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.

Top 10 things to do in New York

I just got back from my trip to New York. These are my 10 top things to do in New York, USA. Please enjoy!

1. Luxury lunch at Hotel Fairmonts food hall. Their lobster salad is fab!
2. A slow walk in Central Park
3. Shopping at Macys department store
4. Shopping in Soho (Dont miss the Converse store)
5. Visit the view deck at the Empire State Building
6. An opera evening at the Metropolitan opera house
7. Ice scating at the Rockefeller center
8. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th avenue, 82nd street. Fashion art exhibitions, paintings, sculptures, photography. And a roof top bar with a view of Central Park.
9. Visit Chinatown and Little Italy. Lovely home-made pasta at the Italian restaurant Grotta Assura in Little Italy. Ravioli four cheeses olala!
10. Shop shop shop at the Outlet Century 21 next to World Trade center

4 bonus foodie favorites…

• Hamburgers for lunch at the genuine Pj Clarkes
• A drink and real pub meal at the pub Hurley's
• Dinner at Sparks Steak house. Very Italian. Very huge steaks!
• Magnolia Bakery. Yummie!
• Have a pink cocktail (Knickerbox) at the sky bar next to Hilton Garden
• Vand Coffee shop, 673 Madison avenue, 61st street. A classic coffee shop on Manhattan.
• Luke´s Lobster. Try the lobster roll! Like a hot dog with lobster but without sausage.

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

Scandinavian Design in 3 days

Welcome the home of Scandinavian Design!

Here is your guide to a Scandinavian Design tour in three days.

Day 1 - Stockholm, the capital of Sweden

9.00 Breakfast time at at Vetekatten. A small cosy bakery decorated as an old Swedish home.

10.00 Design shopping!

• Svenskt Tenn This is the Josef Frank design shop. This is the place to go if you like traditional design with a lot of patterns. The shop is located on Strandvägen 5.
• ROOM on Hötorget is famous for its stylish interior design and furniture.
• Nordiska Galleriet on Nybrogatan 11 luxury interior design shop with international design classics
• Designtorget is the shop which has a mix of things designed by famous and unknown new designers. New things in the shop every week. They have several shops in Stockholm; Arland, Götgatan, Kulturhuset, Kungsgatan, Nybrogatan, Ringen and Västermalmsgallerian.
• Bruka design shop has colourful kitchenware in several shops in Stockholm
• Norrgavel furniture designed by Nirvan Richter. A lot of wood and materials form the nature. Located on Birger Jarlsgatan 27.
• PlanEtt Birger Jarlsgatan 32 modern and elegant home interior design shop
• SIA Home - Romantic style interior design shop on Birger Jarlsgatan 27
• Svensk Slöjd - Swedish handicraft made the traditional old way
• Spiti - Warm colours from Marrocco and oriental interior design on Sveavägen 64
• Systerlycklig on Tegnérgatan 12. Home interior design and kitchenware in bright colours. Sweet as a wedding cake!

13.00 Have lunch at Östermalmshallen. It is a food hall which opened in 1888. Today, it houses around twenty different stalls, restaurants, cafes and wine bars in the heart of Östermalm, Stockholm.

15.00 Visit Millesgården. I was totally stunned when I saw all the beautiful statues by Swedish artist Carl Milles in this open air museum. (visit only when the weather is nice). The house were Carl Milles used to live was designed by architect Carl M. Bengtsson and was built in 1908.

17.00 Time for some more shopping at the NK. The best department store, not to miss!

19.00 Have a cool and cold drink in The Absolut Ice Bar. Freezing but nice to have a drink in a glass made of ice (book in advance).

20.00 Check in at Lydmar, the restaurant at the design hotel Lydmar is great. Have a drink outside in the summer and enjoy the view of the royal castle before your dinner.

