All posts filed under: Reseguider

the classics in Berlin

Im not sure what the classic tourist places really are nowadays, it is not the 70s anymore when all tourists traveled to the same remote location to get red like a tomato and occasionally went on a guided tour to the city centre. The tourist buses still exist and frankly a bit tempting. I can see myself sitting there on the top with my sunglasses with a bit to much sunblock on the noose, just going round and around all day. We didn’t go in these buses but anyway, took the tour around on foot on what I guess is some of the classics in Berlin. (Due to the vast amount of photos an entire photo post will be dedicated to the Berlin Wall and East Side gallery.)          > Crossing the boarder at Check point Charlie  Martin and I were aiming at getting to Potzdamer platz but ended up close to checkpoint charlie so thats where we started our classics walk. We jumped of the subway by Kochstrasse and walked from there to the …

3 hours in Copenhagen

The idea with staying in Copenhagen was simple. ”We need to stay somewhere to sleep, I will not travel with night bus” Martin said. So we booked one night at the Savoy hotel on Vesterbrogade 34, close to the Copenhagen centralstation, Kobenhavns Hovedbanegård.        Arriving in Copenhagen our plan was to buy the train tickets for Berlin via Hamburg, in the station, but after ending up in a queue in the station, longer than the bridge of Öresund, our plans changed and we bought the tickets online. This went well but the tickets where printed in German, not sure why since not that many people speak that language anymore!  Writing this me and Martin is on the train to Hamburg where we will have a 45 minutes stop and then head for Berlin. We will see what we can make of 45 minutes. Blogging from an ipad isn’t that bad after all since the time on the train now is spend trying to hit the right spot on the touchscreen. Martin sleeps, again, and he …

Bergen, oh Bergen!

Surprise struck me when mom and I entered the city of Bergen in Norway. A half big city, inbetween mountains on the west side of Norway. ”You had sun?” people comment when they see my pictures, apparently it isn´t a very common phenomenon in the fair city. Mom and I arrived late Thursday evening, checked in at the hotel Radisson Blue Bryggen and then took a stroll around Bryggen. Bryggen the hotel we stayed at had good standard and was happily situated on Bryggen, the part of Bergen that has it roots near the medieval ages and is on the World Heritage List. As Visby Bryggen is from the Hanseatic era and also on the world heritage list due to this reason. Arriving in Bergen, the first thing that strikes you are the beautiful colours of Bryggen. I shot several photos of Bryggen from across the harbour. Strolling the streets in Bryggen is something extra, something even the most experienced traveler isn´t prepared for. Just by stepping in between the old houses, feeling the wood floor …

Roadtrip Norway: Oslo – Bergen (stretch two)

Mother and I went on a 5 days roadtrip two weeks ago and this is my forth post on the subject. To check out the other post, read Roadtrip – Grythyttan – Oslo, stretch one, Ivanssons Bilskrot i Töcksfors and 3 hours in Oslo. Leaving Oslo After a short or middle long (maybe) nights sleep mom and I where of to Bergen. Leaving early I think we avoided morning traffic, at least it wasn´t crowded. We drowe from Oslo towards Bergen on E16 passing Honefoss, then driving road 7 to Gol and Geilo and over the national tourist road passing Hogastol ending in Eidfjord. It is on this high altitude road we got into some trouble.. After Eidfjord we continued on road 7, taking road 13 passing Vossevangen and then reconnecting with E16 to Dale and then later all the way to Bergen. First stop was at Hallingporten where mom and I had some coffee and some delicious Norwegian cardemom buns. Passing Gol When in Norway I found so much sweetspots for wedding photography or …

3 hours in Oslo

Arriving in Oslo you feel pretty amazed by the surroundings, Oslo is so much more beautiful than I imagined. Before going I asked a friend who is living in Oslo/ Norway what to do when just staying for an afternoon in Oslo, she said, ”take a walk by the castle and have a beer at Akers brygge”. So that is what we did! Smart hotel Oslo In Oslo me and mother parked our car in the parking house by the central station and took tricken (tram) to our hotel, Smart hotel Oslo. Smart hotel is what is sounds, a compact living hotel that was very satisfying for the low price of arround 750 sek for one night, two persons. In the entrance at Smart Hotel Oslo you find this sign that is a piece of art as a memory of what happend in Oslo 22th of July 2011, a tragic day for Norwegians and all of us. If you spot this sign, you know you are in the right place.   Walking to the castle After …

