Wonderful Sweden

Jerry Porsbjer made a beautiful video of the Northern Lights in true speed

2011-09-03T14:07:00.000+02:00

Jerry Porsbjer, photographer living in northern Sweden has recently published this awesome video.

This Northern Lights is filmed in true speed a moonlit night in Mars 2011, in Moskosel, Lapland, Sweden. Ronald Vikström, has composed the music for this film: http://www.ronaldvikstrom.You will find Jerry Porsbjer at http://www.magnumphoto.se/. and his FB-page.

Scandinavian Fair

2011-08-30T08:16:00.001+02:00

The Scandinavian Fair was held in March 2010 in Flagstaff, Arizona. The video provides a glimpse of celebrated Nordic culture in Flagstaff.

We congratulate The Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel

2011-08-18T10:41:00.000+02:00

Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel are happy to announce that they are expecting their first child. The baby is due in March. Everyone in the family is happy and healthy, according to the Swedish Royal Court.

– I have a lot to look forward to this fall, says the Crown Princess.

When the baby arrives, the King and Queen's first grandchild, will be second in line to the Swedish throne.

Wonderful Sweden met up with the great Spanish Blogger Maria Victoria in Arvidsjaur, Lapland - Visit Sweden in 24 H

2011-07-02T18:44:00.004+02:00

I was so lucky to stumble on the prosperous blogger Maria Victoria Rodriguez (Diario del Viajero) from Spain earlier today. She is out for an exciting adventure in Swedish Lapland and arrived this afternoon in Arvidsjaur. We had a good chat about the wonderful oportunities we are having today connecting world wide!

Peter Manner, Arvidsjaur Tourist office, and Ugo Pisanelli, Tourist office intern from Italy were taking good care of introducing Maria to the Arvidsjaur area and later in the evening they left for a visit at the Båtsuoj Same centre.

I am sure Maria will have a good nights sleep after all the impressions in northern Sweden, especially if she will spend the night in this cosy hut in Båtsuoj.

This is Sweden

2011-06-25T17:40:00.002+02:00

Creative Designers in Gothenburg inspired by London street markets - à la London

2011-06-15T01:33:00.002+02:00

Time: 20 August at 14:00 to 20:00.
Location: Kanaltorget, close to the Gothenburg wheel.

"à la London" is a remarkable market where you will find exciting unestablished designers. You will get an experience beyond the ordinary and sometimes they'll also grab the opportunity to host fresh DJs and exciting bands. "à la London" has so far organized three markets which all have been given a great reception.

Inspired by London street markets, such as Portobello and Spitalfield Market, it will feature more than 40 designers.

Please visit the website to get some samples from previous markets.

Website: alalondon.se
Facebook Page.

June 6 - National Day of Sweden

2011-06-06T06:41:00.008+02:00

National Day of Sweden is a national holiday observed in Sweden on June 6 every year.

The day was renamed and finally justified as national day by Riksdagen, the Swedish parliament, in 1983.

Previously it was commemorated as svenska flaggans dag, Swedish flag day.

Du gamla, Du fria - National anthem of Sweden.

The tradition of celebrating this date began 1916 at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium, in honour of the election of King Gustav Vasa in 1523, as this was considered the foundation of modern Sweden.

On my wishlist today;

‘The Great Swedish Cruise’ – a six-day journey between Gothenburg and Stockholm, where you travel serenely along the heavenly and historic Göta Canal.

With love

Siv Thuresdotter

HomeComing Party in Norrland

2011-05-26T01:51:00.002+02:00

Hi,

Sorry for not being around very much lately. I am preparing the Homecoming party in Arvidsjaur at the moment.

The photo was taken last year, the premiere of this event, which as you can see was quite a success. Hope to be able to make some more blog posts for you this summer, I will be going on a beautiful trip, hiking up in the mountains in north of Sweden. I plan to bring you some really nice photos and hope you will stand by for my "come back" soon:) Love to have you around, and many thanks for visiting our Facebook Fan Page Wonderful Sweden.

www.facebook.com/wonderfulsweden

Abba - Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T12:21:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year! Önskar Er alla ett underbart 2011!

I wish upon the star that your year is a beautiful one with a Spring filled with joy, a summer filled with peace, an autumn filled with love, and a winter filled with warmth.

Check this out- Ice Fishing in Norrland - My very own home town - the village of Abborrträsk, Lapland!

2010-12-27T20:34:00.000+01:00

Awesome fishing - check out these beautiful char. I love Lapland!

This is the website to visit for more information about fishing trips to Swedish Lapland: www.natursafari.se

In the mood for Swedish Lapland... Visit this blog!

2010-11-20T12:44:00.000+01:00

ARVIDSJAUR- SWEDISH LAPLAND

I would like to recommend this blog about life in Lapland and the city of Arvidsjaur - (my hometown).
Peter Manner, at the Tourist Office, is one of the great photographers and blog admin. You'll get served some really beautiful pictures and whenever I feel like going home I just visit this blog to get that "Lapland feeling" - The video above is absolutely fantastic, gives you a sort of meditative feeling doesn't it?

Wonderful Stockholm - Autumn visit with pleasure!

2010-11-13T10:16:00.002+01:00

A welcome visit in Stockholm.

I made a visit to Stockholm a couple of weeks ago, I had a great weekend and made some really nice Saturday Shopping:=) Stayed at the Hotel Norrtull and went out for dinner with my girl friends! Stockholm is Wonderful!

Me and my friends, we enjoyed a great dinner at East!

Party time - Golden Hits

They've got a nice Karaoke pub and lots of dancing
and every season they give a variety of great shows!

The lobby at Hotel Norrtull - kind of cosy:=)

Hotel Norrtull!

Gunnebo House and Gardens

2010-10-08T17:04:00.000+02:00

I am really fond of FOND - Mmmmm.....

2010-09-20T09:03:00.000+02:00

Great video about wonderful and delicious restaurant Fond, right at the hot spot Götaplatsen in Gothenburg. You can drop by for an exclusive lunch any time, it won't ruin you I promise. I once tryed out the Fond Sampler Menu - A sensation of a flavoursome, well balanced culinary odyssey. Next time you're in Gothenburg - Don't forget to visit FOND.

Please give your vote for these Wonderful Tulips - Thank you!

2010-09-05T14:49:00.007+02:00

Please give your vote by clicking this link and vote for my photo. Thank you so much!

Best regards
Siv

Meet The World In Gothenburg

2010-08-13T11:14:00.000+02:00

Europes Largest Oyster Farm - Ekenäs on The West Coast of Sweden

2010-08-12T19:58:00.006+02:00

In the harbor of Ekenäs, in South Koster of Bohuslän you'll find Sweden's only oyster hatchery, a marine industry disguised as a boathouse with a newly started production of the most highly valued oyster on the world market. The cold water makes it difficult to cultivate oysters in Sweden, but this has been solved in a new way - by growing fry indoors in a controlled way.

The most sensitive work is done in the hatchery, where they among other things also have to grow food for the oyster larvae. The goal is to become northern Europe's largest oyster farm and within a couple of years they aim to produce 300 tonnes of oysters - which represents almost all of Sweden's consumption.

Last Wednesday the first "baby boom" left home and the oysters born "inhouse" were put in to the sea. The first harvest is to be expected in a few years and these oysters will probably end up in France, where about 30 oysters are consumed per person/year. In Sweden not even half an oyster is eaten per person/year. The biggest market is France, where oysters are considered as a unique delicacy.

(source: SVT/Lars Wiklund)

Gothenburg Cultural Festival - Grand opening with Carola touring with Elvis and Barbra

2010-08-12T12:55:00.004+02:00

The Swedish Sandwich Cake - Swedish or not, the best party dish ever!

2010-08-09T12:47:00.025+02:00

I spent my Sunday baking cakes for a birthday celebration. I made two Strawberry Cakes and one really large Sandwich Cake, approx. for 18 people. When having a party it is actually the ideal food to serve, especially if you don't know how many guests to expect. It took a couple of hours of work but it was worth it, I can assure you - it was a real feast to lay your eyes on and it tasted delicious. If any one would like to have the recipe just let me know.

Smörgåstårta, which means Sandwich Cake, is typical party food in Sweden. It’s like a large sandwich with a lot of creamy filling, just like a cake, and it is served cold. The smörgåstårta consists of 2-3 layers of bread slices (most common is white bread) with different delicious creamy fillings.

My very own Smörgåstårta with salmon and prawns..

As far as I know this "Swedish dish" is originally from the US. However, according to Wikipedia there is one bakery in northern Sweden (Gunnar Sjödahl, Wedemarks Konditori in Östersund) that claims to be the inventor of The Smörgåstårta back in the early 60's. I don't know if this is accurate though. It really doesn't matter, it's no matter what a delicious dish for everyone to enjoy.

Here is the Strawberry-Kiwi Cake I made for "dessert"...:=)))

Siv's Strawberry and Kiwi Cake

1pkt. cake plates

First layer/filling
2-3. mashed bananas
2-3 tbsp strawberry jam is spread on top of the banana filling
if you like you can also add some kiwi on this layer

Second layer/filling
1 pkt. vanilla cream (use 2 bags) approx. 3 deciliter

Use about 3 dl cream, to be whipped and spread on the cake. Garnish as you prefer, for ex. with fresh strawberries, kivi or other fruit. Canned small mandarine orange wedges is also nice

Café Skyttepaviljongen in Falun - A truly fantastic place!

2010-07-29T12:12:00.005+02:00

We had a fantastic coffe stop at Skyttepaviljongen at Lugnet in Falun, Dalarna Sweden on our trip from Lapland down south of Sweden, last weekend. Link to website: Skyttepaviljongen

Välkommen till Lugnets senaste tillskott när det gäller caféer. Men själva huset är långt ifrån nytt. För drygt hundra år sedan började Dalarnas skytteförbund bygga skyttepaviljongen som då låg på Myranområdet en bit ifrån Lugnet. I början av 2000-talet hade huset förfallit ordentligt, men 2006 köpte Ola Malm huset och bestämde sig för att flytta det till Lugnet och börja rusta upp huset till sitt originalskick. Efter många många timmars arbete kunde Skyttepaviljongen invigas i december 2009, nu i form av bagarstuga och café. Skyttepaviljongen ligger vid Lugnets spårcentral på skidstadion.

På Skyttepaviljongen kan du köpa kaffe, te eller varm choklad med grädde och nybakat bröd direkt från stenugnen. Skyttepaviljongen ligger ca 400 meter från Lugnets Sportcenter, vid den lilla dammen på skidstadion. Parkering finns strax intill.

Welcome to Lugnets latest addition of cafes. But the house is far from new.Over a hundred years ago the Shooting Association in Dalarna started to build the shooting pavilion which at the time was on the grounds of the Myran area. In the beginning of 2000 the house had gotten in a really bad condition. In 2006 Ola Malm bought the house and decided to move it to Lugnet and began to renovate the house to its original condition. After many hours of work The Shooting Pavilion was finally inaugurated in December 2009, now in the form of a bakery and a cafe. The Shooting Pavilion is now located at Central Lugnet near the tracks at the ski stadium.

At The Pavilion you can buy coffee, tea or hot chocolate with cream and freshly baked bread straight from the stone oven. Shooting Pavilion is located about 400 meters from Lugnets Sportcenter, at the small dam at the ski stadium. Parking is available nearby.

Such a wonderful place - Skårs Gård - have a look at my video from yesterdays visit!

2010-07-28T22:15:00.006+02:00

Video Clip from The Homecomers Party in Arvidsjaur, Lapland - 17th of July 2010

2010-07-26T09:16:00.002+02:00

My Project "The Homecomers Party in Arvidsjaur" - A Success Thanks To All Participating!

2010-07-25T11:05:00.022+02:00

The Opening Celebration - Nils Erik Marklund speaking, Hembygdsföreningen Arvidsjaur

During the last few months I have been very busy with my project, a "Homecomers Party" in my home town Arvidsjaur, situated in Swedish Lapland. This is also the reason why some of my blogs have been put a side for some time. This actual blog "Wonderful Sweden" is one of them, unfortunately. Since I started to blog ( a bit more than a year ago) I have become an incredibly inspired and creative person. Actually a lot of things have changed along the way and also the way I live my life today. I am truly grateful for this. Lately I have also become a frequent visitor on Facebook and I have started a couple om different Facebook Pages which have been very successful. I've got to know both new and old friends through Facebook and they have indeed been a great inspiration.

