Hell
This is where I have spent my day today. Urgh.
After J, L and me decided we should live it up large on our last night in Pipa things went a bit overboard. I don't ever remember consuming that much vodka before. I'm not bragging here, not at all. In fact, kids, you can take me as the perfect example of a anti-drinking campaign. We rolled in around six this morning, after much fun I should add, having to get up ca 3 hours later, pack and get in to the car to drive back to Natal. A car ride which is normally around 1.5 hours probably took twice that time. Unsettled stomachs does not mix well with bumpy Brasilian roads. And we had to make around 10 pit-stops for.. relieving ourselves. Our designated driver, C, couldn't have been more of a godsend. Bless his heart.
The best part was when I had to pop in the airport to change my ticket. Still amazing that they accepted to help me considering the way I must have smelled and looked.
ANYWAY, apart from all this moaning, Pipa was amazing. Didn't get to see any dolphins which was a pity, but I'll live. When I get back home I'll post a nice pic of it.
Now I have to go and li down again and prepare mentally for dinner.
Ciao
Carnival
I am lost for words. There is no way I can describe the madness that is Carnival in Salvador. Imagine a city of 2 milion being overrun by another 10 million. EVERYONE on the street drinking and dancing. And the men... aiaiai.. Your usual daily rythm becomes totally screwed up because you start around mid-day, and drop back home around 8 in the morning (smelling like beer and piss). After doing that for three days my body was literally screaming for rest. Last night we flew to Natal to stay with J's family, and this morning I finally felt that I could use my legs again.
Today we are going to Pipa, a beach just outside of Natal which is famous for it's sand dunes, and for the dolphins that come to swim with you. Apparently they have their local festival on tonight, so I guess we just have to buckle up for another one.
Oh, and I am not on friendly terms with American Airlines. They lost my luggage the bastards. Luckily I had a feeling that would happen so I packed all my essentials in my hand luggage. I am getting pretty tired of handwashing my knickers by now though....
Will try to update every few days. To be honest, it is so nice to be without anything electronic for once. No facebook, no email. Just sunshine and cocktails...
Ciao my dears
Today we are going to Pipa, a beach just outside of Natal which is famous for it's sand dunes, and for the dolphins that come to swim with you. Apparently they have their local festival on tonight, so I guess we just have to buckle up for another one.
Oh, and I am not on friendly terms with American Airlines. They lost my luggage the bastards. Luckily I had a feeling that would happen so I packed all my essentials in my hand luggage. I am getting pretty tired of handwashing my knickers by now though....
Will try to update every few days. To be honest, it is so nice to be without anything electronic for once. No facebook, no email. Just sunshine and cocktails...
Ciao my dears
So here I am
All done with my packing: tickets, passport, bikini, £££ everything is in order. Tomorrow I'm taking my sorry littly pale Swedish ass to Brazil and carnival! Yesterday when I was packing I tried some of the sun lotion and was immediately transported to the beach. I could even smell the sea... Sigh... I have been waiting for this trip for a bloody long time. And I think I very much deserve it.
I don't have the time or the patience to sit and write too much right now. Travel fever as we call it in Sweden. And I'm expecting a late-night visitor, which makes it even less easy to focus. And the wine I've had, that can have something to do with it as well...
I will do my very very best to write regularly with ideas on life and culture in Brazil. And on cocktails. And food. And people. And samba. And beaches. Oh, and we're going to swim with dolphins at Pipa, did I mention that?
What I'm trying to say, is that I won't miss London, that's all..
Ciao dearests
I don't have the time or the patience to sit and write too much right now. Travel fever as we call it in Sweden. And I'm expecting a late-night visitor, which makes it even less easy to focus. And the wine I've had, that can have something to do with it as well...
I will do my very very best to write regularly with ideas on life and culture in Brazil. And on cocktails. And food. And people. And samba. And beaches. Oh, and we're going to swim with dolphins at Pipa, did I mention that?
What I'm trying to say, is that I won't miss London, that's all..
Ciao dearests
My oh my
I had a lovely and busy weekend, despite the rather painful hour I spent in the company of a Brazilian waxing lady on Saturday. I thought that after my bikini-line was done and dusted, the legs would be a walk in the park. They so weren't. Still, I'm glad I went through it. I am after all, travelling to what is probably the most hair-trimmed country on the planet. I didn't want to turn up as J's hairy friend from the forests in the north...
