The Liebster Award!

January 1, 2019February 10, 2022 Niche Travel Design3 Comments

Niche Travel Design has been nominated for The Liebster Award!

I was nominated by A World in Reach for this peer award. For a somewhat new blogger like me, this is a special treat. It’s always a great feeling to be recognized by your peers. Thank you, Sydney and A World in Reach.

What is the Liebster Award?

The Liebster Award is a peer to peer award, given to bloggers, by bloggers as a way to foster collaboration and support. What a nice idea.

I noticed a message board in my German friend’s house that said “liebe und respekt.” I asked what liebe or liebster meant. She told me it means dearest or kindest. Thus, bloggers being dear and kind to one another. This is an award I can get behind. I am always seeking advice from others and I am happy to promote the idea of collaboration. I strongly believe in the theory that what you give comes back to you.

The Rules of Engagement

Once you’re nominated with the Liebster Award, you have to follow a few rules to celebrate your win and spread the award throughout the blogging community.

1. Thank the person who nominated you, and put a link to their blog on your blog.

2. Display the award on your blog.

3. Write a small post about what makes you passionate about blog posting.

4. Provide 10 random facts about yourself.

5. Answer the questions from your nominator and provide a fresh set of questions for those you nominate.

6. Nominate 5 – 10 blogs that you feel would enjoy blogging about this award.

7. List these rules in your post.

How I Began My Blogging Journey

I began blogging when I first moved from California to Parma, Italy in 2011.

When my daughter was a toddler she frequently made up words that sounded similar to the adult versions. She would say strawbellies instead of strawberries; froggy instead of foggy. One of the words she transposed was Parmesan. In her toddler mind, Parmesan cheese was Purple John cheese. For years our family asked each other to pass the Purple John cheese at the dinner table.

Imagine our surprise when we realized that we were moving to Parma, Italy – the birthplace of Purple John cheese. Apparently, the universe has a sense of humor. It seemed like serendipity. What we did not know is that an international move is difficult. Life in another country is difficult. It is not all adventure. I had 2 very sad children who did not want to move and leave the comfort of their home.

[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]Read about the reality of an international move here.[/dropshadowbox]

All that being said, life in Italy was often quite funny because things were soooo different than what we were used to. Thus, my original blog, Purple John, began by me just telling friends about the difficulties and the funny stories that we encountered along the way.

[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]Read funny stories about life in Italy in the drop-down menu here. [/dropshadowbox]

And of course, just when we were settled into life in Italy, the universe struck again and we had a second move to Malmö, Sweden. Once we moved and settled into Malmö, I toyed with the idea of reworking my past experience as a travel consultant and incorporating the blog as part of the business. The kids were older and they did not need me as much as they did in Italy. This last year I began my existing blog Niche Travel Design using my name and domain name from the travel business that I ran in the USA. So now my travel business has a blog attached to it.

My blog still occasionally includes funny ex-pat tales of excitement and woe, but now I am more focused on the business of travel. The funny thing, though . . . that little toddler that inspired my first blog name, she now works with me on the business.

At Niche Travel Design, our philosophy is that designing the perfect vacation is as much an art form as designing a home’s interior or a garden’s landscape. We curate a unique experience for each of our clients.

We are experts in finding the best cup of coffee, the most interesting art gallery, the best place to sip Prosecco while watching the sunset, and the best accessories to make your adventure more comfortable.

The perfect cappuccino

Aperol Spritz – the classic summer cocktail

Niche Travel Design is more than a travel blog. We are a community featuring stories of life abroad, cultural experiences, recipes, ideas, and tips for creating unique memories to last a lifetime. We also recommend products and services.

10 Random Things About Me

I once sort of crashed a funeral. My friend was supposed to go and I was staying with her so I went too because it was celebrity filled. In the end, I felt like a heel and a looky-loo. People (even celebrities) were grieving. I don’t recommend it. Not my best moment.
I always top off my gasoline, despite the warnings.
I love Gene Kelly movies and I got to meet him once and had a conversation with him about his more obscure movies. It was amazing and he was so kind.
I am secretly a Carpenters fan. I guess it is not a secret anymore.
I sing all the time in public even though I really shouldn’t.
I once got into a car accident on the way home from a car accident and neither one was my fault. I know you don’t believe me, but it is true.
Apparently, according to my family, I say Google incorrectly? Who knew?
I hate, I mean really hate, The Pillsbury Doughboy. His voice makes my skin crawl.
I once stayed at a “pensione” in Barcelona that was actually the host’s children’s room. He was clearing toys out of their bedroom. It was weird, but it was late and there was a train strike so I paid to sleep in a stranger’s kid’s bed.
I generally don’t like chick flicks despite being a chick. I seem to be missing a gene or something.

A World In Reach’s Questions For Me

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned during your travels? That once one strips away all the cultural differences, we are all the same. We all just want safety, family, friends, love, and respect in our lives.

What’s your favorite part of traveling? Exploring and learning about a place. Finding off the beaten path things to do. I am a researcher and enjoy the discovery of new things to do, a great local restaurant, a specialty shop, an unusual experience in a typical tourist spot. Least favorite? The getting there bit. The airports, etc. Ugh.

Do you collect any souvenirs from your travels? I used to collect art from each place but now I have too much. I had to stop. No more room to hang anything. We have also always collected ornaments for our Christmas tree. It is nice to remember our trips as we put up each ornament every year. Now I collect photographs and memories.