Photos shown by Jerry Porsbjer / Magnum

To arrange the Homecomers Party has been a sort of challenge, it has been a couple of months of planning and I have learnt a lot along the way. It has been a pleasure since the start and now when it is over for this time, it feels kind of empty.

It has been a lot of work but I have enjoyed it tremendously. It was truly a joy to see people getting together, some of us had not seen eachother for many many years.

During the daytime the "festival" was open (with free entrance) for everybody, children, families, elder people gathered to have a good time. There were local entertainment with singing and music, cafe with hamburgers, free candy for the children - "candy-rain" thrown from the stage, and amusement for both young and old. Approx. 600 people arrived during the day.

Photo: Magnum/Jerry Porsbjer

During the night there was dancing in the Barn, called Karlavagnen. Singing, Stand Up-Comedy, Karaoke and Disco in the Timber House, open fires (three of them), 2 Bars (Pub). Around midnight people were lining up in cue to get in. I was absolutely amazed about the interest and of course very happy to find out that people came from all over to attend this feast.

Lot's of people came to the Party!

I have spent about 3 fantastic weeks in the northern parts of Sweden, with my family. Now I am back on the west coast, in Gothenburg,where I am resident. Together with a lot of fine memories from Arvidsjaur and the Homecomers Party - that finally proved to become a success! I would like to send a grateful Thank You to all people involved, without your support it would never have become this big of a success.

My warmest regards,

Siv

Accordion Five with Jessica Andersson and 50 accordion players on stage in Gothenburg 2006

2010-07-25T10:36:00.003+02:00

Sweden has a long tradition of accordion music. Benny Andersson (former ABBA) has made this medley for accordions. Note the beautiful Jessica Andersson, who made her break through in Fame in 2002, since then a very popular singer in Sweden. She has also won the Melody festival 2003 with the song "Give me your love".

The Swedish Tradition of Midsummer is here once again!

2010-06-24T20:49:00.005+02:00

I am wishing you a wonderful and magnificent Midsummer's weekend,
My warm regards,
Siv

Kim Wilde and The Swedish band Fibes, Oh Fibes!

2010-06-24T11:16:00.008+02:00

Kim Wilde and The Swedish band Fibes, Oh Fibes! performing at the amusement park Liseberg in Gothenburg last night. Enjoy!

Less than a week to go for the Royal Wedding in Sweden!

2010-06-13T22:18:00.005+02:00

I could not resist this wonderful photo of The Royal family. The H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria, her mother H.M. Queen Silvia and H.R.H. Princess Madeleine are wearing the beautiful Swedish traditional folk costume.

With less than a week left for the Royal Wedding one would think it is about time to make a blog post about our lovely couple Crown Princess Victoria and her husband to be Daniel Westling.

I look forward to watch the wedding on Saturday. And I hope to be celebrating it together with my friends in front of a wide screen telly in some local pub here in Gothenburg. I don't know if anyone is arranging possibilities for it, but I do hope so.

Read more on the official site The Royal Court.

Swedish Students in Kungsbacka - A Celebration with beautiful sceneries of our Swedish Traditions

2010-06-06T11:46:00.005+02:00

I found this clip on YouTube...hope you'll like it!

2010-06-04T09:36:00.001+02:00

Fair in Arvidsjaur, Lapland May 28-29 2010

2010-06-01T08:29:00.006+02:00

Beautiful handicraft from Lapland

Eskil Andersson and his wife at the fair selling his knifes made out of reindeer horn

Me at the Arvidsjaur Fair, wearing the traditional Arvidsjaur folk costume

Tribute to Sweden

2010-05-19T19:22:00.001+02:00

In Sweden long ago, Easter was thought to be the witches' time...

2010-04-05T09:44:00.021+02:00

Nowadays, children dress up as Easter witches on Thursday before Easter...

The Swedish for Happy Easter is "GLAD PÅSK"!

In Sweden long ago, Easter was thought to be the witches' time. In west Sweden they lit Easter bonfires around which people would scream and yell to frighten away the witches. On Maundy Thursday the witches were said to fly off to "Blåkulla" and return again on the Saturday. Nowadays, children dress up as Easter witches on the Thursday before Easter and go from house to house and are given gifts or money - very similar to the North American Halloween.

The traditional Easter brunch consists of different varieties of pickled herring, cured salmon and Jansson's Temptation (potato, onion and pickled sprats baked in cream). The table is often laid like a traditional smörgåsbord. Spiced schnapps is also a feature of the Easter table. At dinner, people eat roast lamb with potatoes au gratin and asparagus or some other suitable side dish.

Like the Easter celebrations in other countries, Easter celebrations here are also marked by Easter eggs. The Easter egg here has a long history. It is said that these colored eggs were obtained near graves from B.C. in Gotland. As they were painted in red and yellow, they were thought to represent the sunrise and sunset. Even today the people of Sweden, like other Europeans, paint their eggs at Easter and they are considered to be very auspicious.

Decorated birch twigs are a common sight in Swedish homes during Easter. As a reminder of Christ's suffering, young people would lash each other with silver birch twigs on the morning of Good Friday (this was during the 15th century). These silver birch branches, decorated with brightly colored feathers, were the originator of both the Lent and Easter decorated branches.

The tradition to give away a decorated egg containing candy or a small present inside is also very common. Sometimes the egg is hidden and the children are having fun trying to find their Easter gifts.

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Would you like to stay at a 150 years old windmill?

2010-03-18T11:37:00.012+01:00

This fabulous windmill called Big Bengt's Mill, are reconditioned "from head to toe" and offers an exciting and unusual accommodation on four floors, with a stunning sea view.

All Wonderful Sweden Fans: this is an excellent opportunity to take care of yourself, in a wonderful environment of the beautiful nature on the Swedish west coast, see below...

Instructor is Victoria Arnewid. Don´t miss this!

Would you like to stay at a 150 years old windmill with a wonderful view over Kattegatt and practise yoga at hostel Kvarnen in Olofsbo during a weekend in May?

No prior knowledge is required, both beginners and people with experience are welcome. The food is inspired of India and the Mediterranean. In between the sessions you can take a walk at the beach, looking at the horses or maybe just sit at the nice porch enjoying a good book and look out over the sea.

This sounds rather tempting, doesn't it? To find out more visit the homepage at: Yogaweekend.se. When booking state code "Siv" for discount.

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Icy Fashion Show in Paris - A touch of Sweden and the Polar Circle!

2010-03-17T22:33:00.007+01:00

One of the more spectacular Chanel fashion shows ever must be the recent Fall Winter Ready to Wear Show in Paris. Beautiful Chanel models cruising down the icy catwalk inspired by the theme of climate and the environmental changes going on.

"Ordering 15 truckloads of ice from Sweden may not have done much for Karl Lagerfeld’s carbon footprint, but it says a lot for his sense of artistry, modernity and imagination — not to mention the ability to produce funny, funky, elegant and salable clothes" reports The New York Times.

Where did you think the ice came from? Sweden, Kiruna of course, and the famous Icehotel! It was unfortunately not allowed to melt down the northern ice blocks in the river of Seine, so the trucks had to bring it all the way back to Sweden!!!

Click here to watch the great and Icy Fashion Show - Fall Winter Ready to Wear Show - Chanel

Article/FROM PARIS - If there's one show during Paris Fashion Week to watch for its theatricality, it's Chanel. Link: Chanel Paris Show Imports and Returns 240 tons of Swedish Ice.

Swedish Paul N.J. Ottosson received two Oscar Awards - Hjärtliga Gratulationer från oss alla i Sverige Paul!

2010-03-09T08:13:00.012+01:00

Paul N.J. Ottosson received two Oscar Awards

Each January, the entertainment community and film fans around the world turn their attention to the Academy Awards. Interest and anticipation builds to a fevered pitch leading up to the Oscar telecast in February, when hundreds of millions of movie lovers tune in to watch the glamorous ceremony and learn who will receive the highest honors in film-making. For more information please visit: The Academy of motion picture arts and sciences.

Two Oscar Awards went to Sweden and Paul Ottosson, from the village of Lönsboda in southern Sweden, he won two categories: Best sound editing and Best sound mixing for the film "Hurt Locker". Ottoson is one of Hollywood's most successful sound designers. He has been nominated several times before, including "Spider-Man 2" 2004. He received an Emmy for the audio to a television film for the National Geograpic.

Paul was incredibly happy for the award and held an emotional speech. He came to America in the late '80s as a rock musician with the band Sad Wings. But as the group disbanded soon, Paul says, - "I had a couple of months left on my ticket and decided to stay. And to support myself, I began working in a recording studio mixing music, in the start I was working with commercials and movie trailers".

Achievement in sound editing - Paul N.J. Ottosson (from his speach):
"This is such a great honor to be here. Twenty-three years ago, I... sold everything I had to come and be part of what you guys do over here. It’s such a great honor. So many people have faith in me and gave me a shot, maybe when, I don’t know that I earned it yet. And thank you to all those people. My wife and my son for always loving me no matter what. And Kathryn, what an incredible movie. Thank you for everything and your friendship. All of you, the Academy, thank you so much"!

Paul visits Sweden regularly, not long ago, last Christmas he was back home with his parents and sisters in his childhood village of Lönsboda. While his parents stayed home in Sweden and watched the Award on telly, Pauls sisters Eva-Lott and Ing-Marie were both by his side as well as attending the party afterwards.

Well, I guess from now on this humble and successful Swede will have the privilege of working with what ever he chooses within his area! Congratulations from Sweden to you Paul, Good Job!

Vasaloppet Today - Link to Live Broadcasting from Vasaloppet!

2010-03-07T11:18:00.003+01:00

Here is the link to Live Broadcasting right now from Vasaloppet!

Winter video - Horse

2010-03-06T15:54:00.003+01:00

Beautiful winter pictures from Sweden. The film is made by Robert Paraniak at MERFilm. It is called Winter with the horse is the Clue - Vinter hos hästen är Poängen. I am not sure if my translation is correct though. Beautiful music as well :=)))

Vasaloppet - The count down has started - Only 10 days to go!

2010-02-28T09:25:00.005+01:00

Vasaloppet - The count down has started - Only 10 days to go!

Vasaloppet’s 2010 Winter Week is set to break all records!“We have just received our 50,000th registered entry and the clock is still ticking,” said Vasaloppet’s CEO Jonas Bauer last week. “The appetite for skiing is enormous right now.”Vasaloppet’s Winter Week is launched with KortVasan on February 26 and rounded off with the classic Vasaloppet itself on Sunday March 7. Between these are TjejVasan, UngdomsVasan, Öppet Spår, HalvVasan, StafettVasan and SkejtVasan.

“There is a Vasalopp to suit all,” said Jonas Bauer. “It’s clear that people have discovered this now, bearing in mind these entry figures.” Read more here.

Historical background.

Timoteij - Awesome Girl Power Hit the Swedish Melodyfestival last night :=)))

2010-02-21T21:40:00.005+01:00

This lovely Swedish Girl band (called Timoteij) literally came from nowhere and landed right in the hearts of the Swedish people last night when singing their song "Kom" in the Melody Festival which took place in Gothenburg during recent weekend.

I have great believe in their potential of winning the final competition later on and I am sure they could compete very well in the Eurovision Song Contest. I welcome the fresh and neat appearance they contributed. Personally I have lately become so tired of the disco-glammed short -skirted- without-pants singer-wannabees, and maybe I'm not alone feeling this way, which came to proof yesterday when Timoteij got the most votes of all performances made in the festival. What do you think, aren't they just adorable?

Swedish Championship of Yukigassen in Luleå this weekend!

2010-02-19T23:34:00.009+01:00

Video from the finals of Yukigassen in Luleå last year.

Swedish Championship of Yukigassen in Luleå this weekend!

The yearly Winterfestival organized by the students of LTU - Luleå Technical University, has already started, last Wednesday. To top the festival there is going to be a Swedish Championship (during this weekend) in Yukigassen, the Japanese snow ball fighting sport. The winning team will go to Japan for the World Championship in Yukigassen!

