Frosty Sweden.

Sweden met me with the cold fresh flurries of air and white snowflakes which were ignoring my shaking body slowly fell by the scruff of my neck. I was surprised how quickly I got used to the warm climate and bewildered by my inattentiveness in my dress.
I was happy that I got my luggage without any hassles and was rolling my pushcart with all my might toward the parking place where my car was parked.

Foolishly unprepared to my next procedure I had no choice as to sweep the snow from the car with my bare hands. I don’t remember how long it took, but the only memory that I have, is my wishing to get over as soon as possible.
Finally I jumped into my car and darted away with strong anxiety about the price of the parking and with fear to be charged more for the each delaying moment.

After couple of minutes, when I was already on the motor way, I discovered that my driver door was not locket and I could do nothing about that, because the lube oil was frozen. To stop was not an option, with regard to a driving police car behind me and the sign of stop-forbid on a motor way. I had no better alternative as to hold the door with my left hand and to maneuver my car with the right one. After 10 minutes my hand grew dumb and was forced to stop. Luckily till that time the lube oil warmed up and the door closed automatically. I was really happy when I arrived home, partially because I was terrible tired and partially because I had the summer tires on my car and I could get in trouble if police would notice that.

The house was snowed in.

My house wrapped me with the solemn silence and warm air. I haven’t been at home for a while, thus I was roaming from side to side of the house just to revive my fading feeling of belonging to this place.

By and by, the jet-leg took over and I fell asleep in my cozy and chilly bedroom. The last what I remember is the cool breeze of the fresh crispy winter air which filled in my lungs and swept my mind away into deep sleep which lasted for 14 hours.

Coming home.

Tomorrow I am flying back to Sweden; I am looking forward to it. We are going to ski two weeks in France and then back to Sweden.

Yesterday I finished two courses and got my certificates. It feels lovely.

Two days ago we invited by G company to the Christmas party. It was a blast! We had such great time and I danced three hours without any stop. My Manolo Blahnik shoes, as it was proved, are not just beautiful shoes, but they also fulfill their purpose as a pair of comfortable shoes. A good investment, because I can’t recall when it was last time I could dance 3 hours and didn’t get any hassles with feet.

Christmas shopping is much better here, you have more variety and even when it come to price it is cheaper to buy here. So my luggage is full with Christmas gives to my family. See you all soon.

My favorite paintings of Dali.

Dream Caused by the flight of a Bee around a Pomegranate.




The temptation of St. Anthony.





Swans Reflecting Elephants.

Girl Standing at the Window.





Dali’s the most famous: “The Persistence of Memory” .

The Salvador Dali museum in St Petersburg, Florida.

After the nourishing dinner, it was time to plan for the next day. One of the travel guides recommended visiting St. Petersburg, where you can find one of the biggest Salvador Dali museums. Although half of our group wanted to explore the Marco Islands and didn’t give a fig about Dali, the second half was determined and exercised the privilege of “acoustic management” by persuading the group to visit the Salvador Dali museum. So be it. The next morning we hit St Petersburg and faced the beauty of Dali’s art.

To be honest with you, Dali wasn’t my favorite painter but I always respected him for what he achieved during his lifetime. Though many people consider him mad, history hasn't  indulged us with very many where “craziness” has led to such extraordinary success.

In order to fully understand the works of Dali, it is necessary to know about his life and personality. It is only in the light of certain facts that we can truly judge Dali’s genius and deliver it from the many prejudices and clichés that have spoiled it.

At the museum we had the guided tour, led by a devoted German woman who bewitched me with an amazing story of Dali’s divine life. I also got a lengthy explanation about his, at first look, “crazy” paintings and Dali’s obsession with small details in his paintings.

I was also amused by his deep love for his soul-mate, Gala (she was an immigrant from Russian), his creativity and efficiency. I would not be wrong if I say that there are not very many other genius painters who create so many masterpieces during their lives.




I was stricken by the fact that Dali actually made many other paintings which are “normal,” and they are not so contradicting or as many other people would express themselves, vulgar. Now that I understand more of his art, I don’t perceive his creations as provocative.

In this museum, for the first time in my life, I saw couple of amazing Dali paintings which I never saw before, and they astonished me by their beauty.

Velázquez Painting the Infanta Margarita with the Lights and Shadows of His Own Glory.




The Broken Bridge and the Dream.



I would like to be enlightened a little bit more about the painting “The Broken Bridge and the Dream,” which has bewitched me and revived my imagination.
Just the name thrills me: unfortunately it is difficult for you to see all the details.

