Tag: grateful

The Liebster Award!
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The Liebster Award!

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

  1. 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.
  2. I always top off my gasoline, despite the warnings.
  3. 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.
  4. I am secretly a Carpenters fan. I guess it is not a secret anymore. 
  5. I sing all the time in public even though I really shouldn’t.
  6. 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.
  7. Apparently, according to my family, I say Google incorrectly? Who knew?
  8. I hate, I mean really hate, The Pillsbury Doughboy. His voice makes my skin crawl.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.

  1. Where would you go if money and time were not issues?
  2. What is the best advice you would give to new travelers?
  3. What is the one accessory that you cannot travel without – your phone and/or computer don’t count?
  4. Where is one place you would return over and over again? And why?
  5. Where is one place you’ve been but never want to return to? And why?
  6. What is the funniest travel mishap you’ve had?
  7. What is the scariest travel experience you’ve had?
  8. What is your favorite travel souvenir?
  9. What is your favorite local cuisine?
  10. 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.

Swimming With Horses | Zadar, Croatia Off The Beaten Path
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Swimming With Horses | Zadar, Croatia Off The Beaten Path

Niche Travel Design2 Comments

Are you looking for a unique travel experience? Something off the beaten path? Swimming with horses in Croatia may be just the thing you are looking for.

STABLES NEAR ZADAR | Riding Club Vencil

A horse at the stable in Zadar, Croatia. Ready for swimming with horses.
Ready to go swimming.

There are a number of stables throughout Croatia for riding horses in lakes, rivers, and the sea.

We happened to be spending a month in Zadar so we chose Riding Club Vencil located just outside Biograd na Moru.

The whole experience was beyond all of our expectations. We arrived at the stable which was located in the spectacular Croatian countryside. The grass was Jade green. The cerulean sky was spotted with the occasional fluffy white cloud. The sun was shining and the morning surrounded us with a steady drumbeat of nature sounds.   

The owner of the riding club was quite careful with each of us to determine our level of skill and any fears we may have. In the end, they chose the perfect horse for each of us. 

Then our adventure began. We eased into it with an hour long ride through the rolling hills to Lake Vrankso. The ride was mostly a slow walk for the beginners. We did have some more experienced riders in the group and they were allowed to gallop off so long as they stayed within eyesight of the guide.

SWIMMING WITH HORSES | Lake Vransko

Young women sitting atop horses that are swimming near Zadar, Croatia
The horses are swimming!

As the sun beat down, we eased closer to our swimming spot, Lake Vransko. Summers in Croatia are hot. That day it was 38 C/100 F. We were all ready to cool off. And no creature was more ready than the horses. The lake called to us like a siren of the sea.  The horses began to show their excitement. They had done this journey before and they knew that they were about to cool off.  Each horse began to trot a little faster and they started talking to one another like a group of teenage girls. One horse even did a little dance of excitement. Once in the water, he began to play.


And this is the part where the ride became my favorite experience in Croatia.  Here is where it gets interesting. Where it went from being a simple horse ride to a very unique experience. Sitting there atop our horses, they entered the water. The cool water hit our legs and the horse stopped for a moment to enjoy their respite from the heat. Then, as if guided by an unseen force, they moved farther out into the lake and began to swim. It felt like a cross between floating and being powered by a paddle boat.

This was our chance to bond with animals in a whole new way.

SWIMMING WITH HORSES | What To Expect

Now I have been swimming with dogs in the past, but swimming with a dog is just not the same as swimming atop a horse. A dog is, of course, smaller than a horse and a dog swims alongside you. One would never sit atop a swimming dog. And simply put, a dog is not as powerful as a horse. 

I think that was the coolest feeling of the whole experience – feeling the horse’s sheer power. While you sit atop the horse as it swims you feel every one of its powerful muscles engage. It felt like you were united with the horse like some sort of centaur. I was at its mercy and had to give over to its expertise at navigating the waters. 

The horses and our group played in the water for over an hour. Once we tired out, we promptly laid ourselves out on the field of grass and wildflowers to warm up and dry off. Then we enjoyed a picnic of Dalmatian food.  

The entire adventure was about 4 hours round trip. Given the uniqueness of the experience as well as the picnic and photos which were included in the price, we felt that we scored quite the bargain. The entire cost was only 720 HRK or $109/€97 per person. 

About Riding Club Vencil

I highly recommend swimming with horses if you get the opportunity. If you happen to be in Dalmatia, check out Riding Club Vencil. They were ever so helpful and professional.