Day 2 - Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark

Take the early morning flight to Copenhagen

09.00 Start the day with a breakfast buffet to get ready for a hectic design weekend. You should stay at one of Copenhagen´s best Design hotels:

• Arne Jacobsen design hotel Radisson SAS Royal Hotel. Turned on the ipod and sat in the coolest chairs ever in the lobby. Drinks on the top of the house... at the 20th floor with a fantastic view of Copenhagen at the Radisson hotel.
• Hotel Fox. Each room is different. Choose among rooms with comical styles, graphic design, street art, fairytales and Japanese Manga to mention some.
• Hotel FRONT with stylish sophisticated design. It is on the Condé Nast Traveller's 2007 Hot List.
• Hotel Nimb with the aim to place the hotel in the absolute world-elite of small, luxury city hotels. Placed in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. The design of the exterior of the hotel reminds me of Taj Mahal.
• Hotel Skt. Petri is one of Copenhagen's leading design hotels.

10.00 Design viewing and shopping at the design department store Illum is a must.
It is located on Ströget, Copenhagens main shopping street.

12.00 Lunch is called Frukost in Danish. Have some fab sandwhiches (smörrebröd) at famous restaurant Ida Davidsen (only open on weekdays, make reservation).

13.00 Time for shopping on street Vandkunsten and the streets around. I just love the small design shops around here!

15.00 If you like art, like me, don´t miss the art museum Glypoteket. It is an art museum that houses more than 10 000 works.

17.00 Rest your feet, have a drink at the Danish designer Arne Jacobsen´s design hotel Radisson SAS Royal Hotel. Go to the bar at the 20th floor with a fantastic view of Copenhagen.

18.00 Time for dinner! The best restaurant in Copenhagen is Noma, it has been named the world´s best restaurant. Reserve in advance to experience extraordinary Nordic gourmet cuisine at its best.

Day 3 - Olso, the capital of Norway

Take the early morning flight to Oslo

9.00 Breakfast at Halvorsens Conditori. It was established in 1881 and is a old café. The French pastry shop next to the Parliament building is an institution in the Norwegian capital, with quality products built on experience and tradition.

10.30 Visit Grünerløkka, it is the place to look for young, Norwegian designers. 

12.00 Lunchtime, combine design and food by having lunch in the beautiful opera house. I love opera but even if you don´t visit the Opera house in Oslo and get astonished by the architecture. After lunch it is time to take a walk up on the roof to see the view and the beautiful building.

13.30 The marvellous Munch museum is worthwhile a visit when visiting Norways capital Oslo. When Munch died in January 1944, he donated all his remaining works to the City of Oslo. Edvard Munch's art is on of Norway´s most important and famous painters. The scream is the most famous painting but there are several more great paintings to view.

15.30 Visit the art galleries in Bygdøy allé. Here you also find a good selection of exclusive, modern interior design shops. A bit further down the road to Skøyen there are several popular furniture and interior design shops as well

19.00 Time for dinner after a busy day. View the ocean, have a coffee or check out the shops at Aker Brygge. 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.

Dubai in pictures

Dubai was pretty cool but warm. If you like shopping, sand and sweets. This is the place to go on holiday. Here are some pictures from my trip to Dubai. Enjoy!

Dubai by night

Downhill skiing inside the shopping mall was a bit strange but cool

The lux hotel Burj al arab seen from one of the 44 restaurants at the lux hotel Madinat Jumeirah

The desert was beautiful

And so was the hotel Bab al shams

Dessert by night

Desert by night

The worlds highest building Burj Khalifa is located in Dubai

Construction work was ongoing everywhere in Dubai.

Relax in Riga

I visited Riga, the capital of Latvia, for a weekend in the summer.
It is a historial city with a lot of beautiful buildings and the largest city of the Baltic states.

Some call Riga the world capital of Art Nouveau and its historical city center is a UNESCO world heritage site.