The history of "Yukigassen" as a sport across national boundaries is being created. The number of players is increasing throughout the world, including in Finland where the European Championship is held. A team consists of 9 (7 regular) players and a captain. Yukigassen requires strong willpower, quick judgment and intelligence to create clever tactics. Only your shelter and the snowballs in your hand will protect you from the snowballs thrown by your opponents. You must hide behind your shelter and wait for your chance to fight back. You can launch a surprise attack and capture your opponents' flag, or hit them with snowballs and win on points. Unknown battles and dramas are waiting for you on the snow-covered court!

Read more about the history etc. of Yukigassen at the Official website.

Dela

Congratulations to Björn Ferry - Sweden's gold man in biathlon pursuit!

2010-02-17T14:30:00.007+01:00

Bjorn Ferry of Sweden won the men's 12.5-kilometer biathlon pursuit for his first Olympic medal, kicking up his right ski in jubilation as he crossed the finish line having secured his country's first biathlon gold in a half century.

"I am 31, and I've waited for this my whole life," said Ferry, who gave the Swedes their first triumph in an Olympic race since Klas Lestander won gold in the 20K at Squaw Valley in 1960.

Ferry took the lead on the final lap after his fourth shoot and had a winning time Tuesday of 33 minutes, 38.4 seconds, 16.5 seconds faster that silver medalist Christoph Sumann of Austria.

Source StarTribune.com, read more here: StarTribune.com

Congratulations to Charlotte Kalla of Sweden!

2010-02-16T21:55:00.003+01:00

Congratulations to our amazing Charlotte Kalla of Sweden who won the women's 10-kilometer freestyle race at the Vancouver Games for her first Olympic gold medal. Kalla led the interval start race from the first intermediate time and finished in 24 minutes, 58.4 seconds. First Swedish woman to win this in 32 years.

This wonderful 22-year old has made all Swedes tremendously proud and we look forward to follow her and all the other great sportsmen and woman in the winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Go Sweden Go!

Dolph Lundgren - World Famous Swedish Actor Back in Sweden With Great Success!

2010-02-07T23:20:00.006+01:00

Dolph Lundgren is a Swedish actor, director, model, and karateka. Well known for his tall stature and level of fitness, at peak, Lundgren stands at 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) and weighs over 240 lb (109 kg). He belongs to a generation of film actors who epitomise the movie action hero stereotype including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steven Seagal, and Jean-Claude Van Damme, some of whom he has worked with in his career. Lundgren holds a 3rd Dan (3rd Degree Black Belt) in Kyokushin karate. He won the European championships in 1980 and 1981 as well as a heavyweight tournament in Australia in 1982.

Dolph graduated from the Royal Institute of Technology and has a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which he didn't follow up due to his acting carrier. Grace Jones, a Jamaican-born model and singer, famous during the 80s, was one of the reasons why Dolph got involved in the acting business. They met in Sydney, where he was working extra as a guard at one of her concerts. Dolph became the body guard of Grace Jones as well as her partner and they lived together in NY for a couple of years. They appeared together in the Bond film "A View to a Kill" in 1985. However the real breakthrough came when starring as Ivan Drago in "Rocky".

Now the list of merit's consists of more than 40 different roles and a number of films directed. Lundgren's production company, Thor Pictures, is developing several projects in which he will produce, star and/or direct. He is also a founding member of "Group of Eight", a New York theater group started in 1994.

Dolph Lundgren is nowadays a settled familyman, married to Anette Qviberg, an interior decorator and fashion designer and a father of two daughters, Ida and Greta. The Lundgren family have left the glamour life of Hollywood and now lives in Marbella, Spain.

At present Dolph is making a kind of "come back" in Sweden as being one of the hosts during the Swedish Melodyfestival wich took of with it's first broadcast up in Örnsköldsvik yesterday evening.

Dolph was a success last night, he gave the wievers a really good show, he was singing and dancing and even made some karate moves braking a couple of large ice bricks with his bare hands! At least I am sure the ladies will come back for more next time, just take a look at the enclosed YouTube-video you'll know what I mean :=)))

Winter Pictures from Gothenburg

2010-02-04T11:53:00.004+01:00

Jokkmokks Marknad - 40 000 visitors travelling to Swedish Lapland to join the popular market!

2010-02-02T12:53:00.014+01:00

The popular Market in Jokkmokk is a winter market held annually the first weekend in February. The market has a long history with a 400 year old tradition.

The market week in Jokkmokk is an extraordinary happening. Already several weeks before the market the whole community start to vibrate of activity. The snow gets out of the way from the streets, planning for the market stalls starts, the tempo gets higher and the people are full of expectations. The first visitors starts to come already the weekend before, fully dressed in fur hats and thick down parkas. Many people come back year after year.

This year it will be held during 4-6 of February. There are 5300 people living in the municipality of Jokkmokk, during the market it will increase to approximately 40 000 visitors. Many of the local stores and business entrepreneurs (among them are sami people with their own reindeers) makes almost a third of their yearly income taking part of this market.

Jokkmokks Winter Market is one of the oldest market places in Sweden with traditions all the way back to middle ages. King Karl IX decreed in 1605 that permanent marketplaces should be established in Lapland. Read more about the history.

The company ILLUA is based in the sprawling forests and is at the heart of the mountain areas of Jokkmokk. Over several years they have developed a skill for building igloos. This skill is now put to use when taking visitors out on igloo tours .

Here are some of the different events and happenings during the market week:

Dogsled tours with Jokkmokkguiderna. Northern lights and Sámi art and handicrafts at Ájtte, Swedish Mountain and Sami Museum. Adventure tour offers wildlife safari - Ootdoor Lapland for example "On skis through the forest lands", Ice fishing, Wood-burning sauna in the wilderness, Spend a night in the igloo village. Exhibition and sale of local art and crafts at Jokkmokk’s Tenn(pewter)Säljens Allbod(Workshop)

The Year in Sweden - Kim Loughran

2010-01-27T09:22:00.022+01:00

The Year in Sweden, by Kim Loughran

Sweden's speedy transformation from agrarian poverty to wealth and bubbling creativity has produced a people trapped happily between tradition and progress. Add a growing immigrant population and the mix becomes exotic and amusing. Kim Loughran sketches a year - any year- in an odd country where four seasons regularly occur in the same month. With delightful images from all over Sweden, this book will leave you with an inviting impression of one of Europe's most stunningly beautiful countries.

I just love books about Sweden, and this book is no exemption. Kim Loughran, is an Australian born author with over thirty years of residence in Sweden. He has captured the Swedish soul brilliantly and threw every month of the year, from January to December, he will take you along the journey of the different Swedish traditions and our habits. With his subtle and many times very funny anecdotes about the land of the Midnight Sun this book is now one of my favourites. For us Swedes it is utterly funny, it makes us realize how odd we can be sometimes, even though I can find some things to be a bit generalized. But I can dig that!

In addition I'm in particular fond of the beautiful images enclosed. When accomplished with people and traditions these photos actually starts talking to me. This exquisite book in a small format is the perfect gift for friends and family abroad as well as a good introduction to those of you planning to visit Sweden.

You might have heard of Kim Loughran before, I've found out that he was working for many years (13 years) with radio broadcasting The Saturday Show* (broad-casted 1967-1981) together with Roger Wallis. Link to Sveriges Radio: The Saturday Show

*Roger Wallis' and Kim Loughran radio show was the perfect blend of hyper-date Swedish prog music and twisted skits in the style of Monty Python who ran with current events and Swedish equality in general. (source: Rakotazafy Sweden)

Wanna buy the book? - Bokus. com,. Publisher - Max Ström. The publishing house Max Ström issues magnificent volumes of photographic or lavishly illustrated books.

Vanja, 72 - The Strongest Grandmother in the World ?

2010-01-25T21:59:00.006+01:00

She might be the strongest Grandmother in the world, Swedish Vanja Sjödin, 72 years of age.

She is at the gym six days a week, and approximately 12 hours every week is spent for training and weight lifting. During the interview Vanja says many people doesn't believe that you can train and build muscles at her age, but they are wrong. Vanja started bodybuilding at the age of 46 and she has got stronger and stronger every year. To start with she made one training session per week, but since five years she's training almost every day.

Vanja makes 55 push-ups in a row and says that she most definitely will continue her bodybuilding and is sure to become even stronger. The bodybuilding makes her feel tremendously good.

Link to Vanja Website Pictures ,Link to Vanja's Blogg

Gothenburg International Film Festival - The biggest Film festival in Scandinavia!

2010-01-24T22:07:00.014+01:00

Film 'Bomber', Director: Paul Cotter, USA/Storbritannien, 2009

Göteborg International Film Festival (GIFF) is the leading film festival in Scandinavia and – with an audience of 200 000 visitors a year – one of the largest festivals in the world.

The Film festival takes place over eleven days in January/February, 29/1 - 8/2 2010. Each year, some 450 films from 70 countries are screened. This is a yearly opportunity where interested viewers are being offered a broad program of films that don't always reach the cinemas. The festival is also a very important meeting place for the Nordic film industry.

GIFF is always one step ahead in the search for new talent and tomorrow’s stars with:

* The prestigious Dragon Awards, including The Nordic Film Award and TIBIDA

* The Ingmar Bergman International Debut Awards

* The Nordic Film Market, presenting the latest and upcoming Scandinavian films to international buyers, sales agents and festival programmers

* The Göteborg International Film Festival Fund, supporting young talent in developing countries, in cooperation with SIDA

GIFF Website

Skiing can be tricky sometimes :=)))

2010-01-24T19:22:00.004+01:00

Got this shot today, it is so funny...I fell too, when going down a small hill, luckily nobody was filming me (I hope). In this case, I believe the guy just got so sick of it and just stared up in the sky thinking "What the xxxx" ...ha ha ha.

Big Business for Swedish Lapland - Japanese and English just love to gaze at the Aurora Borealis!

2010-01-24T15:59:00.010+01:00

The Northern Lights are becoming big business and tourists from all over the world are going to Swedish Lapland to experience the north - and the Magical Glow.

The tourist facility "Ripan" in Kiruna have invested heavily in the "Aurora Tourism" and even though the winter darkness is compact and it is 22 degrees below zero with a wind blowing from the north, there is a good atmosphere among the tourists who arrives from many different parts of the world. There is particularly a great interest among the Japanese and the English.

The Northern light goes in cycles and it is right now a fairly low activity. But starting with next year it will change and more auroras will be seen. In addition Camp Ripan is offering there guests various auroral activity, for example a specially built Northern Light room with large panoramic windows. From Camp Ripan transport is offered to Abisko (about 100 kilometers north of Kiruna). To get to the top of the Nuolja Mountain there is a chair lift which will take you up into the darkness and silence to the Aurora Sky Station - hopefully with the Aurora Borealis dancing in the sky above.

Abisko is situated at the latitude of 68.2 North, that is to say, 250 km north of the Arctic Circle and has the most cloud-free sky in Sweden. The Aurora Sky Station has an extensive exhibition about Aurora Borealis, created by IRF, the Institute of Space Physics in Kiruna. Here you will learn more about the phenomenon before going out on the viewing deck to begin your night sky gazing. You will even get served a fabulous dinner at The Aurora Sky Station before it is time to ride back down.

Aurora Webcam - updated every minute.

Abisko Aurora Sky Station
Camp Ripan

Source article: DN Resor

Wonderful Iranian-Swedish Singer-Songwriter Laleh Pourkarim

2010-01-24T13:22:00.007+01:00

Laleh Pourkarim (Persian: لاله پورکریم) born June 10, 1982 in Bandar-e Anzali, Iran, is an Iranian-Swedish singer-songwriter and actress. She came to live in Gothenburg Sweden with her family at the age of 12.

In 200f Laleh had her breakthrough with the hit single "Live Tomorrow" which was a big success in Sweden. She personally produced and wrote her 2005 self-titled debut album, in which she sang in three different languages: English, Swedish and Persian.

At the Swedish Grammis Awards 2005, Laleh received seven nominations and won three: Artist of the Year, Producer of the Year, and New Artist of the Year.

She also had a major acting role in the Swedish movie "Jalla! Jalla!", directed by Josef Fares. The movie was a big success at the Swedish box office in 2000. Laleh is the daughter of Houshang Pourkarim, a prominent Iranian sociologist from Bandar Anzali. Photo of Laleh by Oscar Gezelius. Official Website of Laleh.
source Wikipedia

Time for Semlor - There isn't any other bun like it, its absolutely an extraordinary delicacy worth waiting for!

