female Elvis' comparison by having her record a version of "Heartbreak Hotel" and other songs stylistically similar to Presley's. ".

Filmography in the 60's: "Pocketful of Miracles," "State Fair," "Bye Bye Birdie," "Viva Las Vegas" with Elvis Presley to mention some." Her fairytale marriage to Roger Smith. TV Specials, record releases, Las Vegas nightclub act, and national recognition as a "superstar sex symbol" punctuate Ann-Margret's life. In 1995, she was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history; she ranked 10th.

She has twice been nominated for an Academy Award, won five Golden Globe Awards, and received five Emmy nominations. She draws sell-out crowds in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Radio City Music Hall and is a three-time winner of the "Female Star of the Year" award given by the United Motion Picture Association. In 2001 Ann-Margret was presented with a Diploma and the Golden Plaque by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia as the 'Swedish-American of the Year'. Ann-Margret Official Web Site.

Lena Olin

Swedish-born Lena Olin (1955) already had a successful career as an actress before she came to Hollywood. She acted at the Royal Theatre in Stockholm and was directed by Ingmar Bergman. Lena also belongs to the Bergman "family." As a young actress, she played in the great classics of William Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg.

After coming to the US, she played mostly distinguished, exotic temptresses, intelligent women and crude vamps. Bergman had developed Lena's artistic gift to play different human emotions and express them in a subtle way. Olin received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Enemies: A Love Story (1989). She went on to have a choice role in Chocolat (2000), which received a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.

Olin received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Source: Wikipedia

Malin Akerman

Malin was born in Stockholm 1978, her family moved to Toronto, Canada when she was two years old. After her parents' divorce, her father returned to Sweden, and Åkerman stayed in Canada with her mother. At the age of 17, Åkerman won the Ford Supermodel of Canada search. She appeared in several television commercials, including one for Noxzema skin care. After a career in modeling, she turned to acting and moved to California.

She has had roles in several films, including The Utopian Society (2003) with Sam Doumit and Austin Nichols and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004). Akerman has made several TV guest appearances, The Showbiz Show with David Spade as a correspondent and in the third season of HBO series Entourage to mention some. She starred in the 2007 Farrelly Brothers movie The Heartbreak Kid and in the 2008 film 27 Dresses.

In 2009, Åkerman co-starred in Couples Retreat, opposite Vince Vaughn, and The Proposal. Åkerman sings for the band the Petalstones, known previously as Ozono. Source: Wikipedia

Winter Greetings from Swedish Lapland

Lappstaden, Arvidsjaur

I had a wonderful weekend in Lapland and got some really nice winter pictures too, hope you'll enjoy them. With best regards, Siv

A Laplander Cab - Snowmobile on Water

I am at the moment on a visit in Arvidsjaur, situated in the northern parts of Sweden, in Lapland. Today it is snowing quite a lot, I took a long walk, heading for my brothers place for lunch. It is so beautiful here and I am happy to spend the weekend with my relatives and tomorrow we are going to a party where lot's of good old friends hopefully will attend. I found this Youtube video, made in Arvidsjaur, check out this snowmobile on water it is so cool!

Swedish Anna - Wife of Paul Anka Making Headlines in Sweden

No matter what they say about Anna, she is a woman who knows what she wants, and lately I think we have gotten to know her better. She is quite a remarkable woman after all, I don't agree with her attitude and cool image, boy, she sure has got opinions about just about everything. Maybe this is something for us Swedes to learn from; not to be so afraid, stand up for yourself. At least I think woman in general is afraid of being provocative, therefor Anna is a wake up call for others, but please don't get me wrong, I mean in a positive way - in a caring way of other people.

When Paul is singing to Anna in this clip, I get the goose bumps :) He is so good!

American songwriter Paul Anka sings My Way to his wife Anna. Paul Anka wrote the English lyrics to Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way" in 1967. The recording is from the Swedish talk show Skavlan where Anna was one of the guests.

Anna received considerable attention after Swedish TV channel TV3 had featured her on tv-show "Svenska Hollywoodfruar" (Swedish Hollywood Wifes) where she spoke out in one-liners about a wife's obligation to her husband, and why Swedish men are so lame in general.


Anna Anka (born April 28, 1971) is an American model, actress and author who is married to Canadian singer Paul Anka. Anka is featured in the Swedish documentary series Svenska Hollywoodfruar (Swedish Hollywood Wives), which received considerable attention with its first episode, primarily due to Anka's idiosyncratic attitudes and memorable one-liners, coupled with an article penned by her for the Swedish online discussion site Newsmill.