Top ten things to do in Riga

1. Take a walk in the old town and admire the beautiful buildings.Take a picture of the Maingaivju (Blackheads) house and the house of Three Brothers, some medieval residential houses. Pass by Smilšu Street 2 and see the goddess figure. It is considered to be the most
   beautiful Art Nouveau sculpture of a woman in Riga.
2. Buy amber and traditional russian wooden dolls on the market in the old town
3. Visit the Latvian Museum Occupations and get some insight to the history
4. Visit the Riga Cathedral
5. Take a walk around the Riga Castle built in 1497 and check out the home of the President.
6. Have pancakes / crépes in the old town
7. Get a fab view of Riga from the tower in the St. Peters church or from the TV-tower.
8. See the Victory monument (a Soviet monument)
9. If you like Wagner visit the Wagner Concert Hall where he used to have concerts when he lived in Riga.
10. Visit the central market, a large food market to see the local food

If you are in to shopping, visit Stockmann, a department store in central Riga
And if you like opera, there is an opera house - The Latvia National Opera- with great prices and operas.
If you are a spa-lover take go to one of the Spas in Riga, maybe the ESPA Spa. Or take the short trip to Jurmala. A spa retreat by the sea. The hotel Jurmala spa looks nice.

Where to stay?

• Clarion Collection Hotel Valdemars
• Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel Riga
• Reval Hotel Ridzene
• Grand Palace Hotel
• De Rome Hotel

Where to eat?

• Fine dining at the Vincents
• Medieval dinner at Rozengrāls
• Finest meat at the Restaurant C.U.T.
• Fine dining at the Grand Palace Hotel restaurant

Colourful Cape Town

I went to Cape Town in South Africa for a weekend. My conclusion is that you can see a lot in Cape Town over a weekend. But it will be a busy weekend. Cape Town is such a beautiful place with a lot to see and do.

Extraordinary and unexpected view
I had a really nice breakfast at the SAS Radisson in the Waterfront. Suddenly the waiter came by and said - Look at the waves and pointed at the sea.

I looked and nodded. The view of the sea is nice. But then I thought, why are so many people gathering by the window with their cameras?

Then I realized, I heard wrong, he didnt say waves, he said whales... so I grabbed my camera and joined the crowd to get some pictures of the awesome view... whales in the sea, just outside the hotel.

1. Visit the Cape of good hope. It is totally stunning to see the two seas meet, and definitely worth the trip. It is about an hour from Cape Town. Take a picture of yourself in front of the famous sign. It is said that it is the most southern-western part you can visit of Africa.Bring your camera but watch out for the baboons on the way there. Their favourite hobby is to steel food from tourists...

2. I just loved to watch the pretty penguins on the beach. They are so sweet. Go to Simonstown to see the penguins on the way back from the Cape of Good hope. 

3. Back in Cape Town go for some wine tastings in the wine yards. Spier is very close to Cape Town and offers a range of wines.
   You can rent a car or take a tourist trip with a tourist company to the wine district. Short overview on: http://www.wineanorak.com/saregions.htm
   My favourite is Franschhoek. There are so many super nice hotels and restaurants here!!
   Vrede en Lust, Graham Beck, La Motte and Rupert & Rothschild, do I need to say more? Last time we visited Theleme wine yard. Lovely wine and after that we had a luxury lunch at the Delaire Graff Estate. Their suite hotel is gorgoeous with private pools.
4. Take a boat trip to Robben Island for a tour where Nelson Mandela was a prisoner and get to know more about the South African history. Robben Island was originally part of the mainland, the peak of an ancient mountain. Today it is an island and a World Heritage Site and museum
5. You should also take a tour to the township to get some more knowledge of the life that too many South Africans live today. Townships were created as living areas for non-whites under the old political system of Apartheid. But you cannot go there on your own. Book a guided tour through your hotel. And do not go there during nighttime.
6. If you need extra exercise take a hike up the Table Moutain and enjoy the fab view over Cape Town and the ocean. You can also go by the cableway. http://tablemountain.net/
   The trip with the cableway takes about five-minutes, but if you take a hike the 3 km could take between 1-3 hours.
7. The Aquarium could be nice for kids on a rainy day. http://www.aquarium.co.za/
8. If you need some light exercise go for shopping in the Waterfront area.
   The large shopping area by the sea is called Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and it is situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain.
   