2010-01-23T12:48:00.022+01:00

We've got wonderful weather in Gothenburg today, and I am going out for a long walk. I also aim to buy a couple of "Semlor" for our afternoon coffee. If you haven't tried a Semla yet, please do, it is one of my absolutely favourite pastry. Actually, there isn't any other bun like a Semla, it is an extraordinary delicacy worth waiting for. Swedes eat semlor once a year, and there is a special day for to eat them, this year it will be on the 16th of February. However, you can by them at both in bakeries and at food stores as early as in mid January.

The oldest version of the semla was a plain bread bun, eaten in a bowl of warm milk. In Swedish this is known as hetvägg (literally meaning "hot wall") and originates from Middle Low German Hete Weggen (hot wedges) or German Heisse Wecken (hot buns).

Today, the semla consists of a cardamom-spiced wheat bun which has its top cut off and insides scooped out, and is then filled with a mix of the scooped-out bread crumbs, milk and almond paste, topped with whipped cream. The cut-off top serves as a lid and is dusted with powdered sugar. It is often eaten on its own, with coffee or tea. I have heard about some trendy cafes who's lately started to serve Semlor like in the old times, in a bowl of hot milk. Yummy, Yummy!

On request - Swedish translation:

Vi har underbart väder i Göteborg idag, och jag tänker ta en lång promenad. Jag siktar också på att köpa ett par "semlor" till eftermiddagskaffet. Om du inte har testat semlor, så gör det, det är i alla fall en av mina absoluta favorit bakverk. Egentligen finns det inte någon annan bulle som en Semla, det är en oerhörd delikatess väl värd att vänta på. Svenskar äter semlor på en speciell dag, i år blir den 16: e Februari. Du kan dock köpa dem både i bagerier och i mataffärerna så tidigt som i mitten av januari.

Den äldsta versionen av semlan var ett vanligt bröd, som åts i en skål med varm mjölk. På svenska kallat hetvägg "varm vägg" vilket härstammar från det östgermanska Hete Weggen eller heisse Wecken (varma bullar). Idag består semlan av en kardemummakryddad vetebulle som har sin topp avskuren och insidan fylld med en blandning brödsmulor, mjölk och mandelmassa, toppad med vispad grädde. Den avkurna toppen fungerar som ett lock och pudras med florsocker. Serveras bäst till kaffe eller te eller ät dem som man numera gör på trendiga Caféer; i en skål med varm mjölk. Mums Filibabba!

Here I have enclosed a Recipe for Semlor in English - Maybe you would like to bake them yourselves :=))

Benny & Björn's Kristina Gets UK Premiere, 14 Apr 2010

2010-01-22T22:14:00.008+01:00

The proposal. Photographer: Martin Skoog

In 1900, there lived more Swedes in Chicago than in Gothenburg, Sweden. Today there is approximately 5 million "Swedish Americans" in the USA...

Abba’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, songwriters of hit musicals Chess and Mamma Mia!, will present, for one night only, the UK premiere of the concert version of their 1995 musical Kristina at the Royal Albert Hall on 14 April 2010. (click for further info.)

Kristina from Duvemåla is based on a series of four novels by the Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg detailing a family's poverty-driven migration from Sweden to America in the mid-19th century: The Emigrants, Unto a Good Land, The Settlers, and The Last Letter Home.

The Nordic style of tour skating - Choose your own tours over the ice

2010-01-18T21:11:00.006+01:00

Nordic Skating

The Nordic style of tour skating is popular in the Nordic countries, especially Sweden, but increasing in Finland and Norway. In Canada and the USA this style is often called Nordic skating. Other names used are trip skating and wild skating. Another style of Tour Skating, which is popular in the Netherlands, is called toerschaatsen(Dutch).

While the Nordic version usually involves choosing your own tours over the ice, in the Netherlands skaters follow marked routes on frozen canals and lakes. Consequently the equipment used and safety requirements differ somewhat between these two schools of tour skating.

The Netherlands is home of Elfstedentocht, a 200 km distance skating race. Long distance races are also organized annually in the Nordic countries, such as Vikingarännet in Sweden. The race is on the 14th or 21st February 2010.

The Uppsala-Stockholm region of Sweden is blessed with the ideal climate for ice skating on natural ice - snowfall is limited, the winters are cold enough for thick ice to be established on the lakes for several months, but temporary thaws happen often and can clear up any snow that may have covered the ice. Even after a heavy snowfall, larger lakes or parts of the sea that haven't yet frozen can soon be skatable.

Source: Wikipedia and Ice Skating Tours on Natural Ice in Sweden

Whats Up in Uppland?

2010-01-17T17:02:00.027+01:00

Uppland is a historical province or landskap on the eastern coast of Sweden, just north of Stockholm, the capital. It borders Södermanland, Västmanland and Gästrikland. It is also bounded by lake Mälaren and the Baltic sea. It has an extremely short and strangely shaped land border with Åland, an autonomous province of Finland, on the small uninhabited island of Märket in the Baltic. The name literally means up land, a name which is commonly encountered in especially older English literature. Its Latinised form, which is occasionally used, is Uplandia.

What's Up in Uppland?
Visit the coastal region of the Baltic Sea, the moose in Nedre Dalälven River Region, or the rock carvings in the Lake Mälaren district. Or experience the cultural history of the many Walloon ironworks villages in Uppland. Below I have mentioned some places well worth a visit.

Skoklosters Castle One of Europe's best preserved 17th century castles. Large collections of weapons, tools, textiles, furniture, art, and books. Park with large grassy surfaces. Recently awarded by the magazine Queen for being The Most Beautiful Castle in Sweden. Photo by Jens Mohr.

Gårds jö Moose Park. Guided one-hour tours in a tractor-drawn cart, where you come in close contact with the animal. Guaranteed Elk Warning: You have the opportunity to see elks as you never seen before, not at a 100 yards, or 50 yards or even 10 yards away..No, you will be so close you can nearly touch them.If you fail to spot an elk, you will be refunded your money!

30,000 Islands offers attractive events, conferences and tourist attractions in Stockholm’s archipelago and outer reaches as well as most of Svealand’s lakes and waterways. The sensation of feeling free is overpowering and the experience is truly unique. With the wind at your back and thick natural ice under your skates, professional guides will help you explore the ice-locked islands of the Stockholm Archipelago or stunningly beautiful island studded lakes.

Rosl ag e n A region of islands and idylls. Picturesque wooden houses with lovely gardens blend with boutiques, restaurants, cafés and museums. Roslagen’s well-preserved Walloon works have a unique story to tell about the industry of the area. All the natural resources required were available here when the iron works was established in the 17th century.

The Walloons were recruited from what is now Belgium for their professional skills, and the bar iron from the Walloon works was world leading in its quality. Today, the works are a unique destination for visitors, and some of the works are still world leaders in the metal industry. (sources: uppsala tourism, wikipedia)

Modelling Trip to the Mountains of Austria - Skiing, Partying and Great food - What more can you ask for?!

2010-01-15T08:43:00.050+01:00

"I'm a model and you know what I mean, when I do my little touch on the cat walk"...

Me and my ATOMIC helmet...

Tuesday - a perfect day for photo shoot - at least when we reached above the clouds...

The Silver Bullet Bar - an hour later (at five in the afternoon) the bar was totally crowded...

Breakfast waffles at The Salzburger Hof Hotel in Bad Gastein - A tasteful experience :=)

Me, my friends and my GOGGLES...ha ha

Once again I have had the pleasure of joining a photo trip to the fantastic ski resort of STS Alpresor in Bad Gastein, Austria. We have had a great time during this visit, a bit hectic though, as there were many different areas to cover.

While waiting for that perfect sunny day we took some pictures of the breakfast buffé in Hotel Salzburger Hof as well as some really nice after ski pictures from the new bar Gatz and the very popular after ski spot Silver Bullet Bar. Gatz is more of a cool lounge bar and Silver Bullet is a kind of rock&roll pub with live bands playing every week.

Finally Tuesday, our last day, came along with a sunny and a clear blue sky and we spent all day up in the mountains shooting front cover pics as well as skiing and picnic pictures. I am very fond of being out in the nature and I love to ski. I am not at all a pro' but after having had some good advice from my friend Jonas I felt more secure going down hill and I could allow myself to enjoy some speed too. The last evening we spent at the Salzburger Hofkeller for a Fondue Dinner, which was absolutely delicious.

It was indeed a great trip, we had so many good laughs and I made many new friends during this considerable short stop of three hectic days in the Austrian alps. Now we just have to cross our fingers that the pictures will turn out for the best so the winter catalogue of STS Alpresor released in August later this year will be a success.

For further information click:

The Salzburger Hof Hotel - A jewel in the Austrian Alps

The Hotel Salzburger Hof was built between 1889 and 1907. The central location in Bad Gastein with glorious panoramic views, in the immediate vicinity of the ski lift and the thermal spa, as well as the tasteful furnishings and the stylish ambiance create the perfect conditions for a relaxing and unforgettable holiday in the Gastein valley.

Mette Picaut Skincare - Made in Sweden

2010-01-08T06:49:00.009+01:00

Mette Picaut Skincare - Let me recommend this wonderful series of fantastic skin care products. Made in Sweden and with ecological ingredients. I will assure you that it is good stuff. As I have had the opportunity to try a few products myself I am positive that this will be a great success in Sweden and eventually abroad, world wide. It is developed and produced by Mette Picaut, a Swedish lady living in Gothenburg.

Mette is a beautiful woman, not only on the outside, she has a wonderful personality - warm and kind. Mette has a modelling carrier since 20 years all over the world, nowadays settled in Sweden, with her French husband and two children. Above from modelling she is a nurse and now also a business woman as she has founded the Mette Picaut Skincare Company. These great products are made of the finest ecological ingredients that will take care of your skin and make it both feel and look fantastic.

Just remember where you first read about these fantastic products :=)

Winter in Gothenburg

2010-01-06T21:18:00.003+01:00

It is very rear to find this much of snow in the city centre of Gothenburg. The temperature has stayed around -10'Celsius for a couple of days now and I can assure you that in combination with the wind it feels like it's around -20'C at least. But as we say in Sweden, "there isn't any bad weather only bad clothing :=)

Planning A Wedding of The Unusual - This is The Place to go!

2009-12-30T16:33:00.007+01:00

The most wonderful and romantic Church of all must be the one situated in the Ice Hotel at Jukkasjärvi, Kiruna. This is the place to visit, not just for wedding couples, for everybody who would like to experience something of the extraordinary. This is the biggest igloo on the planet. I was there myself in the early 90s, by now it has become world famous and it is indeed a fantastic way of placing the city of Kiruna (the most northern city in Sweden) on the map for just about everybody. I would guess that The Ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi is one of the most well known Swedish attractions world wide.

Happy New Year with ABBA

2009-12-29T14:58:00.001+01:00

This is the version that most people just call "ABBA around the piano". This video has been shown on many New Years Eve's in Sweden at midnight.

The Singing Christmas Tree

2009-12-29T01:10:00.013+01:00

As I left work this afternoon I passed a park called Bältesspännarparken. Lots of people had gathered around lit fires and children were ice skating. I could hear such beautiful choir singing and I was struck by a tremendously nice atmosphere even though it was freezing cold outside. Luckily I had my camera at hand and got some nice shots too. Later I had to run home and put my feet in a bucket of hot water :=) It was terribly cold, or was it just bad clothing maybe?!

The Singing Christmas Tree is one of many activities within the event 'Christmas City of Gothenburg' during the month of December. Hope you'll enjoy my video clip :=)

Sälen to Gothenburg - Lunch stop at The Selma Lagerlöf Hotel in Sunne, Värmland

2009-12-28T22:38:00.019+01:00

This year there has definitely been a white Christmas all over Sweden. In Skåne (the most southern parts of the country) there has been lots of problems caused by the weather conditions, and in many different areas through out the country there has been lack of electricity for days.