GPS coordinates:  N43.9622 ° E15.4962 °.

 

Planning The Perfect Honeymoon
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Planning The Perfect Honeymoon

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THE PERFECT HONEYMOON – MYTH OR REALITY?

Just Married. Photo credit: NikolayFrolochkin on Pixabay

THE PERFECT HONEYMOON | THE KEY IS COMMUNICATION

Your honeymoon . . . the stuff that dreams are made of . . .  and second only to your wedding day in terms of expectations.  The key to planning the perfect honeymoon?  TALK! TALK! TALK! TALK! And then talk some more.

There is no sense in planning the perfect beach resort vacation if your spouse hates the beach.  What if your spouse’s idea of the perfect beach vacation is camping and you had an all-inclusive resort in mind?   Nothing is insurmountable though and you can both have your ideal honeymoon if you sit down and have a conversation.

Additionally, while the internet has made trip planning easier, there still is no substitute for a professional travel agent when planning a trip as important as your honeymoon.   For any other trip besides your honeymoon the DIY approach may be just fine, but because there is so much expectation placed on a honeymoon, using a professional travel agent can save you from that dreaded moment years down the road when one of you, in the heat of an argument says “This is JUST LIKE OUR HONEYMOON.  You screwed that up too!”

Before meeting with a travel expert, schedule some time with your intended to cover the intended topics.  Take time to go over these honeymoon planning questions. You can print out a copy here to fill out and take with you to your travel expert

HONEYMOON PLANNING QUESTION NO 1. | WHAT IS THE BUDGET?

Discussing your budget is key to a successful trip. Do you want to start your life together on the vacation of a lifetime or are you more comfortable saving for a house?  Financial discussions are the cornerstone of all good marriages so you may as well begin your life together on the right foot by discussing realistic budget concerns for your honeymoon.  Additionally, consider registering for your honeymoon to help offset the cost.  That way you may just get the dream honeymoon and be able to save for your first house.

HONEYMOON PLANNING QUESTION NO. 2 | DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL VACATION?

A beach vacation may not be for everyone. Photo credit: tigertravel on Pixabay
City adventures may be too tiring after a big event like a wedding. Photo credit: gellinger on Pixabay

Does one of you like exploring cities, art galleries, theater, and the best restaurants while the other just wants to sleep late, lounge by the pool and drink umbrella drinks?  Discuss your ideas and see if there is a destination that offers activities that both of you enjoy.

HONEYMOON PLANNING QUESTION NO. 3 |WHAT TYPE OF ROOM DO YOU LIKE OR NEED?

Do you want to save money and sleep in a hostel? Photo credit: Hans on Pixabay.
Or do you want luxury? Photo credit: Engin_Akyurt on Pixabay

Some people could not care less about the room they are in as they anticipate being outdoors, on the go, etc. Other people need a certain thread count before they are happy.  Others still, need a certain hotel floor, to be away from the elevators, air conditioning, etc. before they can get a restful night’s sleep.  No one wants to be sleep deprived and cranky on their honeymoon.

HONEYMOON PLANNING QUESTION NO. 4 | ARE YOU COMFORTABLE VISITING COUNTRIES WHERE ENGLISH IS NOT COMMONLY SPOKEN?

Photo credit: Tumisu on Pixabay.If one of you is a seasoned traveler with an explorer’s soul and the other is terrified to be somewhere they cannot communicate effectively, you need to compromise. Perhaps an all inclusive resort or a cruise would be the way to introduce your spouse to international travel. Of course in this day and age with technology, one can easily translate on the go. Perhaps a dry run with translation is in order to ease your fiancee’s fears.

HONEYMOON PLANNING QUESTION NO. 5 | WHAT CLIMATE ARE YOU MOST COMFORTABEL IN? 

Photo credit: Free-Photos on Pixabay
Photo credit: 12019 on Pixabay

Definitely discuss sun versus snow, but also tackle questions you may not have thought of. Example, are you comfortable when it is humid and there is no air conditioning? Many condos in Hawaii. Costa Rica, and the Caribbean do not have air conditioning and this can pose a threat to a honeymoon if one of you cannot sleep in humidity.

HONEYMOON PLANNING QUESTION NO. 6 | DO YOU WANT TO COMBINE YOUR WEDDING AND HONEYMOON WITH A DESTINATION WEDDING?

