November captured on the run

I've heard November mentioned as one of these boring months. It's the end of fall but still not really winter. Christmas is on the way but it's still too early to dare to decorate. To sum it up, it's bleh at the end of the year.

I've never seen it that way, I'm a November kid to the fullest. It's usually filled with highly anticipated rendezvous and other events of personal importance. For some reason most of the biggest decisions in my life have usually been taken in November. It's when I can finally start the countdown for Christmas at home, something that usually is just a blur in the distance but finally becomes visible in November. What can I say? It's my month.

This year November has been crazy busy and passed by on full speed. Still, it's been the good kind of crazy. The type where you think back and see that you truly enjoyed it to the fullest despite all the running around and early morning airplane rides. Where you see you did something valuable and you're proud of what you did. Exactly my kind of November.

My camera has been largely absent this month, or more or less replaced by the office camera. So, you'll get a glimpse of November through the next best thing, my phone.

What the past months lead up to

One of the few food items acceptable for instagram

late November and the Christmas countdown starts

Me, the laptop and work camera in Helsinki

I could spend days just looking at Brussels' street art

the smallest aircraft I've ever been on for an international flight

A little moment from a highly anticipated visit 

@work in yet a new country

the nice view captured  for a short moment in the morning, before the running around started

xx

Street beauty

I love street art.

There's something about the ability to take plain, dull walls and bring them to life that I just find fascinating. Especially if it includes portraits.

El Mac is one of my favorite artists. I find his talent to be ridiculously amazing, especially as I can hardly draw a normal circle on a piece of paper with a pencil, let alone create gigantic portraits on buildings with spray cans. 

Dia de Muertos en Pomuch- Campeche
(this one just blows my mind)

Pandora- Los Angeles

Southwest Goddess- Phoenix

He has collaborated with Retna who does the backgrounds, the results are breathtaking.
Here are some examples.

Skid Row (Blessed are the Meek)- Los Angeles

Ave Maria- Salt Lake City

RVCA Headquarters- Costa Mesa

The Knight- Los Angeles

Young Scribe- Miami

Yes! Yes! Yes!

People who make the world a more beautiful place with their talent make me happy.
So, thank you :)

You can see more of El Mac's work here.

Vaxholm

Just a quick little post with some pictures from my little trip to Vaxholm the other day.

I underestimated the weather a bit so my trip can be summed up as:

taking the bus, 

getting off the bus, 

realizing it's a bit too windy for the weather to be sweater-appropriate

walking a little circle around, snapping a few pictures

catching the next warm bus back

Nonetheless, it was worth both the bus ride and the little chill from the wind.

xx

E

Walks

What a beautiful city!

I've lived in several beautiful places but Stockholm seems to be in a category of its own. 

(my tiny Gothenburg heart is squeaking while I type this... no worries, I still love you GBG)

Large green areas, beautiful buildings and  great waters=  lovely large city with nature visible all around.

I guess I'm a sucker for the easy access waterfront, it´s absolutely everywhere and I love it!

I'm looking forward to more weekend walks this autumn!

xx

E

Drottningholm

I've only visited Stockholm during winter so it was very nice to get to explore the city in proper summer weather this weekend. 

Yesterday I went to Drottningholm. For those who don't know, it's the residency of the Swedish royal family complete with a palace, gardens and a lot of naked statutes. 

The weather was amazing and the area surrounding the palace was absolutely beautiful, I'm very sure that if I had lived in Stockholm over the summer I would have spent a few days relaxing in the park there. 

waiting for the bus

it was a bit tempting to cool off in these

the palace and one of the many naked statutes

smart kid doing what I should have done

Now it's just hoping that there will (magically) be some more of this awesome 20+ degree weather the next weekends. 

Not really likely but one can always hope! :)

xx

E

Off on a train

For the fifth time in my life I've packed my bags and moved to a new place. 

However, this time around it's slightly different. Firstly, I moved within the same country and secondly,  I somehow managed to break my habit of moving to places where I have never been before as I've visited the city.

This time around it´s Stockholm.

Lovely, beautiful, lively Stockholm, at least for the next few months.

The first week at work has passed and it seems like it has flown by.

Everything is new, busy and exciting and I hope to keep things busy and exciting for the entire stay :)

entertainment: essential on early morning trains when sleep is not an option

the daily ritual

the view ten meters from my front door, I won't complain.

I love passing through this environment on the way to work

Heaven in a cone! 

 It looks like the last bit of  Swedish summer will be visiting this weekend and I'm planning to be out and about to take a proper advantage of it...

most likely with another ice cream.

xx

E

Oslo in a day

Yesterday I went on a day trip to Oslo with some good friends. 

I love how easy it is to go on cheap little trips here by simply jumping on the bus or the train (something that is not really an option on the good old North-Atlantic island).

Great people, great weather, great city.

xx

E