What is the most unique experience you’ve had with a local while traveling? Swimming with horses in Croatia. Just incredible.

[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”auto” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]Read more about swimming with horses here. [/dropshadowbox]

If you could travel with one person you’ve never traveled with before, who would it be? Barack Obama. He is intelligent, funny, has done some cool stuff and met a bunch of interesting people. I’ll bet he has good stories. Plus, he gets V.I.P. treatment and if we were traveling together I’d get V.I.P. treatment too.

How did you come up with your blog name? It was the name of my travel business in the USA. I focus on niche, unique, unusual travel experiences. I curate and design your trip for you.

What tip would you give to a new blogger? Learn all the technical stuff before you begin.

Is there a book or a movie that has inspired your wanderlust? No. My wanderlust was developed as a child. Actually, I feel like it has always been there.

What are the top 3 things on your bucket list? Africa – all of it! Australia/New Zealand and Asia.

What is your biggest travel regret? I had a chance to go to Africa for a summer. I didn’t go because it wasn’t practical. I should have gone.

My Nominations for The Liebster Award

I have really enjoyed the Liebster Award process. I also enjoyed reading about each of these bloggers that I am nominating. I hope that you each take the time to read up on what they have to offer.

1. Divine Kabwe at beingyourselfblog.wordpress.com

2. Diana Danciu at ourblindlife.com

3. Jenny Toney Bhatia of travelingpartyof4.com

4. Temeka Flack Green of worklifemommyhood.com

5. Heather Eyre of thefemalefactor.me

6. Jamie Joseph of wearefreeindeed.wordpress.com

7. Samantha Norman of SammiNormanFit.com

8. Louise Emerson of 12books.co.uk

9. Mallory Herrera of mamaonparade.com

10. Megan Henderson of thehendersonhouse.org

Questions For My Nominees

Since I have a travel blog, my questions are all about travel.

Where would you go if money and time were not issues?
What is the best advice you would give to new travelers?
What is the one accessory that you cannot travel without – your phone and/or computer don’t count?
Where is one place you would return over and over again? And why?
Where is one place you’ve been but never want to return to? And why?
What is the funniest travel mishap you’ve had?
What is the scariest travel experience you’ve had?
What is your favorite travel souvenir?
What is your favorite local cuisine?
What is your next destination?

Looking forward to reading my nominees’ answers and getting to know them better.

And once again, a BIG THANK YOU to A World In Reach for my nomination!

Everyone, please be sure to check out Sydney’s blog for ideas on budget travel. A World In Reach can provide you with all sorts of ideas on traveling on a budget.

All Saints' Day · Americans abroad · art · Christmas · European travel · ex-pat life · festival of lights · Helsingborg · Insider Tips · international travel · Malmö · mys · mysig · nature · Skåne · Skåne Sweden · Thanksgiving abroad · Travel

All Saints’ Day – Lighting The Way to The Holidays

November 14, 2018 Niche Travel Design4 Comments

WINTER CELEBRATIONS | ALL SAINTS’ DAY

We Americans love Halloween. Besides the candy filled extravaganza, the fun of dressing up and parties, Halloween also marks the beginning of the winter holiday season. In quick succession it goes, Halloween, Thanksgiving and then Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa . . . In my adopted home of Sweden, however, Halloween is not the hallmark of the winter celebrations. All Saints’ Day, celebrated November 1, holds that title.

Unlike, Halloween though, All Saints day is a day of respect and reflection. All over Sweden cemeteries are illuminated with candles in remembrance of loved ones. The site is a beautiful one to behold. It is an elegant reminder that life is precious.

a gave with lighted candles and toys — All Saints’ Day offerings

a gave with 6 lighted candles — All Saints’ Day offerings

a grave with lighted candles, lanterns and trinkets — All Saints’ Day offerings

candles alight a grave in Sweden — All Saints’ Day offerings

All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, Hallowmas, the Feast of All Saints, is a Christian festival celebrated in honor of all saints and loved ones who have passed away. All Saints’ Day in Sweden also marks the first day of winter.

Limhamns Kyrka ready for the All Saints' Day observance mass and concert. — Limhamns Kyrka ready for All Saints’ Day observance mass and concert.

The tradition of lighting loved one’s graves began in Sweden in the 1900’s. Originally though, it was only the wealthy and upper classes who honored their dead on November 1st. For some reason, which I have not been able to track down, the practice slowly made its way to Swedes of all classes after WWII. Eventually, churches began holding services and concerts in conjunction with their flock’s practices and the day became an official holiday and harbinger of winter.

All Saints’ Day is a national Swedish holiday in modern times marked by: a day off of work if November 1 happens to fall on a weekday; a visit to the cemetery for the lighting of candles and the leaving of wreaths and other trinkets: a family gathering; and, a special meal.

SOFIERO’S WINTER CELEBRATION | A FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

It is no surprise that Swedish winters are dark, damp and cold. So often when Swedes hear that I am a California native they immediately ask me how I am surviving the winters. I tell them, honestly, that I love Swedish winters. I mean, yeah, I have a week of adjusting when the early dark days begin, but I absolutely love how Sweden makes a great effort to achieve mysig or mys. Mysig is the creation of a feeling of coziness and warmth. Swedes use all sorts of tools to achieve mys – blankets, lanterns, fire pits around town, mulled wine, yummy food, and of course, lights and candles. Lights and candles are everywhere during the winter months. And they do indeed make a person feel cozy.