By peculiar and individual positioning the surrealistic figures around the broken bridge in the incongruous imagery environment, Dali reveals our human state of mind which rendered by the fact that your dream is broken.

The picture mirrors our life’s raw brutality and gives me a creepy feeling. I am bewitched by how perspicaciously Dali shows the predicable end of our life’s destiny. It shows the fragility of dreams and naivety of our perception of life.

Those who are on the broken side of the bridge are already angels and I find this propounded deep and touching.

Fort Myers.

Just enough to bed time we entered Fort Myers, I faced the terrifying view of the abandoned city with all hotels closed and the only functioning building was a local jail. I have nothing to add particular about this city, apart from that it gave me a creepy and horrifying feeling. We were recommended to drive to one big local shopping center which was located outside of city. Finally we entered to a huge shopping mall which consisted of numerous stores and restaurants with a local music and entertainment. We checked in our hotel which was comfortable and affordable, the dinner didn’t leave any memories apart from the fact that we discovered a new good California vine. It was so god that it is worth to dedicate more lines to it:
J. LOHR
Estates of Seven Oaks, Cabernet is grown in vineyards in the Estrella Hills area of Paso Robles, one of only three appellations in California that produce “world class” Cabernet Sauvignon. The Seven Oaks Cabernet has aromas and bouquets of cherry, blueberry, violets and vanilla. The flavors are lusciously full, balanced by firm tannins.
I am strong recommending it.

The Sanibel Island.

After our late lunch we drove to the Sanibel Island in hope to find some picturesque hotel with two sea view rooms. According to the old guide book which we found in our car, the Sanibel Island is renowned as gorgeous beauty with many luxury hotels which are located on white beach from where you can see unforgettable sun set.

The island by itself is not so big; it is enough 55 minutes to cross the whole island. Our optimistic mod started to cease after couple of unsuccessful attempt to find our dream hotel. The more we seek the worse was the result; four places had no vacancies, the other two didn’t have sea view rooms and the next was for big families.

We had no luck, which I alluded to the high holiday season or (which is the most likely) to our old unreliable guide book. I have to admit that we saw many beautiful private mansions, they all were situated on gorgeous beaches and the public access was denied.

[private beach house]

No doubts that the glory of the island is true, but you need to be very rich and own a house on the island in order to enjoy it.

Our last try felt at the first sight an agreeable hotel. But this impression was crossed by unexpected unpleasant muttering of the young receptionist. After long harangue we were allowed to look insight. The place was old and creepy; nothing was couching, temptations, pleasing or inviting to stay there for one romantic night. The beach area was forlorn and dirty and the inside garden was ill-conditioned. All balconies were covered by huge net, giving an impression of jail. I couldn’t hold my tong and asked the receptionist what was the purpose of that, she answered me on less polite tone that it was for the protection from mosquitoes. Her answer rendered just more questions in my mind, like about the possible side of mosquitoes who were supposed to get trapped in that net (what by size of birds??) and about the hotel management’s statement forward their customers.

Anyway, disappointed and tired, we crossed the island for the second time and left it in hope to find a better place to stay overnight. I wasn’t especially saddened but my friend, who was dreaming about to see a beautiful sun set, was completely crossed.

The never seen sun set.

I thought that the fortune is playing a mean joke with us, with consideration that we have such a gorgeous place at home which we left for the search of more romantic place where we could sit on the beach, drink champagne and see an unforgettable sun set. Instead we were driving toward the closest city, Fort Myers, in hope to find a better place to stay.

Naples, Florida.

Naples is a little picturesque vacation town with gorgeous beaches.

The first impression is that everything is almost surreal, the excessive pedantic clean streets and beautiful environment.

The main street (5th Avenue) goes directly to the beach, which is famous for the extremely white sand and immense variety of big shells.

In some books you can even find stories about entrepreneurial swindlers, who are during the First World War sold that sand as a sugar.

What hit me the most is that the shore and seaside of Naples reminds me so much of the beach in Ljunghusen (a little village in Sweden), thought the air temperature is nicer in Naples.

The streets of Naples are decorated with all kind different stature. I wouldn’t miss my chance to take a ride on the animal which I fear the most.

By rambling through the city we found a nice (at least by the first appearance) restaurant and sinking in oblivion of peaceful environment we ordered lunch. Meanwhile waiting for food we conversed about our pleasant experience of the city…until we got our food. In the moment we realized that we were in the tourist’s trap where you get bland food with really high prices. Apart from that, the city left a pleasant memory and nice impression.