June 24, 2009

norway, the prettiest place on earth.

At the top of a rugged mountain pass in late April.  Because we were so far north, treeline was only at 3,000 feet.  You feel like you're on top of the world.

Stavengar, a posh little sea town on the western coast.  

The fjords.  Amazing.


Bergen. 

Oslo.

June 17, 2009

sweden

Stockholm was gorgeous.  We would love to live there for a season.  Design is vibrant and progressive.  The place just oozes of class and fashion.  And it's true, most of the Swedes are tall and beautiful blondes.  We stopped by an interior design exhibit and saw some really rad and unique ideas.  It was the most relaxed trade show I've ever been to, a reflexion of the laid back Swedish calm.  

 These teenagers were singing for their music class.  Phenomenal.  



Brand spankin' new....... just a wee step up from our $300 ride in Korea.





Gamla Stan, the Medieval island where Stockholm began.  It was doomed to be abandoned in the mid-twentieth century,  but some of the city planners and prominent local designers pushed to clean up what was then a filthy slum.  Today it's one of the coolest old world Medieval cities, full of quaint boutiques and cafes.  We visited during the week, and in this "Silicon Valley" of Europe, people were busy but it was refreshingly uncrowded.