At Sofiero, the Swedish royal family’s old summer cottage in Helsingborg, they celebrate the beginning of winter each year with a festival of lights.

Sofiero is famous for its lovely garden. It is a gardener’s delight when in full bloom in the springtime, but it is just as magical in the winter. During Sofiero’s annual Festival of Lights, the entire grounds are awash with different colored lights and candles creating a mystical canvas. They also offer warm food and drinks at various stations throughout the grounds with everything from a full meal to sweets and warm drinks. If you visit with children (and I would recommend that you do) make sure to avail yourself and your kids of the enchanted forest. Rumor has it, they even have a marshmallow roasting pit.

a bridge lighted with candles at Sofiero Slott. — Sofiero bridge of lights. Festival of Lights

a garden shed lighted with hanging candles — Sofiero garden shed at the Festival of Lights

A walkway at Sofiero Slott lighted with electric lights — Sofiero walkway. Festival of Lights

a forest lighted with different colored lights — The magical Sofiero forest. Festival of Lights.

A forest lit up with blue lights — The magical Sofiero forest at the Festival of Lights

A walkway lit up with tea lights at Sofiero Slott — Sofiero walkway. Sofiero Festival of Lights.

The Sofiero Slott from across the lawn Lit up — Sofiero Slott Festival of Lights

A shed lit up with white ligjts on its roof and bright blue lights on the shed — Magic blue shed at Sofiero Festival of Lights

a forest lit up with blue and green lights at Sofiero Slott — The Magical Forest at Sofiero Festival of Lights

Lanterns with lit candles inside — Lanterns. Sofiero Slott. Festival of Lights

A lighted garden shed at Sofiero festival of Lights — A lighted garden shed at Sofiero Festival of Lights

white lights of the Magic Forest at Sofiero Slott. — The lights of the Magic Forest at Sofiero Slott. Festival of Lights

Sofiero Slott awash in lights at the Festival of Lights

A visit to Sofiero’s festival of lights is a great way to get your mys on, chase away the winter blues, experience the magic of a lighted forest, and say, “hello darkness my old friend.”

Americans abroad · art · European travel · ex-pat life · ex-pat reality · France · Germany · Honeymoon travel · Insider Tips · international travel · Maastricht · Modern Art · Off The Beaten Path · pastel de nata · restaurant · The Netherlands · The Unique and Unusual · Travel

Holland Off The Beaten Path | Marvelous Maastricht

October 30, 2018 Niche Travel Design10 Comments

Visiting Holland, most people head to Amsterdam or The Hague. A little bit off the beaten path lies Marvelous Maastricht. The first adjective that comes to mind when I think of Maastricht is charming. Cobblestoned streets, Baroque, Romanesque and Renaissance architecture, large market squares, cafes and a riverfront all add to its appeal.

MAASTRICHT | STEEPED IN HISTORY

One thing that the locals are quite proud of is that the EU was officially formed and ratified as a result of the Maastricht Treaty of 1992. A pretty big development in European history.

“But Maastricht was not the end of history. It was a first step towards a Europe of growth, of employment, a social Europe.

That was the vision of Francois Mitterrand.”

Laurent Fabius

Maastricht also claims to be the oldest city in the Netherlands. The town of Nijmegen also makes that claim, but either way, Maastricht was the site of archeological relics dating between 8,000 to 25,000 years old!

Basilica of St. Servatius

Student bicycles. Maastricht

The name Maastricht is derived from Latin and means “crossing at the Meuse.” The crossing being an ancient Roman bridge built in the 1st century AD over the River Maas. Unfortunately, the ancient bridge is gone, but this delightful town still straddles the Maas river and boasts of being walking distance to Belgium, cycling distance to Germany and a quick drive to France. A true international crossroad.

And international it is. It is not uncommon to hear Dutch, German, French, and English on the streets and in the many cafes. Maastricht’s proximity to 3 other countries together with the international student population of Maastricht University has birthed a vibrant, multi-cultural population bustling with the palpable energy that comes with youth and diversity.

MAASTRICHT SIGHTS | THE MARKET SQUARE AND HET VRIJTHOF

At the heart of the city lie 2 distinct squares. The largest square, called Het Vrijthof, is a large space surrounded by restaurants and cafés with outdoor seating, a pavilion, and public art. It is one of the larger public squares I have seen in Europe. It is home to the Sint-Jan and Sint-Servaas churches, and the Generaalshuis. Het Vrijthof is also home to most of the public events happening in Maastricht – summer concerts, and the annual Christmas market.

Basilica of St. Servatius on Het Vrijthof. Maastricht

Public art on Het Vrijthof. Maastrict

Het Vrijthof. Maastrict

About a 6-7 minute walk from Het Vrijhof, is Maastricht’s Market Square or Markt, home to the city’s weekly food markets, flea market and the city hall – a large white building that evokes a wedding cake.

Town hall on the Market Square of Maastricht. Photo credit: iStock

Both squares lie in the heart of the city and either is a good place to begin your tour. If you are anything like my family, the first thing we typically do is taste the local cuisine. And Maastricht does not disappoint.

MAASTRICHT FOOD | FIRST ON THE AGENDA, GO EAT!

