Oslo

Opera House

Magnum

After getting back from Vaxholm, Jen went back to the apartment but I was jonesing for another Magnum ice cream bar so I made my way back to the shop and this time photographed the whole experience.

first, you choose your toppings. I chose crushed pistachios, salted caramel bits, and cookie crumbs.

Then a vanilla ice cream bar gets dipped in your choice of chocolate - dark, milk, or white; I chose dark.

The toppings get shaken together and then carefully poured onto the liquid chocolate exterior just before the coating hardens.

Last step is a drizzling of one of the three chocolates; I chose white.

And then you are handed a thing of beauty and deliciousness.

Vaxholm

The Stockholm Archipelago comprises approximately 24,000 islands, we went to one of them on today.

The ferry took about 90 minutes to get from downtown Stockholm to the charming village of Vaxholm where we had lunch, strolled around admiring the cottage-houses, poked into a few shops, and sat outside with some drinks before catching a bus back to town.

You Can Dance, You Can Jive, Having the Time of Your Life

Perhaps some trips to Stockholm would be complete without visiting the ABBA Museum, but this one wouldn't.

One could sing Dancing Queen with holograms of the group if one wanted to. Neither Jen nor I felt the need.

Creepily lifelike wax figures of the band.

costumes from Mama Mia!

Stockholm Syndrome

It's an odd term. I mean, would it be unhealthy and dangerous to be emotionally attached to the things here?? What's so wrong with old world charm, new world design, spectacular ice cream, and meatballs? Nothing.

I arrived in Stockholm two days ago, Jen arrived yesterday and we have been exploring our island-neighborhood of Södermalm. Stockholm is a city of water and islands, chic shops and pleasant views. We think we'll like it here.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Alexander Calder: instantly recognizable, always cheerful

This is what happens when Richard Serra throws molten lead into a corner of a gallery wall. 

When I was 19, I visited the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the first thing I saw was a Lichtenstein.
It kinda changed my life. 

Andy and Elvis, a strange paring. 

Wayne Thiebaud and I went to the same university. 

I have been this person, endlessly staring at a Mark Rothko, many times. 

Whistler Instead of Work

Wendy, Christina, and I did this same trip (Whistler, snowboard/ski camp, spa) four years ago, and had a great time so when Wendy suggested we go again this year, Christina and I were in. We couldn't find a hotel room in the Village under... well, more than we wanted to pay, so Wendy booked us into the Whistler Lodge Hostel - bunks in dorm-style rooms, shared bathrooms... but also people from all over the world (South Africa, Mauritius, Denmark, as well as from all over the U.S. and Canada), a great hot-tub (which we got to by walking down a path in the snow in bare feet), a big kitchen, a very comfortable common room with a pool table and comfy chairs, and an over-all awesome vibe. And the price was definitely right.

cabin built in 1965 by UBC students turned 42-bunk hostel

strict no shoes policy in the hostel

Wendy and Christina are both skiing at a very high level these days, so we left ridiculously early last Friday so they could get an extra day in on the slopes. I on the other hand, wasn't even sure I wanted to snowboard for two days, so I declined the extra day going downhill, and instead booked a snowmobile tour through the woods. Officially, I don't really love the idea of snowmobiles, they are loud (although the ones we rode were quieter than I expected), and pollution-generating (although the ones we rode-weren't as smelly as I expected), but unofficially, that attitude is overlooked if I actually have the opportunity to ride one, which I did, and it was pretty fun. Harder than it looks as there's no 'power steering' so it take a bit of strength to maneuver the things, and it was a fun and easy way to explore some backcountry.

the lovely Bea, and her two student (reflected in her goggles)

And snowboard camp was good this year too. I had an instructor who was just lovely - a slip of a girl from Montreal whose teaching ability was far beyond her years. There was only one other woman in my group, so we both got a lot of individual instruction, and Beatrice, our instructor, had a lot of good drills, tips, feedback, and encouragement, but jeez, I was tired after half a day. Conditions on the mountain weren't ideal (wet and foggy) and even though my class lasted all day, I was done by lunch time, so after eating, I found a comfy hotel lobby in which to hang out and read. Then back to the hostel each night with the girls, hot tub, shower, change, go back to the Village for dinner, hang out a bit in the common room, and done. Scandinave Spa on the way out for massages and a last soak on Monday, and home. Great long-weekend; great friends.