   Where to shop...Some of my fav shops are:
   Cape Unions Mart Travel and Safari - Outdoor clothing for you safari trip
   CNA - papers and stuff
   Crabtree & Evelyn - cosmetic
   Edgars - clothes
   Exclusive books
   Woolworths, Truworths, Nine Weest - clothes and bags
   Out of Africa - fab souvenirs
   
   Where to eat
9. Breakfast is nice at Mugg and Bean
   Lunch at Ocean Basket, I just love their fresh fish or at Steers or Wang Thai.
   Have a nice dinner at Cape Town Fish Market and Sushi Bar. The large selection of sushi is going around in the restaurant on a conveyer belt or you can have some fab fresh fish for your main meal. The best place for grill and wine is the Belthazar. Amazing food! They also have the biggest wine bar in the world according to themselves. But save the dessert and go to the Haagen-Dazs for an icecream, yummy...
   
   Where to stay
10. Stay in with a great view of the sea in luxury at the Table bay hotel. Or in the cheaper but not cheap SAS Waterfront Cape Town. Or even cheaper at the Commodore hotel. The exclusive Delair Graff Estate is also an amazing for a night on the wine yard estate.

Best of Bratislava

Bratislava is the capital of the Slovak Republic. It is a small and beautiful town by the Danube river.

Top 10 things to do in Bratislava
1. Stroll through the old town with its small shops, cosy resturants and cafes. Check out the art that local artists exhibit by the St. Michael's Gate.



2. Take a walk to the Bratislava Castle. Don´t miss the small souvenir shop with nice memories from the Slovak Republic.

3. Visit the St Martins cathedral where the Hungarian Emperors were crowned .

4. If you like opera or if you want to find out if you like opera, go for an opera evening in the old and historical opera house. Check out the not to modern furniture in the bar...

5. Take are tour at the National Gallery.

6. There is a lovely Christmas marketl in the Old Town during December. Buy cheap handmade sweet Christmas angels for all your friends. But it is freezing cold, so bring warm clothes.

7. Walk by the Danube river or take a cruise by boat on the Danube river to Vienna.
There are slow cruises or high speed ferry that takes about 1,5 hours to Vienna, the capital of Austria. From Vienna you can continue to Budapest, the capital of Hungary.

8. Take photos of the statues. There are a few statues in Bratislava old town that are quite unexpeced and unusal.

9. Enjoy the atmosphere and have a coffee and cake at the Kaffe Mayer. This café reminds me of the old coffee houses in Vienna.

10. If you are hungry and not afraid of heights go UFO. There is a restaurant with a fabulous view. It is called UFO and is located in the sky...on an observation deck on top of the Novy Most Bridge.

Where to stay
I have stayed at the Radisson SAS Carlton several times. A very fine hotel with a marvellous exterior, in the middle of the city centre. At one time I noticed that there were so many extremely tall men in the elevator and they spoke Swedish. When I reached the reception area I saw the sign: Conference room: Swedish hockey team
Oupps.
It was the Swedish National Hockey team....

Shopping centre
If you would like some serious shopping, go to the Avion shopping centre.

Where to eat?

• We had an excellent dinner at the Cuban restaurang Malecon. It is located by the Danube river. Try their great strawberry moijitos.
• Another evening we enjoyed mediterranean food at the fab Kogo restaurant.
• Or try the slovak food in Slovenska restauracia
• More restaurants on (but I havent tried all) http://www.bratislavaguide.info/bratislava-dining.html

Zambia - A Memory For Life

One of the best moments in my life was when I went on a weekend trip to Zambia. The aim of the trip was to visit the beautiful waterfalls Victoria Falls. Its local name is Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means the Smoke that Thunders.

The Victoria Falls is claimed to be the largest waterfalls in the world. It is located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

We stayed at the exclusive Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel in Zambia. Just staying at the luxury hotel was an amazing exeprience.
The hotel is located in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Wildlife Park on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, with a view of the Victoria Falls.

We had so many extraordinary experiences during the trip.

The animals...
A monkey stole my a sandwhich from my sons hand when we had lunch at the hotel. And there was a lot of zebras strolling around the hotel area.
There was a big sign in the hotel room: If a baboon enter the room, leave the room and call the reception.

