Easy

Easy. That’s the word you use on your horse to make him obvious to certain dangers on the trail. Or to just slow him down on an unsteady path. Easy. It’s also a certain way of living outside the city. Leaving the hectic and the stress behind. Easy. That’s how I would sum up my week at Sun Dance Ranch. And it’s been such a treat after 5 days in a busy city. The first day brought loads of sunshine, a trail ride in the forest and an evening canoe trip. And how lucky we’ve been on that first day. Canoeing on the peaceful river, leaving the sunset behind and spotting two beavers and one mommy moose with her two kids. Just crossing the river before our eyes. No picture taken (it was already too dark), but forever in my head and mind :) What followed after that was less amusing as the Queen would say. Making our way back to the Ranch through muddy waters (up to our knees) surrounded my hundreds of mosquitos. No kidding. But thank you Michelle for the save return back home ;) That first ride out in the Swedish forests was followed by many more. Either with sunshine or some light rain. But sometimes also heavy rain and thunder, spooking not just our horses. Once we even interrupted the ride to swim with the horses in the lake. A first for me. Very special. And I enjoyed loads.

What will remain of that time at Sun Dance Ranch is my a-w-e-s-o-m-e horse Apache. Jun, a  Japanese guest (living in Dubai), mostly seen with his camera on his head, filming while riding. Trail Rides through the enchanting nature. At times I fellt like gnomes were watching us from behind the trees. Wondering what they are thinking. Dutch discussions I could not follow all the way through. Harmonica tunes sounding through the forest. Spectacular sunsets just outside the door. The great food and especially the wonderful hosts. Thank you Anita, Dimitry, Marcia, Manon, Michelle and Sheranie. And mostly I will remember the quiet. It’s amazing what you can hear if you just listen. You can even hear rain drops falling from leaves. I’m serious! :) Close your eyes, trust your horse, let it find the way and listen to the wonderful sounds of nature !

Now back in the hustle and bustle of Stockholm I somehow feel a little overwhelmed by it all. The sudden mass of people. The noise. It’s like you have to get used to it again. But then, I guess I just have to bring back the last week to my mind. Easy.

"Life is good. A horse makes it better."

Entering another world

 

the Sun Dance Ranch Family

 

Peace

 

the Dutch McLeods Daughters

 

Riding through enchanting forests

 

Pearly

 

Nature's Wonders

 

Girl Power

 

 Sunset

 



Venice of the North

I wouldn’t have thought that those 5 days in Stockholm would pass so quickly. But here I am, it’s Friday already. And it seems to me as if the Spanish girls have just left yesterday.

So here’s what I’ll remember of that time in Stockholm :

Yesterday morning I would have said sunny and warm weather all the way through. But some heavy rain keeps coming in the middle of the afternoon (like right now, it’s pouring down.  Thank goodness I’m having a drink in a Cafe). Then disappears again as if nothing has happened and lets the sun in again.  A visit to the royal family on Drottningholm and some very royal meatballs (Kottbullar). If it’s not water from above then it’s surely water all around. The smell of the sea. Walking. Walking. Walking. Be it all around town or for the hundreds time up and down Drottninggatan (the shopping street where I live). An impressive Changing of the Guard that comes with a one hour waiting time if you want to have a good view to what’s happening. No public Laundries (I’ll stick to the Campgrounds). No Nail Studios you can just walk by and get a Pedicure done straight away. Junibacken Pippi Longstocking land. Which I found out is more for kids than adults. Seeing Reindeers, Black Bears and the King of the woods (moose) in Skansen (an open-air museum). Though they not really caring about all those annoying tourists taking constant pictures. Magic moments with Street Artists. Salmon with dill potatoes and a beautiful view in Vaxholm. And last but not least: Schweizer Konditori. A Cafe I have been to every day of this week. So you can say I’m a regular there. I really like the atmosphere, with all it’s writing on the walls. And especially I like their Chai Latte. Still haven’t found out why the name "Schweizer" though. But I have to make sure I do on my last days here.

My time is not over here in Stockholm. I’ll be back for 3 more days (by that time I should really be the "queen-of-what-to-do-and-see" in Stockholm). With more adventures on the list. Just saying, Roof Top Tour. And this time with company from Germany :) But for right now I’m ready to give up the city for the country for a few days: 1 week at Sun Dance Ranch.

The rain has stopped now. Time to move and see some more things until it’s time to head further.

"The things that are close to you, are the things you can photograph the best."

