Tortellini in Piazza Santo Spirito

My favourite dish at the most beautiful location.

The hour was late and the day of arrival had been a hot one. The location was close to the apartment and close also to one of my all-time favourite spots; Giardino di Boboli.

There is a magic to Florence that I probably never will grasp. It entered my heart 10 years ago and now I can't escape it - neither would I like to.

So back to the location. Piazza Santo Spirito. Beautiful. I remember the scent in the air. A scent of night. A scent of home. The course was served. It was a piatto of Tortellini alle uova di pesce, A wonderful plate of tortellini with roe in a white sauce. A piece of heaven on a plate. After that I have had the chance to be served a great amount of dishes, one more extravagant than the other, but without really finding a match. I admit, the location had much to do with it, but still...

And what was it that took my heart and soul back to la bella Firenze this early evening? Well, today I set myself a goal. I decided to get myself an apartment in Florence at some point, let's say within 10 years. And checking the prices it doesn't seem to be a mission impossible. Would that be a treat or what! From me to myself, with love.

The beauty of life part 2

You know it only takes fractions of seconds to discover the beauty of life when it passes you by. You have surely seen that in my earlier posts. So from what direction is the wind blowing today, you might ask? I'll tell you. This day - or actually a whole week of it - has been great. I've been moving through the bad stuff like a drunk. Closing my eyes to it - why block the sun when it's out again?

I'll tell you about the beauty of life. Again. Part 2.

On Saturday morning I was making my way home from an excellent night out with my crew. It was half past three in the morning and the sun was still up, it looked like half past three in the afternoon. It coloured the city beautifully! And as I enjoyed my walk in my suede boots, I got accompanied (I'm still quite sure it was the boots) by someone I'd never met before, but a nice new acquaintance. Chatting away about this and that, laughing because of the late hour, the marvelously beautiful sky and the sun that never set that night. That is the beauty of life, part 2, lesson 1.

On Saturday evening the total coincidence occurred: I met my new acquaintance again. A few more minutes of chatter and laughter. Beauty of life, part 2, lesson 1b.

On Monday evening it was hot like no day before. I was unsure, but I finally came to my decision: Yes, regardless of the heat I would enjoy a good hour of salsa. And wow! Was I happy to have made that decision or what?? We were awesome, me and my partner, we were like two flamingos on that dance floor! The evening was hot but so were we. Sometimes I wish one really could see oneself when in one's true element. I'd like to know whether I look the way I feel - filled to the maximum with pure joy! Beauty of life, part 2, lesson 2.

Today: Yet another hot day and a not too inspiring one at the office. I decided to head for a nice cup of coffee after work. It didn't take too long before I again was accompanied by a fellow world-citizen. Two hours of exchanging thoughts about culture, politics, travelling, work, tipping. You name it, we covered it. It was refreshing and enlightening in many ways. Beauty of life, part 2, lesson 3.

Then later on in the evening, great to meet up with some friends at the gym, I had an excellent workout and now I feel the beauty of life in both body and soul. Beauty of life, part 2, lesson 4.

I thought it would stop there, but then I read this post and realized that shiny happy people spread joy the best :) And that's the beauty of life part 2, lesson 5.

So enjoy life today, here's a cookie for everyone!

Let the music play

Sun is up
You know its hot
No sense in worrying
About what you aint got
Talk is talk action is action
Just tryin to find my soul
Some satisfaction

That's of course G Love with Ben H. Have a listen.

That's what is playing today and it just makes me so happy. Because the sun is up and it's a beautiful, sweat-dripping day. And as the tunes of "Lemonade" fill my apartment, I realize, in 4 days it's exactly one year since that magical day, when G, Ben and Jack blew me away in London. Oh my God - it might feel a bit corny, but that truly was the happiest day in my life. I have never felt that kind of fulfillment - ever. And when I caught myself thinking, watching G, "I got what I came for", before even having seen the tip of Jack's flip flops, I knew it was too late to return to anything before falling for G.

Anyhow. It's a beautiful day. Let's enjoy it.

I feel the magic of today

I feel the magic of today
- Wonder if anyone else noticed it
as it showed a piece of its pointy nose, failing to hide
So I saw the nose tip, nothing more
And still I felt it wash over me,
like a wave closing in on shore

Yes, it's coming closer, it's sneaking up on me,
preparing for a surprise, I believe
What it has in store,
I really do not care
since feeling the magic often is enough
to really take me anywhere

I get a bit dizzy, I might seem a bit off
And the magic seems to whisper to me
"This is only for you, love"
So there I am - the only one who knows
Trying to act normal, not showing that my inside glows

When infact, I for a few moments know
All the answers to any question ---

And I'm the only one who knows.

When light stays

It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time.

Winston Churchill

That is a good quote, I'd say. Churchill had a lot of good thoughts about life and politics - I like them. One good thought a day is enough to keep us on track, I'd say. That's why I have one of the wisest men ever on the right-hand side. I think we often forget to reflect.

Anyhow. Besides a good quote, I'd like to celebrate this birthday of a special person with a special topic: Light. Tomorrow (well, actually today to be precise) is the longest day of the year over here, when it comes to light. I look outside and it is still light - or should I say again. It's two o'clock in the morning. The sun just dips into the ocean and probably thinks the water is cold, because it comes right back again. And before you ever saw the sun set, it rises again. That is the beauty of summer, and that will forever remind me of good days, long nights, big feelings.

Two pictures of light. The light reflecting on the street below from my window, and the moon. There is something magic about two in the morning. Some people might think otherwise, but I think this is a good time to make decisions, to connect to oneself as well as the world around us. One must be connecting to something bigger when surrounded by the beautiful blue of two in the morning. Two am. An hour of complete peace.





Happy birthday, Taurus!

Got the board

I went out for a board to fit my vacation plans. Something that was not too expensive, easy to bring along on a flight, light to carry, durable in any conditions, gives a great grip, and most importantly - psyches me out!

Went to the shop that was the closest and cruised for a while, looking for suitable sneakers (which I found). Paying for the shoes I asked for a board that would handle being beaten, that wasn't too big nor too heavy. The person behind the counter looked at me, looking quite puzzled. "I think we might have one of those still." He went to get my board. Looking at it like a cat watching a plate of cream coming closer, I squeezed the board in my hands and nodded eagerly.
"I can give you a discount." He said.
"Oh, that's good."
"Yeah, I mean it's been around for quite some time now, it's a bit worn out."
"That's fine."
"You'd pay half price?"
"Sure." As I paid for the board he looked at me curiously.
"May I ask what you are gonna do with it in the middle of summer?"
"I'm going sandboarding!"

The worlds most beautiful bays

I found it. The location of my vacation. Baie de Somme in France. One of the world's most beautiful bays, they say. And I believe them. Either it is excellent marketing or then it's just that. Breathtaking. Mesmerizing.

I'm gonna give the dunes a try. And I'm going to let that breeze roll over me and into every cell of my body. I'm gonna soak in the beauty of nature. I'm gonna drink every sunset as a glass of Malbec and I'm gonna breath every wave rolling in. I'm gonna look at the sky and I'm gonna make believe it was painted there for me.

You know what I'm talking about when looking at these pictures.

New York filled me with positive energy and returning sure showed I needed it. Baie de Somme, I feel, will let the old me return to me. I can't wait. It feels like anticipating the arrival of a loved one. I feel nervous, yet fulfilled, and I feel I can't wait to share my fulfilled soul.

It's just a location. It's just a vacation of about 10 days. But still. You know - strangely enough I feel this is the turning point, that experience will make me feel it was all worth the struggle.

Did I say I can't wait?