Now only four more sleeps, and then we're off! We have quite a schedule when we're there. The first four days will be spent at various parties and the carnival in Salvador. After that we fly to Natal where her mother has arranged a small welcome barbecue for us (with just a mere 80 guests and a samba band playing..).
Will I miss London? I very much doubt that.
Now only four more sleeps, and then we're off! We have quite a schedule when we're there. The first four days will be spent at various parties and the carnival in Salvador. After that we fly to Natal where her mother has arranged a small welcome barbecue for us (with just a mere 80 guests and a samba band playing..).
Will I miss London? I very much doubt that.
Disturbing
Here is an article about a boy who just became a father at the tender age of 13. The mother is 15. At the end of the article there is the following note:
"Last night Michaela Aston, of the anti-abortion Christian charity LIFE, said: “We commend these teenagers for their courage in bringing their child into the world.
"Last night Michaela Aston, of the anti-abortion Christian charity LIFE, said: “We commend these teenagers for their courage in bringing their child into the world.
“At the same time this is symptomatic of the over-sexualisation of our youngsters and shows the policy of value-free sex education just isn’t working.""
The boy doesn't know how much nappies cost, and the church is commending them for bringing a child into the world? And somehow I seriously doubt that Christian preaching of abstinense would have averted this situation. It is quite clear that teenagers fuck just as much in a Christian environment, just with a load of guilt attached to it. I briefly discussed an article regarding this here.
The answer is not religion people! It's education! And a great big middle class.
Be careful what you wish for
Especially guinea pigs. In Russia anyway.
The role of government
George Packer discusses the divide between Democrats and Republicans over the new stimulus packade that was voted through the Senate yesterday (or was it the day before?). He traces the discussion back to what has been the backbone in US politics, and in most countries with a left-right divide: the extent to which the central government should play a part in the running of a country.
Despite what opinion one might have under normal circumstances, surely desperate times like these, call for desperate measures. Every morning one wakes up to news of more and more people losing their jobs (usually low-skilled). It feels more important than ever that the government invests money in the right places to prevent this trend from escalating. I don't want to think of it as charity, but rather as a kind of occupational first aid. But what do I know?
Despite what opinion one might have under normal circumstances, surely desperate times like these, call for desperate measures. Every morning one wakes up to news of more and more people losing their jobs (usually low-skilled). It feels more important than ever that the government invests money in the right places to prevent this trend from escalating. I don't want to think of it as charity, but rather as a kind of occupational first aid. But what do I know?
Freedom
Sorry for not writing for a few days. Have been a bit concerned about some things regarding my health and pretty stressed out due to that, so I haven't relly been able to focus properly. I've chilled out now after managing to bag a referral from my GP to go see a specialist. I don't think it's anything serious, but better safe than sorry.
Anyway, only nine sleeps left in this cold bloody country before me and J pack our bikinis and havaianas and head off to Brazil. Can't belive that we're finally going after having waited since October when we booked the flights. AAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! That's my i'mscreamingbecausei'msohappyalthoughontheinsidebecausei'msittingatwork.
I have put 'Freedom' as the title of this entry because I just noticed that my old flame/lover/fling/friend (I have really no idea what word is more suitable) M have deleted me as his friend on Facebook. No idea when or why, but I find it oddly relieving. Just a bit naffed that I didn't do it myself first. But never mind. Forward is the way to go, after all. And I did learn a a lot from my experience with the poor devil.
Freedom and sort of a fresh (Facebook) start. Closure, some people call it. Perfect when you're on your way to Brazil. I've heard there are plenty of attractive men over there.
Enough rambling for today. Will return next time with something intelligent to say.
Beijos
Anyway, only nine sleeps left in this cold bloody country before me and J pack our bikinis and havaianas and head off to Brazil. Can't belive that we're finally going after having waited since October when we booked the flights. AAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! That's my i'mscreamingbecausei'msohappyalthoughontheinsidebecausei'msittingatwork.