As we left Sälen in Dalarna last Saturday, on our way to Gothenburg, we could at the most drive 70 kilometers/hour. It took us almost 9 hours to get home ( about 500 km). When we came closer to Gothenburg, the conditions were getting better and we were happy to be back home again. We had a great time in Sälen, skiing and celebrating Christmas, but as wintertime can cause problems along the roads I guess I am happy to wait another year for that trip again.

I'll enclose a video clip with some pictures I took during our trip home to Gothenburg. We had a lunch stop at the Quality Hotel Selma Lagerlöf, in Sunne, near by there is also a very famous Spa called The Selma Spa (when they opened in 1991 it was the first spa in Scandinavia). Värmland is a beautiful province of Sweden, which offer lots of activities, both in winter and summer time.

In Sunne you can visit Mårbacka - the home of Selma Lagerlöf. At Mårbacka you can learn about Selma Lagerlöf, the authoress and the businesswoman. It is easy to be inspired by her enterprise. Take a walk in the lovely grounds or go on a guided tour of the house, Mårbacka. Experience the atmosphere that surrounded Selma Lagerlöf with the beautiful furniture and paintings dating from her lifetime.

Selma Lagerlöf 1858–1940
One of the best known authors in the world, was born and grew up at Mårbacka. Her debut novel, Gösta Berling´s saga in 1891 was a tremendous success, as were Jerusalem 1902 and The Wonderful Adventures of Nils 1906. To crown these achievements, she became both the first woman and the first Swede to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1909, followed in 1914 by her election, as the first woman to the prestigious Swedish Academy. She was also a businesswoman, a farmer and an active local politician.

If you want to find out more about things to do in Värmland and Torsby/Sunne you'll find some useful links below:

Mårbacka - The home of Selma Lagerlöf, Quality Hotel Selma Lagerlöf

Fortum Ski Tunnel Torsby - In Sweden's first and the world's longest ski tunnel, you can skii all year, no matter what season.

Sunne Golf Course -The most beautiful golf course in Värmland, by the lake Fryken.

Rottneros Park - What was once Ekeby in Selma Lagerlöf’s novel “The Story of Gösta Berling”. Nowadays one of the area’s most beautiful flower and sculpture parks.

Wishing You A Merry Christmas - Video Collage from Sälen, Tandådalen and Lindalen Waffle Hut

2009-12-24T21:52:00.008+01:00

We are having the most wonderful time here in Sälen, Dalarna. Yesterday we took a tour on our ski's to a lovely place called Lindalen. It is situated ca 2 km from Tandådalen and our cottage. I took some pictures and I hope you'll like the video collage I've put together.

The beautiful song is performed by Synnøve Aanensen, a Norwegian lady.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

The true spirit of Christmas is generosity

2009-12-22T12:33:00.012+01:00

The true spirit of Christmas is generosity

Not the generosity of material gifts and presents, but the generosity of your own loving presence. Give more of your own loving presence and less of the token presents this year.

Yes, there is pleasure in enjoying material gifts, but what is remembered, what lasts, is the presence of the loving soul giving love generously and unconditionally to another. This presence lasts for all time. This presence, you will carry with you beyond this life. These presents lives on in a loving legacy that flows from generation to generation. (The Christmas Angels)

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. (Augusta E. Rundel )

Wouldn't life be worth the living, wouldn't dreams be coming true If we kept the Christmas spirit, all the whole year through?

"Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time" (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas (Calvin Coolidge)

Fishing in Sweden - Experience Nature and Beautiful Sceneries

2009-12-22T10:14:00.027+01:00

When I was a child I used to go fishing with my father, both during summer and winter time. And sometimes the whole family would join. We brought along sandwiches, coffee and hot chocolate. In the winter time we used to go skiing or go by snowmobiles, depending where we were heading.

In the 70s my father was running a petrol station (called Caltex, which later changed its name to Texaco). We lived in a small village of about 300 people, situated in the inland of northern Sweden, right in the middle of Lapland, not far from the Polar Circle. At the age of 10 I had my "own" snowmobile, well I could use it now and then, as my father was selling Evinrude snowmobiles. We had a stable of machines on our yard. Evinrude... I doubt they are still in the market today. Well, nowadays it is rather common for kids to have their own snowmobile (in the northern), there are smaller machines "kids models", I would guess it is quite expensive though.

The best time of the year to go ice fishing is in March or April. The sun shines almost everyday on a clear blue sky and the bright reflections from the white winter landscape is so welcoming after months of darkness. Ice fishing is very exciting, we mostly used to get perch, but sometimes also other large fish. It is such a fantastic feeling to sit on a sunny Lapland lake while listening to the sounds of nature surrounding you. And when that fish is ready to bite, you better be ready too :=)

Tina Nordström vs Victoria Silvstedt - Tinas Cookalong

2009-12-21T23:14:00.004+01:00

Two Swedish famous woman, one famous for her cooking and the other one famous for her beauty...even if I personally find Tina very attractive too.
One reason for making this blog post is because there has been a huge amount of visitors on this blog lately who have found their way here while searching the Internet for Tina as well as Victoria. Now when I happened to find these two enchanting ladies together on this clip I just had to enclose this blog post. Enjoy...sorry, for it is not in English, but I will try to make a translation as soon as I can...Until then I guess you will enjoy it anyway, I hope :=)

Christmas in Sweden

2009-12-21T22:02:00.001+01:00

Wonderful Sweden goes to Trollskogen - The Troll Forest in Sälen - Hundfjället

2009-12-21T16:13:00.022+01:00

Having a short brake in the cosy hut in Trollskogen, enjoying a delicious waffle with cloud berry jam with cream :=)

The lovely wooden figures in Trollskogen, made by Alf Skaneby.

Sälen - Hundfjället - Trollskogen

This area of Sälen, Hundfjället, is called Trollskogen ( The Troll Forest). You can ski through an area of 2 km where practically trees, trolls and animals seem to be "alive". As much as 500 sculptured figures in the shapes of Trolls and other creatures is spread out in the forest along the skiing path. There is music and voices to the different spots where you just have to stop for a while and listen to the trolls and their funny stories. In Sälen this is a very popular spot for everybody - both young and old. There is also a very cosy timber hut where you can sit by an open fire while having a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream or a waffle with the most delicious cloud berry jam I have ever tasted...yummy yummy!

Link to see more of the work of Alf Skaneby (wood sculptures)

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...Let's Go to Sälen Ski Resort

2009-12-19T10:02:00.013+01:00

Our car, an old Volvo that takes us everywhere without any problems...like a tractor :=)

Sälen is Scandinavia's largest ski domain. In the winter tens of thousands of tourists enter the area. Today Sälen has seven ski resorts. The oldest resort in Sälen is Högfjällshotellet which was built in 1937 and still is a good place for recreation, cross country skiing and downhill skiing. Newer resorts with steeper mountains are Hundfjället and Granfjället. Other resorts are Stöten, Lindvallen, Näsfjället, Tandådalen and Kläppen. Sälen is a locality situated in Malung-Sälen Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden with 508 inhabitants. Sälen is noted for hosting the start of Vasaloppet, the oldest (since 1922), longest (90 km), and largest cross country ski race in the world (over 15 000 participants in the main race only).

Yesterday we arrived in Sälen, a great ski resort. By car it took us about 7-8 hours to go from Gothenburg to Sälen. We stopped for a coffee break once and made another stop for lunch. We had a typical "väg-krogs-lunch" ( lunch at a place along the road) which was a buffet with a variety of different dishes, it was OK, but rather greasy though. As we were getting closer to Dalarna the temperature went down to -25' C and when we reached the area where Vasaloppet has its start the temperature was -30'C.

During my childhood days in Lapland this kind of temperature was rather common in the winter months of January and February, but nowadays it is not so often the cold hits us like this...I guess it has got to do with the climate changes going on.

Today it's less chilly. I am not going skiing though, I have a slight cold so I will take it easy to start with. My husband and my son of eight are already out there in the slopes (as I write). You can imagine how full of expectations an eight year old can be; nothing could have stopped him from going downhill skiing today, now, when we're finally here. No matter what temperature, I guess!

Dolph Lundgren - World Famous Swedish Actor Back In Business - in Sweden

2009-12-16T23:27:00.031+01:00

Dolph Lundgren is a Swedish actor, director, model, and karateka. Well known for his tall stature and level of fitness, at peak, Lundgren stands at 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) and weighs over 240 lb (109 kg). He belongs to a generation of film actors who epitomise the movie action hero stereotype including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steven Seagal, and Jean-Claude Van Damme, some of whom he has worked with in his career. Lundgren holds a 3rd Dan (3rd Degree Black Belt) in Kyokushin karate. He won the European championships in 1980 and 1981 as well as a heavyweight tournament in Australia in 1982.

Dolph graduated from the Royal Institute of Technology and has a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which he didn't follow up due to his acting carrier. Grace Jones, a Jamaican-born model and singer, famous during the 80s, was one of the reasons why Dolph got involved in the acting business. They met in Sydney, where he was working extra as a guard at one of her concerts. Dolph became the body guard of Grace Jones as well as her partner and they lived together in NY for a couple of years. They appeared together in the Bond film "A View to a Kill" in 1985. However the real breakthrough came when starring as Ivan Drago in "Rocky".

Now the list of merit's consists of more than 40 different roles and a number of films directed. Lundgren's production company, Thor Pictures, is developing several projects in which he will produce, star and/or direct. He is also a founding member of "Group of Eight", a New York theater group started in 1994. Dolph Lundgren is nowadays a settled familyman, married to Anette Qviberg, an interior decorator and fashion designer and a father of two daughters, Ida and Greta. The Lundgren family have left the glamour life of Hollywood and now lives in Marbella, Spain.

At present Dolph is making a kind of "come back" in Sweden as being one of the hosts during the Swedish Melodyfestival wich took of with it's first broadcast up in Örnsköldsvik yesterday evening.

Dolph was a success last night, he gave the wievers a really good show, he was singing and dancing and even made some karate moves braking a couple of large ice bricks with his bare hands! At least I am sure the ladies will come back for more next time.

Swedish Christmas Traditions - Company Julbord

2009-12-14T12:08:00.032+01:00

The Yearly Company Julbord

Christmas time sure brings a lot of joyful happenings and I experienced one of those really fun occasions the other night. It was time to celebrate Christmas with my work colleagues and we had all been invited to the company's yearly Julbord (Christmas Dinner/Buffet).

Companies inviting their staff for Christmas Dinner is as much of a tradition as the Christmas itself, if I might put it that way. We all gathered around six in the afternoon at a restaurant and night club called Valand. A grand old and very beautiful building in the centre of Gothenburg, located by the "Avenyn". The feast started with glögg (mulled wine) and trying to find one another in the crowd for a bit of mingle. There were about 400 dinner guests, I would guess there were about 4-5 different companies booked on this particular occasion.

This video clip is from the dinner Show "A Heavenly Christmas", follow the clip through to the end (even though it is quite long) to get the feeling of the fantastic atmosphere created :=). Many thanks to the great band/singers as well as a the wonderful audience who all contributed to this great evening.

The Swedish Julbord is like a Smörgåsbord, it consists of a variety of meats and fish and lots of various delicious dishes. Pickled herring, salmon, smoked sausages, prinskorv" (the small sausages), "julskinka" (a large baked ham flavoured with mustard) and red cabbage. And not to forget the traditional Swedish meatballs and Janssons frestelse (literally "Jansson's Temptation"). For dessert there was a great selection of cheese and crackers, rice pudding and fruit, sweets and candy. To "kick of" the starter, which was a small plate of different delicious herrings, we had "snaps", my favourites are Skåne Akvavit or Hallands Fläder. In Sweden it is customary to offer guests snaps when herring is served.

During dinner we enjoyed some really good entertainment. On stage was "En himmelsk Julshow - A Heavenly Christmas Show". The band was as professional as their talented singers, and they gave such an energetic performance with a great mix of both old Christmas tunes together with covers of pop and rock from the 70s until modern days. In between the songs there were some fun sketches as well, like "The Consultant of Love" and "Santa Claus vs. Jesus"...

Later on we all headed for some serious nightclubbing on the floor below. The music was in my taste and I could have danced all night...Well, I must have danced all night - judged by my poor mistreated feet almost killing me the very next day. But as we say in Sweden -*"Vill man vara fin får man lida pin"!

*Anybody who has got a good translation for this saying, please let me know, thank you in advance!