Photo credit: Laughing Raven on PixabayDestination weddings are popular and look amazing in photos.  They also can save you a considerable amount of money as many hotels and resorts offer package deals.  And when you honeymoon in the same hotel, you can start the honeymoon immediately.  The other consideration, however, is that you are sharing your honeymoon with your guests who have also flown to the site to attend your nuptials so you may not have the privacy that you were hoping for on your honeymoon.

HONEYMOON PLANNING QUESTION NO. 7  | DESCRIBE YOUR HOEYMOON FANTASY TRIP.

Photo credit: Sonming4 on Pixabay.

The only way to guarantee that your honeymoon dreams become a reality is if you talk about them.  Like most things in life, perfect honeymoons don’t just happen. They take planning. The more you do your honeymoon homework, the more romantic – and the more fun – your honeymoon will be.

 

Italian Liqueurs | Day Drinking In Italy: The Italian White Russian.
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Italian Liqueurs | Day Drinking In Italy: The Italian White Russian.

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ITALIAN LIQUEURS ARE NECESSARY | Our First Winter In Italy

Big Snow for the Big Lebowki
Emilia Romagne snow.

Our first winter living in Italy was brutal. Snow for months.  My husband and I were snowbound, watching the movie, The Big Lebowski and dreaming of White Russians to keep us warm. A White Russian is a lovely concoction comprised of vodka, cream, and coffee flavored liqueur, Kahlua. The drink features prominently in the movie. Unfortunately, while Kahlua is very popular in the USA, it was impossible to find in Italy. Literally impossible. Our Big Lebowski dreams were shattered.

Then one day my husband walked in from work with a look on his face like a little boy with a frog in his pocket. He excitedly pulled out a bottle of Borghetti, a coffee based Italian liqueur. White Russians were back on the menu. And, we quickly realized that the regional Italian liqueurs, well, they are necessary to survive winter.

White Russian cocktail on the bar stand on rubber mat.
The classic White Russian cocktail. Photo credit: iStock Photos.

Now, after 2 or 3 White Russians,  you’d think that we would have been out cold. I am an insomniac, but my husband can literally sleep anywhere, at any time. Yet this night, no sleep was to be had. No sheep were being counted. At about 3:00 a.m., we were both wide awake with the edgy energy that only high amounts of caffeine have ever given me. We tossed. We turned. We tried to figure out why my husband couldn’t sleep. Eventually, it dawned on us to look at the Borghetti bottle.

ITALIAN INGREDIENTS | Hint, They Are Sticklers For Natural, Pure Ingredients. 

There it was right on the front of the bottle, “di vero caffe espresso.”  Arrgh. Our excitement had made us foolhardy. While Kahlua is a coffee “flavored” liqueur, Borghetti is made with pure espresso.  Italians do not believe in artificial ingredients. Not even in their liqueurs. We had essentially consumed 3 espressos each before bedtime.

ITALIAN COFFEE | Borghetti, Not Suitable For Evening

We concluded that Borghetti is only suitable for day drinking. Borghetti is a day drink because one cannot drink it in the evening and expect to get any sleep. If Borghetti bested my sleep connoisseur husband, a normal person doesn’t stand a chance. 

Borghetti is delicious. I like it even better than Kahlua. It has less of a sugary taste and more of a strong coffee flavor. So the conundrum. The stuff is tasty but there is no way we can drink after 12:00 noon and how many times a year does one sit around drinking during the daytime? Hum . . . when could we consume this lovely liqueur?

We decided that Borghetti is the perfect Christmas morning drink. A little Borghetti in with some cream and Nat King Cole singing Christmas carols is a pretty damn near perfect way to start your day.

Two Christmas gnomes with a bottle of Borghetti.
The Italian liqueur, Borghetti. The necessary ingredient for an Italian Christmas White Russian.

ITALIAN RECIPES | The Italian White Russian

Despite the name, the White Russian was not invented in Russia. I suspect that the alleged inventor so named it due to the inclusion of vodka, but I have no proof (pun intended) of that.

Legend has it that Gustave Tops, a Belgian bartender, not a Russian, created the cocktail in 1949 at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels. The drink was quite popular initially and eventually spread across the globe. In the USA, the concoction hit the height of its popularity in the 1970s. Today, not too many people drink them and it is considered a retro cocktail.

Our recipe adds a new twist with the addition of the espresso liqueur. In our house, we have cross pollinated 2 cultures and now our cocktail’s official moniker is Il Russo Bianco di Natale Italiano or the Italian Christmas White Russian.  