In 2009, Anka became known to a wider public in the television show Svenska Hollywoodfruar (Swedish Hollywood Wifes) where she was one of three Swedish women who had moved to Hollywood and become housewives. The program, which was shown on Swedish TV3, had high ratings, and set a new viewer-record for a program made by TV3.Source: Wikipedia

Jill Johnson singing at Ullared Gekås - Enjoy Shopping with Country Music!

This video is recorded at the shopping centre Ullared Gekås.

Jill (Anna Maria) Johnson, born May 24 1973 in Ängelholm, is a Swedish country- and pop-singer and songwriter. She performed the Melodifestivalen 1998 winning song Kärleken är, and represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 with that song, which finished 10th with 53 points. In 2003 she again entered Melodifestivalen with Crazy in Love, which finished fourth in the final. She also hosted the final of Melodifestivalen in 2005. Johnson is today one of the most successful artists in Sweden, with several gold and platinum records.

Gekås i Ullared AB is a department store in Ullared, Sweden. It was founded in 1963 by Göran Karlsson as Ge-kås Manufaktur. It has an annual turnover of 2 700 000 000 Swedish kronor (2006). The total selling space is 19 000 m2. Boris Lennerhov is CEO. The store is annually visited by 3 700 000 customers, with a maximum of 26,200 for a single day.

The average customer travels 150 kilometers to get to the store. The company does since a few year run a campsite and a motel in order to serve customers. It has been known for avoiding usual advertising, instead relying on word of mouth.

Source: Wikipedia

The Royal Palace in Stockholm - The Capital of Sweden

With 608 rooms Kungliga Slottet, the royal palace in Stockholm, is the biggest of its kind still in use. It's not allowed to film inside, but it's impressive enough from the outside. Video includes shots from the change of the Royal Guard.

I used to live in Stockholm, actually in Gamla Stan. Which is a historic and very special area of the city. Such beautiful and old buildings, and here are many wonderful paths to walk in the old town.

Evert Taube - One of The Finest Troubadours in Sweden

Evert Taube was born in Gothenburg, and brought up on the island of Vinga, Västergötland, where his father, Carl Taube, a ship's captain, was the lighthouse keeper. In 1925, he married Astri Bergman, a painter and sculptress. Having spent two years (1907-1909) sailing around the Red Sea, Ceylon and South Africa, Taube began his career as a singer-songwriter and collector of sailors' songs. Following a five-year stay (1910-1915) in Argentina, he developed an interest in Latin American music and introduced the Argentinian tango to Sweden in the twenties.

On his 60th birthday in 1950, Taube received the Bellman Award from the Swedish Academy and in 1960 he received an honorary doctorate from Gothenburg University. He was elected as a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1970.

Among Taube's most famous songs are "Calle Schewens vals", "Min älskling (du är som en ros)", "Dans på Sunnanö", "Flickan i Havanna", "Änglamark'", "Så skimrande var aldrig havet" and "Så länge skutan kan gå".

Evert Taube is regarded as one of the finest troubadours in Sweden. There is a complete pavilion, opened in 2008, dedicated to him at Liseberg Theme Park in Gothenburg, well worth a visit.

Source: Wikipedia

Famous Swedish Authors - Astrid Lindgren

Astrid Lindgren’s great popularity began in 1945 with the creation of Pippi Långstrump (Pippi Longstocking), the first of several books with Pippi as a main character.

This strangely dressed girl living alone with her horse and ape, having great wealth and enormous physical strength, stands totally apart from the conformist demands of everyday life and incarnates every child’s dream of freedom and power. The Pippi books also exhibit the infectious humour for which Lindgren is known.

Among the many languages into which the books have been translated are Japanese, in which Pippi is known as Nagakutsushita-no-Pippi, and Hebrew, in which she becomes Bilbec Bat-Gerev. English translations include The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (a collection of three Pippi books), The Amazing Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Goes On Board, and Pippi Goes to the Circus. Thirty-eight feature-length films have been devoted to Pippi.

Astrid Lindgren grew up in Näs, near Vimmerby, Småland, and many of her books are based on her family and childhood memories. However, Pippi Longstocking, one of her most famous characters, was invented to please her daughter Karin, who was, at the time, ill and bed-ridden.
Astrid Lindgren died in 2002, at the age of 94.