We had a sun downer (drink) by the Zambezi river at the hotels sun deck in the sun down when I suddenly say something moving under the water.
But it was not a submarine. It was an elephant family walking under the water in the sun down. They walked under water with their trunks in the air like their were snorkeling. Totally amazing!

Zim
We also took a long hike to Zimbabwe and visited a street market in Zimbabwe. I bought some lovely wood pieces and wished I could have done more to help the people there. A couple of guys offered me a bungy jump from the bridge between Zim and Zambia but I didn´t dare to try.

The falls
and least but not last.
The amazing Victoria Falls. To see it, to hear it, to feel it.
I can´t really explain how amazing it was. You really have to go there to experience it yourself. Just check out this film to get an idea about how it is.

It was one of the best weekend trips I ever did. A true memory for life.

PS: Bring your golf clubs if you like golf. The Gary Player designed golf course Elephant Hill is around the corner from the falls.

Vivid Vienna

- The capital of cafés

Vienna is one of my favorite European capitals. I have been to Vienna about 30 times and still want to go back. There so much to see and do, beautiful palaces, luxury cafés, great shopping, museums, opera & restaurants. It is not so easy to pick the top things to do as there is so much to choose from but here are some of my favourites.

Top 10 things to do in Vienna
Visit Hofburg Royal Palace, the former imperial residence in Vienna. It was the royal residence for over 600 years. It consists of 22 muesums today, 240,000 m², 18 wings, 19 courtyards and 2,600 rooms. It is a beautiful palace.

The St. Peter's Church (Peterskirche) is a baroque church from 1701. It was inspired by the St. Peter's Basilica of the Vatican in Rome. It is in the very city centre of Vienna.
When you finsished your visit to the St. Peter's Church you should go to the beautiful cathedral Stephansdom. If you need some exercise, skip the gym and take the 343 steps to the tower of the Stephansdome.

Now it is time to spend a few hours in the main shopping district situated around the Stephansdom.

If you want to have a quick lunch try Sushi. There are nice Sushi restuarants everywhere.

If you prefer a luxury relaxed lunch in a garden. Have a lunch in the garden of Steirereck im Stadtpark (in the city park). It is a Relais & Chateaux Restaurant . The “Steirereck” in Vienna is located in the heart of the central "city park", close to the famous Johann Strauss statue.
If you´re a foodie who loves cheese. Don´t miss the milk bar in the basement with 120 cheeses from 13 countries.

After lunch it is time for some culture. Bank Austria Kunstforum has marvellous exhibitions. I always try to stop by here when in Vienna.

The capital of cafés? I have read that no other city in the world can rival Vienna in terms of the number of historically significant coffee houses.
You should try atleast one of them. I like the Sacher café, Café Landtmann, Café Imperial, Café Mozart and Café Ministerium.

When tired of walking, go with the Tram (public transport) for a sightseeing tour in Vienna. The Vienna Ring-Tram, has a yellow Tram which takes visitors on a tour of the most beautiful parts of the city.

In the summer, you should go for a swim at Schönbrunn, another former royal palace. The beautiful Schönbrunn palace in Vienna is built in Rococo style in a magnificent park. It has a hotel, the world´s oldest zoo and a public pool.

I just love opera so an evening at the opera house is a must for me. It is a gorgeous building so visit it even if you don´t like opera.

A dinner is nice at the fine-dining DO & CO restaurant with a great view of the Stephansdome.

Stay at the Palace, Palais Coburg Residenz, also known as Palais Saxe-Coburg. A prince built this impressive palace which today is a beautiful hotel and restaurant.

Another nice hotel is the SAS Palais, address: Parkring 16. Not so fancy as the palace Coburg, but great location.

Blooming Budapest

Top 10 things to do in Budapest

The first time I was in Budapest I was amazed by all the beautiful buildings. I was walking in Budapest and stopped by a beautiful building and asked what it was. The answer was the Hungarian post office. Hmm... well the post office where I live is not half so beautiful. The conclusion was the the Hungarian Post Office was better looking than my city´s castle... So if you like beautiful buildings, art, culture, opera, spa, shopping and nice food - Budapest is the place to go.

