Kivik Art Center, Österlen Sweden

The Kivik Art Center is one of my favorites in Kivik when I am visiting Österlen, Sweden.
The art is situated outdoors in the nature. It is lovely to take a walk in the countryside watching the seaview, art and cows.

Shopping, art & cafés in Österlen

Shopping, art and cafés in Österlen

1. Kabusa design shop. Lovely things and interior design shop close to Ystad. Address: Österleden 1068 in Köpingebro. http://kabusadesignfactory.com/

2. Olof Viktors café and bakery. Buy some lovely jam, bread and tea at this lovely place. Address: Österlenvägen 86, Glemminge. www.olofviktors.se

3. More ceramics at the Elna Karin Helgesson ceramic shop 912 Kåseberga. It is located between Kåseberga and Löderups Strandbad. Address: Östra Kustvägen 912, Löderup.

http://elnakarin.wordpress.com/

http://www.912kaseberga.se/

4. Annika Jägfeldt is an artist who paint rock stars. She shows her paintings at Gallery Jägfeldt in Löderup. Address: Peppingevägen 249, Löderup.

http://www.annikajagfeldt.com/

5. In the same village you can visit Åsa Melins gallery Galleri Peppinge.

Faces in ceramics, poetry in frames by the artist. Address: Peppingevägen 256, Löderup.

http://www.asamelin.se/

6. Worth a visit. Her installations is like a small museum. Elisabeth Ahlqvist´s gallery in Ingelstorp is called Ateljé Tuvegården.

http://www.ateljetuvegarden.com/my-art/installations/

7. En bit av medelhavet. In English: A bit of the mediterranean sea. A cafe and interior shop with ceramics from the mediterranean sea area. It is located in Hammenhög. Address: Simrishamnsvägen 8 in Hammenhög.

8. The KAOS shop south of Kivik sells arts and local handicraft. It is easy to find. I found a lot of things a liked and bought some. This is where I bought my giant tea cup I have at work. It is made by Saga Johnsson. You can also visit her shop and workshop on the way to Stenshuvud. 

9. A must in Kivik is Kiviks Musteri. Locally made juices, wine, jam and cider. Tastes great!
Go to Kivik and follow the signs to Kivik Musteri. http://www.kiviksmusteri.se

Do you know a restaurant, shop or attraction in Österlen that should be on my top list? Please leave a comment here.

The best bargains in Dubai

The best bargains in Dubai

There are plenty of large shopping malls with luxury clothes, bags, shoes etc in Dubai. But there are also plenty of bargains to be made. Here is my top list of the bargains in Dubai.

1. Great Manicure and pedicure at great prices. Manicure or Pedicure 45 minutes approximately 70 DHS (approximately 130 SEK, 10 Euro). La Sirene Hair Beauty and Spa. Ladies only. Address: Dubai Marina, Al Fattan Tower Mall. This is on the walk next to the hotel Oasis Beach Tower. Phone +971 4 399 4612, email lasirene@emirates.net.ae 

2. Scarves (approximately 10 or 20 SEK, 1,5-2 Euro), t-shirts, children clothes etc. The market in Deira, the old town in Dubai.

3. Towels (approximately 40 SEK, 4 euro) , shirts (approximately 40 SEK, 4 euro) , football dress for kids (approximately 20 SEK, 2 euro) etc. The UM Amal Store on Sabakha road near the bus stand in Deira

4. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, keyrings etc can be bought on the market some weekdays. It is close to where the Bateaux dinner cruise boat is on Al Seef Road by Dubai Creek.

5. Cheap and fab art. By the art post cards or small canvases at the Gallery One. There are five shops in Dubai. One of them is in the lovely luxe souk: Store 138, Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sofouh Road. http://www.g-1.com/

6. Designer sun glasses and watches by luxury brands are best to be bought at the Dubai airport in the tax free shop. It is a lot cheaper than in the shopping malls in Dubai.

7. Pre-book your visit at the top of Burj Khalifa, the world´s tallest building. Pre-bok on the Internet approximately 1-2 weeks in beforehand. Save 75% of the price. http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/en/

8. Gorgeous perfumes at great prices in the Ard Al Zaafaran Trading shop. It is situated in the Gold Market in Deira, Dubai. I bought several perfumes here as gifts to take home and everybody loved them!

9. Time for lunch... Go for an lAfternoon Tea at the luxurious 5 star hotel The One and Only Mirage in Dubai. As for at table with sea view on the terrace. An extraordinary view, great food at a excellent price. Arabic food, homebaked scones, clotted cream, excellent finger sandwiches, lovely cakes, macaroons, tea and coffee at only 95 AED, approximately 180 SEK or 18 Euro) per person. 


Do you know a bargain or shop in Dubai that should be on my top list? Please leave a comment here.

One day in Oslo

10 top things to do in Oslo?