Source: Encyclopedia Brittanica and Wikipedia

Beautiful Celebrities - HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden

Beautiful Celebrities - HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden

Explore West Sweden Food - Go Feskekörka!

Oh, such delicious seafood...

Alfred Borneby at your service...

The fish counter is filled with a good assortment...

You can enjoy a West Coast lunch...

Feskekörka(in English Fish Church) - was built in 1874, by the city architect Victor von Gegerfelt who was inspired by the wooden Norwegian stave churches and stone Gothic churches. The idea was to have a room without pillars. Today Feskekörka is an institution as well as a tourist magnet, housing one of the city's oldest trade, fishing.

During summer I love to go fishing and one of my favourite fish on the west coast is mackerel. I like it best when it is fried and served with creamed spinach, lemon and potatoes. Another delicacy, which is very common on the west coast, is to cook the mackerel in water with vinegar and spices, topped with lots of dill. Serve it cold, when the fish stock has turned into gel and you'll find that it will taste even better.

As winter is getting closer memories of great fishing trips would be all we'd have for dinner, if it wasn't for Feskekörka. Last weekend I made a visit to this charming and picturesque indoor fish and seafood market, situated along the canal in the central parts of Gothenburg. Here you will find both merchants and restaurants who offer the daily catch of fish and seafood as well as ready made lunch or catering. If you are out of ideas for what to prepare for dinner, the friendly vendors will come to your help and even provide you with some recipes.

Speaking with Alfred, a student working extra at Feskekörka on weekends, I found out that smoked salmon is the most common fish for foreign visitors to bring home. I was also told that the large west coast crayfish together with lobster at the moment is the most popular seafood.


So many things to choose from...The fish counter was filled with a good assortment of whiting, flounder, haddock and herring as well as smoke-dried fish, preserved fish and salads. Finally, I decided to make a fish soup, for a relaxing and cosy Saturday afternoon. I left the beautiful "church-like" building with a bag of fresh fish together with lots of inspiration for cooking a "west coasters meal" for my family.

Yummy mummy, winter cocooning isn't too bad after all!

Halloween in Sweden - A Young Tradition In The Gathering Dark

Halloween - A young tradition in the gathering dark

Halloween has only been celebrated in Sweden over the past decade, and has rapidly become established here — not least as a result of smart commercial marketing. By the beginning of November, Sweden is enveloped in darkness and the long working weeks stretch away endlessly. Source: Sweden.se

As I was helping my son to get ready for a Halloween celebration at school last Friday morning, I came up with an idea...-Why not bring some Halloween atmosphere with me to work as well...

It was quite a surprise for my colleagues when I, all of a sudden, turned up in a Halloween-dress offering them a trolley filled with candy and drinks. We had a good laugh! I got them just in the right mood for the Halloween weekend, just as I intended to do...ha ha.

What's wrong with people?

Lately there has been a couple of real upsetting and heartbreaking news on the air. The Balloon Boy in Colorado - the whole world (including myself) could follow the awful journey of a helium balloon live on TV believing that a 6 year old boy had been carried away. In fact he was hiding in a box in an attic at home.

The mother in Denmark; searching for the father to her newborn baby; hoax of Visit Denmark - who later apologized. The Mysterious Man; a foreigner who turned up at a police station, with loss of memory. Swedish telly dedicated a search for people who would recognize him. Later this dude were caught surfing the Internet at his very own website. He had left his family in Berlin for a journey to Sweden where he could play his charades for a while...and he sure had his 15 minutes of fame!

The mobile phone operator Tele2, who was behind a hoax meteorite strike in Latvia, trying to fool the world via a spectacular YouTube video. Tele2 has confessed to the publicity stunt which - it says - was intended to "promote" the Baltic state.

It makes you wonder where and when this will end? And why do we have to put up with these things? It makes me so mad to know that these frauds are paying the wages of eminent marketing people, next thing they will start rewarding each other for "Best Marketing Hoax of The Year"!

I do agree with Mr. Paul Ronge (media adviser) when he is saying that it is obvious that the current marketing business is surfing on a trend. There is loss of creativity in the business and everybody is copying each other instead of trying to find new ways to get attention. I'd say these people are playing with fire and I fear the day when a really bad accident happens and nobody will react cause we don't believe it is true...

Länk till AB artikel.