Stay at the hotel Hilton West End if you like shopping. It is located in the huge shopping complex in the city centre. So there is no excuse not to check it out. Because it is important to know all the fire escape routes in case of a fire ;-)
Buy some cheap and sweet marzipan figures which is sold in the supermarket on the lowest floor in the shopping centre. Another Hungarian specialty to buy is the lovely sweet white wine Tokaji and the Hungarian sausages.
If you want more shopping go to the main shopping street Vaci ut.

The best place to stay is the Four Seasons hotel Gresham Palace. It is one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Central Europe. The hotel has a great location by the Danube river with a view of the Chain Bridge and Buda calste.

Some other nice luxury hotels in Budapest city centre are:
Corinthia Hotel Budapest with a luxurious spa
Hotel Kempinski
Le Meridien

Sightseeing

1. A boat sightseeing on Donau is a must. Lovely trip and great for those who like to take a lot of photographs on their holiday, just like me. Book your trip at Legenda, Hotell Marriott, Vigadó tér Pier No. 6-7. Phone no: +36 - 1 266 41 90.
2. A tour in the Parliament is recommended. The parliament is so beautiful! Go on a tour and see the the Crown, Sword and Globus Cruciger of Hungary. It belonged to the former Hungarian Royal Family.
3. The Buda castle is another must-visit-place. Take a walk there if you like/need exercise and dont forget to visit the Budapest museum inside the castle. Magyar Nemzeti Galéria is an art museum in the former royal castle hosts a large exhibition of Hungarian art.
4. Szoborpark Múzeum (Sculpture park museum) displays a large collection of sculptures and statues from the city during the communist era.
5. Heroes’ Square (Hösök tere) was established for the world expo in Budapest in 1896. It has statues of historical persons of importance to Hungary´s history.
6. Szent István-bazilika, Stefan basilica, is named after the first Hungarian king and should be on your sightseeing program .
7. Szépmûvészeti Múzeum is a large art museum in Budapest often with international exihibitions of famous painters as Monet and Van Gogh.
8. Take a relaxing walk on the Margaret Island in the city centre is a lovely island with huge park and nice restaurants.
9. There are many famous spa and bathes in Budapest. Maybe a visit to the Spa at Hotell Gellert to relax after the sightseeting and shopping?
10. I just love the opera house in Budapest. I been there several times and I have heard that even Puccini has visited the opera house. Book tickets by phone or ask you hotel reception to help you. The tickets are really cheap if you compare to some other opera houses like in Austria or Italy.

Where to eat?

• The restaurant Robinson Étterem is one of my favourite restaurants,.
• Another favourite is restaurant Gundel, establisehd in 1894. It is oldfashion and very famous, so reserve your table in advance. I am not sure but I heard that even the Pope visited the place.
• Restaurant Apostolok is 100 hundred years old with a unique interior and handmade furniture.
• Restaurant Articsóka is combining food and culture. They serve lovely Medditarian food and atmosphere with performances of Hungarian artists.
• A nice cafe for a cup of coffe or a light lunch is Cafe Kör.
• If you like sportsbars you should try the sportsbar and restaurant BoxUTCA

The Unesco World heritage sites of Budapest

• Hollókő
• Budapest
• Pannonhalma
• Hortobágy
• Pécs
• Tokaj
• Aggtelek
• Lake Fertő
• Andrássy Avenue
• Castle district
• Danube embankment

Read more on http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/400 and http://www.budpocketguide.com/sights_sounds/world_heritage.asp

Best of Bangkok

If you are not afraid of heights. You should try the Sirocco Restaurant in Bangkok. I got a bit sea sick when I felt the building moving, but the view was marvellous! Check out the photos of the restaurant.

I liked the Vertigo Restaurant, Banyan Tree Hotel, even better. It is a top roof restuarant as well but I did not get sea sick and the view and the food was great.