Christmas Breakfast with Lucia in Gothenburg

2009-12-11T12:05:00.008+01:00

This morning I had the privilege of being invited to a Christmas Breakfast in the department store of NK (Nordiska Kompaniet). When the Lucia procession entered the room, we could all feel and enjoy the wonderful Christmas atmosphere that the professional singers brought along.

It was an excellent performance and there couldn't be any better way of starting your Christmas! Hope you will enjoy my clip, there are plenty more to find at my YouTube Channel: Wonderful Sweden. Be my guest :=)

Traditions - The Swedish Lucia 2009 - Sofia Högmark

2009-12-09T23:31:00.010+01:00

The Swedish Lucia 2009
Sofia Högmark

"I am proud and pleased to have the honour of sharing both joy and light to the people. With one of our most valued traditions, The Lucia procession will brighten the lives of many people at this dark season"

On the 13th of December we celebrate Lucia in Sweden. Lucia comes to us in the dark winter with candles in her hair and with maidens, singing and visiting sick people in hospitals and also the elderly. The modern tradition of having public processions in the Swedish cities started in 1927 when a newspaper in Stockholm elected an official Lucia for Stockholm that year. The initiative was then followed around the country through the local press. Just about every school in Sweden has their own Lucia, and many offices in Sweden will offer a brake in the morning to watch The Swedish Lucia on telly or (if they are lucky) their own local Lucia procession. When Lucia time has arrived, then Christmas is close!

The Lucia tradition is inherited from Sicily, Italy. Lucia was a Saint from Sicily and the special Lucia song we sing, is an Italian folk melody. The name Lucia comes from the Latin word lux, which means light.

In Sweden the Lucia night was known as the longest, darkest and most dangerous night of the year, a night when the animals could talk. There are lots of different legends about Lucia, who was a saint from Syracuse, and died the martyr death 304 years after Christ.

A legend tells that Lucia was about to get burned on a bonfire, but then a miracle happened. The fire didn't burn her, so they had to kill her with a sword. That is the reason why Lucia still has a red band around her waist, it is a symbol for the blood when she got killed.

Link to website LUCIA 2009

Alfred Nobel - "Europe's Richest Vagabond"

2009-12-06T22:07:00.014+01:00

"My dynamite will sooner lead to peace than a thousand world conventions. As soon as men will find that in one instant, whole armies can be utterly destroyed, they surely will abide by golden peace"

Alfred Nobel

(1833-1896)

Swedish chemist, engineer,
innovator, armaments manufacturer
and the inventor of dynamite.

Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite, endowed a $9 million fund in his will. The interest on this endowment was to be used as awards for people whose work most benefited humanity. He wanted the profit from his invention to be used to reward human ingenuity. First awarded in 1901, the Nobel Prize is still the most honored in the world. Alfred Nobel was a scientific genius with a passionate interest in language and literature. He was also a restless and lonely soul, constantly on the move. Victor Hugo recalled him as "Europe's richest vagabond".

Educated in St. Petersburg
Alfred Nobel was born in Stockholm on October 21, 1833, at the age of nine he moved with his family to St. Petersburg. Immanuel Nobel, the father of Alfred, (who invented modern plywood) had a couple of years earlier started a successful mechanical factory in Russia, which provided the Russian army with equipment.

In St. Petersburg, Alfred got a first class education, and spoke five languages fluently at the age of 17. He had developed a great interest in literature, and in his spare time he was writing novels, poetry and plays. Alfred studied chemistry with Professor Nikolay Nikolaevich Zinin, and at the age of 18, he went to the United States to continue his studies in chemistry. In 1859, the factory in Russia was left to the care of the second son, Ludvig Nobel, who greatly improved the business.

When returning to Sweden with his father, Alfred devoted himself to the study of explosives, and especially to the safe manufacture and use of nitroglycerine. He tried many ways to stabilize this highly volatile material. A big explosion occurred at the factory in Heleneborg in Stockholm (in 1864), which caused the death of 6 people, among them were Alfred's younger brother Emil. Explosions in the Stockholm city limits were to be banned and the Nobel activities had to move to Vinterviken. Alfred discovered that a mix of nitroglycerin and a fine porous powder called kieselguhr was most effective. He named this mixture dynamite, and received a patent in 1867.

Factories around the world

Factories were set up around the world to manufacture dynamite and other explosives. Construction and mining companies, and the military ordered large quantities of this relatively safe explosive. Sales of dynamite brought him great wealth. His other chemical research provided valuable information on the development of artificial rubber, leather, silk and precious stones. He owned Bofors, a major armaments manufacturer, which he had redirected from its previous role as an iron and steel mill.

Remained unmarried
Alfred lived alone and never got married. In his 40s, Alfred announced for a secretary and housekeeper and then hired the Countess Bertha Kinsky, they developed a deep friendship. The Countess B. Kinsky was deeply involved in peace issues and was to become one of the greatest leaders of her time in the peace movement. Alfred was strongly influenced by her views which later on laid the foundation for his peace prize. Countess Bertha von Suttner was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1905, ten years after Alfred Nobel's death.

Died in San Remo
Alfred Nobel died in Italy, in San Remo, of a heart attack on 10 December 1896. By then, he had started factories and laboratories in over 90 different sites in 20 different countries and he had 355 patents. The testament came to bring great surprise and were also questioned by his relatives. But the two young engineers, Ragnar Sohlman and Rudolf Liljequist, who witnessed the will, established the Nobel Committee. The organization that would administer the Nobel money and coordinate the various price organizations. They managed to meet Alfred Nobel's last wish and five years later was the first Nobel Prizes are awarded.

Oh, yes I am a "DansBander"...

2009-12-06T13:26:00.004+01:00

Oh, yes I am a "DansBander"...These guys won the final last year! If you wonder about their clothes - the Tax authorities would never accept any tax reduction made for clothes that could be worn in private - Well, in this case there is not doubt about it! The Swedish Tax authorities are solely to blame (or greet) as they over time surely has made a great impact of the design and looks of the Swedish Dance Bands. Watch and enjoy this clip. Let the Swedish dance music bring joy and delight to you!

You know you are from Sweden when you associate Thursday with Pea Soup and Pancakes!

2009-12-03T10:42:00.016+01:00

Pea Soup - Ärtsoppa

Tiny Pancakes - Små Plättar

"Oven Made Pancake" - Ugnspannkaka

Thursday Pea Soup and Pancakes is a common dish in Swedish restaurants and households, it is an unpretentious but well-liked part of social life. Scandinavian pea soup normally includes pieces of pork – although it may sometimes be served on the side. A typical recipe would also include some onion and herbs, such as thyme and marjoram. It is usually eaten with some mustard, often accompanied by crisp bread and sometimes the sweet liquor punsch (served hot). Mustard is an important part of the dish, served on the side. The soup is then normally followed by pancakes with jam, strawberry, raspberry or blueberry or similar.
Scandinavian Pancakes Are usually served with jam and whipped cream or ice cream as a main dish with a variety of savory fillings. Traditional Swedish variations can be exotic. Beside the usual thin pancakes which resembles the French crêpes, the Swedish cuisine has plättar which resemble tiny English pancakes. Plättar are small and are being fried several at a time in a special pan.
Others resemble German pancakes but include fried pork in the batter; these are baked in the oven. Potato pancakes called Raggmunk contain shredded raw potato, and may contain other vegetables (sometimes the pancake batter is omitted, producing rårakor). Raggmunk and Rårakor are traditionally eaten with pork rinds and lingonberry jam.
Source: Wikipedia

Victoria and Daniel - Less then 200 days until the Royal Wedding!

2009-12-02T10:30:00.017+01:00

Stockholm, The Capital of Sweden, is getting ready for a great celebration next summer...

King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia announcing their wedding 1976...

Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling breaking the news of their engagement in February 2009...

The Royal Wedding 19th of June 2010

Next year Crown Princess Victoria and her Daniel will marry at the very same date and in the same church as her parents did. King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia married in Storkyrkan in 1976. Storkyrkan is a 700 year old Stockholm Cathedral, and was the first church built in the city. It is situated in the heart of Gamla Stan, on a walking distance from the Royal Castle.

A couple of million people are expected to take part of this both national and international event. In addition, estimated around 2 000 journalists, of which 700-800 from foreign media will come to watch the wedding. The hotel industry calculates all hotels to be filled and approx. 180 000 rooms to be sold during this period. So if you plan to visit Stockholm next summer in June, you should book your accommodation as soon as possible.

Love Stockholm 2010 - the "two-week event" before the actual wedding, takes off on the National Day 6th of June. During this period artists will perform from scenes located at different areas in the city (lots of the arrangements are free). There will be flower decorations all over and love poems written by well known poets will be played from speakers when you walk along Strandvägen. According to the City of Stockholm, the streets will be filled with music, art, culture, fashion, design and history.

The Royal wedding will be followed by huge audiences on television worldwide. When King Carl XVI Gustav was married to Queen Silvia, the ceremony was followed by about half a billion TV viewers. I believe that the summer's wedding will be even greater.

Find out more about The Royal Family:
official site, Virtual tour at Storkyrkan, News from The Royal Residence's and Sights

Wonderful Christmas Song by Amy Diamond - Guest Starring at Lotta på Liseberg

2009-11-30T10:20:00.002+01:00

Lotta Brings Christmas to Liseberg!

2009-11-29T18:53:00.036+01:00

Lotta Engberg singing with Guest Star Tommy Nilsson - "Allt vad jag känner"

The phenomenon of Sing Along is something that has grown tremendously in Sweden in the past few years. It has been a custom since way back, but as hot as it is nowadays I doubt it ever to have been. The TV-show "Allsång på Skansen" reached great popularity already with Bosse Larsson (during the 70s) and later with Lasse Berghagen (nowadays brilliantly managed by Anders Lundin). The Skansen Sing Along is famous for hosting both national and international guest stars.

Liseberg Amusement Park in Gothenburg has though become a worthy competitor to the Stockholm Show. As well as presenting TV-broadcast Sing Along every Monday evening during summer, The Liseberg Park now has followed up the success during their Christmas Market. "Christmas - Lotta" (Lotta Engberg), a very well known female Swedish artist, is running the community singing, every Sunday during December. And, the show includes glorious Christmas music performed by specially invited guest stars.

I made a visit this afternoon, the show started at four o'clock. People were lining up outside, both young and old, families with children, it goes to prove that just about everybody fancy Liseberg. And, especially on a day like this, first of Advent. The today Guest Stars were Amy Diamond and Tommy Nilsson.

The Sing Along Show was in my opinion as good as it can get, even though it was a bit chilly evening, Lotta did a very good job. What amazes me the most is her professional singing as well as her way with the audience. She is like the girl next door, until she starts chatting between the songs...With her northern accents she's being flirty and makes funny jokes (with a naughty twist to it), and the audience just loves her. Many of the them, Fans since years ago, gives the show a familiar touch of love, friendship and mutual respect.

So, what more can I say, Lotta is lovely, and what could possibly suit better...The theme of this years Christmas lights in Gothenburg is LOVE!

Click here for my other video : Check out when Lotta is having a ball with her audience.

Cookbook Coach, Laura Denktash presents young and talented author Joacim Kempe of Sweden

2009-11-28T17:07:00.008+01:00

Cookbook Coach, Laura Denktash presents young and talented author Joacim Kempe of Sweden. He is writing a cookbook of easy Swedish Recipes. His book is set to be released in the early part of 2010, with a portion of the sales to go towards needy Swedish children. The book will be released in Swedish and in English. I do look forward to the release of this book and I wish Joacim all the luck!!
Laura Denktash - The Cookbook Coach

On Today's Agenda - Swedish Pepparkakor

2009-11-28T12:27:00.009+01:00

Today we are baking pepparkakor. As I am a "busy" Mom I prefer to buy ready made dough at the supermarket nearby. It is the actual thing of baking together with my son that is the most fun part. I guess this is a natural way of passing on our traditions. I enjoy it so much to spend time with my son doing things like I did myself in my childhood Christmases. I have found a recepie in English, if you like to try it yourself: link.

The University of Lund - No 1 in Sweden on the World Ranking List 2009

2009-11-26T08:46:00.009+01:00

Film clips from Lund University

The Top 200 World Universities

Times Higher Education has ranked the world's 200 best universities. On the very top of the list is Harvard University (USA), closely followed by the University of Cambridge (United Kingdom).

