What a summer. Stockholm is fantastic in the summer with water in the middle of the city. I haven’t swum yet, even though it looks very inviting. I like saltwater swimming the most because I’m afraid of being bitten by a pike.

I have now switched from cycling to jogging, and it’s going well. I reviewed my training times from 10 years ago, and I can see potential for improvement. It is wonderful to go jogging, but I know that interval training is needed to achieve my previous results.

Reading some literature on training to find changes that will increase my performance. The goal is to jog 10 km under 60 minutes. I have August to improve. When I go jogging in Stockholm, I pass horses in a pasture similar to the countryside.

It is a bit of a win-win because I need to be in shape to wear a dress in a week. I am going to Sally’s wedding on Friday. She has struggled much with her studies, and soon she will have her final semester. And now she is getting married. Hurrah!

I have received some tips that it is good to have comfortable dancing shoes, maybe some chafing plasters too. I searched and found this song that sums up quite a lot: ”Young hearts run free ”

It has almost become a habit to travel a little south at the beginning of spring. To be safe in case it turns out to be a rainy summer. We are almost in the middle of July, and one day it is high summer while the next day it is raining. Then it is nice to be able to think about sunny days in May.

I still enjoy the different artists. It was an experience in at least three dimensions. In Antibes, I had to wait for Picasso’s museum to open after lunch. It didn’t matter because I got to enjoy a wonderful view. Azure-blue sky that met the sea, to the tunes of a wandering musician playing.

Suddenly, a long queue formed for tickets to the Stone House of Art on the mountain by the sea. The wait was filled with various events, where the main observation was a group of people from China who were given priority. I almost breathed a sigh of relief because it was the first Chinese tourist group I had seen since the start of the pandemic. The order is back to normal.

Once inside the stone house, I found a lot of large paintings, and I also found a terrace where I could breathe freely with an astonishing view of the sea. I took a deep breath and continued my walk through the different rooms. Even though I had been there for several hours, it felt like a minute. This dimension of life, I mean time, continues to fascinate.

Time has flown by, and what was once cold and rainy has now given way to the middle of high summer heat. Everything is easier somehow when it is warmer. I was in the south of France, specifically in Nice, a month ago. It is wonderful to be able to walk along the sea. The elderly couple on the bench in the photo below were there every day. They were so nice in a way, and I asked if I could have a photo of them.

There were warm winds in and I planned to see exhibitions by Picasso, Chagall, and Matisse. A whole day for each artist. Despite plenty of time, I would have liked to stay longer. I really can’t compare them, but Matisse became my favorite. Just when I had finished seeing his exhibition, it ended with the photo above of Matisse and his dog.

I have so many photos, and of course, I had technical problems with my camera as well. After updating an app, it works again. I have never been able to paint, and I admire these artists. It is a life’s work, and I was able to follow the development of the artistry over the years. What inspires? How have contemporary times influenced painting? Cubism, impressionism – expressions that I remember for a long time, but have forgotten the meaning of. Chagall, for example, painted with such strong color combinations.

Henri Matisse was certainly inspired by Vincent van Gogh, who lived in the 19th century. It is said that van Gogh’s epilepsy was treated with digitalis, which is found in foxgloves. Here is a note that describes a side effect of digitalis; it can affect vision so that you see more in the yellow direction. Van Gogh had a penchant for painting yellow, and it is said that this side effect may have contributed to yellow shades. You will also find a portrait of his doctor, Dr. Paul Gachet, with a foxglove in front of him   Van gogh and the obsession of yellow- style or side effect

I love staying in front of a painting; playing with the idea of ​​how it was created and took shape. What stories lie behind the choice of colors, motifs, etc? It is a bit of balm for the soul, especially since I cannot paint.

Dear readers,

I would like to tell you that I haven´t forgotten you. A lot of things are happening in my life, eg I have travelled some. When I was in France, I had plenty of time to write, but unfortunately, my computer screen was disrupted, so I couldn´t do anything but share some photos on Instagram. I will write more later. Til then, take care.

Anna

I remember Easter being a sunny holiday. Not this year. However, earlier this week, I went jogging and I was happy about seeing some sunshine. News is loading us about the USA protectionism. Customs everywhere. As I stated earlier, I am pleased about trade wars instead of real war. When I visited the USVI, I woke up to a rooster crowing at 4 am every morning. These roosters were allowed to be everywhere on the island. The Virgin Islands used to be Danish once upon a time, and I am ending by sharing a picture of a rooster with a happy Danish pastry.