Ivanssons bilskrot i Töcksfors / The car cemetary of Töcksfors

I do like abandoned places. I share the fascination with various bloggers, travlers, historians etc. out there. I have visited a couple of mines so far and when mom and I headed for Norway, I said, ”We must see the car cemetary of Töcksfors”. So we went. Arriving in Båstnäs at the car cemetary it is like time stopped in the 50s. The car that was popular at this time is spread out in nature and works as an art installation in the middle of Värmlands deep forests. To see more photos from this site visit other Urban Explorers webpages or others such as: Jan Jöhrnmark or the Municipality of Årjäng. Directions: Coming from Karlstad you take E18 towards Oslo. When in Töcksfors you turn left heading for Västra Fågelvik (you see a church on the right side of the road when turning). You continue on this road for around 25 km, never exiting just driving straight ahead. After 25 km you reach the sign “Här slutar allmän väg” and that is when you are at the …

3 restaurants in Lima- Astrid y Gaston, La Mar and Tr3s Cocina Peruana

Here are 3 restaurant tips from Lima Peru (higher class). I have wrote and shown picture from two of them before, Astrid y Gaston and La Mar. Astrid y Gaston – Casa Moreyra To make a reservation for the tasting menu, use the online reservation. Check out the webpage for a map to the restaurant. The number one restaurant in Lima Peru spells Astrid y Gaston. This is the restaurant I have written severals times about and also the restaurant my boyfriend had a three months intership at. This restaurant serves traditional Peruvian cusine with a modern twist. The entire family had dinner there once and then had the 27 course tasting menu. The food is served on for the occasion and menu special designed china that is formed as for example a snake or tree. Cost is around 1500 SEK per person, around 180 dollars depending on the exchange rate. This is in European measures a very priceworthy meal since this includes wine and high class food. If you know that you are heading …

Roadtrip Norway: Grythyttan – Oslo (stretch one)

 Having a coffee break outside Karlstad My mother and I started our roadtrip to Norway on the 8th of April, it lasted for five days and the goal was Oslo, Bergen and Lillehammer, stopping at some spots inbetween. The distance is around 300 km and is estimated to take around 4 hours. Mother and I took the first break in Grums, at Gruvön, checking out some graffiti and having a coffee break.   Continuing to Töcksfors After having our coffeebreak we continued against our first actual stop, Båstnäs and the Ivanssons bilskrot. Directions: Coming from Karlstad you take E18 towards Oslo. When in Töcksfors you turn left heading for Västra Fågelvik (you see a church on the right side of the road when turning). You continue on this road for around 25 km, never exiting just driving straight ahead. After 25 km you reach the sign ”Här slutar allmän väg” and that is when you are at the car cemetary of Båstnäs.     It is really something extra when arriving in Båstnäs. That is also …

Aquas Calientes – the ”Machu Picchu town”

Everybody wants to go to Machu Picchu once in their life, right? Martin and I traveled there last year and to get to Machu Picchu we traveled by train from Cusco, probably one of the most common ways, a trainride that takes around 3-4 hours. We just headed for Machu Picchu over the day but it is possible to stay in the nearby village where the train arrives, Aguas Calientes, ”Hot Springs” in Spanish. When I say village, I mean village. Basically it is just a number of houses caught inbetween the Andes a 20 minuter busride from Machu Picchu. This village is also where the buses leave from heading for Machu Picchu. Here you can: Buy your entrence- tickets for Machu Picchu (today price april 2015, 126 sol including the top that has a regulated number of visitors per day, Huayna Picchu, 150 sol) Buy the bus tickets for the 20 minute ride from the village to Machu Picchu (around 10 dollars, only found price in dollars) Stay over night, eat, shop handicraft and more …

Guestblogging at Dryden about Grythyttan and Bergslagen

this is a busy week. I am on a roadtrip in Norway and at the same time a guest at the travelblogger Drydens place. My post at Dryden is a quick guide to a small roadtrip in Bergslagen. Hope you will enjoy it. Dryden made a fantastic collage of a bunch of my photos. 🙂 Check out the post on Dryden.se.  Blogging from the phone so will get back with a link to the exact post later. Katarina Share with you my favorite photo from my guest post. A golden oldie of the friends in Grythyttan.