I have put 'Freedom' as the title of this entry because I just noticed that my old flame/lover/fling/friend (I have really no idea what word is more suitable) M have deleted me as his friend on Facebook. No idea when or why, but I find it oddly relieving. Just a bit naffed that I didn't do it myself first. But never mind. Forward is the way to go, after all. And I did learn a a lot from my experience with the poor devil.
Freedom and sort of a fresh (Facebook) start. Closure, some people call it. Perfect when you're on your way to Brazil. I've heard there are plenty of attractive men over there.
Enough rambling for today. Will return next time with something intelligent to say.
Beijos
Announcements
Almost forgot to mention a couple of things.
1. My dearest darling friend Daniela has started her very own blog. Wehey! I would like to take credit for getting her to start it, but if I did that,she'd probably tell me to f*ck off, so I won't. She's a literature-studying, wine-drinking, Bruce-loving gal, and more cynical than anyone I know, so her writing is bound to be brilliant.
2. E has together with some other fellas (not quite sure with whom, how or why) started this great news blog called Oresund Chronicle. They sit and scout the internet for interesting news to share, and well... share it. Their site is a great way to get info and articles from publications you don't normally frequent yourself.
That's all folks.
1. My dearest darling friend Daniela has started her very own blog. Wehey! I would like to take credit for getting her to start it, but if I did that,she'd probably tell me to f*ck off, so I won't. She's a literature-studying, wine-drinking, Bruce-loving gal, and more cynical than anyone I know, so her writing is bound to be brilliant.
2. E has together with some other fellas (not quite sure with whom, how or why) started this great news blog called Oresund Chronicle. They sit and scout the internet for interesting news to share, and well... share it. Their site is a great way to get info and articles from publications you don't normally frequent yourself.
That's all folks.
If you're bored
Go browse the Do's and Dont's on Vice's website. I imagine them all being written by a bunch of horny, skinny-everything wearing, coked-up guys whom in real life I would find rather pathetic, but sometimes they can be bloody funny. Where do they find these pictures anyway?
God is on Facebook
I laughed out loud when I found this on timesonline. It's funny that it is posted on timesonline's 'Faith Central' blog though. I would have though that Christians (whoever they are) would have found this offensive. Adam asking God to make him something that he can stick his penis in and all...
I really don't care. I just think it's really funny.
I really don't care. I just think it's really funny.
Vampires
Since last Saturday I have been consumed by the world of the Vampires in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight quatrologie (?) about a girl named Bella and her encounter with the supernatural world and her relationship with the vampire Edward. I don't care that these books were written with people slightly younger than me in mind, they are to brilliant for that. Although I have to admit that I did wince just a little bit when the guy at the informations desk at Border's directed me towards the 'Teenage literature' section. Never mind. All done now, about 1700 pages later. Like with Harry Potter (yes I liked those books too...) the first book isn't much to hurray about, but keep reading and I promise you won't get disappointed.
I had forgotten how utterly consumed I can become by a book. When you put down the book you have a vague feeling that it whatever world you just came out of is real. It must be. Feelings, characters creep under your skin. This is also why I can't watch horror movies. The strong emotions brought up by the terror get to me too much.
Damn. What will I fill my free time with now?
I had forgotten how utterly consumed I can become by a book. When you put down the book you have a vague feeling that it whatever world you just came out of is real. It must be. Feelings, characters creep under your skin. This is also why I can't watch horror movies. The strong emotions brought up by the terror get to me too much.
Damn. What will I fill my free time with now?
Snow!
London is at a standstill today. The city is covered in a foot-high layer of white perfect snow. Or rather, it was this morning before getting slushed and trampled on by the hundereds of families and dogs out enjoying the miracilous weather.
Transport is completely down so I have spent the day working from home. I went for a walk in Victoria Park this morning just so that I could enjoy the feeling of wading through snow, and to take some pictures. More for the sake of collecting evidence so I don't think that I was dreaming in a few days when this is bound to have melted away.
Transport is completely down so I have spent the day working from home. I went for a walk in Victoria Park this morning just so that I could enjoy the feeling of wading through snow, and to take some pictures. More for the sake of collecting evidence so I don't think that I was dreaming in a few days when this is bound to have melted away.