As mentioned previously, the rich and diverse culture in Maastricht means a rich and diverse selection of food. Known as the culinary capital of The Netherlands, one can find restaurants and food shops with Dutch, French, German, Belgian, and Portuguese influences. Surrounding Het Vrijthof, one finds a plethora of cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating perfect to sip a coffee, people watch, and have a fantastic bite to eat.

The many cafes surrounding the large public square Het Vrijthof. Maastricht.

MAASTRICHT FOOD |AMAZING DELICATESSENS

While Maastricht offers many amazing restaurants and varied cuisines, it is also home to some incredible delicatessens. If the weather is cooperating, a really pleasant way to enjoy your lunch is to visit one of the many specialty food stores and take a picnic in the Stadspark Maastricht.

The 2 delis that peaked our interest were Saveurs Traiteurwinkel Maastricht and Caravela Delicatessen.

Saveurs is a one-stop gourmet heaven. Saveurs offers specialty food, catering, take-out meal prep, and a food truck. Food is prepared daily and they are famous for their meatloaf. Yes, meatloaf made by combining minced Limousin beef and Duroc pork, then hand wrapping the meatoaf in bread paneer from the bakery Bisschopsmolen. It is like a Meatloaf Wellington.

Caravela Delicatessen is another incredible food store specializing in products from Portugal – Portuguese wines and Port, olive oil, piri piri, cheese and my favorite Portuguese treat, pastel de nata. Since I love everything about Portugal, we opted to get our picnic here. And it did not disappoint.

MAASTRICHT TO DO | A SHOPPER’S DELIGHT

Once you have finished your meal, you can easily walk it off. The town is an architectural delight and walking around is a treat for the eyes. And, there is ample shopping on both sides of the river with lots of interesting, independent boutiques. No matter where you wander, you will be a stone’s throw from shopping heaven. There were so many stores and boutiques on every street that we lost count.

Shopper's Paradise. Maastricht. — Shopper’s Paradise. Maastricht.

MAASTRICT TO DO | VISIT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOKSTORE

If you are shopping on the western side of the river, be sure to stop by the Dominicanen bookstore. This glorious bookstore is housed in a repurposed,
700 year old church. Over the years the building was utilized for a variety of functions, finally settling on an identity as a bookstore, coffee bar, and event center for lectures, debates, and exhibitions.

Photo credit: http://maastrichttourism.nl

Even if you are not looking for a book, it is worth a visit. The combination of books and cathedral features are stunning. CNN Travel named this bookstore one of the coolest bookstores in the world.

MAASTRICHT TO DO | REST YOUR BARKING DOGS ON A BOAT CRUISE

If your dogs are barking (an American idiom meaning your feet are tired) rest them while you cruise the Maas River on one of the many boat tours. One can cruise in groups, rent an individual boat, or go on pre-arranged cruises. Prices vary according to the theme and the length of the trip. You can tour the locks, have brunch, a pancake breakfast, a historical tour or an evening cocktail tour. There are options to suit just about every interest and some of the evening options have a different theme each month. Maastricht clearly embraces the river as part of its culture.

Unfortunately, we did not have time to actually take a boat cruise, thus, while I cannot make a recommendation, I can provide you with some basic information on the available tours. The 2 main tour companies are GetMyBoat and Stiphout Tours.

MAASTRICHT TOURS | OTHER WAYS TO EXPLORE

If boating is not your thing, not to worry, Maastricht offers many options for touring. One can rent bikes or Segways, take a train, or join a walking tour or architectural tour.

The stunning architecture of Maastricht.

MAASTRICHT TOURS | GO TO HELL

While there is nothing hellish about Maastricht, one can also literally go to Hell’s Gate. Hells Gate or Helpoort is one of the last standing remnants of the medieval city walls constructed in the 1200’s. The gate served as the southern entrance to the city and was so named due to the fact that prisoners were actually locked away in the tower of the gate. Thus, it was the Gate to Hell for the prisoners.

Helport. Maastrict. Photo credit: http://maastrichttourism.nl

Inside one finds a museum detailing the history of Maastricht with insights into the city’s history as well as its prominence in the region.

MAASTRICHT TOURS | GO UNDERGROUND

One of the most interesting things about Maastricht to me, was the 80 km of tunnels and caves under the city.

This labyrinth of caves and tunnels have served many important functions vital to the city since their inception. These man-made tunnels were the result of the underground quarrying of stone. T he St. Pietersberg caves and tunnels were formed as stones were harvested and used to literally build the city of Maastricht on its shoulders.

The caves and tunnels have also shouldered some heavy historical responsibilities. During WWII, the caves housed Jewish people hiding from the Nazis. Hidden deep inside the damp, dark tunnels, fighting to survive each day, the Jewish inhabitants somehow managed to create a water supply, a bakery and a temple inside the tunnels. Despite the horrors of war, the human spirit survived and made life in the cold dark tunnels as comfortable as they possibly could. While not an ideal living situation, the tunnels saved the lives of many.

The caves and tunnels also saved the most famous Dutch art from man’s folly. On the tour of the tunnels, one can see National Storage Location Number 9 also known as The Kluis. The Kluis, was built at the beginning of WWII to hide the most important Dutch art from destruction and theft. An estimated 800 works of art were housed in the Kluis for over 3 years. Some of the works that were saved include Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Potter’s The Young Bull, and Vermeer’s Little Street. Fascinating stuff.

