This week we have been inspired by Turkey and Egypt. But above all, we have experienced severe Scandinavian winter in the houseboat marina where we live. Happy Friday!
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Turkish dinner in Stockholm
This weekend we were invited to a Turkish dinner with friends who are from Turkey and live in Stockholm for a few years for work. Last year, at this time, we invited them to a traditional Swedish Christmas table (without pork and alcohol because the guests are Muslims, and yes, we did, it went great!).
Now they're back with amazing Turkish food. We have to say that we love these scrambles that you often get as a start to the meal in Turkey. We also got to try an interesting drink that can perhaps be translated as "turnip drink" and a delicious dessert of quince. But above all - so much fun to meet, socialise and learn from each other's cultures!
Event focusing on Egypt
This week Peter also attended an event with the Egyptian Tourism Organisation. They told us that you can fly directly from Stockholm to Cairo in just 4.5 hours with Nile Air, twice a week in summer and once a week in winter. Interesting! We (and Peter's brother and his wife) have long been keen to see more of Cairo. Egypt!
We also learnt that the new museum in Cairo (Grand Egyptian Museum) will open soon. It will be the largest archaeological museum in the world.
Everyday life with errands in town
Otherwise, we have had a pretty mundane week here in Stockholm. We have both been to the optician, I (Helena) have been to the hairdresser and we have fixed some other necessary errands ...
Winter has come to the Pampas marina
Above all, this week we can conclude that winter has arrived in the UK. Pampas marina (and to the rest of Stockholm of course). We have had around 11 degrees below zero and the ice started to settle (although the kayak rental company broke it one morning to be able to run "Paddling for Musikhjälpen").
Paddle for Musikhjälpen
Paddling in the middle of a bitterly cold winter? No, we haven't done that, but "Paddling for Musikhjälpen" is going on in our neighbourhood. Throughout Musikhjälpen week, Melker in Pampas keeps two kayaks running around the clock, while raising money for children fleeing war and conflicts.
The plan was to paddle around Kungsholmen, but considering how frozen it was, the paddlers had to take shorter rounds. They are tough in any case who paddle in this climate, right?
Time to get an ice-free marina
But, do we usually have ice in Pampas marina? Well, this is actually an ice-free marina, which is usually solved by a large propeller that is lowered into the water. Yesterday was the day. Pampa's big boat passed right by our kitchen window ...
Then it was time to lower the propeller! Hopefully, the marina will remain somewhat ice-free in the future (which, by the way, usually produces sea smoke and attracts swans and ducks).
Best this week
Best this week? One of the absolute The best thing is that it is now clear that we are a partner of Elmia Husvagn Husbil in organising the event. The Destination Square at the 2023 fair. So funny!
Your turn, what can you highlight as positive from your week?
The week ahead
We are approaching Christmas, but our plans are still a bit unclear. We have a small plan for a trip, but we don't know yet if it will happen. Otherwise, we will stay here in Stockholm. Follow us here and we'll see how it goes!
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read La Girafe, Portuguese wine and Czech party at Bar Central
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Monica says:
Funny thing about the direct Stockholm-Cairo flight. When I was two years old, my father was commissioned by ABA-SILA (the predecessor of SAS) to establish a direct connection between Sweden and Cairo after the war. So I lived in Cairo for a couple of years as a child and have many special memories of it as a child. The musty smell inside the Cheops pyramid, how it feels when a camel stands up, the aggressively smacking Arabic (and French from our cook), the heat and much more. I've always thought I'd like to return as an adult, but whenever it's happened it's clashed with terror and tourist attacks. Now I settle for excellent documentaries and don't feel any attraction there anymore. And I feel a kind of connection anyway through the beautiful trinkets my parents brought home back then - a long time ago.
16 December 2022 - 12:04
Helena says:
So interesting to hear about this Monica! Understand that you have a special relationship with Cairo! We have been to Egypt a few times, but in the tourist resorts. There are some places that still attract us in this special and historical country!
16 December 2022 - 18:47
BP says:
It's always fun to check in here with you! But somehow I like Fridays best. That's when I start drooling over all the gid food that you show or just talk about - yummie, yummie.
Right now it is 15 degrees below zero here, so an ice-free marina sounds like wishful thinking. But it will be zero degrees on Sunday:-)
16 December 2022 - 19:37
Helena says:
Funny that you like our Fridays! 🙂 I have not thought that it is usually food then, but it is a bit mixed from the week so yes, there are usually some food photos 😉 And yes, if they just get the big propeller, which keeps the water moving, it usually stays reasonably ice-free (but sometimes some pieces still freeze ...)
17 December 2022 - 16:51
bmlarstravellingblog says:
How beautiful you have it in the marina when it is this frosty and how quickly a week passes. I think it's "Happy Friday" every other day.
Egypt is a country we have never visited although we have discussed going there occasionally. It really is a country with an incredibly fascinating history. Here, the week has gone in one with a nice visit from Yvonne and Jakob (JoYtillsammans), birthdays and Christmas preparations as we celebrate Christmas with my girls tomorrow.
We wish you a great weekend!
16 December 2022 - 21:56
Helena says:
When it becomes winter white, it will be nice! 🙂 And of course it goes fast ... I also think it's Happy Friday every other day, haha. It sounds like you had a nice week. Now wish you a really nice weekend !!!
17 December 2022 - 16:52
Ditte says:
A great week! And extra fun with the cooperation with Elmia and "Destinationstorget", for your part.
As for Egypt, I have been there a few times and have no desire to go there. But many other things attract me.
I noticed today that Lake Mälaren has more ice than the Baltic Sea and our houseboats in the canal do not need the ice. That's good.
Wishing you a nice weekend
16 December 2022 - 22:47
Helena says:
Nice that the houseboats with you do not have ice! Wishing you a nice weekend!
17 December 2022 - 16:53