The hotel Mandarin Oriental has been voted the best hotel in the world.
Stay there and enjoy a lovely view of the river. Or at least have lunch or dinner in one of the restaurants just to feel the atmosphere. If you like jazz be sure to visit the Bambo bar for live jazz in a junglelike place.

The most romantic evening was the dinner on the Horizon Cruise. It is a boat which is operated by the Shangri-la hotel. We had lovely Asian food on the Chao Phraya River in the middle of Bangkok. I was stunned by the friendly and service-minded staff at the hotel.

When in Bangkok, you must go to the Grand Palace for a visit. It is a complex of buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. It served as the official residence of the Kings of Thailand. It was built in 1782. It is a beautiful palace, do not forget your camera.

Bangkok is also a lot about shopping. There are so many shopping malls and markets that I did not know where to begin... But I can recommend the Central World Shopping Complex and The Emporium Bangkok.
But the best bargains is made on the markets on the streets.

If you have time do take trip on the river during daytime. Watch the houses, the floating shops and get a bit closer to the life in Bangkok.
Maybe even visit the floating market?

And yes, We went to a Thai cultural show. It was nice, a bit of a tourist trap, but fun to watch.

Beautiful Brussels

Time to take a minibreak or a weekendtrip? Go to Brussels...I was in Brussels on a business trip a few years ago. And I can really understand why the European Union chose Brussels for their head quarters. It is a lovely city with so many beautiful buildings and landmarks.

Where to stay? I can recommend Hotel Leopold, Rue du Luxembourg 35, which has an excellent location and great food. Close to the EU buildings and the shopping.



Top 10 things to do in Brussels:

1. Beer is a specialty in Belgium. Take the chance and participate in a beer and cheese tasting at A la Bécasse. I do not like beer a lot but it was interesting to taste different types and feel the atmosphere in a la Bécasse.
2. Have a lovely dinner att restaurant Aux Armes de Bruxelles
3. Be a true EUropean and visit the EU head quarters and the parliament at Espace Léopold
4. See the Atomium. It was the icon of the world fair in 1958. And it is still beautiful and stunning.
5. Buy choclate at Neuhaus is a must. The first Neuhaus shop opened in Brussels in 1857. And it is still there. Try their chocolate and you will understand why.Mums as we say in Sweden.
6. Go on sightseeing. Brussels has so many magnificent buildings, much thanks to King Leopold II. Do not forget to bring your camera...
   Some favorites I discovered during my short trip was:
7. The city hall
8. The royal palace
9. The colourful grand palace
10. The charming chinese pavillion

Two nice restaurants I can recommend.
- Fabulous Italian food at the Osteria La Bolognese.
Address: Rue de la Paix 4.
The best Italian starter I ever tasted. http://www.osteriabolognese.be
- Great mediterranean food at the El Turco restaurant.  http://elturco.be
Address: Rue Du Trone, 73, Place De Londres, 6

Marvellous Swedish Opera singer Malena Ernman gave me these recommendations for nice restaurants in Brussels:
Restaurants: Try st Catherine / Vlamse stenweg area. Or sablon. Nice coffee / lunch/ bar is le roi des belges on St Gery.
For drinks:l' archeduc (?) on rue antoine dansaert. Near Bourse . Rumour has it their piano use to belong to J Brel... Ring the doorbell!!
After my trip to Belgium I was told there is a chocolate museum in Brussels. So for all chocolate fans, don´t miss the Belgium Chocolate Museum in the city centre.

Dreaming of Delhi?

New Delhi is a colourful and vibrant city. It is said the you either like India or do not like it. But I do like it a lot. I have been there twice and can not wait to go back.

When I visited New Delhi for the first time I took a weekend-trip to Taj Mahal at Agra and the Pink city of Jaipur. One of the best things I have every done. A memory for life. Do the same if you can while visiting India.