Thailand- Kamala Beach and Cape Sienna Hotel in Phuket

A few years back me and my mother went to Thailand. It was an eight days trip with Fritidsresor. Nothing special, just relaxing. I remember how beautiful it was and how amazed I was by the beach there, the green water, the palms and the nice staff at the hotel and in restaurants. But you also got a glimpse of the catastrophe, then I mean the tsunami of 2004/2005. Signs, pointing out tsunami escape routs where put out all over the area, like a reminder. Traveling without kids / the hotel Flying to Thailand my mother and I choose to fly charter and traveled with a famous Swedish agency called Fritidsresor. I have traveled several times with Fritidsresor and have been satisfied every time. This time I was even more happy with my choice after asking the person that helped me book to recommend a hotel. He guided me to an entirely different hotel from what I first where going for, arguing to choose a hotel without kids. And was it worth it? Don´t get …

A miniweekend at Loka Brunn Spa

This weekend Martin and me went for a small miniweekend with one nights stay at Loka Brunn in Bergslagen, close to where I live. Loka Brunn is a small spa village run by the Spendrups family who also own Grythyttans Gästgiveri. People have been coming here for centuries to drink the spring waters. We went to visit the spa and to relax. Loka consists of both a spa, conference buildings, restaurant and a hotel. The cuisine is of a high standard and the bed extremely comfortable. Before going here I never considered myself as a spa-person. After being here just one night I have to say I´ve changed my mind. Coming home I really felt more relaxed.       The Rooms Loka holds around 150 rooms. We stayed in the house seen in the photo below. The areas surrounding is fantastic with the view over lakes and forests.   Martin and me stayed from Friday to Saturday, starting with afternoon coffe, some bathing and spa and later having a three course dinner. Early Saturday we went for a …

Rome- an architectural, coffee paradise

Architectural paradise, with the best coffees and dessert I´ve ever had- maybe except for the Nutella- Cremé Brulé in Les Halles in Paris. This is Rome. I traveled to Rome in May 2011.  With me I didn´t bring any camera så you will have to live with my poor iPhone 3 photos. At that time I thought the quality was great. I´m not sure what I was thinking. I traveled for a full Rome weekend with the company of my mother and aunt to see architecture and all that you need to see when in the capitals of Europe. I saw the big ones of course, the Colosseum, the bridges, the Spanish Steps, Fontana Di Trevi and the Sixteenth Chapel. But what do I remember best? Well, actually I have several answers here. I do remember the big ones the best maybe. But the fondest memory I have of the morning breakfast and coffee on the terass of the hotell, the drunk hotel portier when we arrived at the hotel (who couldn´t even fix our door-keycard, …

The archipelago of Finland – a Scandinavian exotic paradise

Who need to go to South Africa when you have the archipelago of Porvoo/Borgå in Finland? So close to Christmas it is necessary with dreams of warmer places or times, I think. It seem to be more and more common that people flee the country and run to Asia or the Carribean during Christmas. I have no traveling plans at the moment so well, I dwell among travelphotos on Pinterest. Unhealthy you may think but I like to believe that the mind needs some rest at moments, that it needs to dream of long summer days and not so dark summer nights. This post will be just about that, the summer light and the exotic view from a Scandinavian country in the form of a travel destination you ought to go to during next summer. Before traveling to Finland I was unaware of the archipelagos of the Scandinavian countries and what treasures they hold. Of my time in Porvoo, the archipelago was the best experience and therefore so close to Christmas I travel back with this post. …

My photoguide to Paris

I don´t have so much to say about Paris due to the fact that I´ve only been there for 7 days in my life, but since I took a lot of photos during my travel I also reflected upon great and not so great photoplaces. Here is a list. Top 1. The Eiffeltower My mother and I went there twice. The tower is probably my favorite place and a the best photoplace for me. If ever back in Paris I will go back. The tower turns golden in the sun and leans like the Leaning Tower of Pisa with my Canon 24-105 mm wide-angle lens. The park by the Louvre, Tuileries Garden Fantastic light and isles with white sand makes the photos great. The park is big so even if the park is filled with a lot of people it is possible to find a spot to take a shot or two by yourselves. The park has green chairs to use as well and in October, not so many people visits the park so you will …

