Happy Friday! Hope the new year has started well for you. We started with a cold and a stomach bug, but now we're trying to recharge our batteries for an exciting new year!
Table of contents
Lebanese dinner
Just before New Year, we had dinner at the Lebanese restaurant Lebanon Meza Lounge in Stockholm with Peter's eldest son Robin and his wife Alexandra, and his friend and clothing designer Feyo (who runs the Taracci store on Gamla Brogatan) and his wife. So nice and fun to meet! In addition love we have Lebanese food. I mean, is there anything better?
When we had a drink at the Grand Hotel afterwards, an American guest came up and praised Peter's coat. It was nice to be able to introduce the designer of the coat, who was in the party." (here you can see the coat and here you can read more about Taracci - don't miss his shop if you like stylish men's clothes).
New Year celebrations
Then it was soon time for the next party, namely New Year's Eve. We celebrated the new year together with our friends Lennart and Beata, at their apartment. A previous year we went all in and served ourselves a New Year's menu with 8 small dishes.
When serving so many dishes, it is really important to make the dishes small and since we (obviously) are not super good at it, we took it a little slower this time. There were five dishes and very good!
- oyster
- Salmon salad with mango and avocado
- Lobster gratin with mashed potatoes
- Rib steak
- Chocolate cake
After feasting comes ... fasting?
The new year has begun with much less partying, we can say. I (Helena) have been both cold and stomach sick, so there has been some involuntary fasting.
Now we feel better, but we feel we need a period of everyday life with good food, careful exercise and a break from parties and alcohol. Nope, no New Year's resolutions here - just a little need to find power and energy!
Apart from walks, we have mostly been at home during the week, and here are two photos from our deck view, both taken this week.
Best this week
Best thing about this week? It was of course really fun to see family and friends before and during New Year, but now it's also a bit nice to rest and get back to a slightly more healthy everyday life. Sometimes it can be that simple! What has your week been like, and what can you highlight as positive from the week?
The week ahead
Here's another week focusing on rest, good food, walking and gentle exercise. On freedomtravel.se, we'll have a mix of content - food in a southern European country, a different attraction in central Europe and budget tips for an Asian country that is usually considered exclusive. Plus, we'll probably have time to tell you about our upcoming travel plans!
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the Stopovers, intermediate days and Topnine 2022
Anna in Portugal says:
All the best and I hope you get well soon Helena. You have great views from your boat home. The best thing this week is definitely our company, a visit from Sweden by our daughter and son-in-law!
06 January 2023 - 8:56
Helena says:
Thank you please! Wishing you also a very happy new year!!!
07 January 2023 - 19:22
Netti Starby says:
How good with Lebanese food and we had it on the Christmas table at work. Hugs
06 January 2023 - 9:41
Helena says:
Wow, so good! Nice! 🙂
07 January 2023 - 19:22
BP says:
Understand that you are really "full" after all the mingling with food that you have experienced at the end of the year. It is good and fun for a while, but everyday life with less tempting food and drink is not to be despised either. The press conferences you've been invited to are great because of what they offer. The countries want to show off the best of what they have. And "it" is hardly low-calorie.
The view from your houseboat is wonderful, I think. If there is no ice on the water, it looks quite summery there in Pampas Marina.
06 January 2023 - 18:48
Helena says:
Of course you need a bit of everyday life from time to time! Partly to appreciate the party, but also because the body does not feel so good about it in the long run ... And absolutely, we also think the view is nice! 🙂
07 January 2023 - 19:23
bmlarstravellingblog says:
Lebanese food is really good sometimes and your new year menu looked so good!
Here we, or rather Lars also suffered from first covid before and over Christmas and after barely a reasonably healthy week, the next virus came so now he is really sick. We had planned to book a trip south, but right now it feels good that we did not have time to book anything and now we just have to take it easy for a while.
Great to hear about your travel plans. The Philippines sounds awesome!
06 January 2023 - 19:31
Helena says:
How sad to hear that Lars is sick. Hope he gets better soon!!! Fortunately, you have not booked a trip yet. You have to rest first!!!
07 January 2023 - 19:25
Karin Nordvall says:
If you are ever in Malmö, you must eat at Laziza Baltzarsgatan 21b. https://www.laziza.se/ If you can't go there, go to their website and enjoy !!!!!
08 January 2023 - 13:37