Guys And Dolls - GöteborgsOperan

Guys And Dolls - GöteborgsOperan

I had a such a great time at The Gothenburg Opera the other night. The world famous musical Guys and Dolls is now on their repertoar since Saturday. If you wanna find out more about our great Opera house on the west coast of Sweden, please check out their site: Opera.se

Agnes Makes You Wanna Dance - Release Me - No 1 Hit

Our Swedish former Idol-contestant Agnes is now climbing towards the top worldwide. And this week she has has reached number one on the US Billboard with her dance music hit "Release Me".

I remember following her at Idol a few years ago, then a some what shy girl with an amazing voice just ready for her final polish. Final polish is definitely what she got through her weeks of good practice with live broadcasting every Friday evening with millions of Swedish viewers. Her song Release Me has been a success in Sweden and through out Europe already and now Agnes is ready for the United States.

Check out this video, where she actually is performing just a block away from where I am living, at Liseberg Amusement Park, a couple of weeks ago. Enjoy her beautiful song, get up and dance, it is a real good dance tune. I wish Agnes all the best and good luck over there!

When I listen to this song I get in a good mood, yeah, and tonight I am going to party too. My friend C. is having a birthday party, so now I have to close down blogging for today and get out and by her a birhtday present. I tell you more about my evening later :)

Whish you all a good weekend and promise to come back soon with lots of nice pictures from Gothenburg and our Wonderful Sweden!

Läs mer på Aftonbladet.

Swedish Prime Minister Singing In The Barack Obama Band :)

The other day I saw a great YouTube Video where The President of the United States of America Barack Obama was dancing with the beautiful Latino singer Thalia at the Fiesta Latina. Watch video here.

Well, tonight I am proud to present to you (in case you still haven't seen it yet) recent YouTube Video where our Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt is in very good company performing a song with the Obama Band :)

Forgive me, but I could not resist to enclose this video in my blog, it is just for fun! Enjoy.

Family denies runaway balloon was "publicity stunt" - I am glad the boy was safe, no matter what!

The Heene family. (ABC TV)

I am glad the little boy was safe, that is actually the most important thing after all of that speculation that he was in the balloon. But waking up this morning,before checking the news I said to my husband, -What if it is a PR - thing? I found out to my relief that the boy was alive, but I do hope it was not for a show...
EWS.com Colorado's Online News Leader Family denies runaway balloon was 'publicity stunt'
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My Childhood Island Is For Hire - Wonderful Lapland Views

Rent your own island with a beautiful timber house and a wonderful view in the middle of the wild nature in Lapland.

I have many great childhood memories from Lapland and the small village of Abborrträsk where I grew up. During spring we used to go by snow scooter to a small island called "Golsjörholmen". It is such a small island that you can easily walk around it in about 15 minutes. You can imagine how much fun it was for us kids. Our father had built a small hut so we had a shelter and even sometimes stayed and spent the night. Us kids could enjoy ourselves with fishing or just explore the nature around us, build our own hut in a tree, or in the winter spend hours on the ice pike fishing.

In the summertime we went by boat and I remember many times going fishing with my father Thure. He was a fine man, unfortunately he passed away many years ago, much too young. I liked to go fishing with my dad, we took the boat and I used to row while he was laying the nets. Sometimes he got angry if I went the wrong direction, but we always had a good laugh afterwards.

I remember the fantastic view from the Island in particular, and it made me so very happy when surfin on YouTube the other day and I stumbled on this video. The video-clip is in my opinion a bit too long, so please press to forward to reach to the mid part where you will find many beautiful scenery's from this island as well as some really nice shoots from a couple of fishing trips.

The pictures from the island and the wonderful views touched me deep in my heart, well, sometimes even nice memories can be hurtful. Remembering my childhood days also brings back the sad feeling of having lost a dear and beloved father. But I am pleased to find out that the lovely island of "Golsjörholmen" is a place still in use of people, who will have the pleasure to enjoy one of the golden pearls of Sweden.

Nowadays this little island is being well taken care of by the Holmberg family, Sonny and Sara, who are running the company Nature Safaris in Lapland. Read more about them at Nature Safaris in Lapland. Don't miss their generous offer to register for their newsletter on the website and get yourself the chance of winning a free trip with Nature Safari!

Maybe you will go there too, one day!

Starting Today You'll Find Great Offers At City Airline To And From Southern Europe - I Am Heading For Palma!