But what about the Swedish universities?

The University of Lund has been ranked as the best, and lands on a shared 67th place (climbed from position 88 last year). Uppsala University 75 (last year at 63), KTH, Royal Institute of Technology is on 174 (last year 173) University of Gothenburg on site 185 (climbed from 258, well done!) and The University of Chalmers placed at 198 (last year 162).

Universities in Sweden on the World Ranking List

Lund University (67)

Uppsala University (75)

KTH, Royal Institute of Thechnology (174)

University of Gothenburg 185)

Chalmers University of Technology (198)

The list of The Top 200: Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings 2009

Caroline af Ugglas - Her Wild Energy Conquers All

2009-11-25T10:00:00.019+01:00

Click here for an other Live performance video, which is great. Unfortunately though, enclosed with some kind of game, well worth whatching anyway.

Caroline af Ugglas is a brilliant and spontaneous artist with an unbridled energy. When you listen to Caroline you will be struck by the characteristic voice of hers and how amazingly well she interpret her favourite songs of Janis Joplin. She brilliantly manages of translating the texts in a way that feels personal and real, while retaining the original message of Joplin.

Following the success of the gold-selling album "Joplin in Swedish" (over 25,000 copies) Caroline released her latest album in March 2009 "How do I do it again". The lyrics are in Swedish, and Caroline's own originals, with the exception of the duet with Tommy Nilsson, "You were my heart,". There is also a Swedish version of Martha Wainwright "Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole".

Since her "break-through" at the Swedish Melody Festival in spring 2009, with her song "Snälla, snälla" Caroline has become a very beloved and appreciated artist among all.

Also note that Caroline is the creator of the famous TV-show "Körslaget", which has been picked up by NBC in the United States (Clash of the Choirs) and by the Seven Network in Australia (Battle of the Choirs).

Swedish Traditions - Advent

2009-11-23T09:47:00.007+01:00

On the first Sunday in Advent, many Swedes get together to drink glögg — a hot, spicy mulled wine with blanched almonds and raisins and ginger snaps to accompany it.

Advent is the beginning of the ecclesiastical year, and it also marks the start of Christmas festivities in Sweden. More people visit Swedish churches on the first Sunday of Advent than any other time of year; they come to sing the well-known Christmas hymns. This first Sunday is also the day communities decorate their streets and squares with wreaths, garlands, lights and Christmas trees.

At home, Swedes light one candle on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, in special four-pronged candelabra. Another way of counting the days until Christmas is the Advent calendar, a card with "windows" that you open, one by one, for each passing day until Christmas Eve. These calendars, which were introduced as late as the 1930s, have become increasingly popular. Swedish radio and television broadcast daily Advent programs for children based on a specially published calendar.

During Advent many people hang luminous stars in their windows. Introduced from Germany around 1910, these stars have become a central feature of Swedish Advent celebrations. Candelabra are another common window decoration at this time of year.

Carola - Sweden's Most Prominent Female Singer

2009-11-17T21:37:00.007+01:00

Carola Häggkvist, better known as simply Carola, is a Swedish singer and occasional songwriter. She has been among Sweden's most popular performers since the early 1980s, and has released albums ranging from pop and disco to hymns and folk music. Her debut album, Främling, sold around one million copies and remains the biggest-selling album in Swedish music history. She has also worked as a songwriter. During her 25-year long career, she has recorded many top-selling albums and singles and is referred to as Sweden's most prominent female singer. Find out more at the Carola Website.

Stockholm and Gothenburg - The Best Cities in the World...according to our humble self's :=)

2009-11-17T21:20:00.002+01:00

10 Reasons Why U Should Go To Stockholm

2009-11-17T20:23:00.003+01:00

The Pearl of Hotels in Scandinavia - Hotel Tycoon Petter Anker Stordalen Presents wonderful Copperhill Mountain Lodge in Åre Östersund

2009-11-15T09:37:00.010+01:00

Petter Anker Stordalen
is a Norwegian investor and hotel "tycoon". CEO and owner of Home Invest Group and Choice Hotels Scandinavia, with more than 160 hotels, 9200 employees and 20 new hotels under construction. Home Invest is one of the leading private investment companies in the Nordic region. The core business is service performance, particularly in the fields of hotel operation, property and capital management. Stordalen’s estimated personal wealth is NOK 9 Bn (according to Kapital, no 1 Norwegian financial magazine). Growing up in a merchant family in a small town, Petter Stordalen has become one the most successful and well-known entrepreneurs in Scandinavia. In Norway he has fulfilled the American Dream by combining his unique business talents, visionary leadership and extended social and environmental engagements. Stordalen has revitalized the hotel industry within the Nordic countries.

He has created an award winning and much admired company culture anchored in the core values Energy, Courage and Enthusiasm. He has turned his compassion for the environment into business opportunities, promoting organic foods, renewable energy and corporate social responsibility through his investments and public voice. Following a successful start in business as the owner of the Steen & Strøm shopping center chain, Stordalen is the new big name in the Scandinavian hotel world. In 2004, as CEO of Choice Hotels Scandinavia - in which he owns 100 percent - Stordalen revitalized hotel accommodation for travelers, reinstating basic core values such as design, consideration and individualism.

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The Copperhill Mountain Lodge

Located 730 meters above sea level in sits the beautifully chic Copperhill Mountain Lodge. A supreme member of The Design Hotels chain, Copperhill was designed by renowned American architect Peter Bohlin. This hotel really is one of a kind, the service is great, the hotel is immaculate and the staff are extremely helpful.

Peter Bohlin, an American with roots in Sweden, one of the worlds most skilled architects has renewed this beautiful hotel. Copperhill Mountain Lodge Åre is a Ski Resort Hotel. It is indeed a magical ski-in/ ski-out recourse!

Facts about the hotel: 590 beds( incl. 112 suits) conference facilities up to 450 people, 500 square meter of relax and SPA, several bars and restaurants, ski in ski out, open yearly, Helicopter spot outside the Lodge, open fire with a total area of 800 square meter. What more could you need?
Source-Wikipedia
Intressant.

World Famous Swedish Actresses

2009-11-10T22:47:00.027+01:00

Here are some of our world famous actresses:

Maud Adams

Maud Adams (born 1945) is a Swedish actress known for her roles as two different Bond girls in two James Bond films, The Man with the Golden Gun and as the title character in Octopussy.

Adams was born in Luleå, Sweden, the daughter of Thyra and Gustav Wikström. She was discovered as a model in 1963. Adams moved to Paris and later to New York City to work for Eileen Ford, at this time she was one of the highest paid and most exposed models in the world.

Her acting career started when she was asked to appear in the 1970 movie The Boys In The Band, in which she played a photo-shoot model in the opening credits. In the 1970s, she guest starred in such American TV series as Hawaii Five-O and Kojak. Source: Wikipedia

Anita Ekberg

Ekberg (born 1931), worked as a fashion model in her teens. In 1950, Anita entered the Miss Malmö competition wich was the ticket to the Miss Sweden contest, which she also won. She went to the United States to compete for the Miss Universe title, despite not speaking English.

Although she did not win Miss Universe, she did earn a starlet's contract with Universal Studios. In America, Ekberg met Howard Hughes, who at the time was producing films and wanted her to change her nose, teeth and name (Hughes said "Ekberg" was too difficult to pronounce). She refused to change her name, saying that if she became famous, people would learn to pronounce it, and if she didn't become famous, it would not matter.

As a starlet at Universal, Ekberg received lessons in drama, elocution, dancing, horse-riding and fencing. Ekberg skipped many of the lessons, restricting herself to horse riding in the Hollywood Hills. Ekberg later admitted that she was spoiled by the studio system and played instead of pursuing bigger film roles.

By the mid-50s, other studios offered Ekberg work. Paramount Pictures and Frank Tashlin cast her in Hollywood or Bust (1956) and Artists and Models (1955) both starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Ekberg also played an Amazonian extraterrestrial in 1953's Abbott and Costello Go to Mars. Bob Hope joked that her parents had received the Nobel Prize for architecture as she was touring with him and William Holden to entertain U.S. troops in 1954. In 1956, Ekberg went to Rome to make War and Peace, directed by distinguished Hollywood veteran King Vidor and co-starring Audrey Hepburn.

Federico Fellini gave Ekberg her greatest role in La Dolce Vita (1960), in which she played the unattainable "dream woman" opposite Marcello Mastroianni; then Boccaccio '70 in 1960, a movie that also featured Sophia Loren. Fellini would call her back for two other films: I clowns (1972), and Intervista (1987), where she played herself in a reunion scene with Mastroianni. La Dolce Vita was a sensational success, and Anita Ekberg's uninhibited cavorting in Rome's Trevi Fountain remains one of the most celebrated images in film history.

Britt Ekland

Britt Ekland (born 1942) is best known for her roles as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun, and in the British cult horror film The Wicker Man, as well as her marriage to actor Peter Sellers, and her high-profile social life.

Britt Ekland became famous overnight as a result of her 1964 whirlwind romance and marriage to British actor and comedian, Peter Sellers, who proposed after seeing her photograph in the paper. She stood by him after he suffered a series of massive heart attacks shortly after their marriage. Ekland was stepmother to Sellers' children Sarah and Michael (who died of heart attack at about the same age as his father). In January 1965 they had a daughter, Victoria. The couple made two films together, After the Fox in 1966 and The Bobo in 1967, before divorcing the following year (1968). Source: Wikipedia

Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo (18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish actress during Hollywood's silent film period and part of its Golden Age. Regarded as one of the greatest and most inscrutable movie stars ever produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and the Hollywood studio system, Garbo received a 1954 Honorary Academy Award "for her unforgettable screen performances" and in 1999 was ranked as the fifth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute. Welcome to read more at The Garbo Society.

Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman (29 August 1915 – 29 August 1982) was a Swedish actress noted for her starring roles in American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute. She is best remembered for her role as Ilsa Lund in Casablanca (1942), a World War II spy drama co-starring Humphrey Bogart. Read more at Wikipedia.

Pernilla August

Pernilla August (born 13 February 1958) is a Swedish actress. She started acting during her childhood in theater and at school. Her professional acting career started in 1975 when she began studying acting. She attracted the attention of Ingmar Bergman, who cast her as the nanny Maj in his film Fanny och Alexander.

Pernilla has acted in several notable plays, including William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, and Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. Many in the English-speaking world know her best as Shmi Skywalker (the mother of Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader ) from the Star Wars prequel movies. She also appeared in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. She played the Virgin Mary in Mary, Mother of Jesus, 1999 (TV). Source: Wikipedia

Ann-Margret

Born in Stockholm in 1941. She moved with her parents to the United States in November 1946, and they settled outside of Chicago in Wilmette, Illinois. She took her first dance lessons at the Marjorie Young School of Dance, and showed natural ability from the start, easily mimicking all the steps. Her first RCA recording (1961)was "Lost Love" from her debut album And Here She Is: Ann-Margret, produced in Nashville. She had a sexy throaty singing voice and RCA attempted to capitalize on the 'female Elvis' comparison by having her record a version of "Heartbreak Hotel" and other songs stylistically similar to Presley's. ".

Filmography in the 60's: "Pocketful of Miracles," "State Fair," "Bye Bye Birdie," "Viva Las Vegas" with Elvis Presley to mention some." Her fairytale marriage to Roger Smith. TV Specials, record releases, Las Vegas nightclub act, and national recognition as a "superstar sex symbol" punctuate Ann-Margret's life. In 1995, she was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history; she ranked 10th.

She has twice been nominated for an Academy Award, won five Golden Globe Awards, and received five Emmy nominations. She draws sell-out crowds in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Radio City Music Hall and is a three-time winner of the "Female Star of the Year" award given by the United Motion Picture Association. In 2001 Ann-Margret was presented with a Diploma and the Golden Plaque by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia as the 'Swedish-American of the Year'. Ann-Margret Official Web Site.

Lena Olin

Swedish-born Lena Olin (1955) already had a successful career as an actress before she came to Hollywood. She acted at the Royal Theatre in Stockholm and was directed by Ingmar Bergman. Lena also belongs to the Bergman "family." As a young actress, she played in the great classics of William Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg.