- Sally Mann -

Tales of Cities, Woods & Lakes

Ok, it’s official. There are no Starbucks‘ either in Copenhagen nor in Sweden. How am I everrrrrrr going to survice this????!!!!! I guess being open for other new things is the way to think now. And that it’ll be only 3 more weeks until I hit "Starbucks Land" again :)

Copenhagen was wonderful. The sun was on our side most oft he time. The sights beautiful. The food good. The royals unfortunately not present (everyone must have been at the Olympics in London I’m guessing).  A downside to this city though is, that it is pretty expensive. As is Scandinavia in general. But did you know that Copenhagen is one of the world’s most expensive cities ? Well, we found out about that rather sooner than later. Still, some wonderful days in Demarks’ capital. And on I went to another capital : Stockholm it was. Just a 5 h train ride away. There I was looking forward to spending a few days with Vero and Altea from Spain. As soon as those two hit Swedish ground, it was over with the mostly sunny weather. I can say until now, that I haven‘ experienced one day yet, where it did not either rain or drizzle  But Kudos to the girls for survivng 20 degrees C and below while coming from over 30 degrees C! We spent 2 days in the city. Experiencing  it from the water (Stockholm consists of 14 islands). From above (walking up the tower of City Hall and to other points of view). Inside museums (Vasa), cute Cafes. Or just strolling along and through the streets. After spending almost a week in the city, I for my part was ready to hit some country roads. And with the countryside and the lakes alongside we unfortunately didn’t cross path with the "king of the woods" (moose) as we hoped, but with loads of mosquitos. Darn little buggers. I’m still itchy all over. The rest of the ride along nature‘s path was very peaceful though :) Cute little towns. Red wooden houses. Acres of woods. Uncountable lakes. And as promised, I did go swim in one. Actually not just in any kind of lake. But in Siljan, the "heart of Sweden".  It wasnt even that cold in my op and I might do it again. Though the Spanish girls could not believe their eyes :)

The countryside is past now. I am back in Stockholm. Vero and Altea are on the plane back South where they will probably be expected with much warmer temperatures. But I still have things to see in Stockholm. 5 more days here lie ahead. Then it is time again for some country air. 1 week at Sun Dance Ranch. But first, let’s enjoy some more Stockholm has to offer. I can’t wait.

på återseende (Good Bye)

Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.

- John Lubbock -

Nyhavn - Copenhagen

enjoying a view over the city of Copenhagen

Girl Power in Stockholm :)

Stortorget - Stockholm

Siljan Lake - the heart of Sweden

Photo Shoot at Siljan Lake

Threesome along the East Coast

Another Journey

My last longer trip is already more than a year in the past. But still I am thinking back, with very good memories. Good thing that I did "Photo 365" last year. That way I can always remember what I did every day of that trip.

Another journey has started today. Right now, while I am writing this Blog, I am sitting in a restaurant in Bremen, Germany. It’s been a sunny and warm afternoon. I can hear church bells. The chit-chat of people, laughing,  enjoying this lovely summer evening. People driving by on their bikes. Carefree summerdays.  It’s as if summer could last forever.  I am enjoying a cool drink, reading a travel guide about my next destination : Copenhagen. Looking forward to spending a few days with a friend there. But let’s start from the beginning.

It was an early start into the day. Getting up at 5 AM. Catching the train in Rheinfelden at 6:30. Arriving in Bremen in the early afternoon. In Switzerland the train was almost empty. Unusual for a work day you might say. But today is August 1st. The Swiss National holiday. Probably right now everybody back home is celebrating. Barbecue-ing and watching the fireworks once it gets dark. Quite the opposite it was in the train on the way to Germany. Fully packed. And this train ride up North kind of reminded me of those many train rides I have done in the US last summer. The train will get me everywhere on this trip as well (as you might remember, I am not too fond of flying). From Germany to Copenhagen, Denmark. Further up to Stockholm, Sweden. And more inland for a week on a Ranch. I am curious to find out if it will be as good as the one on McGinnis in Montana. We will see :) During the next 5 weeks I will also be meeting up with friends I have made in the last few years. Friends from abroad. I can’t wait to be seeing Vero again. It’s been almost 3 years since we’ve met up in Alicante, Spain for the first time. Then there’s also Nina from Frankfurt Germany. We have met last summer on the trip up to Alaska. Now we are going to discover the wilderness of Sweden :) Maybe swim in one of those lakes (I’m doing it, even if it’s cold). And Pippi Longstocking of course :)

So you see, lots to be looking forward to. Hoping that this time you’ll be along fort the ride as well. And don’t forget to check into Flickr. Just for those 5 weeks I will be doing "Photo 365" again :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielle_76/sets/72157630858372430/with/7693214962

Talk to you soon. Be safe on your travels!

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

- Mark Twain -