Makes one drink:

  1. 2 oz vodka.
  2. 1 oz Borghetti
  3. 1/2 oz whole milk or heavy cream.
  4. Ice.

Buon Natale a Tutti!

The Sofiero Slott from across the lawn Lit up All Saints’ Day – Lighting The Way to The Holidays
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All Saints’ Day – Lighting The Way to The Holidays

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 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.

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 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.” 

AbSmåland: Where The Unexpected Meets The Traditional
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AbSmåland: Where The Unexpected Meets The Traditional

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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.  ​

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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

Lessons Along The Road Of Life
Americans abroad · Bosnia Herzegovina · European travel · ex-pat life · Honeymoon travel · international travel · Mostar · nature · Travel · travel safety

Lessons Along The Road Of Life

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Photo credit: Niche Travel Design

When traveling it is always good to be alert, to be aware of your surroundings, know where your money, your phone and passport are at all times. I admit it, I am on alert by nature, but am on extra alert when traveling to a new place. And truth be told, I have been known to let my imagination get the best of me and assume the worst if I am in unfamiliar territory. You all remember the garbage truck in Parma, Italy, right?  Where I was convinced that we would be murdered by an Italian garbage man.

On our trip to Croatia last year we decided to take a day trip to Mostar in Bosnia Herzegovina. We had read that while the main roads are safe, one must not venture off the main roads as there are still active landmines in the countryside left over from the Balkan war in the 90’s.

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Photo credit: Niche Travel Design

On our way back, at the end of a long, very hot day, we were cruising along a local road on the way to the main highway. Out of the blue we hear honking. The car behind us is furiously honking and waving at us. A quick scan of the dashboard – nothing looks amiss. Tires and alignment feel ok, but still the couple behind us will not stop honking and waving. We pull over. They pull up next to us in a beat up, older model of an unknown car. The couple themselves appear to be human versions of the car, a bit rusty and rough around the edges.

Through what can only be described as a mixture of sign language and charades we understand that we are not to go any farther down the existing road. Our GPS, whom we have named Pippa in honor of her lovely posh English accent, disagrees. Pippa clearly wants us to continue on the road that we are on. My husband suggests that perhaps the local couple knows something that we don’t. Maybe the road ahead is closed? Maybe it is not safe? I point out that Pippa has never let us down. She always recalculates when there is a closed road – as we found out on the way to Mostar.

The local couple is insistent that we follow them.  We continue to exchange unsure and concerned looks.  The local couple wins. My husband flips a u-turn. We follow them down a small back road for about 10 minutes. We have no idea where we are going. Pippa is insisting that we, “Make a u-turn if possible. Make a u-turn if possible”  I am getting progressively nervous. Who are these people? Where are they taking us? What is their motivation for having us follow them? Are we going to hit a landmine on this country road? Are we going to be ambushed and car jacked in the Balkan countryside? The Swedish plates have given us away as tourists/targets after all.

The local couple is about 200 meters in front of us. I ask Joe how he is feeling about following perfect strangers in a foreign land that still has active landmines to God knows where. He is a bit nervous about the whole encounter too. He pulls over to the side of the road.

The local couple’s car stops ahead of us in the middle of the road and just waits. There is no one else around. The only sound was the rustling of a soft breeze, the chirping of insects and the clicking of the GPS dial as Joe re-calibrates Pippa. Setting the GPS takes a long time under normal circumstances and feels even longer when one is convinced that your whole family is about to be taken out.  Then, ominously, the local car begins to reverse toward us.

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Photo credit: Pexel

They back up alongside us once again. They look confused. Why did we stop? They once again indicate that we should follow them. At this point we don’t know which way to go. Should we trust the locals or our nerves? Are they helping us or leading us to our demise? Since we have no idea where are are, we anxiously follow them again.

After about 5 more minutes of driving the local couple slows down and points us to the right. They point us down another road. Another road that we soon discover takes us directly to the main highway and relief.

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Photo credit: Niche Travel Design

The locals turn their car around. They honk, smile, wave and head back the way we just came. They were not thieves, carjackers, or murderers. They were simply really lovely, nice people who went 30 minutes round trip out of their way to help some dumb tourists heading down the wrong road in the Balkan countryside.

To that local couple, thank you. I am grateful to you for restoring my belief that most people in this world are good and kind. I promise to pay it forward and help strangers in need along this journey of life. I will do this in your honor and I will think of you every time.