The 10 must-do´s in New Delhi which I would recommend are:

• Bukhara Restaurant has great Indian food traditionally prepared in a clay oven (tandoor). It has been rated amongst the top 50 restaurants in the world and the finest restaurant in Asia by ‘’Restaurant” magazine. The restaurant is decorated in a special way with a lot of wood. And you sit on a small chair of wood.


• Shopping handicraft is nice to do in the government handicraft shop. Lovely handicraft at great prices and you do not need to hassle... I bought some lovely wooden boxes and paintings which I have in my home and reminds me of my trip to India. It is called the Cottage Industries Emporium


• Sightseeing to the Old town is an experience you don´t want to miss. But be prepared it is a extremely crowded place.


• I also visited the beuatiful Red Fort and the red sandstone walls is 2 km length and vary in height from 18 metres to 33 metres.


• Another beautiful place is the Lotus temple. Take off your shoes and enjoy the peaceful feelings in the temple. A great place for meditation.


• Have lunch at the Taj Palace Hotel and enjoy the nice food at one of the most luxurious hotels in New Delhi.


• Visit and admire the India Gate, it commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting during World War I.


• The Dilli Haat is market which chould be nice to visit for some shopping.

Night club recommendations from my friend Joanna who is an experienced party girl:

• Smoke House Grill is a restaurant which transforms into a night club on Friday evenings. Masjid Moth, G.K. II
  
• Ricks is a pub with live music at the Hotel Taj Mansingh.
  
• F Bar at the Ashoka Hotel is a night club with Techno music. Apparently best on Saturdays.

Sassy Stockholm

Stockholm is my favourite city in Sweden.

Top 10 things to do in Stockholm

1. Millesgården. I was totally stunned when I saw all the beautiful statues. (visit only when the weather is nice)


2. Kaknästornet. The best view over Stockholm. Bring your camera to the 155 meter high tv-tower.


3. The royal castle. Go on sightseeing and buy royal tea in the royal shop.


4. The Absolut Ice Bar. Freezing but nice to have a drink in a glass made of ice (book in advance)


5. NK. The best department store, not to miss!


6. Boat sightseeing with lunch in the archipelago is nice in the summer


7. Liljevalchs, art museum with interesting exhibitions


8. Fika (have a coffe and cake) at Vetekatten. A small cosy bakery decorated as an old Swedish home


9. The old town with tourist shops and beautiful old houses
10. Chokladfabriken (The chocolate factory) is a great place for chocolate lovers. They have three shops in Stockholm. One of them is at Regeringsgatan, close to NK.

Resturants

• Lydmar, the restaurant at the design hotel Lydmar is great. Have a drink outside in the summer and enjoy the view of the royal castle before your dinner. A moijoto for starter and their great for guarantees a great evening. It is located at Blaiseholmen next to the Grand Hotel.


• Ciao Ciao due. Have an Italian pasta and great pizza at this cosy restaurant in Östermalm. Not so cheap but great food. A place to bring the family for a meal.


• Kol o koks is a small italian restuarant in the city centre. A perfect place for a romantic dinner.


• Sonjas Grek has the best greek food I have had outside Grecce! One of my childhood friends who lives in Stockholm recommended me this place and I just love there food.


• Forno Romana at Odengatan, serves tasty pasta and pizza at this pizzeria in Vasastan. Nice prices!


• Östermalmshallen. It opened in 1888. Eat here or buy food to cook your own meal at home. Only open during day time.


• B.A.R. If you like fish and shellfish. This is the place! Book a table in advance. It is located at Blaiseholmen close to grand hotel.


• Sakura is nice for Japanse food. It you are about 10 peope or so, book their karaoke room and sing along.
  
• Fjärderholmarna. Have lunch or dinner in the archipelago and enjoy the view of the ocean and islands in the summer.


• Grand Hotel. Try the Swedish specialty Smörgåsbord, an exclusive buffet with great Swedish food

Stockholm for kids

Check out the mooses at the Skansen openair museum and zoo. Have a fairytale trip through Astrid Lindgren stories at the museum Junibacken. It is easy to have fun at the Gröna Lund fun fair. All these three attractions are within walking distance from eachother.

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.