MAASTRICHT COFFEE CULTURE | GRAB A CUPPA’ JOE

After all the eating, shopping and touring, it is time for one last coffee. Given this is a university town, there are a plethora of coffee shops to chose from.

Coffee and cafes abound in Maastricht.

The locals will all tell you that a visit to Maastricht must include a coffee at Blache Dael. The oldest coffee house in the province of Limburg, Blache Dael opened in 1878. Their claim to fame is that every day they have a different freshly roasted coffee.

I would say that the second most talked about coffee shop is Alley Cat & Bikes. Alley Cat Bikes & Coffee is a coffee bar, a social hub, a creative workspace, and a bicycle repair shop. An important stop for the large student community. They also serve fresh food made from local suppliers.

If you get a chance to visit Maastricht, I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did. Maastricht truly is a food, history, shopping, and architectural paradise.

Americans abroad · art · Beauty Essentials · European travel · ex-pat life · ex-pat reality · food · Insider Tips · international travel · Malmö · Malmo Sweden · restaurant · Skåne · Skåne Sweden · Travel

AbSmåland: Where The Unexpected Meets The Traditional

October 21, 2018 Niche Travel Design3 Comments

My New Favorite Cafe In Malmö

I went for coffee today with my daughter and discovered my new favorite cafe/store/space in Malmö, Sweden, AbSmåland.

Hard to describe, but oh so inviting, AbSmåland is a “lifestyle concept where the unexpected meets the traditional.” It is a gardening and plant store, a cafe, a furniture store, a home design store, a space for creating and a baby store. It takes up 1450 square meters. It is a big, luscious space. And it smells reeeaally good.

We started in the cafe. AbSmåland’s café is organic and fair trade. And, in my humble opinion, they have the best cardamom roll in Sweden. Unfortunately, as it was not gluten free, I could only have a nibble and appreciate it from afar.

The perfect cappuccino

My daughter and I both had pretty decent cappuccinos (after Italy it is hard to be impressed) but the nicest bit was free regular coffee refills. We were there long enough that the lunch crowd starting wandering in. The lunch smells began wafting out of the kitchen. Did I mention that it smells really good in there? The cafe serves soup, salad, and the famous Swedish smörgås (open faced sandwiches).

The Space

After coffee and buns, we wandered around the rest of the space. I read that the space wants to invite creativity and curiosity. As such, throughout the space, there have placed windows, plants and lots of color.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

They also offer bedding, clothing and baby items for the ever so modern and stylish Swedish babies.

AbSmåland | Stuffed Lion

AbSmåland | Swedish Bunny

The Workshop

As I was leaving I asked one of the employees what was upstairs. “Go explore and find out” was his response. Challenge accepted. I discovered that the upper floor houses a workshop that offers creative endeavors.

At the workshop one can create: your own textile to upholster the furniture that you purchased downstairs; your own seasonal bouquets with a professional florist as your teacher; macrame baskets; your own hanging garden. The workshop also facilitates sessions with local artists from time to time.

AbSmåland’s website says that their ambition “is to offer an inspiring venue with a creative atmosphere where everyone feels welcome.” I would say that they have succeeded. I, for one, cannot wait to return.

You can find AbSmåland at:
Södra Förstadsgatan 25/27
211 43 Malmö
072-248 89 20
hej@absmaland.com

art · Beauty Essentials · Color Street · European travel · ex-pat life · Honeymoon travel · Insider Tips · international travel · Travel

My New Favorite Travel Beauty Product: Color Street Art Manicures

October 10, 2018 Niche Travel Design4 Comments

Tired of not being able to bring all your beauty essentials when you travel? Color Street Art manicures to the rescue! Stress free glamorous travel is literally at your fingertips!

Travel these days is stressful. In addition to the timing, rushing to airports and trains, you now have to pay for bags and make sure you do not incur costly fines for being over the weight limit. If you are anything like me, you strive to make your travel as hassle free as possible.

Hassle free yes, but who doesn’t want to look fresh and lovely for their vacation photos? We all want that perfect shot, holding your glass of Prosecco on the Amalfi Coast or your Irish Coffee in San Francisco. So you either add “get a manicure” to your to do list or you can carry nail polish with you and deal with having to pull out your liquid nail polish before security.

But listen up travelistas. I have a solution! My new favorite essential travel beauty product is easy to pack, easy to use, and oh so glamorous – Color Street Art manicures. Color Street Art nails allow you to have beautiful photo worthy hands without the hassle of transporting liquid nail polish.

Color Street Art are press on nail polish. Not press on nails, just the polish. A base, color and top coat of high-quality liquid nail polish in every strip. The results are beautiful, salon-quality manicures that you can do yourself literally in a few minutes. No drying time, no smudges, no streaks. They are not paper nail stickers, but 100% real nail polish which can be gently stretched to fit your individual nails perfectly.

Color Street Art nails come in many, many colors and designs that you can mix and match for a custom manicure or pedicure. And, new colors are added weekly. They are flat and easy to pack, they won’t push your suitcase over any weight limit, and they won’t slow you down going through security.

Color Street Art is also completely affordable. The average cost of a manicure is $30. A pedicure will run around $40. So, $70 plus tip to be vacation ready. A Color Street Art set that covers both your fingernails and toes starts at $13.

And the best part – no drying time. Just press on, trim and go. No cutting into your vacation time at the manicurist. I am a terrible self manicurist and thus, I rarely wear nail polish but this . . . this I can do myself no problem. They are so simple to use that one could easily apply them on the plane, in the car or on a train.