I found some top things to do during my weekend in Oslo.I will probably add some more after my next visit.
The marvellous Munch museum is worthwhile a visit when visiting Norways capital Oslo.
The scream is the most famous painting but there are several more great paintings to view.
A copy of one of them is hanging on our wall in our home. We could not resist to buy a copy as a memory of our Olso weeekend. But it is not looking as good as it did in the museum. Isnt that strange?

View the ocean, have a coffee or check out the shops at Aker Brygge. A place you must visit when in Olso. The restaurant D/S Louise at Aker Brygge is really fabulous! Try their fresh fish and enjoy the view of the Oslo Fjord (river) with its harbour and Akershus Castle built in 1300.

I love opera but even if you don´t. Visit the Opera house in Oslo and get astonished by the architecture. Enjoy an opera or have lunch inside the opera house in the restaurant or have a walk on the roof.

Smörrebröd is a typical Dansih sandwhich which is a nice lunch. You can also find in at the Grand Cafe,situated in the Grand hotel in Oslo. On ground floor with windows to the Karl Johan Street. Watch people, eat smörrebröd and enjoy life. The Grand hotel is also a great place to stay.

After lunch, take a stroll in the park outside the royal castle in Olso. This is were the royal family lives, so check it out...

If you need more exercise go on to the Karl Johan street for some serious shopping. But be aware. Oslo is extremely expensive...

After the shopping a dinner at the restaurant Eik is perfect. Great food, wine and interior. (closed Sundays and Mondays)

If you prefer a restaurant with a amazing view over Oslo you should choose the Ekeberg restaurant. See my picture of Oslo by night taken from the Ekeberg restaurant. The Ekeberg restaurant is situated on the mountain in Olso. The restaurant also has a bar/lounge, conference and meeting facilities, banqueting and wedding suites and a beautiful second floor veranda.

A cheaper alternative to the Grand Hotel is the Park Inn hotel. It is also situated in the centre of Oslo, cheaper but ok to stay at. If you ask for a room that has a view of a brickwall. The rooms with a view of the street is incredible noisy.

Lovely London

10 top things to do in London?


One of my favourite places on earth is London in the United Kingdom.
Ett av mina favoritställen är helt klart London i Storbritannien.
It has everything for a great weekend; fantastic museums, thousands of shops, nice restaurants and a lot to do.

My must-visit-museums are:
The National Gallery. The paintings are so beautiful that I totally forgot about the shops outside. Check out Monet´s beuatiful painting "The Water-Lily Pond"
But ok, I bought a lot of things in the museum shop so it was not a totally shopping free experience. Other great museums are the Tate gallery and Tate modern.

10 top things to see and do:

1. Visit St Pauls cathedral
2. Buckingham palace
3. Take a trip - maybe a champange flight? - on the London eye.
4. Tower Bridge
5. Westminster Abbey
6. Cruise the river Thames
7. Hyde park
8. Trafalgar Square
9. Visit museums, see below
10. See a musical. I have seen the Mamma Mia Musical twice and it was still great the second time.

and of course: shop till you drop; Oxford Street, Regent Street, Covent garden etc etc

6 supernice restaurants to dine at:

1. This is the place to have a romantic dinner with a view over London. Dine at the Oxo Tower
2. Listen to the lovely opera performance while dining a mediterrian dinner at the Sarastro opera restaurant.
3. We had a business dinner at London oldest restaurant. And it was fab! Visit Rules for a memorable evening.
4. The food was ok and it was interesting to visit Shakespeare´s Globe Theatre. The brasserie also had a magnificent view of the river.
5. Lunch at Harrods Sea Grill is a must when I am in London. Fantastic fish and a glass of wine. Life is good at the Sea Grill!
6. Duck and Waffle on the 40th floor with a gorgeous view of London. Heron Tower. 

Too expensive to stay...... but visit them for an Afternoon tea or a cocktail just to feel the atmosphere!
I had a coctail at the Lanesborough and wished I was staying there. And I tried to get in for an Afternoon tea at the Ritz hotel but was stopped by the doorman because we had not booked a table. And he said, even if you had booked at table, I would not have let you in... because we wear sneakers. So to summarize: book in advance and wear fab clothes but do not wear sneakers.
I can recommend the Radisson Edwardian hotel Berkshire. It is quite expensive but the location and their moijitos are perfect. Its is next to Oxford street and I have stayed there several times.
Or if you want a five star chic luxury alternative choose The Berkely in Knightsbridge. It has a roof top pool and the Blue bar turns into a chich nightspot in the evening. (book a table in advance) The hotel claims that the Blue Bar is Madonnas favourite but I did not see her there when I stayed there.

Where to shop?

1. Harrods is a must to visit
2. I just love Liberty. Take a stroll, check out all the nice things inside the shop.
3. Check out the bags and get a free make-up at Harvey Nichols
4. Extremely cheap clothes and stuff at the huge shop Primark. Go there early if your hotel is nearby so you don´t have to carry 10 heavy shoppings bags for a whole day.
5. Visit all the sport shops; the Adidas shop, Nike store, etc etc. and you will feel sporty for a long time after.