City Airline Crew

City Airline Destinations

The "World's Biggest News" has landed today in the Gothenburg area. Everybody is running their legs of to be part of the tremendous flight boom that City Airline (Gothenburg Airliner) has created.

Today City Airline have announced their expansion by opening seven new direct flights from their base Gothenburg, Landvetter to southern Europe. Who wouldn't wanna go to one of these tempting destinations: Barcelona, Alicante, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca in Spain. Athens in Greece, Milan and Rome in Italy. Since early this morning (at 07:00) it is possible to book tickets from 695 SEK (circa 65 EUR) one way with a return ticket at around the same price!

But hold your horses, I am not in favour of sending people away from Scandinavia. On the other hand, I want everybody to come and experience this wonderful country, no matter what time of year it is. So please, to all of you having a dream of going away for a visit to Sweden, this is your opportunity. If you are living in the area of Barcelona, Alicante, Malaga, Palma, Athens, Milan or Rome don't hesitate to check out this praiseworthy offer.

Get yourself a ticket with City Airline and experience Sweden in 2010!

Note: Don't blame me, I'm off for a week to Palma de Mallorca in August next year, couldn't resist the ever so good offer myself :)

(Expressen, Aftonbladet

Swedish Models In Austria

A Salzburger taxi...

A Salzburger couple...

A room with a view...


Beautiful Hotel Salzburger Hof

Swedish Models in Bad Gastein, Austria :)

Can you imagine how thrilled I was when being asked to come along for a photo shoot in Bad Gastein last week. I dropped everything, packed my bags in a sec. and left for Austria. Lucky me, who's got such a supportive husband never trying to stop me from my spontaneous and sometimes crazy "last minute" moves.

Me and my modelling colleagues had the pleasure of staying at the hotel Salzburger Hof, in the centre of the pittoresque town of Bad Gastein in Austria. The hotel is one of the Alpine's largest hotels and owned since 1989 by the Swedish Group, STS Alpresor.

I'm not exaggerating, but at least a thousands of photos were shot, all in purpose for the next summer catalogue of Alpresor. Thursday evening we spent in the restaurant and bar of the hotel Salzburger Hof. Friday morning we had a relaxing couple of hours in the pool and spa area, which offered a fantastic view over the mountains. I learned that modelling can be quite glamorous after all.

Saturday luckily brought warm and sunny weather to our shopping tour in Salzburg which was a perfect ending of a marvelous weekend. I say thank you to Jessica our patient and professional coordinator, and Nisse our ever so kind and easygoing photographer.

STS Alpresor operates five hotels in Bad Gastein, Austria. Hotel Salzburger Hof, one of the Alps most appreciated hotel, Hotel Post - Alps new design hotel, completely renovated Hotel Wildbad, nice Hotel Gisela, and new luxury Villa Orange.

Click for more info/video about the Hotel Salzburger Hof.

City Break in Stockholm

SPY BAR

Once a very famous discotheque...

"Svampen" - The Mushroom. Famous meeting spot for the Stockholm Party People...I was a bit nostalgic coming here, but my son was not impressed at all, as you can see :)

There are many nice shops in Stockholm. Here is one with the most excellent Swedish Design and we stopped for some "window shopping"...

We had a great view from the lovely apartment,

which we had borrowed for the weekend...

During the 90's I had the pleasure to live and work in Stockholm for a couple of years, and I did enjoy it very much. Even though I am a northern girl, grown up in a small village, I do like this "busy-city-life" and I think Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in the world! To visit now and then is surely a joy, and this weekend I also had the opportunity to meet up with some good old friends of mine.

Friday was spent with Anna and we had a nice evening at East, a very popular restaurant situated right at the hot spot of the famous square Stureplan. The food was delicious and so was the white wine. Saturday, we left the lovely apartment ( a beautiful flat at Birger Jarlsgatan) quite early, before lunch. My son (soon to be eight years old) and my mother in law R-M, for a visit to the Vasa Museum.

Saturday evening we had a drink with friends at Riche, quite a nice bar close to Stureplan as well. But I was a very disappointed with the music they played. I have nothing against old 1930's jazz, but too loud and with a "screaming sound" it was very annoying while trying to have a conversation. I guess I am not such a cool City girl after all...

A Wonderful Lunch Trip in the Sky - Swedish Opera Singer Made My Day!

I thought my flying days were over... But, today I had the pleasure of working in the cabin of an Embraer 135. I was asked to come along and be of assistance to the Chief cabin crew. It was a special occasion - the lucky guy's to have been invited, were going for a some what luxurious "one hour lunch trip in the sky".

