It was Friday again, which means "Happy Friday" here at FREEDOMtravel, that is, a slightly mixed post about our week. This week has included travel agency work, blog reading and Rioja Masterclass.
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Meetings and travel agency jobs
Right now, it feels a bit like we have an office job - with the office at home in the houseboat then. We alternate writing and emailing with phone calls and digital meetings. Even though we're not travelling right now, it feels a bit like we're travelling anyway. This week we have had digital meetings with people in Poland, the UK and Uzbekistan. Today we have a meeting with USA/France.
It's really exciting to start a travel agency, but of course a lot of work too. Have you had time to answer the short survey? We need some input from others, so that we don't get stuck in our own thinking...
Therefore, it means very much for us if you want to take the time to answer the quick questions - no answers are right or wrong of course, we just want to get some different views! You can find the survey here.
Rioja Masterclass
This week we have also had time to participate in a Rioja Masterclass, with a tasting of red wines from Rioja-based Marqués de Cáceres, who was visiting Sweden. That's interesting!
We learnt a few things, including the fact that the grape is widely used in the area tempranillo and that the wines are often aged in oak barrels. This particular winemaker has been working to produce Rioja wines of high quality with a slightly more modern touch than has been usual.
We got to try two flights of red wines from Marqués de Cáceres. Flight 1 offered Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. Flight 2 included some more exclusive wines in the form of Ezcellen's Cuvée Special, MC and Gaudium. Very good wines! Several of them are available at Systembolaget, in varying price ranges.
Blog reading
By the way, I (Helena) am back to reading blogs again, after having read very sporadically for a long period. Really love being back! Unlike the social media blogs have a more calming and reflective (less stressed!) effect on me.
I mainly read the blogs I used to read (glad to see many are still around!), but have also found some new ones. However, on some blogs my comments don't seem to want to 'stick' - so if you have a blog, it might be worth checking for comments in the trash!
Best this week
On Fridays, we tend to reflect on the best parts of the week - mostly to remind ourselves of the positive things in life, so that they don't just go unnoticed. This week, we are probably especially happy that we have taken a few more steps forward with the travel agency. That's great!
Your turn... What has been the best part of your week?
The week ahead
In the coming week, we'll be going on a little trip, travelling a bit north by rental car. Of course, we'll tell you more in a little while! Here at FREEDOMtravel you can expect more reports about the island of Socotra, by our guest writer Anna Nilsson Spets, but also some other travel and houseboat related. Now we take the opportunity to wish you a nice Friday and weekend!
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the Stockholm winter with snow and sleet
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Netti Starby says:
What good with red wine and so fun that you got to taste different wines. Glad you are back to the blog world again. Hugs <3
24 January 2025 - 8:50
Helena says:
Yes, it feels good to be back! Wish you a nice Friday and weekend!
24 January 2025 - 10:55
Monnah says:
Great to read! I understand that it is exciting to start up such a big project.
My favourite thing from the week is that I've somewhat regained my health after being ill since before New Year. What a reminder to be grateful for things that are taken for granted!
Hope you have a great weekend. 🤩
24 January 2025 - 8:57
Helena says:
So nice that you are finally feeling better! Yes, we believe in consciously trying to reflect on what is positive, to devote a little extra thought to it 😉 Wish you a nice Friday and weekend!
24 January 2025 - 10:57
bmlars travelling companion says:
Great that your work with the travel agency is progressing, I can imagine that there is a lot of work before most things fall into place. Here the week has disappeared in a flash even though we have almost only been at home but next week there are a couple of social lunches and a couple of evening activities written in the almanac, certainly looking forward to this!
We wish you a pleasant holiday!
24 January 2025 - 10:26
Helena says:
Yes, it's a lot of work and a lot of new things to learn. Luckily, we have an experienced partner who knows all those bits that we don't really know! It sounds like you have a nice week ahead of you! Have a great weekend!
24 January 2025 - 10:58
Mr Nilsson's wife says:
Understand you are on fire now that you have started with the travel agency. It will be fun to follow. Uzbekistan - I have never heard of that country. May check out what it is. Wine is so cosy, nice glasses etc but the wine itself is not much for me. Especially not red. Can't find anything I like. I like bubbles best but not all varieties 😊 The best thing about my week was that I got good care and that I got to come home from the hospital yesterday.
Kramiz
24 January 2025 - 11:46
Helena says:
Uzbekistan is a fantastic country with lots of culture, colours and crafts - the Silk Road once went here, via Samarkand! So nice that you have come home from the hospital! Wishing you a great weekend!
