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Challenge your brain. To think “out of the box” is not always easy. It is convenient and comfortable to stay in your zone that you are used to. There is a story about the chained elephant. This elephant had been chained his whole life. One day he was released, but he didn’t move even though he could. This reminds me of my own thinking. To be tied to past experience. That will always stay with you. Memories cannot be erased. To think differently, unconventionally, or from a new perspective is my daily challenge – to find novel and creative thinking.

I am lucky. Stockholm is endowed with summer. I remember summers when it has been raining almost daily. Every morning I have my Nespresso. Sometimes tea. I follow the news, and usually it is very calm but the UK is having change. They have a new leader for the conservative party. Boris Johnson. I found a nice presentation of him here where he is introduced:

https://www.economist.com/erasmus/2019/07/27/boris-johnsons-confusing-and-contradictory-religious-history

There was not much politics in Rome. Only one occasion where a man wanted me to read about his party as I show you on the photo above. That was in the middle of square Piazza Farnese. He asked me if I am a communist. I told him that I am a tourist traveling. And indeed, he was in a way right, I have been to several countries where communism is dominating. Like Cuba and Vietnam.

It is now approximately 30 days til running. I will more actively focus on core training. Those muscles are very important when you run. I don’t want any injuries. What is your training objective?

I have so much inspiration and I feel happy that I have seen and learnt so much. During my whole life I have read quite a lot. Not only biological science. My old knowledge is put into a new perspective when I actually see the famous places I always have heard about. I love art and marble statues. They all have their own stories. I can stand infront of a painting and listen to the tale behind every scene in the painting, told by the guide. The voyage to Rome reminded me a lot of Pau in France where I was tought to more thoroughly watch and, furthermore, interpret art.

I walked for hours in Rome, and that was perfect. Sometimes it was difficult to find my way to various places, and then I had to go by taxi. Sometimes I had a pause like the photo above. I will write now and then about my voyage. Now I will watch the movie “Gladiator” with Russell Crowe.

Late, yesterday evening I was met by warmth at Arlanda airport. A beautiful flight from Rome and Zürich with sunset and taste of summer. I saw some mountains in Zürich and that made me satisfied. Flying also makes me happy. Perhaps it is some kind of sense of freedom.

It was about 40°C in Rome and that was nice, just needed to remind myself of having water. The day before I left I had gelato (italian ice cream) at Piazza Navona. It was easy to talk to Italians, and there I met Carolina and Leonardo from Florens. They had the table next to me and they inspired me to go to other places in Italy. Italians like dogs and it was facile to make conversations. I was told that there is a famous kennel in Italy for Jack Russell terriers.

The gelato was definitely needed and I will continue having ice cream. But soon I will go running before it gets too hot. So I can have gelato!

I have always been found and interested in France. The language, kitchen, nature, culture, literature, history… I can not end this list. In brief, France is beautiful. But, as I previously wrote, I have started to think about Italy, especially during my mothers passing away. I  also remembered the Italian couple on Cuba recommending Nespresso coffee. Currently, I am learning about Italy and I am becoming more and more convinced that I will visit other parts of Italy in the future. Since it was such a rare feeling I had when my mother passed away, I am looking forward to visit the Vatican.

I write a lot during my spare time. And this visit to Rome will help me to find inspiration to write. When I did my PhD studies we went to some scientific meetings in various cities in the world. In particular, I remember Paris. There was a gathering in a beautiful golden hall an evening in the middle of Paris. People from all over the world participated in that congress on alcohol. In the beginning there was some mingle, and a man did portraits of the guests by cutting a black paper. He did mine. I might have a rare logo on this blog, but that is where it comes from.

My writing is very much influenced by science, and that is the reason why I have this logo. To remember. And also, that it actually was in France my interest in writing novels emerged. Now I seek to compare France and Italy. Maybe I will learn Italian. I listen to music and watch movies. But I understand, France and Italy cannot be compared. They are like apples and pears.