The weather was perfect, it was such a warm and sunny autumn afternoon. Before take off we offered everybody a glass of champagne and after having made a circle above the city centre the pilots took us up to a level with less turbulence where lunch could be served in the most comfortable way. The view was magnificent and everybody were enjoying the flight tremendously. So did I and my colleague, even if we, by natural reasons, mostly were occupied with providing everybody the best possible service.

It was a great day and I was lucky to get a good shot of our grand opera singer here in Gothenburg, Hans Josefsson. He entertained during the trip and I had the opportunity to take this video of him when singing "Inbjudan till Bohuslän" (Invitation to Bohuslän) by Evert Taube.

Go ahead and have a look at the video, it is not everyday one has such pleasant assignment at work :) I really did enjoy it, I say many thanks to Hans Josefsson - such professional entertainer he is!

Hot Fashion Trend - Check Out Who's Wearing Sami Jewelry From Swedish Lapland

Hockey goalie Henrik Lundqvist

(named one of the World's 100 Most Beautiful People by People magazine 2006)

Börje Salming, Hockey Legend

Sheryl Crow

Unique handmade Sami Jewelry and other handicraft from Lapland, Sweden

www.swedart.com, www.swedart.etsy.com. If you wanna be updated, there is a "SwedArt Fan Page" to be found at Facebook, just click this link.

Hot Fashion Trend - Unique Handmade Sami Jewelry

Margareta Lidskog, Founder of SwedArt™

Margareta Lidskog, a Swedish lady living in Boston,MA, have since 1998 had the honor of promoting tourism and introducing artists and artisans from the northern provinces of Sweden to North America. She is a Honorary Ambassador to Arvidsjaur in the province of Lapland near the Arctic Circle.

The exotic Arctic region of northern Europe has unique handicrafts not found elsewhere. The native materials and techniques have been used for thousands of years. Margareta travels to the region to search out the best artists and artisans and she has established personal relationships with the artists that she represents. Because of these excellent contacts, SwedArt is able to bring exquisite and rare handmade articles made in reindeer antler, reindeer leather and fur, and Arctic hardwoods to you.

This lovely lady is a friend of mine and I do recommend you to make a visit at her website to check out all those fantastic jewelry and gifts. Margareta has a mission; to allow artisans from northern Sweden to showcase their unique crafts to North America and the rest of the world. And she is well on her way, many famous people are now wearing her bracelets, I will enclose some pictures on this blog as well. But don't forget to visit the website, maybe you will find something that suits you or buy a gift, Christmas is soon coming up.

Here is the link to the website of her company:Swed Art

Kiruna - Jukkasjärvi The World Famous Icehotel

The world famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi. The guests are journalists from all over Europe, with particular interest in writing about exciting recreational activities, outdoor life and sports. Listen to what they have to say about Kiruna and Jukkasjärvi: It's a fairytale, I can't quite believe it, it's a sort of Wonderland" says one Lady Journalist.

Kiruna is the most northern city in Sweden, and I can tell you, it is a very different and special place (I know, because I used to live there). With a population of about 20 000 it is quite a small city, but when Kiruna received their city rights in 1948 it became the world's largest in area.

The city is situated about 145 kilometers north of the Arctic circle and this makes the place so unique. The sun doesn't set between the end of May and Mid-July, and perpetual daylight lasts from early May to early August. From December to January, the sun doesn't rise at all, only a few hours of twilight is what you'll get. I cant explain the feeling of living in such a climate, you must experience it.

The strongest memory I have from my time in Kiruna is the nature. There were hardly any trees, except for dwarf birch and species of willow, and the landscape of far distant mountains was a regular view from standing just about anywhere in the city. When I first got there it felt like as if I was on another planet. The dark winter period, with only a few hours of a kind of "blue-ish" light between eleven and twelve (in the middle of the day), also something that I tried to get used to, with various success. No wonder depression is common in this country. On the other hand, the fresh air I experienced during those cold autumn mornings going to work, was something I really appreciated, and something to long for nowadays as living in the city centre of Gothenburg.

So, now I guess you think, what does people make for a living in this country of wildernes? Well, due to the extreme environments a booming industry is the winter testing of new cars and their components. In particular the areas of Kiruna, Arvidsjaur and Arjeplog (all situated in Lapland) there has been lots of jobs created as well as generating trade for shops, restaurants and hotels. The mining; LKAB and the European Space and Sounding Rocket Range, Esrange together with tourism is of course also an important source of income for Kiruna.