After coming to the US, she played mostly distinguished, exotic temptresses, intelligent women and crude vamps. Bergman had developed Lena's artistic gift to play different human emotions and express them in a subtle way. Olin received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Enemies: A Love Story (1989). She went on to have a choice role in Chocolat (2000), which received a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination.

Olin received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Source: Wikipedia

Malin Akerman

Malin was born in Stockholm 1978, her family moved to Toronto, Canada when she was two years old. After her parents' divorce, her father returned to Sweden, and Åkerman stayed in Canada with her mother. At the age of 17, Åkerman won the Ford Supermodel of Canada search. She appeared in several television commercials, including one for Noxzema skin care. After a career in modeling, she turned to acting and moved to California.

She has had roles in several films, including The Utopian Society (2003) with Sam Doumit and Austin Nichols and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004). Akerman has made several TV guest appearances, The Showbiz Show with David Spade as a correspondent and in the third season of HBO series Entourage to mention some. She starred in the 2007 Farrelly Brothers movie The Heartbreak Kid and in the 2008 film 27 Dresses.

In 2009, Åkerman co-starred in Couples Retreat, opposite Vince Vaughn, and The Proposal. Åkerman sings for the band the Petalstones, known previously as Ozono. Source: Wikipedia

Winter Greetings from Swedish Lapland

2009-11-09T21:29:00.007+01:00

Lappstaden, Arvidsjaur

I had a wonderful weekend in Lapland and got some really nice winter pictures too, hope you'll enjoy them. With best regards, Siv

A Laplander Cab - Snowmobile on Water

2009-11-06T12:52:00.011+01:00

I am at the moment on a visit in Arvidsjaur, situated in the northern parts of Sweden, in Lapland. Today it is snowing quite a lot, I took a long walk, heading for my brothers place for lunch. It is so beautiful here and I am happy to spend the weekend with my relatives and tomorrow we are going to a party where lot's of good old friends hopefully will attend. I found this Youtube video, made in Arvidsjaur, check out this snowmobile on water it is so cool!

Swedish Anna - Wife of Paul Anka Making Headlines in Sweden

2009-11-04T21:24:00.011+01:00

No matter what they say about Anna, she is a woman who knows what she wants, and lately I think we have gotten to know her better. She is quite a remarkable woman after all, I don't agree with her attitude and cool image, boy, she sure has got opinions about just about everything. Maybe this is something for us Swedes to learn from; not to be so afraid, stand up for yourself. At least I think woman in general is afraid of being provocative, therefor Anna is a wake up call for others, but please don't get me wrong, I mean in a positive way - in a caring way of other people.

When Paul is singing to Anna in this clip, I get the goose bumps :) He is so good!

American songwriter Paul Anka sings My Way to his wife Anna. Paul Anka wrote the English lyrics to Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way" in 1967. The recording is from the Swedish talk show Skavlan where Anna was one of the guests.

Anna received considerable attention after Swedish TV channel TV3 had featured her on tv-show "Svenska Hollywoodfruar" (Swedish Hollywood Wifes) where she spoke out in one-liners about a wife's obligation to her husband, and why Swedish men are so lame in general.

Anna Anka (born April 28, 1971) is an American model, actress and author who is married to Canadian singer Paul Anka. Anka is featured in the Swedish documentary series Svenska Hollywoodfruar (Swedish Hollywood Wives), which received considerable attention with its first episode, primarily due to Anka's idiosyncratic attitudes and memorable one-liners, coupled with an article penned by her for the Swedish online discussion site Newsmill.

In 2009, Anka became known to a wider public in the television show Svenska Hollywoodfruar (Swedish Hollywood Wifes) where she was one of three Swedish women who had moved to Hollywood and become housewives. The program, which was shown on Swedish TV3, had high ratings, and set a new viewer-record for a program made by TV3.Source: Wikipedia

Jill Johnson singing at Ullared Gekås - Enjoy Shopping with Country Music!

2009-11-03T17:13:00.004+01:00

This video is recorded at the shopping centre Ullared Gekås.

Jill (Anna Maria) Johnson, born May 24 1973 in Ängelholm, is a Swedish country- and pop-singer and songwriter. She performed the Melodifestivalen 1998 winning song Kärleken är, and represented Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998 with that song, which finished 10th with 53 points. In 2003 she again entered Melodifestivalen with Crazy in Love, which finished fourth in the final. She also hosted the final of Melodifestivalen in 2005. Johnson is today one of the most successful artists in Sweden, with several gold and platinum records.

Gekås i Ullared AB is a department store in Ullared, Sweden. It was founded in 1963 by Göran Karlsson as Ge-kås Manufaktur. It has an annual turnover of 2 700 000 000 Swedish kronor (2006). The total selling space is 19 000 m2. Boris Lennerhov is CEO. The store is annually visited by 3 700 000 customers, with a maximum of 26,200 for a single day.

The average customer travels 150 kilometers to get to the store. The company does since a few year run a campsite and a motel in order to serve customers. It has been known for avoiding usual advertising, instead relying on word of mouth.

Source: Wikipedia

The Royal Palace in Stockholm - The Capital of Sweden

2009-11-03T07:32:00.006+01:00

With 608 rooms Kungliga Slottet, the royal palace in Stockholm, is the biggest of its kind still in use. It's not allowed to film inside, but it's impressive enough from the outside. Video includes shots from the change of the Royal Guard.

I used to live in Stockholm, actually in Gamla Stan. Which is a historic and very special area of the city. Such beautiful and old buildings, and here are many wonderful paths to walk in the old town.

Evert Taube - One of The Finest Troubadours in Sweden

2009-11-02T22:43:00.010+01:00

Evert Taube was born in Gothenburg, and brought up on the island of Vinga, Västergötland, where his father, Carl Taube, a ship's captain, was the lighthouse keeper. In 1925, he married Astri Bergman, a painter and sculptress. Having spent two years (1907-1909) sailing around the Red Sea, Ceylon and South Africa, Taube began his career as a singer-songwriter and collector of sailors' songs. Following a five-year stay (1910-1915) in Argentina, he developed an interest in Latin American music and introduced the Argentinian tango to Sweden in the twenties.

On his 60th birthday in 1950, Taube received the Bellman Award from the Swedish Academy and in 1960 he received an honorary doctorate from Gothenburg University. He was elected as a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in 1970.

Among Taube's most famous songs are "Calle Schewens vals", "Min älskling (du är som en ros)", "Dans på Sunnanö", "Flickan i Havanna", "Änglamark'", "Så skimrande var aldrig havet" and "Så länge skutan kan gå".

Evert Taube is regarded as one of the finest troubadours in Sweden. There is a complete pavilion, opened in 2008, dedicated to him at Liseberg Theme Park in Gothenburg, well worth a visit.

Source: Wikipedia

Famous Swedish Authors - Astrid Lindgren

2009-11-02T22:15:00.008+01:00

Astrid Lindgren’s great popularity began in 1945 with the creation of Pippi Långstrump (Pippi Longstocking), the first of several books with Pippi as a main character.

This strangely dressed girl living alone with her horse and ape, having great wealth and enormous physical strength, stands totally apart from the conformist demands of everyday life and incarnates every child’s dream of freedom and power. The Pippi books also exhibit the infectious humour for which Lindgren is known.

Among the many languages into which the books have been translated are Japanese, in which Pippi is known as Nagakutsushita-no-Pippi, and Hebrew, in which she becomes Bilbec Bat-Gerev. English translations include The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (a collection of three Pippi books), The Amazing Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Goes On Board, and Pippi Goes to the Circus. Thirty-eight feature-length films have been devoted to Pippi.

Astrid Lindgren grew up in Näs, near Vimmerby, Småland, and many of her books are based on her family and childhood memories. However, Pippi Longstocking, one of her most famous characters, was invented to please her daughter Karin, who was, at the time, ill and bed-ridden.
Astrid Lindgren died in 2002, at the age of 94.

Source: Encyclopedia Brittanica and Wikipedia

Beautiful Celebrities - HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden

2009-11-02T22:06:00.005+01:00

Beautiful Celebrities - HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden

Explore West Sweden Food - Go Feskekörka!

2009-11-01T15:25:00.029+01:00

Oh, such delicious seafood...

Alfred Borneby at your service...

The fish counter is filled with a good assortment...

You can enjoy a West Coast lunch...

Feskekörka(in English Fish Church) - was built in 1874, by the city architect Victor von Gegerfelt who was inspired by the wooden Norwegian stave churches and stone Gothic churches. The idea was to have a room without pillars. Today Feskekörka is an institution as well as a tourist magnet, housing one of the city's oldest trade, fishing.

During summer I love to go fishing and one of my favourite fish on the west coast is mackerel. I like it best when it is fried and served with creamed spinach, lemon and potatoes. Another delicacy, which is very common on the west coast, is to cook the mackerel in water with vinegar and spices, topped with lots of dill. Serve it cold, when the fish stock has turned into gel and you'll find that it will taste even better.

As winter is getting closer memories of great fishing trips would be all we'd have for dinner, if it wasn't for Feskekörka. Last weekend I made a visit to this charming and picturesque indoor fish and seafood market, situated along the canal in the central parts of Gothenburg. Here you will find both merchants and restaurants who offer the daily catch of fish and seafood as well as ready made lunch or catering. If you are out of ideas for what to prepare for dinner, the friendly vendors will come to your help and even provide you with some recipes.

Speaking with Alfred, a student working extra at Feskekörka on weekends, I found out that smoked salmon is the most common fish for foreign visitors to bring home. I was also told that the large west coast crayfish together with lobster at the moment is the most popular seafood.

So many things to choose from...The fish counter was filled with a good assortment of whiting, flounder, haddock and herring as well as smoke-dried fish, preserved fish and salads. Finally, I decided to make a fish soup, for a relaxing and cosy Saturday afternoon. I left the beautiful "church-like" building with a bag of fresh fish together with lots of inspiration for cooking a "west coasters meal" for my family.

Yummy mummy, winter cocooning isn't too bad after all!

Halloween in Sweden - A Young Tradition In The Gathering Dark

2009-11-01T12:24:00.010+01:00

Halloween - A young tradition in the gathering dark

Halloween has only been celebrated in Sweden over the past decade, and has rapidly become established here — not least as a result of smart commercial marketing. By the beginning of November, Sweden is enveloped in darkness and the long working weeks stretch away endlessly. Source: Sweden.se

As I was helping my son to get ready for a Halloween celebration at school last Friday morning, I came up with an idea...-Why not bring some Halloween atmosphere with me to work as well...

It was quite a surprise for my colleagues when I, all of a sudden, turned up in a Halloween-dress offering them a trolley filled with candy and drinks. We had a good laugh! I got them just in the right mood for the Halloween weekend, just as I intended to do...ha ha.

What's wrong with people?

2009-10-29T19:50:00.037+01:00

Lately there has been a couple of real upsetting and heartbreaking news on the air. The Balloon Boy in Colorado - the whole world (including myself) could follow the awful journey of a helium balloon live on TV believing that a 6 year old boy had been carried away. In fact he was hiding in a box in an attic at home.

The mother in Denmark; searching for the father to her newborn baby; hoax of Visit Denmark - who later apologized. The Mysterious Man; a foreigner who turned up at a police station, with loss of memory. Swedish telly dedicated a search for people who would recognize him. Later this dude were caught surfing the Internet at his very own website. He had left his family in Berlin for a journey to Sweden where he could play his charades for a while...and he sure had his 15 minutes of fame!

The mobile phone operator Tele2, who was behind a hoax meteorite strike in Latvia, trying to fool the world via a spectacular YouTube video. Tele2 has confessed to the publicity stunt which - it says - was intended to "promote" the Baltic state.

It makes you wonder where and when this will end? And why do we have to put up with these things? It makes me so mad to know that these frauds are paying the wages of eminent marketing people, next thing they will start rewarding each other for "Best Marketing Hoax of The Year"!

I do agree with Mr. Paul Ronge (media adviser) when he is saying that it is obvious that the current marketing business is surfing on a trend. There is loss of creativity in the business and everybody is copying each other instead of trying to find new ways to get attention. I'd say these people are playing with fire and I fear the day when a really bad accident happens and nobody will react cause we don't believe it is true...

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