Lemback Blog » Europe http://www.lemback.com The Potpourri of Ramblings blog of Marlene and Leif Lemback Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:53:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Escape To Monaco http://www.lemback.com/2010/escape-to-monaco/ http://www.lemback.com/2010/escape-to-monaco/#comments Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:51:40 +0000 Marlene http://www.lemback.com/?p=1764 I’m sick of this elusive summer weather condition that’s trying to delay my house chore’s timeline. Sounds ridiculous but I do have a timeline for general cleaning. I want to have everything done before hubby will be free from work. I know what he could possibly think about when he’s not working and that’s to escape from dull moments at home. I would love to do a trip again to Monaco where summer is definitely warm there.

Monaco 2003

Entering Monaco

I don’t know where we’ll go for a short trip yet but it’s absolutely not in Monaco. I don’t even know if I can get to visit this small country again cos it’s expensive to be there. But the drive around was  really a wonderful experience. But I know the picture we took was not good. That was before we liked photography and all we would do was to shoot without aiming for good result.

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]]> http://www.lemback.com/2010/escape-to-monaco/feed/ 24 Volcanic Ash Free Airspace? http://www.lemback.com/2010/volcanic-ash-free-airspace/ http://www.lemback.com/2010/volcanic-ash-free-airspace/#comments Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:00:08 +0000 Marlene http://www.lemback.com/?p=1726 Imagine an airport without aeroplanes taking-off and landing on the runway and without people rushing to and from the departure and arrival areas. Many cities in Europe have been affected by enormous cancelled flights because of the volcanic ash spreading in the air caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull.  It has been said that volcanic ash would cause damage to the planes.  I watched a documentary film the other night about a British Boeing that lost its four engines and was near to crash before the pilots, after several try, successfully made the engines work again.  It was learned later that the damage was overwhelming and that it was caused by the volcanic ash when it flew over Indonesia.  As precautions, some airports in Europe ”closed” the airspace for incoming and outgoing flights and remained so for more than a week.  But a few days ago, the airport here has been back to business despite the continuous outrage of the volcano and warning for more ash in the air.

It seemed not a normal weekday when hubby drove me to work one morning when the roads were not traffic jammed. I had come to realize that maybe a quarter of the city’s population were travellers and that they were causing much traffic on the roads as well as in the air.  Ugh! Life on earth is a traffic either on the land or in the air.  Even though it’s not yet a hundred percent volcanic ash free-airspace the travel and airline companies are persistent to fly to, you know, survive economically.  And maybe my student who was travelling to Egypt with her family would come home now after missing school for two weeks.

Munich Airport

Munich, Germany Airport

Munich Airport

Munich Airport

In this situation, it is strange that aeroplanes would depend on clean and clear air to fly considering how much they pollute the air. Rather volcanic ash free than pollution free – air. Hahaa!

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]]> http://www.lemback.com/2010/volcanic-ash-free-airspace/feed/ 16 White-Yellow Daffodils http://www.lemback.com/2010/white-yellow-daffodils/ http://www.lemback.com/2010/white-yellow-daffodils/#comments Sun, 04 Apr 2010 20:38:37 +0000 Marlene http://www.lemback.com/?p=1710 yellow-white daffodilsI saw this flower when we were driving and passing by the Afsluitdijk in Holland (The Netherlands).  We stopped by to have some rest and we were suprised to see this field of Daffodils.  I didn’t actually know they’re Daffodils.  I just remember I had this pic when I thought about påskliljor, the common flower here on Easter which is, I noticed just recently, completely yellow.  They’re sold in supermarkets and flower shops on springtime, too.  I thought it’s the same flower as that in the picture I had.  But they’re of one and same Narcissus species.  This White-Yellow Daffodil is called pingstliljor here.  Well, that’s according to hubby.  I had once the Yellow Daffodils in a vase but I didn’t like the smell of it when it starts to wither.  I don’t know if this White-Yellow one smells different.  Anyhow, I like the colors of both, I would love to have a bunch of it everyday on my table if it’s not for the smell.