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L’Onda
Americans abroad · Emilia Romagna · European travel · ex-pat life · Parma Italy · Travel

L’Onda

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Life in a foreign land

Life In A Foreign Land

When adapting to a new life in a foreign land, I think Dame Judy Dench put it best:

“Initially, you are overwhelmed. But gradually you realize it’s like a wave. Resist and you’ll be knocked over. Dive into it and you’ll swim out the other side.  This is a new and different world. The challenge is to cope with it. And not just cope, but thrive.”

Dame Judi Dench
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Parmesan cheese I Swam Away To Purple John
Americans abroad · Emilia Romagna · European travel · ex-pat life · international travel · Italy · Parma Italy · USA

I Swam Away To Purple John

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Purple John cheese

 

Prosecco, Prosciutto and Purple John cheese

I just re-read my first post from 2009. It took me 2 full years, but I did indeed swim away from my perfect island – smack into what one might metaphorically say are shark infested waters. Namely, the chaos of everyday life in Italy. It is a beautiful chaos, however, complete with Prosecco, prosciutto and Parmesan cheese, also known as Purple John cheese in our house.

Let me back up a little. In 2009 I was living in suburban California. My family and I lived in what may well be one of the nicest, most pleasant places to live and raise kids on the planet. It is easy to live there. It is safe, friendly and offers a fantastic location, perfect weather and excellent schools. That being said, I have always been a gypsy at heart and I wanted more challenge in my life. As the saying goes, “be careful what you wish for.” An international move is not for the faint of heart.

Vision Boards and Meditation

 

So there I was in 2009 hoping to move internationally. Since my husband is the primary breadwinner, this involved getting him on board with my vision. We had casually talked about living abroad over the years. His plan was to move abroad when our children were grown and gone. He saw us spending our golden years traveling and touring the world. My vision was to take the kids with us; to broaden their worlds now; to have them learn another language; to assure them that they needn’t be afraid to experience all that the world has to offer. So the question became, how to bring the two visions together?

I studied my options and evaluated the tools I had in my arsenal. What I arrived it was this: my husband is a first generation Polish American. In the eyes of Poland, he is a Polish citizen despite being born and raised in America. I encouraged him to apply for his dual citizenship. He may even tell you that I badgered him.

My argument went something like this: The world is becoming more global with every passing day. Once he had Polish citizenship (i.e. European Union benefits) then our children would also be Polish citizens with EU benefits. Armed with an international education, fluency in three languages and a comfort level of living in either the US or Europe, the world would be their oyster when they graduated from college. This move and experience would afford them more opportunities, more choices in the long run. These arguments were hard for him to deny. Eventually he acquiesced and applied for dual citizenship.

Next, I adhered to all the new age tenets and I simply willed it to happen. I envisioned an international move in my mind’s eye. I meditated on it. I made a wish every time we went through a tunnel on our way to and from San Francisco. I posted a picture on my bulletin board of London. I had photo magnets of Paris superimposed with a Chinese fortune cookie insert that read “Follow Your Dreams.” But most importantly, I researched international job offers for my husband and continually placed the ads in front of him. He may even tell you that I badgered him.

We evaluated a number of situations that arose over the two years but none of them were quite right. My husband was on board with my vision at this point but didn’t want to move just for the sake of moving. It had to be the right job; the right living situation. We considered Barcelona, London, Grenoble. We decided to be patient. I turned it over to the universe.

And, then one day the right job and the right living situation did come along and va bene . . . here we are. It is September 2011 and we have moved from the suburban comfort of Pleasanton, California to Parma, Italy.

Serendipity

At this point you are probably thinking, that is all very interesting, but why the Hell is this blog called Purple John?

When my daughter was a toddler and just learning to speak she frequently made up words that sounded similar to the adult versions. Quite often, she would repeat a word with her own twist on the pronunciation. For example, she would say strawbellies instead of strawberries; froggy instead of foggy. One of the words she transposed was Parmesan. In her 3 year old mind Parmesan cheese was Purple John cheese. For years our family has been asking one another to pass the Purple John at the dinner table.

Imagine our surprise then when we realized we were moving to Parma, Italy – the birthplace of Purple John cheese. Apparently the universe has a sense of humor.
Fidenza Village shopping mall Strip Malls Italian Style
Americans abroad · Emilia Romagna · European travel · ex-pat life · international travel · Italy · Parma Italy · Uncategorized

Strip Malls Italian Style

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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!!!!