As cruising on the YouTube earlier today I found a video that will give you a clue to what I am trying to say. Kiruna is a fantastic place, and I do recommend all of you to make a visit. There are such beautiful surroundings and there are a number of great things to do and experience as a tourist!

If you want to know more: Kiruna Lapland ,Kiruna Municipality ,The Kiruna Festival ,ICEHOTEL

Swedish Hollywood Wife's

Anna from Bjuv, Maria from Västerås and Agnes-Nicole from Borås have one thing in common - they are living the American Dream - a luxurious and glamorous life. These woman left the Swedish everyday life for the Hollywood glamour, and in this TV 3 reality show "Swedish Hollywood Wife's" they are showing off their lives of today, telling their stories about good and bad.
(AF)

There is no bad weather, only bad clothing!

If Sweden has a reputation for being cold and dark, it’s because it’s, well, cold and dark for several months of the year. Sweden’s northerly latitudes make it a land of extremes – think Alaska-like in the winter months and the Land of the Midnight Sun in the summer.

The Swedes like to say that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. It is certainly prudent to bring a jacket even in the summer, as the weather is sometimes unpredictable. An umbrella is also a useful piece of equipment to battle any unexpected downpours. The dark winters have an effect on people’s moods. It’s been estimated that almost 20 percent of the population suffers from mild Seasonal Affective Disorder (Swedish winter-related blues).

More about Sweden and weather: WhyGo Sweden, or at "Light therapy helps to beat the winter blues": study.

Survey about Sweden - Blonde's, Elks and Beautiful Countryside comes first in mind!

Any blonde's in Sweden?

When foreigners think of Sweden they think of elks, royalty, the great outdoors and beautiful women, according to a survey from VisitSweden.

Recently a group of 1,000 British, German, French and American people were asked for their views on the country as a tourist destination. The question was " What comes firstly in your mind thinking of visiting Sweden"? Among all answers, see below, 10 % of the French people think of beautiful woman while 10 % of the German people think of elks.

Americans think of: skiing, snow, cold, food, blonde's and mountains

French think of: cold, nature, countryside, blonde's and fjords

Germans think of: nature, elks, lakes, royal family and fishing

Brits think of: snow, cold, expensive, skiing, blonde's and clean

VisitSweden wants to change this picture into a somewhat more exotic angle. One good example is for instance the Ice hotel Jukkasjärvi, where the cold winter and ice are being transformed into something exclusively and exotic. VisitSweden are proud to offer direct flights from London to Kiruna which makes it easier for foreign visitors to experience these wonderful and different parts of Sweden, says Thomas Brühl, MD of VisitSweden. And continues; - Whats exceptional with Sweden is that tourists can easily obtain both the city and experience the beautiful countryside nearby.

VisitSweden is jointly owned by the Swedish government and the tourism industry and is focused on marketing the country to overseas visitors and investors. They are currently working to profile Sweden in areas such as trend, design, gastronomy and culture.

Summer in Sapmi - Reindeer Calf Marking

When the calves are all marked they are let out in the woods again...

The mark is a combination of cuts made in the calf’s ears...

Starting mid-June with the work of gathering the calves for marking...

In Sapmi (the country of the Sami people) there are several Sami villages. All Sami people from Norway, Finland, Russia and Sweden belongs to Sapmi. In each Sami village there are a number of families who has there own reindeer "brand". Every "owner" has their own mark which is sliced into the reindeer's ear. If you spend a year with a reindeer worker you will realize that work it is somewhat different depending what season it is.

Starting with summer, which is the calf marking period, most of the reindeer's are gathered for the marking of the calves (born within the month of May). The reindeer cow has one calf per year, weighing approx. 4-6 kilos. And they ordinarily have their calves on the same time and place each year.

The reindeer are normally spread over large areas and are gathered with the help of helicopters and motor-cycles, but reindeer herders on foot also help out. The reindeer roam freely in the forest and are not domestic animals in any way.

It is important that the calves have been rescued from predators (at least as many as possible) to ensure the regeneration of the reindeer herd. When we have gathered all the reindeer's in the paddock, we mark the calves with the label of the owner. The mark is a combination of cuts made in the calf’s ears. When completed all the calves are released to the woods again. The marking of the calves lasts from about mid-June and a few weeks ahead.