Afsluitdijk Holland

A field of White-Yellow Daffodils in Afsluitdijk, Holland

Did I pick some?  No, I didn’t cos it was so beautiful that I was scared to ruin the view by picking a dozen stems.  Afsluitdijk is a causeway in Holland with a  length of 32 km (20 miles) and a width of 90 m, at an initial height of 7.25 m above sea-level (Wikipedia).  It’s like driving between the North Sea and Lake Yssel.

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]]> http://www.lemback.com/2010/white-yellow-daffodils/feed/ 26 Holy Week In Barcelona http://www.lemback.com/2010/holy-week-in-barcelona/ http://www.lemback.com/2010/holy-week-in-barcelona/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:35:18 +0000 Marlene http://www.lemback.com/?p=1705 Unfortunately our Easter Break does not fall on the Easter Week since it starts on the last week of March this time.  We usually have school break on Easter if it falls later than March.  This is because we normally have Winter Break in February so having another break after this month will give us shorter school days in between. This means I am working to death this Holy Week but will be load free from Friday till next week.  Yipee!

I remember one Holy Week when hubby and I had a trip by car to some cities in Europe.  It was easy to drive on the roads with less cars and less traffic to mind.  The trip was as smooth as a smooth sailing ship.  I have known that many people observe Holy Week in different ways.  Here we normally have lots of eggs and candies in egg boxes, colored eggs and believe it or not, witches (påskkärringar in Swedish)!  I don’t want to elaborate more on this cos I have not followed this belief religiously.  I am Catholic and the countries in Europe that’s more likely to have the same Holy Week observance as mine will be Spain and Italy.  The farthest city that we could drive in that trip was Barcelona, Spain.  Awesome!  I wish we could make the same trip again.  Here are some pics we took.

La Sagrada Familia 2003

La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

The unfinished La Sagrada Familia. It is said that this church was built in 1882 but until now it is far from done.  It has been planned that this church will be finished in 2026!  Tourists flocked in and out of this 170 meter high church.

living Mary in Barcelona

The living Mary in Barcelona?

I enjoyed looking at this living Mary who waved to people, smiled and froze like a statue.  One moment she was facing there, the other moment here.  I came close to her while hubby took a pic of me with her in the background and after that she signalled at me to stay and she picked something in her little pocket.  She gave me a little souvenir!

Barcelona City 2003

Planeta de Barcelona? Muy caliente!

It was easy for me to understand the signs or sign boards everywhere but when I listened when they talked, I was completely lost.  Ayuda!

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]]> http://www.lemback.com/2010/holy-week-in-barcelona/feed/ 17 The Republic of San Marino http://www.lemback.com/2010/the-republic-of-san-marino/ http://www.lemback.com/2010/the-republic-of-san-marino/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:27:53 +0000 Marlene http://www.lemback.com/?p=1682 I was thinking of some places to get away this summer and since we haven’t planned to take a long trip across Asia, chances are either we’ll travel within Europe or visit some places here in Sweden that I haven’t been to yet.  Since hubby and me are working full time, travelling is our definite choice for rest and relaxation.  Anyhow, the place that occurred to me and only if I were to decide I would have a second trip to San Marino.  There are places where one visit enough but there are also those which I like to see again and again.  And the Republic of San Marino is one country I want to visit once more.

San Marino

Overlooking Italy from San Marino

San MarinoSan Marino

Honestly, I didn’t know anything about this country until hubby drove me to Italy quite a few years ago.  The plan was not even to drive to San Marino but he was supposed to show me the city of Verona (Italy), where Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was played.  Unfortunately, the heavy rains caused us to change route though we were almost there.  We reached Rimini, the other city in Italy, late at night.  The next day, we drove to San Marino instead of driving back to Verona.  I learned the moment we were there that it is a country surrounded by Italy. The reason why I want to visit San Marino again is the feeling of being on high land is like I am on top of the world. And on top of it I can see Italy in all directions. Not only that but the country’s structures and architectures reveal its historical foundation.

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