Exploring Bergslagen – Mossgruvan

Me and Martin has been out and about today, doing some urban exploration. The notion of urban exploration might be new to someone but shortly it means, to explore a man-made object, often ruins or abandoned areas. This is a newly found interest of mine due to my photo project and I have posted posts before – Stripa Mossgruvan is a former mining village in the municipality of Ljusnarsberg in Västmanland (County of Örebro). I live in the county, so have about an hour by car to get to the two old mines in Mossgruvan, Sköttgruvan and Mossgruvan- mines. The two mines where found in the 1870´s and run to 1972, first started by SKF and culminating inbetween the years 56 to 58 (post-war times), by then owned by Hofors Bruk. Due to the prices of iron/ and the stone on the world market, the ability for Mossgruvan to compete vanished and the mine closed down by 72. The area is nostalgic in so many was. The buildings in the village are a remaining of the …

Hotel Eldorado – Paris

When booking our stay we checked out more than one alternative. Our choice fell on Hotel Eldorado on the street Rue de Dames due to the easy reason that it was chic and less expensive then hotels in the city center. My mother found this hotel on the blog granntanter.se, whom we also where traveling with for three of our six days stay.   Location 18 Rue de Dames 750 17 Paris Homepage Within walking distance from the subway/bus/square Place de Clichy How We booked our stay through the site booking.com. It is probably possible just calling the hotel and book. The receptionists speak English (at least all we met during our six nights stay). Appearence/ service The hotel deserves the word pitoresque cause that is what it is. I have never seen anything more French/ Moulin Rouche without bad lighting/ Montmartre – feeling in my life. It is a variety of asian/african and french stuff. The reception seen in the picture, held fresh flowers, a brown reception desk as well as a BIG old …

The cemetaries of Paris

It feels a bit odd, walking into a cemetery in France, as a tourist taking photos. But figured after being in both Sacre Couer as well as Notre Dame, if the church can take advantage of tourist than it is okay to take photos in both churches and in peaceful places as cemetaries. Come to think about it, if it was me lying there I would be glad if someone took photos of my gravestone. I love churches, but after visiting two cemeteries in Paris I think I have to extend the concept to including cemeteries as well. What a peaceful and lovely place, at some points messy, but mostly just a gorgeous mess of leaves and old gravestones, some taken care of and some don´t. Cimitiere de Montmartre When in Montmartre we visited the graveyard there. It is the third biggest in Paris after the Pére Lachaise and Montparnasse cemetaries.   Checking up some info it tells me that it dates back early 19th century (1825 to be exact) and is an old abondend …

Montmartre

Ever seen the film Amelie from Montemarte? Now is the time. Though there where no Amelie, me and my mother managed to see and purchase a knitted garment from Montemarte, so everytime I´ll see it from now and on, I will think of it as the ”Knitted garment from Montemarte”. I´ve heard that Montemarte is cosy and ”French”, but we headed for Montemarte to see the church Sacre Coeur, one of the top ten turist attractions in Paris. On the way, we passed the Cementiere de Montemarte, the graveyard of Montemarte. How to get to Montemarte During out stay we have been at the Hotel Eldorade on the street Rue de Dames, from Rue de Dames we walked down do Place de Clichy (this is a square that have both metro and bus) and just up the hill/street from there. There is signs, saying Sacre Couer all over the place. They are just a bit hard to find sometimes so asking is preferable instead of walking in the wrong direction as my mother and I …

10 things to do in Lima- My guide to Lima

It took me a little longer than expected but here are my tips for a good TIME (with camera) in Lima using the TIME-list and adding my own tips.   1-4. Activities worth doing 1. Go to a fruitmarket. Close to where we lived in the area Los Olivos we had a market, I called it a fruit market but they sold both fruit, meat and fish. I went to this market several times and the photo possibilities are endless. So much fruit, so much color and so much fun. You get to the market in Los Olivos by first taking the Metropolitano (the fast transfer bus system with few lines in Lima) and then a cab or the local bus. The local bus system is special and you need to ask the locals about which number or bus to take. Besides the photo possibilities you also find an amazing range of fruit and vegetables. A lot of the fruit I was not familiar to before and not all of us know them. Fruits/vegetables like Maracuya …