My personal consultant Lynda Sager of Charming Nail Designs by Lynda, has so many options to choose from and you can choose colors and designs to match your vacation destination or an upcoming holiday celebration.

Check out all Lynda’s page now to order. You won’t regret it.

Americans abroad · art · European travel · ex-pat life · Holland · Honeymoon travel · Insider Tips · international travel · Modern Art · Off The Beaten Path · The Netherlands · The Unique and Unusual

The Stedelijk – The Goldilocks of Museums

June 21, 2018 Niche Travel Design7 Comments

Things Don’t Always Go As Planned

This past February the “Beast From The East“ descended upon Amsterdam just as we arrived to visit. It was cold. Really cold. In fact, it was miserable walking around the city and bikes seemed like it would only make it worse as we would have to cut through the cold wind.

So what to do Amsterdam when it is colder
than a Polar Bear’s toenails outside?

Head inside. Thankfully, my daughter loves art and plans on studying art history, so off we went to the Van Gough Museum. The next day there was a discussion of going to the Rijksmuseum. I opted out. No offense to anyone, but Dutch Masters aren’t my favorite period of art and I’ve seen it. I said I’d find something else to do. But my mind wandered to the modern building we had seen the day before. Hidden in the shadow of the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gough museum is the Stedeljik.

The Stedelijk is the Goldilocks of museums. It is not too small, not too big. It is just the right size.

The collection is primarily modern art, but it also houses quite a few paintings from other artistic genres. For a medium sized museum we all agreed that it is packed full of great art.

The Stedelijk Building

As I mentioned, the Stedelijk can be found tucked behind the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseums on Museumplein. The Stedelijk is a contemporary art museum and thus, it is fitting that the building itself, a modern glass and steel structure, is a stunning piece of architectural art on its own.

Benthem-Crouwel-Architects-Lensvelt-Stedelijk-Museum-Amsterdam — The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Photo credit: http://www.lensvelt.nl

The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Photo credit: ArchDaily by Jannes Linders

The Original Building

The original collection was made up of art and antiques that were donated to the city of Amsterdam by Sophia Augusta Lopez Suasso de Bruyn, a wealthy widow who wished to have a museum opened in her home and in her name upon her passing. Indeed, the Stedelijk was originally called The Suasso Museum and was housed in her home.

Eventually, Madame Suasso’s home was deemed too small and a new building was designed by A.W. Weissman, a local architect. The new museum building designed by Weissman has a neo renaissance façade with several ornate, figurative sculptures. When the new, modern, wing was added many of the flourishes were lost to modernization and renovations. The Stedelijk´s original and main building was constructed between 1891-1895 at Paulus Potterstraat, at the short walking distance from the Rijksmuseum.

The New Building – aka The Bathtub

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam — Stedelijk Museum. Photo John Lewis Marshall

A more modern and more functional building was opened in 2012 after almost a decade of renovations. The modern addition, designed by Dutch architects Adriaan Willem Weissman and Benthem Crouwel Architect, is a pretty sharp contrast in style to the Weismann building. After the unveiling of the new addition, many locals thought that the modern aesthetic clashed with the old Stedelijk building, The Concertgebouw, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. Essentially, they didn’t think the modern style went well with the other buildings in the neighborhood. Locals took to calling the new addition “the bathtub.” In my opinion, the new building fits its purpose of showcasing contemporary art and, an added bonus, it offers amazing views of the Museumplein. I sat and people watched through those big beautiful windows for 40 minutes as I sipped my coffee, warm and toasty away from the cold. It was lovely.

The museum’s purpose has changed many times over the years – going from a private collections of art, collectibles, furniture, and antiques to medical instruments and finally resting on contemporary art and design.

Along with the masters of modern painting genres such as Impressionists, Fauvism, Cubism, Expressionism, the Stedelijk also has a unique collection of furniture, and, photography.

The Collection

The collection includes modern and contemporary art and design from the early 20th century up to the 21st century and features famed masters such as Vincent, van Gough, Wassily Kandinski, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollack, Andy Warhol, Willem de Kooning, and Keith Haring.

Highlights From The Collection

The Stedelijk has everything from quirky artists previously unknown to me . . .

Martial Raysse and Elaine Sturtevang, installation view The collection, STEDELIJK BASE. Photo: Gert Jan van Rooij

Personnage Hilare (Portrait de Francis Ponge) by Jean Dubuffet. 1947.

Lady Chatterly’s Horse. Bill Copley. 1960.

to the masters of the modern movement . . .

Rosy Fingered Dawn at louise Point. Willem de Kooning. 1963.

Cathedra. Barnett Newman. 1951.

Untitled (Umber Blue). Mark Rothko. 1962.

North Atlantic Light. Willem de Kooning. 1977.

to the masters:

La femme enceinte (Maternité). Marc Chagall. 1913.

La Montagne Sainte-Victoire. Paul Cézanne. 1888.

Odalisque. Henri Matisse. 1921.

Femme nue devant le Jardin. Pablo Picasso. 1956

Le Violoniste. Marc Chagall. 1912 -1913.

Kitchen Gardens on Monmartre. Vincent van Gough. 1887.

Two Surroundings. Wassily Kandinsky. 1934

Femme assise au chapeau en forme de poisson. Pablo Picasso. 1942.

