26/5 – How many pairs of high heels can you fit in 23 kg?

Got some packing issues here. How are you supposed to manage with one bag and 23 kg only for a whole weekend away? Could possibly have managed for other destinations in Europe, or for a few weeks of camping, but for Rome, a whole weekend, no way. Started on a packing list a few days ago and have now narrowed it down to the bare essentials:

• Dark, tight jeans for the journey, cool days and casual evenings.
• Almost worn out, black, wedge heel, semi high boots, probably the best footwear for the flight. 
• Black, rock star style leather jacket, which I was once fighting to get – still another story to come. Won’t ever check that one in, so part of travel set-up.
• Big, nice camera. When we’re not eating and drinking, we’ll be taking photos of ruins. 
• Undefinable coloured, and amazingly chic, Brazilian, open toe high heels, goes with anything but too much walking.
• Frame less sunnies, not as efficient as sunnies, but look pretty Italian...I think.
• Corkscrew, sure it is part of the flat we’re renting, but in case…
• Black, classic style high heels with closed toe, in case we end up at the Opera or something.
• Small lens for big camera.
• Pilot style, mirror glass sunnies, to go with the leather jacket and wedge boots.
• Second pair dark, tight jeans – can’t have too many.
• Favourite Canadian wedge heel sandals, so comfortable you can run in them, in case I get abstinence since my runners are banned from the trip.

Also banned, are all other sports and training equipment, GoreTex jacket, fleece, comfortable baggy jeans, GoreTex shoes, surf shorts, flip flops, big t-shirts, sneakers, cargo style 3/4 pants, caps and beanies and anything with rubber soles or made out of wool. Only comfortable item that can come along is the green dress, which is as nice to run around in like a pyjama, but doesn’t look comfy so no one will know.

• Little, black umbrella, which fits in a handbag. Mainly to cheat the system, since it will rain for sure if I don’t bring it, and be sunny if I drag it along everywhere. But also to make up for the banned Mountain Hardware jacket, if the Italian system doesn’t work like everywhere else in the world when you’re on holiday.
• Flat (only ones) brown leather ballerinas for the sore-feet-and-back-due-to-high-heels moments. A bit like admitting defeat before you even start…but hey, I’m not a high heel pro really.
• Back up corkscrew, in case the first one is lost, worn out or broken.
• Big lens for nice camera.
• Huge brownish 70ies style sunnies to match the ballerinas and Canadian wedges.
• Various chic tops, scarfs and belts, which normally never leave my drawers, to complete the travel wardrobe. Always amazes me that I actually own them.
• The little black one, to go with the closed toe high heels at that possible ballet or opera.
• Brown high, high heel sandals with straps all over, looks great with that green dress, but again, not made for walking.
• All earrings and make-up I own.
• Compeed – part of the looser kit together with the flat shoes.
• Brown handbag, since I couldn’t possibly use the black one with the brown sandals or ballerinas for example.

Anything missing? Sure I’ll manage without it, as long as I’ve got the hang-out-in-Rome survival kit above in order. For a while, I was also considering bringing the tripod, but doesn’t look very hip and chic to walk around with that…would make nice photos though. Might revisit that decision before I leave tomorrow morning. The ancient buildings probably deserve the best.

Almost ready for the Italian capital and a weekend of espresso, Sangiovese, gnocchi, Forum Romanum, gelato, aperitivos all afternoon in Trastevere, focaccia, Colloseum, Muscat, capricciosa, fusilli, caffe latte on piazzas, Pantheon and just eating, drinking and enjoying life in general. Perhaps it’s also time to beat the homemade Argentinean limoncello served at Rancho E'Cuero?  Will be hard, but not impossible.

Will finalize the preparations with learning some of the most important and useful Italian phrases on Google translate during the afternoon. For example: Vino rosso, per favore. - Amo il tuo fettuccini. - Hai bicipite bello. - Dove è l'opera? - Vino più bianco, per favore. - Quanto costano queste scarpe tacco alto? and Si guarda molto sexy.

I’m ready – Rome, here we come!

14/5 – Rock star return.

Tired on the late arrival, I dragged my bags up the stairs to my friend’s place. Any slight obstacle would probably have made me burst into tears in a millisecond. But instead a bed was made for me, a towel waiting on the pillow and I got woken up the next morning by the beautiful words, which I don’t hear too often: "Breakfast is ready."

About a month ago, my temporary rock star life came to an end, at least for a while, but not for too long I hope. Back to Denmark and to my belongings packed away in boxes. Back to early closing hours of supermarkets and hospitality challenges in shops and restaurants. But also back to canoe polo, proper coffee and most of all, back to friends and the best season of the year. Sure, Rio might have its sun, beaches and Caipis on the waterfront. And packing away socks and long sleeves for months is also nice. But nothing beats the Scandinavian spring!

That first day back in Copenhagen threw me right in there. If there’s such a thing as a spring chock, or ultimate spring day – that was it. All thanks to one of my friends. After sorting out keys for my temporary casa, clothes for the next couple of months and breakfast for the empty fridge – can’t expect such great treats as served breakfast every morning – the afternoon and evening was spent with the most springy activity you can possibly imagine – waxing a sailboat! Aahh! Never thought I was so going to enjoy having lactate acid in my arms, while being too hot with my jacket on and too cold if I took it off, that much. Burger and beer at the harbour café once the boat was shining in the evening sun didn’t make the day worse either. Thanks for the great first 24 hrs back in Scandinavia Henrik, just what I needed.

During the following couple of weeks, I was on a total spring optimisation mission. First BBQ of the year on a balcony in Stockholm, chilly of course, but the burger and Nomad company couldn’t have been better.

Canoe polo on a canal on a sunny Saturday morning, followed by a caffè latte in the sun by another canal in the Danish capital. Half a day wondering around on a muddy grass field in gum boots, parka and beanie at summer house-to-be location. Another half a day with Italian food and wine outside for lunch and drowsing off, wrapped in a blanket in the sun on Kongens Nytorv, afterwards. More blankets at an afternoon picnic by the beach, ignoring the fact that it’s actually a bit too cold to have picnics. Runs along the waterfront enjoying the fresh air and not having the sweat pouring off you like when running around Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. And no season should be called spring if it didn’t include getting the motorbike out from its winter rest. Spun like a cat, all Easter weekend.

Finally, and not to forget, the light! I never stop to appreciate when the evenings are getting longer and it’s still daylight when you go out for dinner. Almost a shame to sneak inside – even if it’s for Argentinean cuisine and music.

Just ja, grattis på födelsedagen brorsan!

11/5 - Time warp.

You know you’re in the right place when a 12 hr nightshift feels like 3 hrs, 11.5 km on the treadmill feels like 5 km and a 45 min phone call feels like 15 min. Time, and distance apparently, fly when having fun. Let’s just hope that a 6 hr sleep doesn’t feel like a 2 hr one.

May 2011 Photos