24 January 2025 - 17:16
Hanneles book paradise says:
We buy half bottles at System, enough for the two of us, satisfied 🙂
24 January 2025 - 13:10
Ditte says:
Glad you feel that things are moving forward with the travel agency. I know from the experience I have that it is a lot of work in different ways. Everything should work out both during the trip, on site and financially so that you have good partners gives you a certain security. It's great fun!
As for blogs, it's great that many of the "old" ones are still around. I also read some that I have followed since 2007 and some have been added and others have disappeared.
Best of the week? Theatre, celebrated a grandchild's birthday, tried new restaurants for me, submitted a couple of texts about suggestions for various walks in Stockholm and which I will possibly put sound to. It remains to be seen.
Looking forward to reading more about Anna Nilson Spitz's trip to Socotra.
Wishing you a great weekend.
24 January 2025 - 13:35
Helena says:
Yes, it is a lot of work! And yes, it is thanks to our partner that we have embarked on this, we complement each other well, it feels like, they can do what we can not and vice versa. How exciting with the walks!!!
24 January 2025 - 17:24
Channal says:
Hi Helena! Happy Friday! Fun with wine tasting... always learn something new! So exciting to start a travel agency. Thinking of a Greek who started from his kitchen table with trips to Greece. Apollo! They are huge now! Understand that it is a lot of work... keep your fingers crossed! I'm keen to experience the English countryside. There is so much to discover.
The best part of the week for me... was meeting my grandchildren Frank and Alma yesterday.
Have a nice weekend and Love Anna
24 January 2025 - 16:56
Helena says:
Wow, Apollo, yes they are really big! We do not have quite so high-flying plans ... but we hope to be good at those unique experiences, and it feels like we are a bit on the way, so it feels fun! Great to see the grandchildren! Wishing you a great weekend!
24 January 2025 - 17:26
BP says:
Yes, it's not just me, but definitely here at the Freedomtravel blog that you have found your way back to Blogglandia. You get a lot more comments now than you did before. So keep up the good work if you say so.
This is how it is in Blogglandia - if you don't comment, you don't get any feedback from readers. Because even though you call Freedomtravel a travel magazine, you are still "there" in the blog world.
Fun with the travel agency. Will be fun to read when you start up and how it will be then.
Have a good time in "north of Stockholm". If you like snow, you might want to strap on your skis;-)
24 January 2025 - 17:53
Helena says:
Yes, you are right! For me it doesn't really matter if we call it a magazine or a blog, for me it's probably a bit of both 😉 I think I blog when I write a little more personally, but when we don't take guest writers it becomes a slightly different thing. But as I said, the words do not matter much, and we would very much like to remain in the blog world 🙂 We will of course tell you about the travel agency during the process and about when we open! 🙂
25 January 2025 - 10:48
Anna in Portugal says:
We have been very favourably surprised by the fantastic Portuguese red wines. Rioja is wonderfully good too. Glad you're back reading blogs, agree it's quite different to social media (which I no longer have). Have a great weekend!
24 January 2025 - 22:24
Helena says:
Glad that you also find good Portuguese red wines! I do not have such a good overview of them (I myself drink mostly white wine), but I remember the green Portuguese wine well! 🙂
25 January 2025 - 10:50
JoY says:
You are good, I can imagine that there is a lot of work behind and should be checked out when you start a travel agency. It sounds interesting with wine tasting, we ourselves drink mostly Italian wines that are not so strong.
Best this week: We celebrated Silver Wedding, 25 years and went on a day cruise to Mariehamn.
Will be fun to read where you end up with the rental car, I will also go north but by train.
Have a nice weekend
24 January 2025 - 23:45
Helena says:
Oh, congratulations on the silver wedding! Cosy with a cruise! Have a nice trip north!
25 January 2025 - 10:50
Roses and ruins says:
Rioja is very good, has been a favourite for many years. So soft but still full-bodied! Fun with wine tasting!
Also like blogs. Glad you found mine, so I found my way here!
Hugs and have a great week ahead!
Gunilla
26 January 2025 - 11:37
Lena - good for the soul says:
Trevligt med vinprovning. Jag skulle vilja kunna så mycket mera. Vi gillar att testa nytt, men glömmer bort vad vi tyckte 🙂
Det ska bli så spännande att följa er resebyrå-resa!
Och ja, jag hittade dina kommentarer bland över tusen skräppostkommentarer. Så nu verkar dina nya kommentarer komma fram.
23 February 2025 - 9:38