And in case you are wondering, the calves do not feel any pain when they are being marked in the ear.

Yours Truly,

Guest Blogger Mats Nilsson, Arvidsjaur, Sweden

Gordon Ramsay about Tina Nordstrom "She's a Yummie Mummie"

Tina - Once again making head lines - Takes on Gordon Ramsay Cook Along in Swedish Television.

Tina's Cook Along is a live cooking program in TV4. The program is a Swedish version of the English television show by Gordon Ramsay: Cook Along. In each one-hour-program Tina Nordstrom cook a three-course dinner with a guest. TV-show viewers has the opportunity to cook and participate in the program using a webcam.

Gothenburg We Love U

Swedish Culture Interview Part 1 - YouTube Video about the Swedes

QUESTIONS:
1. What do you like most about Sweden?
2. What do you dislike most about Sweden?
3. How do you think other nationalities view Sweden?
4. Would you prefer to stay on the Swedish Kronor, or change your currency to the Euro?

This ain't no ordinary Nine-To-Five Job!

Guest Blogger Mats continues...

Sweden is fantastic, but I wonder sometime why some people still believe that Sami people live in huts, have no television or running water! One might wonder what they've learned in school, or did the school not teach them properly?

Throughout my time at school, it was probably not a day without being called "Lappjävel" (Lapish bastard). It is not easy for a child to grow up in such circumstances and of course it affects you in one way or another. Other comments like: "Sami people are lazy and just wants to benefit the government subsidies" could also be thrown at you. These old prejudices are hopefully history nowadays.

Anyhow, during my various travels in Sweden I've met lot's of people with a genuine interest of the Sami cultural. When they find out that I am of Sami heritage their curiosity is great and they want to find out more. This makes me proud, of course.

The occupation as a "reindeer-worker" is something that goes in generations, our grandfather did this too. I have a certificate for to own reindeer's and work professionally in this trade, but mostly I have been helping my father and my elder brother. They are professional reindeer-workers.

There have been great changes over the years, when grandpa was young there was no vehicles for help, they had to walk many miles per day. Now there are motorcycles in the summer, snowmobiles in the winter and even usage of helicopters sometime. Of course, this makes working the woods a lot easier. But despite modern tools of today, there are many reindeer workers who quit. This is no ordinary "nine-to-five" job. I'd say it's at 24H job!

My very best regards,

Mats Nilsson, Arvidsjaur

Meet Guest Blogger - Mats!

Let me introduce Mats, a dear friend of mine.

Some time ago, I started following Mats blog: "Små funderingar om livet och lite annat" (Thoughts about life and things). I do recommend you to read his blog for its personal and direct form about life in a small town in north of Sweden. The blog is in Swedish, but you can of course use Google translator. I asked Mats if he wanted to share some of his stories (now and then) at my blog and I am very proud to present this very first contribution!


Hello Everybody,

I am Mats Nilsson. I was born and raised in a very small village in the primeval forest of Swedish Lapland. Actually there was only one house, ours. I am of Sami heritage since many generations and we have a long history of reindeer herding. During my childhood, me and my two brothers used to help out with the reindeer's. My family belongs to a Forest Sami Village called Västra Kikkejaur.

Still today, there are Sami people making there living out of reindeers. There are both Forest Sami people and Mountain Sami people. The Forest Sami people stay with their reindeer's in the woodlands throughout the year. The Mountain Sami people keep their reindeer's in the mountains, but during the wintertime they move them down the coast to pasture.

I love being out in the woods experiencing the nature, I guess it is a part of my Sami heritage. Hunting and fishing is something I really like to do. I look forward to being a Guest Blogger on this site, and I hope you will find it interesting and enjoy my stories about my life in Lapland.

My first blog post will be posted during this weekend. See you then!

Brgds,
Mats

Gorgeous Bathing Beauties in Gothenburg

Today I visited the yearly Street Market of Södra Larmgatan in Gothenburg. The street is situated in the city centre of Gothenburg and around mid-day it was completely filled with people. All stores are moving out with great offers, book market, face painting for children, fashion shows, stunts and music.

Lush made the absolute most spectacular impression: With two bubble-filled bathtubs outside the shop these two gorgeous bathing beauties sat (as if they were picked from the 50's) and blew soap bubbles in the sun! I even had a chance to talk to them, so why not check this video out!

LUSH: Fresh Handmade Soaps and Natural Cosmetics.