Femme dans un paysage – Anna Boch 1890. Legend has it that Anna Boch was the only person to have purchased apainting from Vincent van Gough while he was alive. This has been dabted but it is the reason that her work hangs next to van Goughs work at The Stedelijk.

La Berceuse (Woman Rocking a Cradle. Vincent van Gough. 1889.

And, The Keith Haring Velum

American artist, Keith Haring, began his career in 1980, drawing graffiti in the New York subway. During a brief, but intense, career that spanned the 1980s, Haring’s work was featured in over 100 solo and group exhibitions. In 1986 alone, he was the subject of more than 40 newspaper and magazine articles.

In 1986, at the heigh of his career, Haring agreed to create a special piece for The Stedelijk. From The Stedelijk website: “The American artist painted the canopy, which filters daylight into the grand hallway, especially for his solo exhibition at the Stedelijk in 1986. For this show, Haring didn’t simply want to present artwork he’d already made – he insisted on making new work. Laying out the velum (which measures almost 40 x 66 feet, 12 x 20 meter) on the floor of one of the museum galleries, he painted it in just one day, using spray paint. Haring turned the event into an energy-fueled performance: while photographers and journalists looked on, he painted rapidly and rhythmically, moving over the canopy, hip-hop playing in the background. He filled the canopy with dancing, waving figures, crawling babies and squirming animals. Known as the ‘Keith Haring velum’, the painting was stretched below the monumental glass cupola above the historic staircase. The painting was an instant hit. Now, more than thirty years later and restored, the velum is back for everyone to enjoy.”

The photos do not do the velum justice. It was beautiful in person with the light slipping through and contrasting the parts untouched by sun.

Keith-Haring-Stedelijk-Museum-Amsterdam — Keith Haring. Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam

Keith-Haring-velum-the-Stedelijk-Museum-Amsterdam. — The Keith Haring velum. The Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.

Practicalities

Hours:
Monday – Thursday and Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00
Friday: 10:00 – 22:00

Tickets:
You can buy your tickets in person or online at Stedelijk museum tickets.

Adults:	€17,50
Children under 18:	free
Students (29 yrs or younger), Cultural Youth pass (CJP)	€9
20% discount with Amsterdam City Pass

Address:
Stedelijk Museum
Museumplein 10
1071 DJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands

If you get a chance to visit the Stedelijk, I hope that you enjoy it as much as we did. Maybe because we had not planned on going, in fact none of us had even heard of it, it turned out to be one of those serendipitous moments where things did not go as planned, but we ended up with a lovely surprise.

Americans abroad · art · European travel · ex-pat life · Göteborg Sweden · Gothenburg Sweden · international travel · Malmö · Malmo Sweden · Skåne · Skåne Sweden · Travel

Stripes – The Swedish Summer Uniform

May 31, 2018 Niche Travel Design18 Comments

Let’s talk about stripes.

I’m not talking about the 1981 Bill Murray comedy or prison garb. I am talking about the recent spate of stripes in fashion. They have taken over Sweden. So much so that I felt compelled to blog about it.

I noticed immediately upon moving to Sweden that Swedish folks like stripes, but back then, it was a cute little thing that I noticed. Today, stripes have become the official Swedish summer uniform. There are babies in stripes, mothers and daughters in matching stripes, old people, young people, purses, shoes, shorts, shirts, hoodies.

So. Many. Stripes.

I noticed them in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic to a small degree (now that my stripe antenna is up), but no where is it more prevalent that Sweden. You cannot walk 2 feet without seeing stripes.

So it left me wondering . . . is this just the latest fashion sweeping the world or is this a Swedish thing??

I asked some Swedish friends and a few shop keepers about it. None of them seemed to know why it is such a popular summer fashion theme here. One women suggested it is because Sweden is a country that has embraced water – the sea, lakes, and rivers. As such, stripes represent the nautical theme of the country. This was just her opinion though. She had no empirical evidence to offer me. I did a little research and found nothing related to Sweden, striped clothes and water.

Now, I know that striped clothing is everywhere. It is not unique to Sweden, but what is different here is the sheer number of people who seemingly overnight start wearing stripes.

How Many Stripes Are There?

Just to give you an idea of how many stripes there are in Sweden, the following pictures were taken while walking around Stockholm in a 30 minute period. 30 minutes!! And I have about 60 more photos that I didn’t include. I apologize for the quality – I was on the move.

In Sweden you will see royal blue and white combos:

The black and white :

The grey and white combination:

And red and white, red and other and just other:

The most popular choice, however, is the navy and white combination:

A little more digging and I discovered that the classic navy blue and white striped motif actually originated on the coast of Brittany in France. Many a French seaman was given a striped shirt bearing 21 horizontal stripes (one strip for each of Napoleon’s victories) as a uniform, known as a matelotor marinière. It is reported that the stripes were functional and allowed sailors to see shipmates that had fallen overboard. How this fashion statement moved from Brittany around the world is a topic of much debate, but there is no doubt that stripes have earned a top place in the fashion world and are considered a staple of a classic wardrobe.

But back to my premise that stripes go beyond a fashion statement here in Sweden and have morphed into a uniform. I ask you my friends – is this a Swedish thing? Have you noticed a prevalence of stripes in your neck of the woods?? Or is there another common clothing item that you have noticed where you live? Tell me in the comments what you have noticed.

Americans abroad · art · Copenhagen Denmark · Denmark · European travel · ex-pat life · international travel · Malmo Sweden · Modern Art · Travel

Sun, Sea & Picasso – The First Day of Spring at The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

April 11, 2018 Niche Travel Design12 Comments

We here in Scandinavia have had an unusually long winter – 5 1/2 months to be precise. 5 1/2 months of snow, sleet, rain, cold grey days. This weekend the spell was broken, however. It was sunny at last. A proper spring day with sun and a chill in the air. All day I kept hearing the Beatles refrain in my head , “Here comes the sun . . .”

In honor of the lovely first day of spring we headed to one of our favorite indoor/outdoor spaces – The Lousiania Museum of Modern Art in Humlebæk, Denmark.

The museum sits on a bluff overlooking the Öresund Strait and enjoys sweeping lawns with an incredible display of sculpture, trees, flowers, sea breezes. Just visiting the grounds are worth it, but then there is the museum itself. Architecturally, the museum structure and grounds evoke Frank Lloyd Wright and his philosophy of bringing nature into the building. The museum is designed with lots of big windows whose function it is to bring nature inside the museum walls. It is a space that simply makes one feel calm, peaceful and good.

Enjoying fresh sea air and sun.

The hallway which allows the sculpture of Max Ernst in from the garden.

Enjoying fresh sea air and sun.

Picnics on the lawn.

One of my favorite rooms overlooking The Lake Garden and featuring sculpture by Giacommetti.

The grounds have sculptures scattered throughout. The sculptures are not placed haphazardly, however. The sculptures are specifically positioned in order to interact with the architecture and nature that surround them. The placements are precise and are designed to allow visitors to enjoy a different experience with each visit depending on the weather and the season.

Alexander Calder

Joan Miró –

We would have been happy just enjoying the sun and sea that day, but imagine our surprise when we arrived and discovered that there was a Picasso ceramics exhibit going on. This particular exhibit was named one of the top exhibits to see in 2018 by the New York Times and it does not disappoint.

In fact, it was stunning. One of the things I have always loved about Picasso is that his work is so dynamic and prolific – his work encompasses traditional paintings, the cubists phase, sculpture and then his colorful, whimsical ceramics. There are over 160 pieces on display and a lovely film offered with English subtitles about this particular creative period in Picasso’s life.

Picasso’s interest in ceramics began in the summer of 1946 when he attended an exhibition in Vallauris, France, an area known for making ceramics since Roman times. After WWII, and at at the height of his success, Picasso returned to Vallauris seeking new artistic experiences. The war had worn him down emotionally and he sought new challenges and inspiration artistically. In this last period of his life he began to pick up clay and he immediately began experimenting with the materials, glazing techniques and processes. Apparently, Pcasso loved how unpredictable the firing process was on the clay and he enjoyed the resulting surprise of colors that emerged.

All in all, it is estimated that Picasso produced over 4,000 ceramic objects during this time. It is said that one of the things that inspired him to create ceramics was the desire to put art in the hands and lives of the common man. By turning utility objects like a platter or a water pitcher into an art piece, it allowed art to enter the every day world. So dedicated to the concept of making art available to all, Picasso created a line of work called Edition Picasso which were created specifically to be affordable. Picasso essentially served as the designer and allowed a ceramic workshop in Madoura, France to actually replicate each piece. This was one of the first (if not the first) times in art history that copies were mass produced based on an original work. Picasso’s confidants advised him against this idea warning him that the practice would devalue his other works. Picasso soldiered on with the idea and from 1947 – 1971 he designed over 600 editions for the collection. And while initially affordable, once the artist died, the Edition Picasso ceramics went steadily up in price and did no damage at all to the value of Picasso’s other works.

If you are in the Copenhagen area and are looking for a unique museum experience as well as an outstanding collection of art, I highly recommend the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. And if you are not in the area just now, keep a look out for the Picasso ceramic exhibit coming to a museum near you. You will not be disappointed.

Americans abroad · Emilia Romagna · European travel · ex-pat life · international travel · Italy · Parma Italy · Uncategorized

Strip Malls Italian Style

March 19, 2016February 10, 2022 Niche Travel DesignLeave a comment

August 2011

Arrived. Tired, bedraggled and sleepy but we made it. Kids cried upon arrival but were laughing later in the day. Internet connection is sketchy at best. Cannot move in yet, but we are going there to unpack and organize. Just want a home again. It has been months.

Things that are going to take some getting used to: lack of space; I have an Easy Bake Oven for an oven – seriously – none of our pans will fit in it and we have a dorm room sized fridge.

Things that I am super excited about (besides the culture, learning another language, travel, shopping): the best pizza ever a block away (Lena said she can never eat pizza in the USA again); a champagneria a block away; an H & M across the street, a movie theater across the street and are you ready for this . . . an outlet mall about 10 minutes north of us with Roberto Cavalli, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Missoni, Escada, La Perla, Furla, Frette, Bruno Magli, Miss Sixty, and Valentino to name a few. And about five more minutes away from the outlet mall is a thermal bath and spa. Yay!!!!

What is the Liebster Award?

My Nominations for The Liebster Award

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Things Don’t Always Go As Planned

The Stedelijk Building

The Original Building

The New Building – aka The Bathtub

The Collection

Highlights From The Collection

And, The Keith Haring Velum

Share this:

Share this:

Let’s talk about stripes.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: